EVS at Ptuj 2008/09

What is EVS? Kaj je EVS?

2009-10-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

European Voluntary Service is a program made by European Union, a part of the program Youth In Action.

It is offert the possibility to a young person from 18 to 30 years old to go abroad and to work on
one project.

It is possible to go to European country but also countries partners with the program.

The project can be for one, two, six months or a year.

The volunteer get free insurance, travel cost, food, accomodation and pocket money.

At the end of the project, the volunteer write the Youthpass, certificate which attest the informal learning.

For more informations, visit this website :

http://www.evs.si

November 2008

2009-09-24T04:56:00.011-07:00

I decided to do EVS, to make a break in my life, to discover a new country, to learn about a new culture and to realize if the life abroad is made for me.

I was so exciting to leave my own culture and to travel to a new adventure!!!

On November, to the pre-departure training in France. We talked about our expectations, objectifs, fears, doubt, cultur's choc and technic's subjects as insurance and money.
18 youngs, future international volunteers in destination to : Germany, England, Azerbaidjan, Kosovo, Italie, Espagne, Israel, Bosnia, Bulgaria, lituania... between 6 months to a year.

One evening of November 2008 in the airport Brnik, my mentor, Sabina and my coordinator, Nevenka welcomed me with a big hug and smile.

It was the begining of a new page......

December 2008

2009-09-24T04:56:00.009-07:00

The time was running so fast and already one month at Ptuj....

I had time to discover Ptuj, to eat some slovenian specialities, to learn fiew slovene sentences (ne razumen slovensko!), to meet people and to go to the on-arrival training!

This training is the possibility to meet all new volunteers in Slovenia but also to talk about our first feeling. The training took place at Pliskovica near Sežanna, luckily, we had a visit of the village and a tasting of honey and wine.
At the end of the week, Movit and National Agency organised a dinner at Osmica, they invited all volunteers from Slovenia but also the next Slovenian volunteer, hosting and sending organisation.
It was nice time together, this mix of cultur!!

http://www.vimeo.com/2762799

Video from this dinner.

During Veseli December, I helped for the make up. It is so funny, all this exhibitions, costums organised for the children.

I felt strange to be away of home for Christmas but it was before I knew what I going to live for the Christmas holidays!

Christmas was amazing! I spent it with my new firends from Portugal, Spain and Makedonia. We ate tortillas (Spanish speciality) quiche (French speciality) and Slovene wine!!, nothing in relation with the tipical Chritmas meal!!
We felt good to do not be alone in this family time.
We celebrated New Year at Zagreb, one step in Croatia and the ears opened to understand this Slovenia-Croatia clash...
In spite of the cold, the new year's night was amazing, under pyrotechnic work and wished luck for the year 2009!!

Veliko screčno 2009 za vse!!!!

January 2009

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Two months in Slovenia, I continue to discover this evs life.
It takes time to find a place and to organiz my project and work.

February 2009

2009-09-24T04:56:00.005-07:00

This month started French courses and ...... Kurentovanje!!

Already in December, inhabitants talked about it and I understood now after to see one!

I was glad to live in the city where the biggest Slovenian carnaval happen! Amazing to see differents parades, costums and so many people in the street!! Kurent masks were the most surprising. I had possibility to visit the familial factory of Kurent, we had explanation about its history, how it is make, which materials and luckily we could dressed a hat! The Kurent's hat put on the head I felt so strange, it is heavy and stifling. I could not keep it on more than 5 minutes!!
Bravous are the people who wear this costum during the parade!

*Kurent made by Sonček*

I participated to otročka maškarada as make up artist and as a clown. I realized how carnaval is important for Slovenian. I am quite sure you already think/know your next costum for 2010!Right?

The best I saw from the carnaval, was the cloture!! So funny how the city stop to work and everybody meet in the bars, dance, drinck, get drunck.... Everythink you need to obtain a nice headache! Boli me glava!!!

During winter holidays, we organised activities for children : creation of masks, make up, games, pearls, ping-pong tournament and 5 senses game.
2 volunteers, Dora Lenart and Alen Kranj , helped me during this week. It was nice to work together.
It is really interesting to observ children who try to find a communication's way with me.
Some of them, are not affraid at this difference (our nationality) and try some words in English or by mime and some are really shy even when I try to express myself in Slovene (velika katastrofa seveda!!!)

I think, till you are free and open your heart to the kids, you can have very good time even if you do not speak the language.

March 2009

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In March, I moved to dijaški dom. Time again of adapation and discovery of an another way of living.
But also time for fun! With the children from this home, we played together during evening, baked a cake, they teached me Slovene (they were my hardest teachers!!!) and we created a choregraphy for the final day's school.
We really have fun together.

I started also activities with the center Sonček who help handicaped people to rehabilitation. We had different manuals workshops. I really liked to be in contact with them. They welcomed me with so so big heart and they are so curious about French's life. By their contact, I learnt a lot about relation and what it is important in the life.
Meeting and experience I can not forget.

The center socialno delo, invited me to participate to their camp happened near the Austrian border. This place is wonderfull... Different activities took place : games in relation with the 5 senses, manual activities, sport.
This camp is very good for the youth, they learnt about themselves and they improved their self confidence.

April 2009

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The first of April, in France, we put paper's fish in the back of people (ask Sabina!), it is a joke, a way to have fun when we were younger.

During this month, my friends working in Slovenska Filantropija and I pat in place hairdress workshop for assylum seekers. People are from different countries as Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Azerbaidjan...
All are waiting the status of refugee from Slovenian Republic which only gave this year 10 places.

One of our EVS friend organised with his organisation a tournament against discrimination.
Because, in the world is till no respect for the difference of colours, origin, sexuality...

We had an EVS team! All from the team did our best, but it was not enough!!! We finished one step before the last but it is not the most important : rdčni karton discriminacija.

April = Velika Noč = čokolada!!!

With my French friends, we decided to made a French Easter! We hide chocolate in one park and our friends from Germany, Spain and Portugal (first time for them! Intercultural learning!) had to find them! So sweet moment!

In April happened the Festival of voluntary work. I took part to the festival at Maribor. We introduced EVS to other and explained our motivation. Youngs people look more and more interess to go abroad.

In CID, we also had a meeting, to talk about our various view of voluntary work. I am surprised to see so much youngs people participated to a voluntary work. In France, I do not have the feeling that is so famous as in Slovenia.

May 2009

2009-09-24T04:55:00.002-07:00

This month, we had the mid-term training happened at Bohinj. We already knew each volunteers in Slovenia, the advantage of small country!
We talked about our feelings since the begining of our adventure, what is wrong?, what is possible to do? , our next objectifs... a lot reflexions. The time is going on, already half of our project...

Luckily, we did canoe on the lake, even if it was very windy! And aldrenaline park... Just no comment for the last one, we all leap into the unknow, with a lot of scare!!

I visited three classes; twice to introduce EVS and my country and an other to present twice French games.
It is pity that younth were scare to speak in English even if they have a very good level and accent.

June 2009

2009-09-24T04:55:00.001-07:00

During this month, I made a presentation of my country, I showed by pictures, comments, music, food .... France.
With my coordinator, Nevenka we went to Leclerc at Maribor, to buy French products, I was so exciting! To see and to explain the differences between Slovenian and French cuisine. And the most important: the cheese!!!! Unfornatly, this one did not get so much sucess!!

I was glad, one student from high-school, Nina accepted to present a French peom from Jacques Prévert.

Luckily, I could have the presentation in French language, a lady who is translater, translated everything in Slovene.

This evening I met people who already travelled to France or studied French, this is amazing, I realised how my country attracted many people, because it is a big and rich country, old part of Europ but you do not have this feeling when you come from France (and did not have opportunity to travel for a long time).

Pomladna vrtnica took place this summer, the sun was there and children also!

A different workshops for them, sport, pancakes and music. Everything to have a good afternoon! With my group, we made wallet in tetrapak. It is a way of recycling!!

In June, we spent time in Italy! Trieste!!
It was great to ear an other language completly different of Slovene!!
Unluckily, it happened the G8 meeting, many roads and monuments were closed... but we enjoyed the city center and the seaside!!

July 2009

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The first week end happened the festival Ana Desetnica at Ljubljana. Two of my friends worked on it. It was excellent!! Everytime, perfomances in the street, teater, clowns, junggling, circus and the crazy compagny Malabar (from France), with a big boat they travelled in Ljubljana center, to stop in Preseren square and organised a party with soapsuds!! A lot of people came, the city looked so full, Slovenian people but also a lot of foreign. Ljubljana does not look the same during summer holidays: a lot of tourists!!! This event is also opportunity to meet and to talk with the artists. They are from all around the world. But the time of their performance, you forget and do not care where are they from only the movement, the act and the pleassure they give are the most important...

An other festival!!! Lent at Maribor!! One of my friend is leaving in a village next to Maribor, she showed me the city and we saw different performances as street air teater, circus, acrobatic plane's fly, a concert of Lolobrigida and Elvir Lakovic! This group are amazing!! Full of energy, they jump, dance.... You just want to do the same... and we did it!!! :)

After this Lent, I went with other friends to.... Pivo and cvetje!!
And there, katastrofa!!!! Only drunck people, disrespect... We did not enjoy as much we expected. We found consolation by hiking the hill Hum, much more interesting!!

In July, with help from different Slovenian volunteers, we purposed activities to children. In different places at Ptuj : Rimsko ploščad, Arbajterjevo, Ljudski vrt and Mestni park.
We had different workshops : Ball and poy's creation, clay, kite, tetrapak's wallet, music instrument's creation, giant's creation, joallerie, flag's creation, hidden treasure and different collectifs games.
I realy wanted to have an united children's group. The kids now in our society, are very individualist and egoist. We have to show them how it is important to work and to respect the work of someone else.

It was very nice time, the sun was, almost present everyday. Each team brang something unique to the children.

On this link a video from a week of activities.
http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ8POXKG7U4

August 2009

2009-09-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

During this month, I enjoyed to discover new places. I went to one scout camp, jambore, near Murska Sobota, to represent EVS and to show some tipycal French games as "la tomate" or "le jeu du foulard". Interesting it was, to live two days in an other world. Children's scout are very united and matur. They know how to live with the minimun of comfort. Leaders organized workshops about chemistry, youth in action program, sport, aids, Europe, military work....
We had visit from Minister of Defense, as well they did a concert around the fire. Nice time!

After this camp I participated to an other one, organised by Sonček; happened at Eleri near Koper. I helped people for daily tasks and accompagned them during activities. I learnt a lot, by example how to carry a person from a chair to a bed, how to dress a person... and improved my Slovene!! We really had a very good week together. Handicaped people are really nice people, very open, so warm, they accept and like you for that you are... It is a real lesson of life.
During one week, activities were : riding horse, swimming-pool, archery, canoe, expression corporel, manual activities.
No time to get borring! The week was very fast, I was sad to leave people and to say goodbye... (that is waiting me soon!!)

August was also time for holidays!!
With my friends, we travelled to the Balkan. Hoppefully the weather was perfect.
Montenegro was our first stop, how nice country is it. One of my friend, who is from Montenegro showed us different part of this country, the seaside but also the countryside and some typical villages. It is so sad than people are not use to garbage, so much rubbish on the street, on the corner, on the water...
Something shocked me; we were at Budva, the bigest city of the seaside, at the city center, on one side of the street, open bars, parties... It is a contest, which club has the loudest music?
And on the same street but on the over side, children asking for money, sitting, sleeping on one piece of carton. It show us how this country possess two world; one turn to the buisiness, living with the money's dream power and an other living poorly.

After fiew days there we took the direction of Sarajevo, we arrived very early in the morning and we found a place near a field to sleep, a bit under the stars ****.
It was so emotional to ear the mosque's call; imagine, the dark, no noises around, only this song... It makes my hairs rise.
With the sunup, we woke up and try to find the direction of the city center because the bus left us away of the center. Even when we arrived, we asked ourselve, are we really at Sarajevo?
Because only fiew buildings and fields around us.
So, we followed the mean street with emotion, I had in my head pictures from the war and I imagined on this street, army's car, battles or the Day of Independance. You really feel something which makes you silent.
The city till have trail from the war, sign of gunfire on a lot of buildings. They are rebuilding the city. I hope to go in 5 or 10 years and observ the diference.
We walked all the day, went to differents monuments, took many pictures and visited the memorial. We were surprised because this place is completly abandoned, nobody take care, there are tags, rubbish and plants growing everywhere. We hear from one Bosnian guide, than the community do not care about it and they are looking to the futur. As they want to forget one part of them past...

We continuted our adventure with 10 hours in the train which brang us to Beograd. I expected hardest border control but they only check the passport, luckyli, we could sleep!!
Fiew steps out of the train station... and Oh My God!!! So away of Bosnia's sensation!!
This is a big city!!! Of course, we got lost, it is very big, we stopped often and changed our way to an other because the street looks more attractive to an other one so.....
Anyway, we saw all that it is possible to see in one day but I should say, it is pretty much interesting to walk in the city than to visit this monument's tourist.
We got problem with one shop, they did not respect the fact we are foreign and the saleswoman was not nice and stole us money on our purchase.
We were angry but so, like this is the life, we got a lesson, do not trust unknow people.
At the end of the day, we finaly found one shop where they sell rakija as my family and friend could taste it.

We spend an other night in the train in direction to..... Skopje!! So long and uncomfortable travel.
Border's control were strange... Because of our nationality, French, they asked us if we had drugs?!?!
What kind of pictures have they from French people?!?!
Just arrived, out of the train, a men told my friend she has to pay taxes... (?!?!)of course the money will be for him!!
The story continued with the taxi driver "where do you go? It is far away! It cost 5 euros!"
After 10 minutes, you only want to say s*** up and run away!
Motivated to find the youth hostel by ourselves, we walked in its direction but we resign ourselves to take a taxi, nobody in the street could inform us (I should say, we did not meet so much inhabitants but a lot of taxi drivers!!).
Finaly without backpack, we could enjoy!
We visited the national museum, it retrace the history of Makedonija and show archeologic pieces.
Afterward, we went through the city, amazing!! Different scultures' characters decorate the street but they look so natural!!
Next on the other side of the bridge, we went through a fortress/stronghold. On the top of on tower, we enjoyed the view of the city under a warmer sun!!!
We also tasted some sweets and took a look to the post office! It is worth a look!! Believe me!!!
After Skopje, we took direction to Ohrid, 3 hours by bus.

I was a bit disapointed by the lake, is not so clean and the view is not so amazing as I expected but we liked to walk around it.
However the city is beautiful... the old part is wonderful.
We saw typical dance's perfomance and tasted the Makedonian beer. I prefer the one from Bosnia... and Laško ;)

A week and 4 countries later, we back to Slovenia, the easy way : by bus. We survived at 17 hours (whose 6 in the traffic jam at the border) and 6 border's controls.
We observed than us, European people when we wait in line (for the control) it is a big disorder, mess... if you compar with people from Bosnia, Serbia, they wait in a very clear line, when one does a step, the next does also....

So back at Ljubljana, with a lot of memories and a wish to go again!!

September 2009

2009-09-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

J - 30 days.

The countdown starts... And It is time to finish my last project.

I went to a retired house situated at Kidricevo. With the people we cooked a French lunch. They were so glad to get something different and food with salt and sugar (because they complain it is too heathly food!!)
The menu were : Dauphinoise's salad, tartiflette, yogourt's cake and French wine!
We really had good time. Them to have a visit from a French girl and me to learn about life...

And I said goodbye...... a lot of hugs and tears.

With my organisation, we went to a restaurant at Halozan. It is a very nice place between vineguards. We tasted different wines and got a visit in the cave, where the man so generous offered us to taste his wine.. after 2 bottles he wanted to open an other one!! Please, no!!!

Thank you to my organisation, it was a very nice moment with them.

On my last week end in Slovenia, we hiked to Triglav. It took us 3 days of walk. And we saw so wonderfull landscapes...
So glad and so lucky to get that we got. It is a really beautiful way full of natur, animals, feelings...
Amazing mountain!!

The end

2009-09-21T06:14:00.000-07:00

Already September.... it is time for me to organiz my come back : to buy tickets, to prepar the bags, to find some presents and enjoy as possible the last month.

It is also the time of feedback, report and youthpass.
Documents to write in English, you have to explain about your preparation, trainings, expetactions, cultural's difference, your work, informal learning......

I am very happy of having this chance to live this amazing experience. It was not easy everydays, my mood was up and down but by this feelings you learnt how to react and you discover than you are stronger as ever think.

I will never forget my first day, the plane, the first meeting with my organisation, the first view of Ptuj, the first purchase at mercator, the first snow, the first Slovene lesson, the first performance of Veseli December, my first Christmas and New Year abroad, the first day of winter's activities, Otročka Maškarada, Kurentovanje, the mayor in costum, the first workshop with Sonček, the first visit in the school and the funny face people had when they try to pronounce my name : Aourélié (this is in my language how in Slovenian language you prononce my name)!!.... so many things as I will never have enough place to write it down.

I still don't believe than I am here since 10 months. I remember my arrival, completly exciting and lost with my catastrophic English!! Searching in the airport hall, my mentor and coodinator and it was time for my first slovene word : dober večer!!!

10 months is nothing in one life but I learnt so so much during this time...
I learnt about myself, relationship, life, the world...
I also found what kind of job I would like to do, this experience introduced me to different people from divers background or with special needs and I realy like, I feel fine with them.

EVS, is not only a program from the EU, it is experience of life, unforgetable and human experience...

Big thanks to my hosting organisation : CID and all the team. For created an EVS project and for support and help. I was lucky and glad to have met you.

But also:

*The center Sonček which gave me the freedom to lead manual activities.
*Dijaški dom for let me came to the classroom during evening to play with the kids and to get some fun.
*Every schools and associations at Ptuj which offer me the chance to participate to their projects, camp and to talk about France.
*Slovenska Filantropija to let us organised hairdress and make up workshop for assylum seekers.
*To all people I met in Slovenia. Each meeting gave me something unforgetable.
*And to Slovenia for being so beautiful.

I wish you all the best and see you somewhere (we never know!!)

Hvala lepa!!!

Aurélie.