jeudi, septembre 21, 2006

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.

mardi, septembre 19, 2006

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

lundi, septembre 18, 2006

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 ;)

dimanche, septembre 17, 2006

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

samedi, septembre 16, 2006

Again Rotterdam

Yesterday I came back home after long bus jurney. It should be 20 hours and it was 23 hours :( We're waiting near the German - Polish border for delayed bus from the UK - to split passangers between buses going to different cities in Poland. And on the way we're stopped by German police (to check our ID?) and after border by Polish customs service to check our luggages. So, trip was quite interesting :p Yesterday I was relaxing, resting, talking with my uncle, watching tv, reading all those mails after few days offline etc. Now there is a time to share a bit with you my further Rotterdam visit and also Brussels stay :) But Rene wrote already a nice description of our meeting, so I'm not sure if I should do this or just give link to his version ;)

During our 'sightseeing' on Saturday we saw e.g. city hall, post office, church, statue of Erasmus... After that we went to 'feel' the Festival which took place on few streets in artistic part of the city. That was cool :D Especially all those pink spots on all building around :D In Rotterdam there are many interesting statues, with some of them I have even nice pics ;) And I liked one more church, where was different meetings, interesting design and cool music. On the way to have a coffee we had an opportunity to listen to really cool music on the street. We reached an Old Harour for a coffee and cola and then we decided about Italian dinner :) During nice dinner Rene's friend - Lara called us if she may join us for an evening. So, she appears during the dessert time ;) We decided to go for a movie. We saw "The Sentinel", I agree with Rene - it was interesting movie and not so "Hollywood-style" as I thought it will be ;) Then Lara went home to be back in next day (she is staying in the flat of Rene because of some missunderstanding about place of living until 1st October). And we had a nice walk near the river. Erasmus bridge by night is so wonderful!

On Sunday we started the day with a walk to see 2 windmills. I couldn't refused myself to fullfil my stereotype about Holland ;) Those windmills are located in beautifull park with lake. Day was warm and sunny, so it was just perfect place to visit. I didn't want to go from this place ;) But unfortunatelly my train to Brussels was on 13:24, so we couldn't stay there longer :( Rene went with me to the train station and wait with my for the train.

That's how my visit in Rotterdam finished. I really enjoyed it a lot and I'm happy that I had this opportunity! And I'm veeeery grateful Rene - only because of him I had a chance to 'taste' Rotterdam and to have this cool meeting :D Thank you dear!

samedi, septembre 09, 2006

Rotterdam story

Since yesterday I'm in Rotterdam, visitng Rene. It's really nice visit :) I came yesterday morning. After short and relaxing sleep I started to discover Rotterdam with Rene as a guide. That was really intersting walk around the city. I saw fameus and beautiful Erasmus bridge, cubic hauses, pencil-building, old harbour, New York Hotel (when we had a nice break with coffee and tea) and many more intersting places. And after nice dinner prepared by Rene (even with a nice dessert! :p) we spent rest of the night on the party for new students coming to Rotterdam for special program for all over the Europe. Rene was a DJ and I was trying to not disturb him too much ;) And also observing all those young people partying ;) I've met nice friends of Rene, whom are also members of AEGEE - like we are. We came home after 3 AM and sleep quite long. And now (after the Formula I ;)) rest of the sightseeing will start and after that we'll visit a place we are many concerts today. Maybe there will be again some friends. And tomorrow after 1 PM I'll start my travel to Brussels.

jeudi, septembre 07, 2006

Almost on the way

In 20 minutes I'll start my travelling period ;) Today I'm going to Bydgoszcz and from Bydgoszcz to Rotterdam. I'll visit my anonymus friend ;) It'll be great to see him again after so long break and also to visit Rotterdam first time in my life!
On 10th I'll go from Rotterdam to Brussels to take a part in the Seminar about communication organized by the SALTO Cultural Diversity Centre. I will also meet some other people there - my friend Iza and probably a board member of AEGEE - Stefan (we'll discuss about possible new project for 2007). And I must eat those great hot wafels and buy wonderful chocolate ;) I'll be back home on 15th September.
And if everything will be alright I'll make a small party on 17th. It would be great :)
Have a nice week!

lundi, septembre 04, 2006

Words of the world

"Relationships are like Rome. Difficult to start out, incredible during the prosperity of the 'Golden Age', and unbearable during the fall. Then, a new kingdom will come along and the whole process will repeat itself until you come across a kingdom like Egypt.. that thrives, and continues to flourish. This kingdom will become your best friend, your soulmate, and your love."

Helen Adams Keller

"Love is for fools wise enough to take a chance."

Anonymus

"To love someone who does not love you, is like shaking a tree to make the dew drops fall."

Proverb

"Love is the answer, but while you're waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty interesting questions."

Woody Allen

"Gravity is not responsible for people falling in love."

Albert Einstein

"Sympathy constitutes friendship; but in love there is a sort of antipathy, or opposing passion. Each strives to be the other, and both together make up one whole."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"The course of true love never did run smooth."

William Shakespeare

"'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all."

Lord Tennyson

"We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly."

Sam Keen

vendredi, septembre 01, 2006

I need some energizer...

Almost whole this week was without energy. I don't know what happened, but it was not nice at all.

But it started to change 'under pression' - I must prepare some things for the TC in which I'll be trainer. So, we had some e-meetings in this week, reading application forms of candidates, splitting tasks, discussing about roles, methods etc. That was good, but we still have some parts of program to talk about. And then I will finally fully prepare myself for 'my' parts of program ;)

When I'll be back from Rotterdam I'll have only few days to prepare for my work as a documentalist in European Module 4 in Cardiff. That means also practical things, like buying tickects. And I'm still looking for a suitable and cheap connection. There are two options now: going directly from Bydgoszcz to Cardiff by bus (the cheapest and the longest option) and flying from Bydgoszcz to London Stansted by Ryanair and then changing for National Express coach to Cardiff via London Victoria (that's half price more but half of the time). But when I see this whole mess on airports, those new strange regulations, those delays (especially with cheap airlines) I'm not so optimistic about this connection. But I'll decide on Monday.

Yesterday I received an info that I'm registered for the Evaluation Seminar of all European Modules 2006. It will be held in Bonn on 1st and 2nd November. And on 31st October there will be also an informational day about new Youth in Action Program. It will be good to hear about it more in details. And for the period od this seminar (1,5 day ;))) we'll be also hired, so means some additional money. At least something ;) That's good news.

Tomorrow I'll go to Bydgoszcz for a short training related with action in which 'my' local foundation is taking part and which is called "You have a voice - you have a choice" and which is aimed to promote participation and voting in local elections (which will take a place in November this year). It'll be interesting, we'll talk for example about leading debates with candidates. And maybe I'll also meet some friends there :) Let's wait and see.

Now I'm relaxing, writting posts on my blogs and listen to the internet radio of my friends ;) There were just greetings from Marcin to me :)) That's nice, even if it's kind of private radio - with maybe 100 listeners ;) Or something like that.