Monday 4 June 2012

Berta's text


It's been nearly two months since I embarked on a new adventure in Lithuania. I had finished my studies and I was thinking only of going out of Spain for a while, to experience and see the world.
Many times it is difficult to get away from your homeland and your friends and family, but it fills you with great satisfaction to start something from scratch and know that almost everything is at your fingertips. So this is exactly what I feel right now. Thanks to the unique opportunity I have been accepted in an environmental project within the European Voluntary Service.

I
Collaborate in Venta Regional Park, located in Viekšniai, in the north of the Lithuania. Here I share flat and experience with other volunteer from Slovakia, which is quite interesting, especially when we cook, because we have very different customs and cultures.

One
of the most positive sides is that EVS develops whatever idea and make it a fact. Here all the people are supporting us in all our actions. During the week we go to different schools in the area to give talks on ecology and biology to teach English, so children learn English and we (my partner and I) do what we like, to teach what we have knowledge about, since we both studied biology. We also work in an organic farm making all kinds of activities, either plant trees, preparing teas and infusions that grow in the garden. We have also participated in cultural events related to the environment.

One
of our goals is to instil a care for nature, lecturing to recycle and to respect the planet from ecological point of view. We have several projects in mind and various activities yet to be developed. Now the good weather is coming and therefore the field (monitoring by canoe different species of plants and animals) and popular festivals that herald the spring also take place in different towns. We are currently organizing a project with the Viekšniai arts school in which children will paint a variety of ideas related to recycling and conservation onto the different bins. Our purpose is to raise awareness of how important is recyclation and preserve the natural environment.

As
to the personal level, this is an exciting and special adventure. Every day is a different journey, discover new places and landscapes. I keep in touch with other volunteers and every weekend we meet in different parks and share our views.
I hope these words have reflected my joy and show how lucky and happy I am living all this amazing experience.