Going to Berlin

In half an hour I'm starting my travel to Berlin for the NY-stay ;) I'm happy to be there again for few days and even more happy to spend those few days with 4 my friends and few collegues! That's soooo cool :D We'll have a nice party tomorrow and besides that probably visit many nice place in Berlin as well.

I should be back on 4th of January, if I'll not go for a meeting to Warsaw. Who knows...

I wish you a great, unforgetten party and a perfect year 2007!

Post-Christmas ;)

Uffff... As usual - for my parents - we prepared so much food (even if I was explaining it's much too much ;p) that we didn't ate half of it even with our guests, so now we'll continue eating 'the rests' for at least next few days :/

As you may see we ate a lot during the Christmas time ;) It was very good, I must admitt that. My parents are good in cooking and baking and they like it, so they don't ask me to help them much - what is good and bad in the same time ;)

Christmas Eve we spent only with the closest family - my parents, my brother and my uncle and godfather, whom is single, never been married, don't have children, so he is spending all holidays with us. Which is nice, I like him :) We had a nice dinner with carrols in the background. Then presents time. I got a nice photoalbum for 200 pics, some cosmetics, some underwear, a lot of sweets and little bit of money. My brother liked a lot a book, which I gaved to him, my parents especially liked those cups with photo of my niece and my uncle the whole present in general, so I chose good ;)
During the first day of Christmas we have guests - my mother brother with wife and two daugthers and my mother sister with husband and one of the sons with his girlfriend. So, all together we were 13 people, so a lot of talking and after some drinks a lot of noise ;) They were since 2 until 10, so nice and long visit.
And today we done absolutely nothing - after mass in the church just sitting, watching movies, talking, eating, reading and so on. Total relax :)

And tomorrow or day after tomorrow I plan to go to the city to buy a new suticase. Employees of Malev broked my suitcase on my trip to Orhid and they send me money to buy a new one. That's very good that they already did it, because then I may buy new one before my trip for NYE to Berlin. And I'm thinking to buy a cable to connect my laptop with the tv - to watch some movies which I have, my parents don't have a DVD-player, so this is a nice option. First I must check how much money I need for that.
Tomorrow Sylwia has birthday and she invited me to go, but during into consideration my Christmas expenses and a fact that I need quite much money for the Berlin-trip, I can't afford to go to Warsaw for her birthday :( That's a pity, because it seems there will be a nice party :( It's such a pity that Berlin is not a cheap city at all :/

Ok, I'm going to watch next movie ;) This time "Ballistic" with Antonio Banderas, whom I like quite much ;)

Joyeux Noël pour mes amis ;)

Daily life

I totaly lost my will to write my blogs, especially this one. Besides Rene probably nobody is reading it, at least I think so. And it doesn't have much sense to have it when we're talking almost each day. Maybe I will leave it for the time of travelling... Don't know yet. I even have problems to write new posts on Polish one, what wasn't a case before. Strange...

Just finished with uploading the photos from my visit in Macedonia. Because I didn't took my camera, I had only the camera with my mobile phone. And this one is far from being a good one :p But unexpectedly I've managed to make few nice photos! Photos from cameras of participants you may find HERE and photos from my mobile - HERE. I hope you'll like some of them and maybe share your comments about them :) I would like to write much more about the visit in Macedonia, but now it lost its meaning probably... Hm... maybe not. Don't know. But I love it and I'm coming back with my thought to those days quite often...

Hm... it's so close to Christmas... Don't feel it at all. Maybe because of the weather, which reminds more mid-October than mid-December. It's exactly like the early fall here - cloudy, sometimes rain, sometimes sun, sometimes wind, +8 to +15. Strange. And there is all the time forecast that there will be like that until January. Today I even notice in one of the gardens around few flowers on the bush, which bloom normally around mid-April! Maybe you know it...

It's amazing to see it one week before the Christmas just blooming in the garden outside! Gosh... What is going on here!

Today I went to the city to buy most of the Christmas presents for my familiars. It wasn't so bad - I bought those things which I planned just in 2 shops. Need to buy only some sweets to put in each present and maybe some little 'add' for my brother and some little toy for my niece.

In general I bought:

1. For my mum: I bought a pearl from Ohrid lake for her and today I bought additionally silver chain, so it's nicer gift now :)

Besides that I ordered a cup for coffee with a pic of my niece for her :p

2. For my dad: I bought him a Popular Atlas of the World - he is a huge fan of crosswords, so it's usefull for him :) Besides that I also ordered for him a mug with the same picture of Julia :) But this one is bigger and without this little plate.

3. For my brother: I bought a book "Structure of the space", becasue he is a space maniac ;)

4. For my niece: I bought a little book "Winnie the Pooh letters" - she just started to attend to the kindergarten, so she will start soon learn how to write, read and count, maybe it will be nice with the Winnie the Pooh ;)

5. For my godfather: I bought a funny book "Flowers of politicians" about strange, funny, stupid sentences and 'accidents' of Polish politicians. I started to read a little bit and I was laughing a lot ;) Besides that he will also get a cup, but not with my niece ;)

So, besides those little stuff to buy about which I wrote above I'm done. Then just pack them in paper and waiting for Christmas ;) I even bought a little, little presents for my friends. But just a symbolic ones.

Ok. I need to slowly 'recover' to writing so much as usual ;) :p

Post from Macedonia

I didn't had time earlier to write here at all. And now I'm just sitting on the airport in Skopje - in about 1 h I have my plane to Budapest. And then from Budapest to Berlin. At 8 PM I should be on the Tegel Airport and about 1-1,5 h later in Jonathan's flat. And it seems that in my home tomorrow late afternoon.

Concerning Macedonia - I just felt in love with Ohrid and surroundings. There is no other possibility ;) Just wonderful nature, ancient city with so many interesting places, nice people... Well - see by yourself! I must write that those photos are not from any selection - people around just observe what I'm doing and that makes my crazy ;)

So... With such a nice celebrations of my birthday...

...with such a great views from my room...

... with such nature all over around...

... with such a great art and places which has 1000-2000 years...

... how I could not love this place?

I just love it and I want to come back in future for sure more than once. And besides all those things this is just a great place for holidays - both, during the winter and during the summer! And also cheaper than Poland.

But about all those things - in the future. At this moment just will wait for the plane.

Again on the way

In 15 minutes I'm starting my travel to Berlin. I'll stay there until tomorrow morning and then I'll fly to Skopje via Budapest. I'll co-lead a seminar about youth projects in European municipalities in Ohrid. I'll stay there until 26th. On 9 PM I should be in Jonathans' flat again - but only for one night. Then he is going to Erfurt and I'm going to Frankfurt /Main to meet the president of Polish Youth Council. At the afternoon on 27th I'll catch a EuroNight train to Poznań. So, on midday on 28th of November I should be home if nothing will change.

Sorry for such a short and not nice post, but I don't have a time at all :( I shouldn't even write any posts... Hugs!

Buuuuu

A lot to do during those days, but very strong feeling of laziness and emptiness, want only to sleep or to relax. Just to do nothing important - listen to the music, watching movies, reading books, even play in stupid games on the computer. And sleeeeeep.......

And instead of that I should finish the report from the EM 4 in Cardiff as soon as possible. Until now I just sent a first part to the team, to give them possibility to send me their remarks. But this part was the easiest one and the shortest one.
Besides that I need to prepare my part of the program for the seminar about youth projects in European municipalities, which will be held soon in Ohrid, Macedonia. I have only 2 days more and not even full days, because I still need to go and pick results of my medical tests tomorrow, visit a doctor after it, then also arrange my tickets to Berlin, pack my luggage and many other things. Besides that my mother is going to the sanatorium for 3 weeks, so there is a lot of things to arrange. It's a pity that I can't go with her during the first day, to help her to arrange everything and to see the place as well. And the bad thing is that my dad will be alone almost for the whole week and he shouldn't because he has problems with heart and he may to faint or even worse and then what? Even with ordinary falling down it can be dangerous - his bones are very soft and they are easly breaking.

But during last days I've made quite many 'technical' changes in my life. I started with a new headphone + mic to talk with my friends online. Next thing - after 2 years I might to change my mobile phone for a new one. So, I did it ;) Now, I'm an owner of Samsung SGH-X680 in lovely dark red color ;)

In reality it's much nicer than on this photo, especially color ;) On this photo it doesn't look as a nice dark red.

After some not nice surprises and a lot of waiting now I'm also an owner of multifunctional machine of HP - printer, scanner, fax and copier in one. Nice thing ;)

And - what is most important - I'm finally the owner of brand new, shiny laptop - first in my life! It's cool - HP Pavilion dv6149EA Windows Media Center.

It's a very cool beaut :) And in relation to it I bought a very interesting bag for it which looks like a bigger woman bag, not a bag for a laptop (which could be useful!) and a 1 GB flash drive in a cool dark red color ;) Trendy lady :p

Now, my laziness won - I'm just chatting, watching "Matrix" and writing updates for my blog. But I have a bad feelings about the level of my preparation for the seminar :/ Cross your fingers for me!

Life is... Goodbye

Since few days my mood is going down and down... I feel meaningless, hollow, like a substitue of the human...

I'm listen a lot of the music... There are so many songs, which I would like to mention here... But it would be boring for you... So, only two of them.

First - it would be nice to believe it's like that... 'life goes full circle', 'life is wonderful... meaningful'... Then you may always believe that better time will come... but in the same time, that after good time there will be a bad time... So, maybe not so much optimistic then...

"Life Is Wonderful"

It takes a crane to build a crane

It takes two floors to make a story

It takes an egg to make a hen

It takes a hen to make an egg

There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word

And it takes some words to make an action

It takes some work to make it work

It takes some good to make it hurt

It takes some bad for satisfaction

La la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Al la la la la

It takes a night to make it dawn

And it takes a day to make you yawn brother

And it takes some old to make you young

It takes some cold to know the sun

It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love

But it takes you years to know what love is

It takes some fears to make you trust

It takes those tears to make it rust

It takes the dust to have it polished

La la la la la la la life is wonderful
Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle
Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful
Al la la la la

It takes some silence to make sound

It takes a loss before you found it

And it takes a road to go nowhere

It takes a toll to make you care

It takes a hole to make a mountain

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle

Ha la la la la la life is wonderful

Ha la la la la la life is meaningful

Ha la la la la la life is wonderful

Ha la la la la la life it is...so... wonderful

It is so meaningful

It is so wonderful

It is meaningful

It is wonderful

It is meaningful

It goes full circle

Wonderful

Meaningful

Full circle

Wonderful

Jason Mraz

Second one it's just so beautiful and sometimes true... I like it a lot...

"Goodbye My Lover"

Did I disappoint you or let you down?

Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?

'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,

Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.

So I took what's mine by eternal right.

Took your soul out into the night.

It may be over but it won't stop there,

I am here for you if you'd only care.

You touched my heart you touched my soul.

You changed my life and all my goals.

And love is blind and that I knew when,

My heart was blinded by you.

I've kissed your lips and held your hand.

Shared your dreams and shared your bed.

I know you well, I know your smell.

I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover.

Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.

You have been the one for me.

I am a dreamer and when i wake,

You can't break my spirit - it's my dreams you take.

And as you move on, remember me,

Remember us and all we used to be

I've seen you cry, I've seen you smile.

I've watched you sleeping for a while.

I'd be the father of your child.

I'd spend a lifetime with you.

I know your fears and you know mine.

We've had our doubts but now we're fine,

And I love you, I swear that's true.

I cannot live without you.

Goodbye my lover.

Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.

You have been the one for me.

And I still hold your hand in mine.

In mine when I'm asleep.

And I will bare my soul in time,

When I'm kneeling at your feet.

Goodbye my lover.

Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.

You have been the one for me.

I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow.

I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow.

I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow.

I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow.

James Blunt

That's all for tonight.

Pictures as usual ;)

Resisting to publishing photos on my blog is not in my style at all ;) So, here we go...

Not so clear vision during the pizza party ;)

Interesting wall around the squat :)

Island of "East" Berlin in "West" Berlin

During the walk around Kreutzberg

Everything you need for a revolution you may buy here :p

There are many cool graffities in Berlin
In the cool pub on the boat...Isn't it lovely?

'Cardiff four' - Zane, Jonathan, Sylwia and me. Three participants and the documentalist ;)

There are really cool and sweet (some) pictures from Berlin - HERE. I really enjoy them and strongly recommend seeing them ;) Enjoy as well :)

Then Berlin

...I've started my travel to Berlin. I must admitt that I love German InterCity Express. They are great! Speed more than 200 km/h, but you don't feel this inside, very comfortable, nice, good design, clean toilets, nice staff etc. I love to travel by them and I recommend it to all of you :p So, in such conditions my travel was nice and fast. In the meantime I was exchanging SMSes with Polish flatmate of Jonathan - Wojtek.

After coming to the train station I was waiting for Jonathan about 20 minutes - he was on the way back from his Polish lessons :D It's his first semester, but he is treating it seriously and it sounds quite ok already. And he has lovely German accent ;) And of course doing some nice funny mistakes :p But seeing how much he is trying to learn it I think that after few more months it will be much better and we may already talk a bit more than basic. Especially if he will develop such a nice contacts with Polish friends and he will visit Poland. So, after coming home I could discover 'reality' of Jona. 3 guys are living in one flat with 3 rooms: Jona (Germany), Wojtek (Poland) and Henry (New Zeland). They have (which is not so obvious when there are living 3 guys) very nice flat, order, clean. Maybe even better than me lately ;) And what more - they are cooking quite good! And they don't need for that any help of girls ;) During eating a good pasta I get to know that there is one friend - Sean (USA/New Zeland) visiting Henry for 4 weeks, and Jona has a visit of our friend Zane with her boyfriend (Latvia) and since next evening our Polish friend - Sylwia will join us as well. All of us were planning to stay until 5th November. So, it was quite funny and interesting - all of us were sleeping in his room. Zane with her guy on one mattress, and Jona, me and later also Sylwia on the second - bigger - one. Actually, it was even cool ;) After the dinner we're smoking my favourite water pipe, drinking zubrowka with juice, and at the end we went for a uni party. During the party Jona was trying to dance with me in this crowd (he just love dancing and also has talent to do it), but after 5 minutes someone hit me in my glasses, thanks to what I had broken (good that not totally!) glasses and my eye also remembered this hit until half of next day. So, I escaped for some minutes from the dance floor and then one guy was trying to flirt with me in a funny mixture of German-English-French ;) But luckly guys decided that they don't like this party also, so after 15 minutes we went home. Then we were frolic around and relaxing before going to sleep - still in this a little more comfortable 'configuration' - two of us on one bed. We're still frolic even after going to bed, like kids :p

Next day we slept long... I think it was 11 when we get up ;) After easy breakfast we went with guys to the big Turkish market. Because guys are living in a ghetto, migrant quarter of the city, but so incredibly colorfull and intercultural. And it's not so 'bad' and dangerous there, at least from my experience. And close to your home you may find great Turksih market with everything what you would like to buy inside ;) We did a huge shopping for homemade pizza - at the evening there was planned a pizza party. After shopping we had an opportunity to listen to the part of the concert of the Balkan band, it was cool. Then Jona went back home to work for some time, and rest of us went to the Martin-Gropius-Bau for an exhibition of photos made by Martin Munkacsi - "Budapest - Berlin - New York". Very interesting photos. Then we had a nice coffee with Sean - still in the museum (where I bought such a nice POSTCARD for Jona ;) we're teasing each other all the time) and rest went to some meeting with friend. After coffee it was time to go home - I was sent for shopping (of course we forgot about few things), guys take care about preparing pizzzas and after coming back I was welcoming and taking care about not my guests ;) This evening to our intercultural company joined few Germans, one girl from France and once from Argentina. Pizza was great, alcohol good as well, in the meantime Sylwia managed to join us finally, so it was cool time. And at the end we went to - so called - Roma Theater (mixture of NGO, theater, pub, meeting place - Jona is working there actively). It was very nice place, with cool music, intereseting people - even one couple more joined us (Germany & Estonia) and wild dances of Jona and Sylwia on the stage ;)

Next morning Zane and Iamonas decided that they are tourist, so get up earlier to visit some places. And Sylwia, Jona and me again slept long and had a nice breakfast about 12. Then we started our tour around "intercultural Berlin + WALL", what means that we're discovering their quarter - Kreutzberg and surroundings. Very interesting, long walk. We had a nice break for espresso and warm croissants in a nice coffee. And then we're continuing walking around. Jonathan was our guide, describing everything, telling stories etc. We saw also few squats and interesting park. We went also to see a still exsisting part of the wall, which was changed for a graffiti gallery, where Sylwia made a lot of photos ;) There we found cool place - youth hostel on the boat, together with nice pub. It's not expensive - 14 Euro. We went there "for few minutes, for tea" and we've stayed there for about 3 hours, sitting near the fireplace, drinking hot wine and eating lasagne. It was cool time. Then there was no sense to visit the 'touristic' centre, so we went home to prepare a dinner for all. After the dinner rest of people went for 2 concerts - jazz and Henrys' (flatmate) and Sylwia, Jona and me were too lazy to go anywhere. So, we were only smoking the waterpipe, drinking zubrowka, tequilla, doing massages and talking - 100 questions to each ;) It was so great time :D

Last morning we had only time for burning a CD with photos and music for me, taking showers, eating breakfast and already there was time to go to the train station. We spoked a little more on the train station during waiting for the train and that's all - end of this lovely time :(
EuroCity train was totally crowded. In Poznan I had 3 hours of waiting, but it was not bad, because Milosz (collegue-trainer, whom I've met in Bonn) took me for a coffee and cookie in a nice place. And then going by train home. About 10 PM I was in my room... tired, but happy!

I need to repeat such a nice relaxing days with friends more often ;) Let's see if it'll be possible!

First Bonn

Shortly about stay in Bonn. After 12 hours of travelling (in which I've spent about 2,5 h waiting for trains in Pila, Poznan and Berlin) I arrived to Bonn. I was picked up from the train station by Serhan, who was there for a training course until 31st of October. On the way to the youth center we've met Erzsi - course director of EM 4 in Cardiff :) After check in and unpacking my clothes we went to the pub in the building - to welcome friends and get to knew new people. It was an evaluation seminar of all 6 European Modules 2006 and also for trainers working on - so called - networking trainings of National Agencies of YOUTH Programme (Tic-Tac, SOHO, BiTriMulti, ToM, ToT), so there were about 60 trainers from whole Europe. It was a very good opportunity to meet trainers and also people working for NAs, Partnership and SALTO. It was a good time with interesting and funny people. And also during the first evening Serhan also was developing his network :) We also finished a programme for our next project application.
During the first day there was two parts: Youth in Action Programme (in which Serhan could still participate before going back to Turkey) and YouthPass. It was quite interesting, even if this YouthPass means quite much more work for organizers and trainers, as well as for participants. In my opinion to do it properly it should be one day more in each training... Who will pay for that? And at the evening we had 'Bye Bye YOUHT, welcome Youth in Action Party', which was very nice. Especially Twilight Zone - misterious place, where each of us has a lot of fun... Outcomes - photos should be send by Udo soon to us.
Second day was first for evaluations in teams of each Module. Then also discussions about choosen outstanding questions or good practices related with European Modules in groups of interests. After lunch there was a general input and discussion about European Citizenship and working groups on choosen issues.
Third day was about the future development and improvments of next generations of European Modules. Changes seems to be quite big, but many of them are not agreed finally still, so it's better not to write about it now. There was a lot of disucssions and a bit of confusion. Let's see what will be a final curriculum made by the curriculum development group. Final decission should be made in December.

During this seminar Voki (trainer with whom I've worked in Cardiff) proposed me to co-lead with her a seminar about youth projects in municipalities, which will be held in Macedonia, between 19th and 25th of November. It's very soon (they had problems with trainer), but it seems that I'll get tickets - organizers are working to pay them now. It's good that they will do it now, because it'll be about 2000 PLN, what is more than 500 Euro.

I was in Bonn since 30th October until 2nd November until 4:16 PM. And at this hour I started my travel to Berlin...

Again on the way

Veeeery short, becasue it's already very late and I need to wake up in 4,5 h :(

At 6:22 I'm starting my travel to Bonn for an Evaluation Semianar of all 6 European Modules 2006. So, I'll meet again my team and organizers from Cardiff :) Nice!

And on 2nd November I'm going to Berlin to visit Jonathan - one of participants from thie Module in Cardiff :) Lovely :) And what is even better I'll stay there until 5th November. And even better - there will be 2 more participants from Cardiff in the same time - Zane (with her boyfriend) and probably Sylwia :) Cool! I'm happy about it :)

Finally I created an online album from Kusadasi. It's nice :p There are 8 sub-albums, like: team, Izmir etc. You may find it HERE.

And for 'better apettite' for visits there...

Without any changes! Original!

Adakule Hotel is really cool place!

And our cool team (from left): Behrooz, me and Serhan. It was great time!

So, I hope your apettites are bigger now, you're warmly invited to see all of them and to share your comments about them here :)

See you after 5th November!

Relation from Turkey

It was long time, but after coming back home from Turkey I was first very lazy (typical post-project syndrom for me) and since few days I'm very busy.

Turkey - it was very interesting and good time. And I'm sure I would like to go there more times in the future - to discover more things, new places, feel this country more. And I could write a lot, a lot about it, but I don't feel like writing about my impressions of Turkey now. Maybe later. Now - relation from those 2 weeks.

I came to Izmir at the evening, when I was picked up by friend of Serhan (main organizer) - Ferhat. He is working on the airport, so he was resposnbile for all people coming by plane to Izmir. After some minutes it appears that my suitcase didn't arrived! First time in my life! And what is quite funny - I was thinking in the plane that I never lost my luggage ;) But Ferhat was helping me in conversation with the officers, so I get it back after five hours - it seems it was in Istanbul. We met Serhan on the parking and went for a dinner in the city. After nice dinner we went to the pub for a beer and later we bought some sweets - to end nicely the evening. And went to the flat of Serhan, watched some photos, discuss and finally went to sleep at 3 AM!

Next day we're working on the program of the TC until the evening. At 8 PM we went to meet Ferhat and together went for a concert of El Pluma Band "William Cardoso Project", in the frame of 16. Jazz Festival in Izmir. It was sooooo cool! Great music! I enjoyed a lot! And all of them were great. Especially drumer/singer - looks so young (like 17 or 18) and was hyperactive and very funny :) They influenced even all those officials between audience ;) After this great concert we went for a looong night walk in the city centre and near the bay.

Next day we were working until 3 PM, then we went to the University of Serhan to excuse his absence in next days. Then we picked up Behrooz (third trainer) from the train station and went shopping - need to buy all those stuff needed for a TC. And went to Kusadasi. Finally, after 8 PM we were in the hotel. We checked the training room, had a dinner, talk some time and went to sleep.

Next day we're working on the program until the dinner. With a nice lunch break, when we met first two participants. With one of them - Kasia - I had my first (and last ;)) visit in the sea. It was very nice. We've met with almost all participants for a dinner and after it we started the welcome evening. It was nice :)

Next days were very intensive - group wasn't so experienced, but very energetic, motivated, willing to learn as much as possible and asking many questions. Because we were prepared for more experienced people, we changed quite much, especially during the first part of the training - related with Human Rights. We had very nice and interesting sessions, participants want to share a lot, discuss a lot. What also strongly influenced our decissions about timing ;)

I liked work with Behrooz and Serhan. It was good team work. I learned a lot from Behrooz. And I would be happy to work with them again in the future!

I've met again two of participants - lovely Polish girl Asia and great Dutch girl Maartje. It was so great to spend some time together again. And of course I've met very nice new people as well :)

We're very lucky with place - 5 star hotel with all included for youth training course! Amazing! Hotel is great, place is amazing! It's so wonderful that it was very difficult to go away. If our application form for a new training course in next year will be accepted - we are planning to do it in the same place. There was only positive feedback about it :) With all included we have also such a nice things like Turkish bath (recommend it!) and sauna. Was nice ;)

This training was very successful - we have only positive evaluations :) It's really amazing. They came out with 3 project ideas as a follow-up: 2 training courses and one exchange. 2 of them are under construction, planned to apply for 1st November. I'm crossing my fingers with them - to manage to apply in this deadline and to be acceptec. And one will be for 1st February, what is not so good, because new Programme Youth in Action will start in 2007 and it'll be first deadline, what means probably huge mess. But let's see. What is funny - seems that we did a good impression on participants, becase for both of training courses paricipants ask us to be trainers ;) It would be really interesting to do it with them, also because we could see how they developed in this time. But first they need to apply and to be accepted. Then we'll see.

After the training course we spent whole Friday on packing, visiting Kusadasi for arrangement with the travel office, way to Izmir, visiting shops and finally having dinner with Maartje and Elif. And at the end we went to the airport with Maartje and then driving with Elif to her place and finally home.
Saturday was a day of work - starting final report and writing almost whole application for this new training course. It looks good and I really hope we'll be accepted. Now Serhan need to translate it, finish the practical part, check all those parts III and go to the NA with it. Then we only may wait :/ At the evening we went for a dinner with Serhan and Ferhat. And then Serhan went home (he was flying to Bonn at the early morning), Ferhat to work on the airport and I was in his flat with his dad - chatting with friends :)
Sunday was a lazy day - sleeping long, slow breakfast. After breakfast we had a nice walk around the city and near the bay, we drunk Turkish coffee (then Ferhat was saying about my future from the rest of the coffee) and tea, then again walk, laying down on the grass near the sea and talking, eating a chocolate cake. Then Ferhat went to sleep a little bit before working again by night and I was waiting for Elif. Then we both went to the other side of the city and bay - by boat :) We had also nice cookies and tea on the boat. On the other side we're shopping a little bit ;) Also had a walk around and coming back also by boat. And after that walking a bit around the city centre. Then she went home, Ferhat went to work and I was again with his dad.
At the last day I woke up at 4 AM :/ Together with Ferhats' dad we went for a taxi stop, where he put me to a taxi, which took me for a airport bus station. I went for a domestic terminal by bus, where I was waiting about 2 hours for my plane to Istanbul. But everything went smoothly and without delays, I was on time in Warsaw. Then about 4,5 h (!) by train and I was home.

Waiting again for a possiblity to go to Turkey... Really!

Waiting for the train and plains ;)

Ok, I know that last days were a bit crazy - only few relations from Cardiff and nothing more. But it were strange days - I was on the crossroads between Cardiff and Izmir. Besides that I felt very lazy and tired, couldn't concentrate properly on preparations for the TC in Izmir. I felt that time spent in Cardiff with such a great people was kind of 'magic' and it was difficult (still is!) to just stop to remind nice moments, people, places. And there are many people from my 'sub-group' using MSN/Yahoo, so I spent a lot of time on conversations with them - it was amazing: all the time we started conversation when someone was online, sometimes me, sometimes others, and spending a lot of time talking. There must be kind of special link between us :) Wonder why?
And what is also so nice - we already started to try to fix next meetings with few people. And some of those possibilities really looks quite easy to realise :) And not so far away in time... Would be soooo lovely! (Btw - lovely is a strong influence of visit in Cardiff ;))))

Yesterday I received from Biba a link to cool movie. I like this idea very much and I think it's worth to promote - even if almost nobody is reading this blog ;) So... HERE is a great movie!

I should go to sleep soon - I must get up at 6 AM :( I hate this hour. I must go to Warsaw first. Then I have my plane to Istanbul at 1:35 PM. I'll be in Istanbul after 5 PM and have a next plane - to Izmir at 7 PM. In Izmir I'll be finally at 8 PM. I'll meet my 'welcoming committee' on the airport. And from the airport for the shopping. And finally to Serhan's home, when I'll spend those 2 days before the TC. On Wednesday we'll pick up from the airport 3rd trainer and first participant and go together to this lovely hotel :) I hope our TC will be successful one. And also cool :) And I'll find a bit of time to use such nice possibilities like cool weather, sea, private beach, Turkish baths, massages, sauna etc. :) Would be great!
I'll go home on 23rd, early morning. I'll be in Warsaw between 12 and 1 PM. Then I should meet with Sylwia - Polish participant from EM 4 in Cardiff :) I'm planning to spend with her about 6 hours and go home. So, probably I'll be home very late - like midnight.

Then almost one week free ;) And Germany - I'll be on the way ;)

But I miss my friends already! And all those chatts :( Hugggs!

Great people!

And finally time to describe people from EM 4 a bit ;) Although I was a part of the team I've managed to quite nicely integrate with the group and to find my 'favourites'. Maybe also becasue of the fact that being a documentalist don't demand so much work during the training as being a trainer. Work is mostly during the sessions, and the 'real' work is now - after the Module. And thanks to that I had a wonderful week with great ppl :D Here is my 'subgroup' ;)


That's Sylwia - our participant from Poland. Lovely, nice and crazy girl :) Many nice ideas, huggy-girl :) I hope to meet her in Warsaw when I'll be going back from Izmir.

Guy from Belgium - Mathias. Very nice and warm person. I have an impression that he's a bit shy. But still - nice :)


Italian girl - Alessandra. The wormest and most gentle from all girls of the course in my opinion. Very sincere person and participant with one of the most interesting comments during the EM.


Great finish guy - Arttu. Gentelman and a 'real guy' in the same moment - seems to be still possible ;) Good dancer, nice actor, interesting person. Cool guy.

And that's Maartje - great girl form the Netherlands. Great sense of humour, very nice, huggy girl :) When I'll be visiting Rene next time - I want to meet her also. Especially that she is living close to him.

Marek - Czech guy. Meetings with him was quite complicated since the beginning to the end, but that's another story ;) In general - smart guy, very interesting comments during the Module. But also a crazy guy ;) Great animator - actor, nice dancer.

Jonathan from Germany. Great guy! Even he's very young (22 y.o.!) - he is very smart, with deep reflections and interesting comments. And also crazy guy, with a sharp tongue ;) Great dancer, good actor. Very huggy-pillow guy :)

That's the second part of the farewell party - already in Arttus' room, place more comfortable for 6 people, than a big party room. Photo made by Alessandra. In the blue T-shirt it's Pedro - great joker. A bit later Alessandra and Pedro went to sleep to their rooms and at the end we're only in 4 people. And we're talking, talking until we finally felt asleep together ;) And we're sleeping like that until 7 something ;) Then each 30 minutes we were a 'goodbye committee' for departing participants and in the meantime we had a nice breakfast. But unfortunatelly at 11 they also went to the airport :( End!

To see much more also funny pictures ;) you must go to my online website - HERE There are 3 different subfolders: city, group and work and non-formal time with great people. I always recommend to start with the last photo on the last end and continue until the beginning ;) I don't really know why this system uploading photos in such way. But probably I'm kind of blondi ;) None of those folders is ready, they are still developing, but there are already some nice pics. Especially in the 3rd one. As far as I know you don't need to see any password to see them. In the case - contact me ;)

Novotel Centre Cardiff

I already knew earlier that I like Novotels. I had an opportunity to be a guest of the Novotel Centre in Warsaw and about half year later in Strasbourg. Nice stays, good level :)

And now was time for Novotel Centre Cardiff. On this website I recommend to see photos in the gallery. This hotel is... hm... amazing! Wonderful mixture of old warehouse and modern architecture, beautiful interior colors, interesting arrangements and furniture, beautiful paintings, great interior trim, a lot of glass and thanks to that - a lot of light. Just great! And besides that - good location: 10 minutes to the city centre and 15 minutes to the Bay - walking. Their employees that 12 different nationalities - if we'll splitt British and Welsh like they did ;) I've met 4 or 5 Polish. All very nice. Like everybody there. So 'crazy' helpful, nice, full of respect and interested employees I've never met in any company! Congratulations for management for selection and training of employees!

I had great, huge room, with a double, comfortable bed. And big bathroom with separated bath and shower. And of course standard - tv-sat, possibility to connect with internet, mini-bar, fridge, safe. And also something new for me - maybe because of the country ;) - electric cordless kettle, 2 cups, choice of tea and instant coffee. And each day fresh cookies ;) My room was partly similar to this one, but different colors and more space in mine.

Aha, for our disposal we had also leisure club - fittness centre, sauna, jacuzzi and swimming pool :D

I waaaant to go back there! Just now, right now! It would be great!

Seriously - I hope that I'll have a next opportunity to visit this place again in the future! At least once :)

PS. And this is second clear example that good quality of services cause a good commercial ;)

City of Cardiff

I thought I'll start with impressions about the city. In June (during the prep meeting) I didn't had time to see anything. And now - thanks to being earlier and staying longer than the rest of the people - I had 1,5 day before and 1 day after the European Module to do sightseeing :) I arrived to Cardiff on 23rd September, about 7 PM. When I get to my hotel and check in I only managed to unpack my luggage, make more-less order in my room and then I was doing nothing - only relaxing after this long travel. I was watching TV, reading a book.

Next day - after sleeping long :) - I went for a walk. First I was trying to find a Cardiff Bay, but I chosen bad way, thanks to what I was loosing time for non-effective way to get there ;) Afterwards I noticed that I was quite close, but it wasn't a pedestrian area, but more office-industrial part of the Bay. Then - resigned - I decided to visit the city centre. There is a really wonderful old city centre, in the style, which is such untypical for the 'continent'. Lovely churches. Beautiful castel, but unfortunately entrance fee is almost 7 pounds, so I postponed it to the next visit ;)

Near the castle is huuuge Bute Park, full of different trees, flowers etc. There is also circle of rocks, nice garden of monks, little castle (probably for lover or old wife ;))), river, channels... Wonderful place. And sooo huge! Part of this park is surrounded by so called wall of animals, with realistic sculptures of animals.

In general - whole Cardiff is full of different kinds of sculptures - because of different historical occasions, geography, nature and also those without any occasion (at least in theory). I've spent in this park few hours (and still didn't visit all places). Then I found Cathays Park.

Then I was walking around the city centre without any aim. I made some food shopping, sent 2 postcards ;) Then I was in the hotel for a lunch. Afterwards I decided again to find the Cardiff Bay. Now succesfully! The Bay and surroundings are just wonderful! Beautiful views, many different places to visit, places to sit and feel the atmosphere. Super! I like this part of the city very much :) You may find few great pictures of the Bay HERE There is also beautiful wetlands reserve - in the middle of the city! I've spent there many hours during those days - observing those great views, birds around, delighting in peace, thinking, remembering... Great place!

In general - whole Cardiff is worth to recommend! I didn't expect that it's so nice, interesting, beautiful and warm place :) I wish to come back there, 'leisurely', at least for the weekend. I even know WHERE I would like to spend it :p With a little 'but' - I think I can't afford for those 250 - 750 Euros per night :/ Well, there is nothing else to do - just find a very reach husband or boyfriend ;) :p

That's the end of pics from the Internet ;) I didn't managed to upload ours to the online album :( Until now only 3 pics!!!

Great pub which we had an opportunity to visit once (at least I did it once ;))

Monument - WWII

Impressive building of the Millenium Centre, also theatre.

It would be great if I would manage to upload more photos before I'll go to Izmir. Let's see!

It's the end for this moment! More great places on the way ;)

Times is passing so fast

I'm home since 1,5 day. But I didn't found any time to update my English blog. Those days are crazy busy for me and I should rather preparing myself for the TC in Izmir, than writing this post, but Rene asked me about updating so many times, that finally I'm doing it :p So.... let's start!

Waiting for the bus

So... I'm packed, just waiting until 1:10 to start my travel to Cardiff. I hope I'll survive it quite comfortably ;) Without loud people around, polices stopping us, delays etc. Especially delays - I must change my bus on London Victoria Coach Station. So, cross your fingers for my travel ;)

Huh, and also for this fact that it seems that only I'll be so early in Cardiff, so I hope I'll have my board and lodging for this 'additional' time and I'll not need to use any bridge around ;) I really hope so ;)

And also for fulfilling all my task in very good way and to leave a good impression of my work between the team, organizers, participants... To give them chance to invite me for future work ;)

Three wishes...

But seriously - I'm a bit stressed. It'll be first so 'serious' job for such 'important' institutions. So, I really hope that I'll do everythig perfectly. I know it's my first tasks like this one and may do some mistakes, don't know some things etc. But still would like to be great ;)

I'm trying to burn CD with documents etc., but something is not good :/ Sometimes my computer/program/burner has own opinion what it should do and what not ;) Grrrrr.... I hope I'll manage to do it soon without problems.

Ok, I don't have a feeling about writing more things. So, I'll only write that should be in Cardiff tomorrow at 5:40 PM :/ I'll stay there until 3rd October and I'll be home at 4rd October at midday. Ufff...

I'll miss chatts with my friends during those 2 weeks. I've managed to say goodbye to all of them besides Marcin, but I have still 2 hours, so maybe... ;)

Hugs!

PS. I can't comment on any blos on Blogger, which are not Beta, sorry.
PS2. Rene - poor Lara because of this salsa-night.

Unforgettable experience

I must admit that I love sweets. Fortunately or not, that's not important ;)

But from all sweets I love most chocolate :)))))))))

And from all chocolates (which I tasted) I love most "Pierre Marcolini"

"This creator of happiness has allowed us to discover flavours we would never have dreamed of!"

I remember - my frist time in Brussels. I thought "Ok, I'll buy some of those famous Belgian chocolates". When I shared this idea with my friend (whom invited me to visit him in BXL), he answered "You shouldn't buy those. I know a special place. Just wait and see."

He took me to a shop, which from outside looks as a jewlery and from inside as a mixture of jewlery and an art gallery. This atmosphere... And those incredible chocolates around... That's how I discovered a shop of "Pierre Marcolini" in Brussels, near Grand Sablon.

In reality it looks much better. Great place with great people working in it and - what is most important - wonderful chocolates!

I couldn't sober myself and of course I bought one chocolate bar and few single chocolates and I took it home. When I tried them...

"...placing a Pierre Marcolini creation into your mouth is an experience that often borders on the Absolute"

That's my feeling in this moment! Really... Long time aftet that I was just dreaming to taste them again. To experience this great feeling again...

And just few days ago I had this opportunity to visit the same place after more than one year! And I bought again one bar. And this is second day of my happiness... This taste is so amazing, that eating this chocolate is really strong feeling... Mixture of happiness for body and mind... maybe more mind even... Amazing! Now I think that there are only few things which cause such strong feeling of... I don't know - happiness? Delight?

My nowadays delight is made from chocolate coating, cane sugar, lecithin, vanilla pod from Tahiti, pieces of pistachios, hazelnuts and almonds. And all those words mean nothing in describing this incredible taste...

I just love them and I want to move to one of the places where he has his shops and also to earn much money (the only bad thing is that those chocolates are expensive - at least in mine and my friends opionion). That would be great :)

And guys - I'm not paid by him to make such commercial on my blog :p And such commercial wouldn't have much sense in it if my blog is visited only by very few friends of mine ;) I even bought this one bar with my last Euros! But I'll not conceal that if somebody working for him to make an Internet researches would find this post and 'award' me with some nice chocolate - I would be sooo happy ;) :p

Brussels time

Now there is finally time to write about my visit in Brussels. Way to hotel was not long and difficult, lady in the reception nice and helpful, so I was in my room still quite early. Unpacking things, taking shower and still have time for a walk and ice-creams ;) I was hungry and it was hot so I thought that two scoops would be nice. The guy gaves me two, but there were sooo huge, as 4 Polish scoops! And so good ;)

What was really cool - organizers decided to give us possibility to 'taste' interculturalism of Brussels, so each lunch and dinner we had in different restaurant, eg. Italian, Belgian, Maroccan, Thai etc. It was really cool to taste all those meals. My favourite meal was Maroccan, dessert was Belgian and drink again Maroccan mint tea. Mniam ;)
We had 2 trainers - Louise, English teacher living now in Brussels and Sylvain - French youth trainer.
The introductory evening was nice. All people were trying to speak with other, to get know people around etc. And slow evening, finished quite early.
First day started as usual - opening, hopes & fears, get to know each other. Then we had a session of 'intercultural speed-dating', for me a version of excercise called 'Carousel'. After lunch we had two sessions - defining 'culture' with Sylvain and defining 'international English' with Louise. And we finished our day with first session of work on the booklet. After Belgian dinner we went slowly to the Grand Place to see it by night. We're just on time ;) When we came the 'light and music show' started. It was really cool. Then we're walking around the centre. And finished this day with this long (3 hours?) walk :)
Second day we started with a cool role play related with intercultural conflict during the youth exchange. We had 3 groups, each group hade the same roles in the group and we're trying to find a solution, being observed by observers. Of course rest of the day was based on this play and it's evaluation. So, after this play we had evaluation and later theoretical input by Sylvain. And after lunch we had a session about misunderstanding and communication skills by Louise. And finishing the day again with work on the booklet. After Thai dinner some people went to buy some nice drinks and some to their rooms to take national drinks and we've met in little nice garden in our hotel. That was a really nice, slow evening with drinking delicious things, many great massages and funny conversations and jokes ;) My favourite drink was Slovenian one, made from bluebarries - I don't remember the name. I tried it already in Ljubljana year ago and I liked it a lot. This evening was little longer ;)
Third day we started with some nice excercises about transmitting and listening to informations. Louise made something, what we're calling 'dead phone' and Sylvain made an excercise which name I don't remember. But it looks like that: you have 5-6 volunteers outside the room, you read a story to the first person, whom must repeat it to the second, second to third etc. That's a cool excercise. And he used as a story 'Abigale' from T-kit 4, which is quite controversial, but he made it even 'worse' - not using genders, only names, what as you know is possible in English and then you can't say who is who ;) So, after that we had really long and interesting discussion about language, but also about stereotypes of genders, social roles etc.
After (or let's say during) the lunch we had voluntary meeting with Susie (British Council) about new Program 'Youth in Action'. There is still almost nothing clear and it'll start in January 2007! Lol... And after the lunch we're finishing our work on booklet. For the last session and coffee before we had few VIP-guests ;) For example: Erik Langbraten from DG EAC from the European Commission, Michał Rynkowski - the same institution, responsible for 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, Ali Fisher - Counterpoint, Dieta Sixt - Goethe Institut Brussels and so on. It was nice opportunity to meet them, introduce a bit ourselves ;) And of course at the end - evaluation of the seminar.
Last dinner and last evening we spent in the Karaoke Bar, which was a nice place with nice people working in it. After nice dinner we had a 'lucky dip' - each person took a little present from her/his country and we put them together to one box. Then each person was draw one thing, trying to guess what is it and from whom. That was really nice :) And in this way I'm owner of a nice bottle of French Beaujolais - Villages from Sylvain. That's a destiny - I love wines ;) After the dinner karaoke started and it was not only for us, what was also intersting. There were quite many people with a nice voice. And there was one guy with suuuuch great voice that we're wondering what he's doing in the karaoke bar. When he song 'One' U2 it was just amazing. And in the meantime he (with his friends) organized an amusement for our group - dansing, first on the floor and later on the bar ;) This evening was really nice also!
At the breakfast I've met only girls from British Council - Susie, Mono and intern Hanna. They were going back to London after 1 PM. After that I've packed my laguage and left it in the special room and I've met 2 girls from the group, so we decided to walk around the city together. And in the centre one guy from the group also joined us, so we had a nice coffee together near Galleries. And after that we went back to the hotel. I took a shower - nice opportunity in the sauna ;) and I went to the bus station. Bus was quite early and we started our travel to Poland on time.
It's hard to believe, but during this travel by bus I saw first time in my life a movie - 'Scent of a women' . I was amazed, it's so great movie. I would like to have it in my 'collection'. And Al Pacino was amazing...
We're on time on the borded (even if we're stopped in the middle of Germany by police - to check our identities). Directly after crossing border we're stopped again - this time by the customs service. But timing was still ok when we came to the meeting and transfering point. But there we're waiting for one delayed bus from the UK about 2 hours! So, finally I was later home - about 2,5 hour. But I survived ;)
And in 2 days I'll travel again by bus, even longer :p Crazy girl ;)

Rotterdam - photos

Because I don't have a digital camera, now I have a problem with photos. To publish them I must first finish my film, make copies and then find somebody who will scan nicely my photos. It'll take some time and I'm not sure if I'll manage to do this before my travel to Cardiff. So, I decided to publish here some photos of places which I visited during my stay, which I found in the net . I found them all on the Trekearth. Even there is similar weather on most of them ;) So, I could do the same of very similar one if I would have the digital camera :) So...

Very expensive apartment blocks and also place where my bus stops ;)

Old warehouse, where you may fidn description of trade places - make zoom for that ;)

Historical New York Hotel. Under those umbrellas we had our cofffee-tea break ;) Background - Montevideo, one of the most expensive sky raiser in Rotterdam View from this hotel 'terrace-garden'. There were no people laying there, but instead that we saw many brides and grooms making wedding photos ;)

Watertaxi - something normal in Rotterdam ;)

One of those fancy modern buildings ;)

Famous cubic houses and the Pencil ;)

Again :)

Comic statue - bench near those cubic houses

Statue 'City without a heart' - related with WWII

Both photos - famous Erasmus Bridge

Old Harbour, lovely place with many caffees and restaurants. Here with bad weather :( In my case - perfect one ;)

'Ordinary' house in Rotterdam ;)

Again modern buildings in the centre

Stereotyping a bit ;) Windmill :p