I am alive!

Almost a month ago I posted my first article. Sorry! But I didn’t have time to update it. I will tell you:

During this last month, I have attended two different workcamps, which my organization coordinated, Deineta.

I am absolutely certain we all volunteers gained knowledge and skills participating in these workcamps.

The workcamps took place in Varnai, a small village situated in the North West of Lithuania. A fantastic place where you can enjoy the nature and the amazing lake with its beach.

The first workcamp was from June 16st to June 27st. The goal of this workcamp was to prepare the Festival KILKIM ŽAIBU 2013, the Festival of ancient traditions and heavy music.

We gathered 5 volunteers from different countries ( Spain, France, Italy and Mexico). Also our camp leader, from Lithuania.

Concerning to our tasks, we helped organizers out to build festive traditional installations (domes, fire places, sculptures), prepare raw materials, prepare the territory for the festival, set up tents, clean the territory after the festival, etc…

At the beginning it was hard because there was much work to do but, day by day, we forgot the workload and started to enjoy the international atmosphere, people, jokes, etc…

I think it’s worth it to work for several hours and later enjoying the extra time. During our extra time, I mean after working, we met many other Lithuanian volunteers, took the waterbike around the lake, played card games, went for a drink at the beach. But the most amazing activity was when we went to a wood full of mud with other Lithuanian volunteers, Kulgrinda. I was told that it was an ancient tradition, the pagans, who knew the roads in the forest, attracted persecutors and they got stuck in the mud.

Concerning to the second workcamp, it was called BLIUZO NAKTYS and took place in the same place, in Varniai, from June 30^th to July 30^th. It is a well-known festival in Lithuania.

In this workcamp we gathered 8 people ( Spain, Russia, Mexico, Korea, Italy, Taiwan and Turkey). I can say this one was special due to the diversity of nationalities and cultures.

Until the festival we did almost the same tasks than the previous one ( prepare the territory, paint some stuff, etc…).

I think the fun was bigger seeing as we were more volunteers and we had less work.

In this workcamp I want to emphasize a day, my birthday. The volunteers prepared a surprise party to me. They bought a delicious cake and we ate it around a fire, dancing and singing. Thanks guys!

During the festival, we enjoyed the concerts and people. It was packed!
Finally, after the festival we cleaned the territory and we left to Palanga to enjoy its beach. It was an unforgettable day because we made a delicious barbeque!

With the finalization of the trip to Palanga  was time to say bye to them.

I will miss you guys!

The half of my summer has gone but I don’t regret it, I have had a fantastic time! The best thing is the other half part of my summer will be other two workcamps!

I will keep you posted!

MY EVS  HAS ALREADY STARTED!



Less than a week since I came to Kaunas, Lithuania,  I start to write my blog in order to you all know my life during this new experience that I have started, EVS volunteer.

From the beginning has been easy seeing as Thomas, a guy who works in my Host Organisation picked me up from the Kaunas  airport. When I arrived at home, other two volunteers were waiting for me. We spent the Sunday visiting the city of Kaunas, nice city, over all the old town, the Castle and the place where two rivers are joined ( Neman and Neris). Finally, the bulgarian volunteer, Ivan, prepared a typical dinner from Bulgaria to me and my flatmate. It's very nice, meet balls with a yoghurt sausage.

Concerning to my accomodation is nice. It takes me 10 minutes to go to the office from my home. Also, I live with a Spanish guy who is helping me with the typical things you have to run at the begining ( phone, number of buses, supermarket, etc...) 

Most of time I am at the Office where the atmosphere is very nice and familiar, they all get along and make jokes each others. 

My project consistes of informing Youth about mobility, Maintenance of Deineta’s webpage, internet blog and social networking accounts. Also , I will attend to international summer camps where I will have the chance to meet new people from different countries and create some activities.

I will keep you posted!

Žemaitėjė.

There was time in my life that really matter and I am about to tell you my experience. I was 10 months in Lithuania. I lived in small village Plateliai and worked in Žemaitjos Nacionalinis parkas.

I was EVS volunteer like all of us in this blog, but I just had my own experience in this time and exact place, like no another. I think this is what makes EVS experience all so unique for every volunteer.

I decided not to make my own blog, as everything was too much to talk about, and wanted to say about it all in one big article when I am finished.

Lithuania is... well, whatever it is you need to come here and find it out yourself! My Lithuania is Lietuva with interesting culture and history. My Lithuania is Žemaitija (Samogitia) region, historical part of Lithuania where lived another tribe žemaitians, they came to live in this territory, but before there were living kurši (curonians) tribe, later on this 2 tribes in Lithuania territory assimilated in one another. Samogitians had their own language and traditions for many century's, till after the Battle of Grunwald (German: Schlacht bei Tannenberg, Lithuanian: Žalgirio mūšis) at 1410 they lost their independence and were integrated in Lithuanian culture gradually by many different occasions in history. This tribe accepted Christianity only in 15. century, it was the last baptized region in Europe. Lithuania got first independence after the World War I and so it integrated all 5 regions in to the Republic of Lithuania. To make it more clear, in Lithuanian language this region is called Žemaitija, in Žemaitian - Žemaitėjė, but in English - Samogitia, and it means - lowlands. It is one of 5 ethnographic regions in Lithuania. Right now their language is called as dialect, but in schools they have to learn Lithuanian literal language, what is general language for all country. They can speak their dialect at home and in public, unless it is not official. Then they have to switch to literal language. Žemaitians try to fight for their rights last years more active and so they have their newspapers, magazines, books, communities, celebrations and so on. They try to preserve culture and language heritage what is left, keep traditions alive and do research on this subjects deeper.

I also am partly Žemaitian as my grandparents were born in Žemaitija, but life took them away from their home towns, after the World War II they moved to live in Latvia and spend the rest of life there. My experience took place just around 80 km. from place I spend my childhood. And this 80 kilometers in my life changed a lot.

I guess there is many things what is possible to say about country and culture in it. Most of country's have also another cultures integrated within them. There is different tribes, languages, dialects, religions etc. Also Lithuania is one of them. There is different regions and each of it have specific background what formed them. But most different is Žemaitija region. It just stands out and it is its very own place. I came here to know my roots and understand this culture better.

In Žemaitija National park I spend very interesting time in my life.