Me, myself and I

New Years thought

2008-01-01T22:16:00.000+01:00

Result of the last few days (hm... maybe last 15 years rather) - I should never have hope, it's useless and make the life more painful in the result. Hoping for something in 90% (if not more) has only negative result, so... I will try to forget about such a feeling like this one.

Evening cogitations ;)

2007-12-02T00:07:00.000+01:00

Hm... Maybe watching a romantic comedy with a happy end wasn't the best idea? I've got a bit of feeling of longing, a bit melancholic... And all my friends out for a party, away from the internet. Yeap, indeed - "saturday night fever" in action ;) Only I'm sitting home and watching stupid movies ;) I think I should go to bed now...

In love with Berlin...

2007-07-13T22:03:00.000+02:00

Better late than never, huh? ;) So, first of all - visiting friends in Berlin!

I came to Berlin late evening on 28th of June. After arriving to the flat we spent around 3-4 hours on talking with Sergej and Angelique and then we went to sleep before intensive day (for them ;)) I woke up late, read the sms from Peter - with invitation for a lunch - and start to prepare to move ;) He picked me up on the U-bahn station and we went to the place of Yannick, where Peter is living. Guys prepared a nice lunch, we had very nice time together, a lot of talks, laughing, joking, teasing and so on. I liked it :) After the lunch I went to visit the organizers of the European Youth Week, to clarify some tax issues and also to pick up my DVD with photos. Yes, I've got them :) So, when I'll be able - I'll publish some of them and share with others ;) After the visit in MC I went to the Turkish Market - to buy great nuts and fruits. And back to Frankfurter Allee to pack in a small backpack, meet Sigi, Angelique and Oleg and start our travel to Forst (hometown of guys). First we had a dinner in their house, with their mother and her boyfriend (from Poland ;)). It was a cool time, very warm and nice, German-English-Polish-Russian mixture ;) After the dinner we went for a concerts and party to Park 7 - umbrella organization for young people, which is in danger of closing, because of debts. That's why they organized this event - to pay back at least part of money to the local authorities and sustain the negotiations. It was interesting night - I've met a lot of new people, jump a little, listen to very diverse music - punk, hardcore and hip-hop (Angelique was also performing!). We're back at 5 AM!
Next day I had a breakfast with Oleg and Ryszard, Sergej with Angelique went to visit her parents and Natasza had some celebrations in her kindergarden. After that I had longer and interesting conversation with Ryszard, he is a very open man, artist - sculptor, it was nice time. Then I went to have a nap again ;) And at the late afternoon we moved again to Berlin. On the way - for about 1 h - we're going together with around 20 football fans, totally drunk, walking around with the megaphone, music and shouting (even "Sieg Hail"!), "lovely" companions in the train :/ In Berlin we went to eat some small nice Arabic food and at home we watched (with Sergej) a movie - "Bowling for Columbine" (interesting to see). Then we had a meeting with Karolina and Fidi - our friend couple. We visited 2 pubs and had a nice small dinner together. At 3 AM they went to sleep and we went to visit Angelique in her work - Cassiopea. It's cool place, with 2 big rooms with different music, summer garden, snacks place, climbing wall, skate hall. After that we had a nice, long walk back home.
And again long sleeping ;) Then a very slow breakfast, TV, talks, mails and - shame - it was already time for a dinner ;) We had again the meeting with Karolina and Fidi and also with Oleg - to have the dinner together. They live in ex-sqaut house, which is now their own property (which the people living there will pay back in 40 years ;)) Each of them has a room, they use kitchen and bathroom together - all people who live in the same staircase. And they share backyard as a social place :) And there is also kind of social project - cafe, restaurant, performance place called "Zielona Góra" (next influence of Poland :)), where each Sunday you may eat very cheap and good dinner - vegan food (2 Euro with a dessert!). After the dinner they went to a concert, Sergej with Oleg to the flat and I went first meet Jakob on the station and then together to the Roma Theater, where we've met Jona, Sylwia, Wojtek and Roxana. We came back to the flat with the last U-bahn and then we opened Żubrówka ;) So, finally Jakob and Oleg went to their own flat at 4, with first U-bahn and then I went to sleep ;)
The last morning was just sleeping, packing and moving to the East Station. There I've met Sylwia and Jona - on Sunday she told me that she is going back with the same EC train as I do. So, we had a nice time until Poznań. Then I changed the train for the regional one, so slow one :/ But it was not so bad.

I don't have any photos (just very shaky from the concert), but it doesn't matter. It was a cool time, which also influence strongly my decission about trying of the life in Berlin for some time...

Last week

2007-06-26T17:45:00.000+02:00

I don't know, but lately I do not have any will to write any posts again. Even on my Polish blog. In general I'm terribly lazy - just sleeping, reading and absolutely nothing more. And unfortunatelly I have some things to do - application form, changes in another one, report from one project and session outlines for two other. And not much time for that - until Thursday midday. I just need to force myself and I'll manage. At least I hope ;)

Between Thursday and Sunday I was in Warsaw. We had a preparatory meeting for a Regional Training Course on Multipliers on Human Rights Education. There were: Karolina (president of the PYC), Monika (local organizer), Darek, Silvia, Marius and me (trainers). The meeting was very interesting and effective - we've finished even a bit earlier than we thought. Everything is plan (of course draft versions), deadlines are set, so now it is time for work.

And the free time together with them was also very nice :) On Friday we were in "Komisariat" (police station) for a beer and mojito. And on Saturday, we had long walk in the Old Town, then dinner and beer. And before that we're watching "Music & lyrics" on the computer and after that singing the songs from the movie together ;) Cool team building ;) And half of Sunday we had free - Monika, Silvia and Darek needed to go, but Karo, me and Marius were enjoying the free time together. First we're watching the fashion shows during the 3rd Warsaw Fashion Street (what was interesting mostly for Marius ;)), then we had slow, nice lunch, walk around and wondering around the biggest shopping mall in Poland. Then Marius went to catch his bus, Karo back to the office and I took my suitcase from the hotel and catch my train back home.

Today I've got finally 2 pics from Peter from the EYW, 1 pic from Marius and some others, so I can finally show you some pics. If organizers will burn me DVD with all the photos from them in this week, then in the future you may see some more. So...

Workoholics - trainers during the European Youth Week 2007. From the right side: Danijela, Marius, Ena, Peter and Marc.

Leading ice-breakers for 150 people... Strange feeling!

During the official openning session

With Marius - during the bus city tour (as you may see - in the open bus ;)) A lot of fun, laughing, joking, crazyness, a bit of danger (cut most of the trees in BXL ;))

Award ceremony (for the best youth projects), Eurovision style ;) With Peter.

Crazyness caused thanks to the presenters - minute later we changed our places, went to the last row, where we could comment and laugh more freely ;) We're very bad raised ;)

That would be all for now. If there will be more nice pics - I may come back to this event.

On Thursday I'll go to Berlin. I'm very happy about it :) I'll stay in the flat of Sergej and Angelique, I'll spend whole my time with them, also with Jakob, probably with Sylwia and Jona, Peter and his love, and maybe some other friends :) It will be great just to relax, enjoy time with friends, party, have fun and so on. I would just love to have also good weather, but this seems not so possible :( Let's see!

C'est incroyable

2007-06-10T22:57:00.000+02:00

It's such a strange feeling to be at home after more than 2 months of travelling... I was home inbetween long enough just to unpack, wash my clothes and pack, all the time busy with so many different things. And now I just have 1 report to write, some other things to do and that's all. Incredible! I would like to use this time maybe also for creating the project ideas for future applications, refreshing my languages and developing the professional knowledge. Let's hope I'll manage.

I came home 3 days ago - before that I was in Brussels, co-leading video workshop during the European Youth Week. I was working with Christophe and Steven - two lovely, charming, inteligent and professional guys from Belgium and Wales. It was very nice work and also cool free time together. Besides our workshop, there were 2 other 'creative' workshops - music and photo. The music workshop was leaded by my favourite Turkish-Iranian: Behrooz and very cool Greek: Sakis :)
There were also 7 'debating' workshps leaded by trainers from the Pool of Trainers of the European Youth Forum.
It was a bit difficult (especially at the beginning) to create one team between those two types of trainers, but later it was better and better. I would not say that it was done in 100%, but still - better than I expected after the preparatory meeting. But I still hope that organizers will a bit rethink the concept for the next EYW. Even, if I don't have any guarantee that I would work for the next one as well.

The work was a bit confusing sometimes, often very hard and long, but still - it was very interesting and I'm not sorry that I agreed to work there. We had very interesting group of participants, spent also cool time together during the breaks and the free time.

I've met many cool, very interesting people during this time. On both levels - between participants and between trainers. I've also met people whom I know before, so it was also cool :) I enjoyed my free time very much! I've met again, e.g. Annamari, Asia, Bettina, Bjorn, Marius, Homa... And I've met many new cool people, e.g. Ioana, Bogdy, Danjela, Peter, Nina, Naomi, Renata, Vesna, David, Luis... Many, many great people! I hope that at least with some of them I'll meet again and again :)

About the EYW - we've started with informal opening, introduction to workshops and bus tour around Brussels (what a lovely time!). Next day we had the official openning, workshops time and a disco (hm... very short for 'the creative team', but still great :)). On Tuesday we're finishing the workshop results and at the evening there was a European Celebration - ceremony of giving awards to projects (Eurovision show II ;) But it was great, time with friends...). During the last day we had first presentation of the results, then time for questions and proposals and after the lunch the final conclusions were ready for the round table with officials from the EU-institutions. After that - for those, who were staying in BXL - evaluation meeting. And at the evening totally non-formal meeting of the trainers and their friends :) Very nice time - laughing, drinking, joking, teasing, talking, eating, being together...

And now, after this beautiful time, it's even harder to get use to being in my village again. I will stay at home until 21st of June, then we have the preparatory meeting for a regional training course for multipliers on human rights education. I will meet there Marius, Darek and other friends, as well as a new (for me) members of the team - Sylvia and Monika. Let's see how it will be work with Darek and Marius, whom I knew from some time, but never worked together.

Missing my friends...

PS. More about the European Youth Week - HERE. Some photos as well, but only for my friends, whom are registered in the Facebook :)

Luxemburg first time

2007-05-02T23:00:00.000+02:00

On the special request...

On 25th of April I started my travel to Luxemburg, first time in my life. I was flying via Paris (so I needed to fly back ;)), where I've met Żaneta, my trainer-collegue, which I haven't saw for about 1 year. We were travelling together to Luxemburg. I need to admitt it was the shortest flight in my history - 35-40 minutes. Start, 5 minutes, landing ;) In Luxemburg it appeared that we were 5 from this flight and we needed to wait 30 minutes for the bus to Remerschen. In the hostel I get to know that Mara (my Hungarian friend) managed with the reception to put us both in the same room :) Besides her I had 2 other roommates: one more girl from Hungary and one girl from Russia (whom I've met during the NCCs meeting in Warsaw in March). We all were tired (it's not so fast and easy for most of the people to travel to this country), so we went to sleep around midnight.

At the morning I woke up quite fresh - after about 7 hours of sleeping ;) We went by bus to the castle in Schengen, where we had the symposium. All the symposium was like: presentations, lectures, speaches, workshops, like a circle.

At the first evening they took us to the one of the biggest wineyards in Luxemburg. It was huge and quite interesting. And of course at the end we had opportunity to try one of those wines. I bought one (other than we tried) - Pinot Gris. And it appeared later to be a good idea, it's very good (and it costs some money, more than 8 Euro ;))

Second evening they took us for the 3 hours boat trip on Mossel. They welcomed us with the champaign, we crossed twice the water gate, wonderful views, cool people, it was great :) I had a nice dinner with a few companions: Kasia (Poland), Marie-Luise (Sweden), Krisztina (Hungary) and Marek (Czech Republic). It was very interesting and funny dinner. Unfortunatelly photos later, when I'll get them from girls.

On the last day Symposium was only until the lunch. Then we went by bus to the city of Luxemburg. Organizers wants to show us first the place of the evening meeting and place of the dinner. But when we saw the meeting place, then we decided to 'escape' (me and Marek) to the city already. We started our sightseeing, which took a few hours, it was soooo nice, we're walking around, visiting bookshops ;) having together a candy-floss, coffee, meal and so on (in general he was suppose to borrow me some money to cover my expences during this day - I left my wallet on the bad in the room - but at the evening I've heard from him it was a present! Crazy guy :)))Then we joined the group for a dinner, which was very nice and tasty. And then again we went alone for a music festival in the city. But it was so crawded that we resigned after 10 minutes - it was almost not possible to move. On the way back we've met one of the trainers - Kees, with whom we're trying to have beer. In 3 pubs they said that they are closing (before 11 PM! on Saturday! in the capital!), so we finally eneded in the hotel bar near our place of meeting. What interesting cathedral was open at 11 PM ;) After coming back to the hostel representatives of the group went to the gas station to buy alcohol for the last party. And I was doing the massage of the head and face for Marek - as I promissed during the day. After that I decided to stay and accompany my Russian roommate until 4 AM - she was having a bus to the airport at 4:30. We're talking, laughing, having hot chocolate. And after she went to take a shower I decided to go to sleep.

At the morning (as most of the group) I decided to take a bus at 8 AM. On the way to the airport we're discussing with Marek and other people who were sitting around us. After the check-in we're having a breakfast in strong group of 8 people :) Then we went to our gates. I was lucky - I found other 3 people from our group waiting for the plane to Paris, so at least this part of the travel went quickly on talking. When I came to Warsaw, then I realised that my suitcase didn't :/ I reported this on the airport and went home by train. I was home around 10 PM. And my suitcase arrived next day during the afternoon.

That's all about this visit in Luxemburg. Photos later, when I'll get them.

Tomorrow I'll go to Turkey for a TC, then to Budapest for a fun-weekend with friends and then to Luxemburg again, this time for a TC. I'll be at home on 22nd of May, at the evening. See you!

Decission

2007-04-25T00:15:00.000+02:00

Due to different reasons this blog is suspended. Maybe I'll change my mind, but I don't have a clue when, so I can't promise anything now or give any deadlines for that. It's just my personal decission, based on a few facts.

Back

2007-04-18T17:44:00.000+02:00

I'mmmm baaaack... Finally I'm at home! Even if only for a few days, still I'm very happy about it. It was totally crazy month!

More - later.

Again and again...

2007-03-20T00:00:00.000+01:00

So, I'm going again tomorrow. I had such a big delays on this blog - already easly 4 posts, probably more. It's loosing it sense again slowly. Polish one as well.

Tomorrow at the morning I'm going to Berlin to take a part in the International Forum on Human Rigts. The Forum will be between 21st and 25th of March. On 27th I'll fly to Brussels to work during the preparatory meeting of the European Youth Week. If everything will be ok on 28th on late afternoon I'll fly to Istanbul to take part in a Symposium concerning the interreligious and intercultural dialogue. If it'll not be ok - I'll go home. I hope that everything will be ok - I would love to go there!

So, I'll be hopefully at home on 1st (maybe 2nd) of April. If not - on 28th or 29th of March. We'll see...

PS. HERE you may find photos from the NCCs Meeting and Action Week in Warsaw. Have a nice time :p

Story about Warsaw

2007-03-12T22:03:00.000+01:00

On 2nd March, at early morning I needed to catch my train to Warsaw. During the travel the train got little delay, so after coming to Warsaw I needed to go quickly to my hotel "Fryderyk Chopin". Check in, living the suitcase in the room, short conversation with organizers and then looking for the Jasna Street - where the Polish Representation of the European Commission has its office. In their office (and in cooperation with them) we're organizing a Conference about the future of the EU. During this Conference we're also choosing the youth representatives of Poland for the European Youth Summit in Rome. It was an interesting short event, I've met a few collegues, but already after 3 PM I needed to go back to the hotel - unpacked my suticase before the beginning of the 4th Meeting of the National Campaign Committees of the "ADAE" Campaign. In the room I've met my roommate - Sylwia, whom is also my co-worker in our Polish Committee. She is a really cool girl, very interesting, funny, smart, she is a member of one of the biggest LGBT organizations (coorganizer of the Global Village, Manifa etc.).
At 4 PM we needed to be in Zielna Center, where we had our meetings. After 2,5 h of the opening meeting, together with one more participant, we went to the Central Station - each of us to pick up our friends. She was waiting for her friends and a girlfriend, who has a stand in the Global Village and I was waiting for Sergej :D He left his backpack in our room and we went for a dinner. The restaurant pointed out by organizers were a bit too expensive (spaghetti for 10 Euro!), so finally we finished in McDonald ;) And there also we've met my friends from the PYC and AEGEE - Karolina, Krzysiek and Bartek. After the dinner we went for the evening meeting of NCCs, where all of them has show their promotional and informational materials, then we had meeting about - so called - graffiti project (about which probably I'll wrote more in the future). In the meantime arrived our (mine and Sergej) friend - Piotrek. I like him a looot! After short visit in the hotel we're looking for a free places somewhere in the pub in the center (Friday, around 10 pm!). Finally we chosed "Fajka" (pipe), place which I like in Warsaw :) There joined us Paulina - my friend, who was a host of Sergej. There we spend a few nice hours on conversations, drinking, smoking waterpipe, laughing...

Next day we had 2 workshops - about organizing a social campaign and creating promotional materials. It was very interesting. After them I've met Paulina and Sergej and we went for a lunch in Green Way, serium of restaurants, which I like very much - very nice food and sooo cheap. Then we had coffee in a Green Coffee. And finally we arrived to the Global Village. It was a very interesting place, cool programme, a lot of practical information for everyone, concerts, forum theatre, cinema about the human rights... Very good idea and cool implementation. There I've met Sylwia and people from our Polish NCC. Then together with Sergej we went to the hotel for a meeting about this graffiti project. And then we had a nice dinner in Sphinx. Then a short relax in the hotel and then going for a party which was organized for the end of Global Village in the Mandala Club. It was a great evening. First it was sooo crawded - we're waiting for the locker room about 25 minutes! But the music was great and a cool people around, so it was balanced ;) There we've met for some minutes - Piotrek, Sylwia and Kasia and also flatmates of Paulina - Tomek and Sergej (next one!) and for the whole night with Paulina. We've finished the party at 5, on the way to the hotel few people even bought some additional drinks ;)

Next morning nor me, nor Sylwia, didn't managed to get up and go for the presentations of the good practices from different NCCs. We've decided to sleep a bit longer ;) We got up on 10, had a nice breakfast, met her Italian friend (who was making a documentary about the Action Week) and together we went to the meeting point of the March related with gender equality, women' rights, free choice of women in each case and so on. On the Parades Square we've met already a crowd. It was - with 'easy' counting - 2000 people. And my biggest surprise was an amount of guys around. Practicaly it was a balanced number of females and males around. And I need to write that I liked this fact :) Peacefuly we marched to the Parliament. When we're close to it Sergej joined us as well. There were some speaches, some shoutings, swinging banners ;) And of course there we also met a contra-march, organized by the radical right party - youth branch. They were using a photos of aborted kids (very strange way of demonstrating their opinions, and even more strange - convincing about them). This march consist from 40, maybe 50 people, so nothing to see in comparition with ours ;) After the March we went with a small group for a lunch to the Green Bar and then we had a coffee in Cava. After 5 PM Sergej went to our hotel room to take a nap and we went for a lectures for NCCs about including the LGBT issues in the frame of the Campaign. During those lectures I saw the best ppp in my life! It was made by Bruno from INGLYO and was great! After the break me and 2 guys from our NCC had a meeting with a European Director of the Campaign - Michael. It was a good meeting. Then in the hotel I had a working meeting about possible project organized by NCC from Visegrad countries. We've finished after 10 PM and finally I could go for a dinner. We're planning with Sergej to go for a party because of the Women' Day in the Tomba Tomba Club, but it appeared that after 10 PM all day buses and trams are stopping and then we need to catch a night bus. But we couldn't find any which would go in the part of the city, where this club was. And in addition all nearest restaurants were closing after 11 PM! Gosh... a capital of the European country... :S We had a choice: snack bars in the underground under the train station or McDonal :S We've chosed the second option, but without the eagerness. During the dinner we decided that we don't want to go there by foot, so went to Fajka again. Then we had a nice hours, sitting, talking, drinking... On the way to my hotel we reached a train station, where Sergej took a night bus to Paulinas' place at 2:50 and I took a taxi to the hotel.

At the morning we had open space - discussion groups. Until the lunch I took a part in two of them - about including the Campaign in the school curriculum and about creating a magazin about the work of the NCCs in East Europe. Downstairs I've met Sergej and Sylwia (girlfriend of Jonathan) and we went shopping to buy some nice present for Paulina for hosting him. We've bought a map of Europe and a bunch of tulips. After a short meeting Sylwia needed to go for a driving course and we went again to the Green Way, where we've met Paulina and her co-worker and flatmate - Tomek. After a nice lunch quick packing in the hotel. Then a coffee to go, meeting Paulina on the platform (forgot to give her keys back! ;)) and already needed to go into the EuroCity to Berlin. We had tickets in differents wagons, but wanted to sit together, so we've chosed the smoking compartament, which was totally empty. We're spending time on talking, fooling around, laughing. In one moment it appeared that in the same train are going 2 girls whom we've met during the Action Week. They joined us and it was very nice :) Peggy and Nina are really cool grils! Sergej needed to go out in Frankfurt, to fix some family things, so he needed go home. And I together with girls went to Berlin Ostbahnhof. We've arrived delayed about 25 minutes, so my whole travelling plan must be changed. I've took a S-bahn to Berlin Mahlsdorf, then next one to Strausber Nord. There Agata and Rocia were already waiting for me to take me by car to Klosterdord - our training village ;) I was there around midnight...

Previous stay in Berlin

2007-03-10T17:17:00.000+01:00

Thanks to this visit in Germany I got those crazy photos from our previous stay in Berlin (during the preparatory meeting for the TC in Utrecht). So, finally I may publish some of them and invite you to see the rest of those crazy pics in an online album.

I decided to show you some of them, then you may check most of them in this album. Not all of them are good for publishing ;) So, some of them will stay away from the internet :p

Let's get it started...

This is a new type of drink - Żubrówka-pickle drink ;) Soon in all clubs in Europe :p

And our party stock ;) Almost everything what you would like to have :p

And pickle-guys ;) Eh... those Germans :p

Hm... next invention: flakes-plant ;) You may buy it soon on E-bay ;)

Happy gangsta' ;)

Who is taller? :p

Last invention - new way of making dreadlocks :p

Happy friend trio :)

Gangsta' again ;)

And Nutella battle :p

All together we're always having a great, happy time :)

Rest of the "suitable" photos you may find HERE. Have fun while watching and share with me your comments :p

I'm still in Berlin, but already missing so much for those crazy, sweet and dear guys :)

Announcement

2007-03-02T00:11:00.000+01:00

Today early at the morning I'm going to Warsaw. First conference, then NCC meeting, then picking up Sergej from the train station and guiding to the hotel, leaving him in my room and goind for NCCs presentations and after that meeting Piotrek and going together 3 of us for a drink. And next days similar - during the day work, taking part in Action Week and at evenings partying with Sergej and other people from Warsaw and whole Europe.
At 5th we're taking an EuroCity train and going to Germany together (at least until Frankfurt ;)) and I'm going to Strausberg Nord for this T4T about upcycling. I'll stay there until 10th and then spending one day and night Berlin (hope to have fun ;)) and going back home. I should be home about 8 PM on 11th.

Not for a long time....

Ups and downs

2007-02-26T22:51:00.000+01:00

I feel strange. And I don't know if it's a result of visiting dentist today or rather beginning of being ill :/ I hope the first one. I don't want to be sick before the trip to Warsaw.

During the weekend I got the next refusal for the job as a trainer. It was quite depressing and demotivating to be honest. It was too long time without any nice result. And of course friends were trying to convince me that it'll change, but since some time I hate good advices like: everything will be ok, that's just the bad moment and so on. I know that they are probably very true, but I hate them. I think that if it's too much then you may have enough of everything ;) And after those refusals during last 2 months I heard so much of them ;)

And today I got a surprising, nice e-mail from the SALTO Participation Center that I was accepted as a one of six trainers who will lead creative workshops during the European Youth Week in Brussels :D Great! It's a nice job for the European Commission and SALTO. And quite good paid as well :p And again Brussels twice this year (at least) - the city which I like much. And I already know that one of the other 5 trainers is Behrooz - with whom I worked in Kusadasi last year :D He is a great guy and very professional trainer. So, 2 nice news in one day :)
Now I need to find a good connection in reasonable price to go for the preparatory meeting to Brussels. It will be soon - 27/28th of March, so I should be quick in searching and deciding. We'll see :)

Finally I have 2 applications to send before I'll go to Warsaw and at this moment one to send after coming back home. And 2 or 3 project applications to write. One until 5th of March. And things to do for our National Campaign Committee. And other stuff as well, so not really free time.

On 2nd at the morning I'll go to Warsaw. First I'll take part in a debate about the future of Europe, organized (in relation with 50th anniversary of the EU) by the representation of European Commission and the Polish Youth Council :) And at the afternoon the 4th Meeting of the NCCs of the Campaign will start. At 7 PM we will have dinner and at 6:25 Sergej will come to the central train station, so I hope I'll manage to pick him up from the train station after finishing the meeting on this day. Oh, yes, I forgot to write that Sergej will come for the Action Week in Warsaw :) It's really nice of him that he is coming from Germany to support tolerance and open-mindness(?) of the Polish society :D Now, I'm arranging a free host for him. Probably it'll be one guy who is the member of the Amnesty International and Campaign Against Homophobia, so he will be related also with the Action Week, so should be nice. But it's not still sure. I need to discuss with host and guest ;)
So, during those few days in the frame of the Meeting we will take also part in the Action Week, so it'll be even easy to meet during the day for some hours and it shouldn't be difficult to involve him as well in the evenings - first one is NCC market ;), second is a big party, third is free. During the fourth evening there will be an oppening of the nice exhibition related with the issue. But we'll not be there already.

Because on the afternoon 5th of March we'll take an EuroCity train and go together to Frankfurt. Then he is going to the family home and I'm going to the village near Berlin. I'll participate in the training course for trainers related with upcycling, so - how my friend wrote - how to change trash into a treasure ;) What is funny it's starting 3 days before my arrival, so I will skip 3 days. But they need a next pax from Poland. It'll be a bit strange to try to integrate with the group which is already quite integrated. I hope I'll manage. And on the next day after my arrival we're going for the whole day to Berlin ;) First visiting some alternative cloths galleries and Turkish Market and then a free time :D I should be home at 11th of March, staying one day longer in Berlin after the training.

And after 9 days again I'll go to Berlin ;) This time to participate in the International Forum on Human Rights. And almost from Berlin (or really from there) I'll go to Brussels for this preparatory meeting of the EYW. Wow, March start to look as a very short month ;) And 1st April will be quite difficult date then ;)

Ok, it's already very long post :p But that's life - nothing or much :p Or middle :p

Berlin again ;)

2007-02-17T23:49:00.000+01:00

Finally Maartje has some free time after first part of moving, so we could talk on MSN :) And she even managed to upload pictures from the weekend in Berlin, so she invited me for Yahoo photo sharing. I saved them and even if they are very low quality (from this photo sharing), I'll try to publish them here. Let's see.

I've met Jitske first time in Berlin. It's a very nice, funny, warm, talkative, smart and creative person. I like her :)

And this is Kathrin. I've met her already two or three times, don't even remember ;) I like this sitster from the sisterhood of bitches ;)

And here (from the left) - Jonathan, Jakob and Sergej. So, my three favourite German guys :D

And that's lovely Anai (I don't have a clue how to write her name ;)) - originaly fromm Argentine, for a while from Spain and now from Berlin. She and her lovely Argentinian tango.

And here my two great friends - Maartje and Jonathan. I like them so much :D

And last, but not least - me and Sergej in the nice pub.

And two sisters from the Sisterhood ;)

That's all for this moment. Now, I need to wait for those crazy and cool pictures and movies, which we done on Monday early morning with Jakob and Sergej ;)

Busy time

2007-02-16T23:30:00.000+01:00

A few days of silence, beacuse first of all not much happened, and secondarily I had quite busy time now.

At this moment I have about 14 applications to write until 9th of March - and if everything would be good they needed to be finished at 1st of March. All of them. Most of them is for a job as a trainer, 1 or 2 for grants and rest for participation in some events. Besides that I need to write many e-mails, finish finally one report and start to work on 2 project applications for 1st April. Looks busy ;)

Last days weren't so busy with chating with friends. A few conversations with Biba, Sylwia and Annamari and a few short with Maartje. Biba is busy with her essays, Sylwia with being in Berlin ;) Annamari and Maartje with work. Maartje additionally with moving to her new appartement during this weekend. Rene and Catalina are participating in the EBM in Gliwice, Jakob has problems with the computer, Sergej is preparing his drawings for an exam on Monday and so on. I need to be patient more less until the beginning-middle of next week. Don't have any other choice ;)

When I switched my computer on the St. Valentine's Day I was greet with hugs from Sylwia, then got message from my blog-friend Marta. And then the whole day nothing. And suddenly at the evening I got a short wishes on Gadu-Gadu from a single guy. And it was M. - the last guy from whom I expected to get wishes on this day! ;) What a surprise. Then we had a nice and quite long - as for him - conversation on GG. Interesting end of the evening.

In this week I got again one refusal about the job - it looks like 'habbit' now :( I wonder if there will be any positive institutional answer in this half of the year? Let's wait and see...

A few days ago I received a news from the lady from the Council of Europe that our project (about HRE planned with the PYC) is on the waiting list and we'll get the final answer on the beginning of next week. So, I started to worry about it. And suddendly today we got the final answer - we got the grant!!! It's cool. The only problem now is that we got 3500 Euro less than we applied :( That means looking for the other resources, what is not easy in this country in 2 months. Even less if we want to confirm the hotel reservation. Or changing the nice hotel for a hostel, which I wouldn't like to do, to be honest. But still great! Marius already confirmed that dates are still ok for him. Now I'm waiting for the confirmation from Marc. And we'll aslo get the support from CoE in the form of the 4th trainer nominated and paid by them :) And some other things - promotion on websites, support letters and so on. We may also have a visit of the employee of the CoE during our TC, but this is not sure and will be cofirmed later. Now I need to create a preparation schedule and a revised budget and send it together with a confirmation of the date to the CoE before 19th of February! They didn't gave us much time... ;) This is the first grant which we got from the CoE, so I'm quite happy - maybe this is a beginning of the CoE-adventure on next level? ;)

It looks that the PYC is slowly moving forward. On 2nd March there will be one day conference organized by the PYC and the representation of the European Commission in Poland. We're also organizing together a 2 competitions (essay and ideas) and the winners will be nominated by the PYC to go to the Youth Summit in Rome :) Lucky guys :p We're also talking about the study visit of the representative of the European Youth Forum - to come to Poland for a few days to help us to plan the development of the PYC, talking about our membership in it, having meetings with stakeholders to convince them to support us and so on. Cross your fingers for all those things!

I also received a preliminary information that I was accepted for a 4th meeting of the National Campaign Committees of the "All Different - All Equal" Campaign, which will be held at the beginning of March in Warsaw. At the beginning of the next week I should get the final confirmation and more details. So, during those days I will probably (at least partly) participate in the "Action Week" organized by our Polish NCC. It will be for sure interesting - week against a homophobia in our country! I hope I'll not be hurt ;) Hehehe... no, fairytale - not during the meeting of NCCs of the Council of Europe Campaign ;) I hope there will be also more collegues and friends.

I started to help our NCC some weeks ago. Now I'm taking care about one competition organized with help of the group of journalists, a database of projects held in the frame of the Campaign by our partner NGOs and creating an offer for new partners. So, also quite much work. But it's fun - finally I'm in the NCC, so officialy involved in my lovely Campaign :D

Additionaly, Mara - my hungarian friend - send me an offer to apply for the training courses about cultural diversity and youth participation for 1st April. To finally work together as a team :) One would be held in Poland during the fall, one in Hungary. She is negotiating with one hungarian NGO and I'm in touch with two friends NGO - of Ewa and of Sylwia. So, I hope that everything will work and during this fall I'll have additional 2 training courses to lead and to lead them with my lovely friend Mara. And maybe some other friends - don't have plans still for the rest of the team :)

And maybe finally I'll be paid for the seminar in Macedonia! At least one from organizers promissed to send the money in the end of next week. And I don't know where - to the local organizer or directly to me... Besides, it's Italian NGO, so probably end of February or mid-March is more realistic ;) Let's see!

Besides that I'm suppose to write an application for the youth project for our local partnership before 5th of March. I have problems with brainstorming, it seems that ideas which I really like are not so well seem by the board of it. Let's see as well. The problem is that I should also co-ordinate it, so for me the best time would be half of June - half of August. If 2 projects will not be accepted then since the beginning of June to the end of September. But I would prefer if they would be accepted of course! And I hope that they will like my last idea, which I find not so bad - mostly busy during the July, later rather moderation and in September one meeting.

Ok, I was thinking to write the post also on the Polish blog, but I'll just check my e-mails and try to go to sleep. It would be good to return to good habbits - going to sleep at midnight :p

Gurken und Wurst ;)

2007-02-12T21:12:00.001+01:00

I’m using the time in the Eurocity train from Berlin to Poznań to write this post. It’s a pity that I don’t have a internet connection in the train. Maybe in the future…

Yesterday around 8 Sergej came to Jonas’ place. We had a very nice conversation during drinking the tea and waiting until Jakob will finish his work. He is doing the placement in the house for handicapped people instead of military service and work often until 8 – 9 – 10 PM. When he finished his work and has a bit of time to relax physically and mentally we went to Neu Kolln to visit him. We’re planning to talk some time and then to go to Friedrischshein visit Sergejs’ place, but finally we decided that it’s too late – it was around 23 and the metro stopped at 1 AM. So, we went only to the shop to buy an apple juice for the Żubrówka, which I brought. On the way from the shop we’ve noticed one Turkish fast food, which was still open, so we went there to have a really good and very cheap kebab. It was 1,5 Euro normally and when we’re buying it, it was even a promotional price, so less than that! After coming home we opened this big bottle and have a funny and nice time with all those ‘bad’ stuff – drinking, smoking and so on. We had a lot of very interesting conversations, but at some moment we started to have this ‘silly’ mood, so e.g. preparing a terrible drink – Żubrówka with water from the tap, water from the pickles and one pickle inside ;) Or making a lot of stupid photos, e.g. gangsta serium or ‘how to badly eat Nutella’ serium :p We had Nutella all over our faces at some point ;) Then we even started to make movies (Jakobs’ camera has option of doing 10 minutes long movies). And that was the ‘final’ of silly things – still with Nutella, then with a ‘documentary movie’ – how to prepare and smoke joints ;) and so on. It was really crazy time! And I just love it! Now it’s only one bad thing – I need to wait for those pics and movies :( Jakob probably lost somewhere the cable for uploading photos and his laptop doesn’t have a memory card reader, so he is now planning to buy one and then burn them on the CD and or give it to me (if it would be possible to meet) or send it by post. But it will probably take some weeks :( Around 6 at the morning we decided to go home. Sergej went with me until the doors of Jonas’ place again - to be sure that I’ll be safe and to say goodbye. So, I was in my bed again after 6 and slept until 10:30, so not really long. But I’m planning to sleep in those 2 slow train which I will take from Poznań to my place. After waking up and taking the shower I packed my things, talk a little bit with Jonathan. Then ate my croissant with marzipan ;) during checking my e-mails. And at the end again talking with Jona before going to the U-bahn station. On the Ostbahnhof I bought quite nice postcard, which I will send to Biba, when I’ll be back home. I promised to send her postcards from places, which I will visit. But I forgot to write down the address from the e-mail from her, so I couldn’t write some nice words and send it on the Ostbahnhof, because I didn’t had the address :/ Silly me!

In general – it was a absolutely fabulous time! I spend such a great days and nights here :D Even if we needed to work – it was interesting, efficient and quite innovative, even if sometimes it was with quite hot discussions ;) Then, when we had a free time I’ve spend a really cool time with Maartje, Jona and Jitske and also a lot of beautiful time with Sergej and Jakob. I just love it! And I’ll miss all of them so much! We need to find a next opportunity, which makes possible to meet again quite fast. Maybe I should move to Berlin? ;) But my knowledge of German is rather not sufficient ;) Even if I developed it with Gurken and Wurst and zuruck bleiben bitte ;) I think it’s not enough :p But from the other hand it would be a way of quick development of my German skills. But then I need to work somewhere to be able to live there… hm… ;) We’ll see, you never know what will happen soon! And I was a very good girl again, even if… Hm… There were some little temptations, but my angel site again won. I’m not sure if it’s good :p But it seems to be in my nature now… Too long of being such a good girl, too difficult to change it now. Maybe I need to develop my evil side as well now… Slowly, on each trip, then maybe in some weeks/months I will be again less angel and a little bit more ‘evil’ ;) Let’s see… It could be quite nice sometimes :p Hm….

From Berlin

2007-02-11T18:51:00.000+01:00

Girls went to take a train, I just cleaned the kitchen, Jona is finishing a meeting, so I've found a few minutes to write a post. I'll stay here until tomorrow midday, so I still have some nice hours to spend here :)
Those days were really soooo cool! :D I've met Maartje and Jitske on the main station and then we're going together to Jonas' place. Then he prepared a spaghetti for us and we're suppose to start the work after eating it. But somehow our time just pass by on chatting to fast ;) So, we decided to change an environment to more suitable for working ;) and we move to the place called Roma Theater. Then actually we were working for 1-2 hours. Because then it was quite late (about 22) and we're suppose to go for a tango concert of Annai, we decided to eat a great and very cheap pizza on the way to the concert restaurant. On the way we've met Kathrin and all together we came to listen to Annai to the middle of nowhere and it was a really nice part of the evening. After concert we still were sitting in the restaurant, drinking the wine and chatting. Then we started slowly move back to Jonas' flat, because he was suppose to wake up at 8 to go for some meetings and both girls were tired after the work week. On the way to his place Jakob called that he and Sergej finally may meet with us, but the tired 3 decided to stay at home and I just wait a bit in the flat and then they came to pick me up around shortly after 2 o'clock ;) We went to the closest open pub, which is very nice and cheap and we spent a lovely 3 hours there chatting, drinking beer and smoking :) Then they decided to show me that German guys are also gentelmans, so they went with me until the Jonas' door :) So, I was in my bed after 5 at the morning.
On Saturday I woked up after 11 and after 12 we started to work on the program with girls, while Jona was on the meetings. He came at 3 and started to question everything, so finally we stopped to work on the program and decided to go dowstairs to the cute and little cafe and there work on the general content and vision of the TC. At the end of the evening we had a really original and I think interesting concept of the training course. We'll see how it'll work in the practice, but if it'll be ok, then we should publish it and make the people use it ;) Then we went to a nice Turkish restaurant to have a really great dinner. The meal was soooo huge and not really expensive. Cool :D When we almost died after eating too much ;) we decided to move more to the center and meet Sergej and Jakob there and spend the evening together. We met them in the very 'pubbish' and student part of the city and - because everything was so crowded - we went to a restaurant called "Habana" and have a nice drinks there. around 11-12 we got sms from Kathrin that her friend is organizing a 'Berlin-private-party' (it seems to be a famous category of parties :)) and we may go there to join them. And of course we did ;) It was a nice appartament full of people. We had a nice drinking-chatting-smoking time there, but of course after 2 o'clock girls and Jona decided that they are tired and going home :p Unfortunately Jakob is working today as well, so he also needed to go home. So, only Sergej and I decided to stay longer. We had a really nice rest of the night, talking a lot. Suddendly a few friends of him (from the place were he was living) came and I've met many nice people on this party as well. At 5 at the morning we decided to move to home. But during the waiting (20 min!) for the U-bahn we found out that we're soooo hungry that we can't go to sleep like that. So, we went to the Hermansplatz to find some still open place and eat. The only open place was McDonald :S But if you're very hungry at the 5:30 at the morning even this is ok ;) So, we had a nice breakfast :p Segej went with me to Jonas' flat and then home. And I was in my bed at 6:30.
Today I woked up at 12 and we had a nice walk to the bakery all together. Since the night there is a bit of snow here, so we had a snowballs fight on the way ;) After a nice breakfast we were working until 5. Then girls packed, talk a bit with us and moved to the train station. Jona had a meeting, I was talking with Sylwia on MSN. Later I cleaned the kitchen and now writing ;) I hope that soon after finishing the post Sergej will come and we'll meet to visit Jakob and later move to Sergejs' flat to drink Żubrówka, which I brought :) Jona is going for a dinner to a friend and I hope that later he will join us as well. It must be a great night - last during this stay here. And we need to plan a next meeting ;) I'm so happy to be here and meet all of them and it was such a crazy, great, nice and warm time :D It's just cool!

Tomorrow

2007-02-08T22:53:00.000+01:00

Still there is no answer about the decission of the Selection Commitee about the grant for the training course about Human Rights Education and Compass. Strange... First time since I have a contact with the Council of Europe (fall 2004) they didn't implement what they promissed. It was written that the decission will be until 6th of February and nothing until now. And from 'my sources" ;) I know that the lady responsible for that is not in the office until Tuesday! Grrrr.... So much nerves for me and the others whom were helping in the application for one week more! Uffff...

During this week I got 3 or 4 rejections for my job applications. That makes me really unhappy. What's more - I really think that my profile is better and better, but it seems that not for them. Especially for the last rejection - they explained whom they choosed and at least one person has very similar (or even I would say worse) profile than mine! But in this circle unfortunatelly personal relationships are so important as well :/ I'm loosing my self-confidence slowely. Beginning of this year is definatelly worse than last year! And in last year I had a lot less of those nice experiences! Very starnge and it makes me said and discourage... Demotivate...

But one things helps me forget about it until next week! Tomorrow I'll go to Berlin for a preparatory meeting of the training course in the Netherlands in April. We'll have this meeting in Jonathans' place :) So, I'll meet my lovely friend Maartje and her friend and co-worker Jitske (whom I don't know still personally). And already tomorrow at the evening, about 7-8, I'll meet as well my cool friends from the last training in Banica - Sergej and Jakob :D I'm so happy about it! And they promissed to spend with me my free time during the whole stay! :D Jakob even took a day off in the job ;) Sergej don't need to do it still ;) That's so great and I'm so amazingly happy that I'll meet them all and spend with them time until Monday :D Maybe we'll even implement a "Free Hugs Campaign" in Berlin, we're talking about it with Sergej a few days ago. That would be very interesting for sure! Let's see... For tomorrow we're thinking about the chill out evening. Then on Saturday continuation of work and at the evening crazy party ;) On Sunday again work and at the afternoon Maartje and Jitske are going home and I'm staying until Monday midday, so for me again a nice evening with guys :)

Ok, time for Polish blog as well...

Today...

2007-02-05T00:06:00.000+01:00

... cross your fingers for me and one project!

**********
Update: Upssss.... Hm... It's typical for me - made mistake with dates! The important date is 6th of February, so tomorrow! So, save your fingers for tomorrow then ;)

Time to party

2007-02-04T00:35:00.000+01:00

Since 2 days I'm sitting home and relaxing - reading books, listening to the music, talking with friends and family, sending e-mails, playing stupid games ;) But to be honest - I'm missing my friends. 2 friends leaving nearby has little kids, husbands, jobs and houses 'to take care about', so they almost don't have a free time to meet with me. And now most of my other friends is quite busy, so not being online very often. That makes me a bit more melancholic... I should find new friends somewhere near, but how to do it now... I love leaving in the village, but sometimes it makes things more difficult. And I would love to just go out with friends, have a great time together... But in 5 days I'll be in Berlin, so at least for 3 days I'll have many friends around :D But then probably longer break again... But who knows!

Because I bought this laptop in this time I had a promotional offer - I could order Windows Vista Home Premium for free. Just paying for tax and transport - whole was 20 Euro. I ordered and in 6-8 weeks (!) I should have it home. Until then I'll consider if I should install it ;) Sergej started 3 days ago and made a huge mess with his computer... But from the other hand this one is 'adapted' for Windows Vista, at least it's written like that on the cover. Let's wait and see...

Today we had a national eliminations for Eurovision. I decided to watch it and was quite surprised. For 10 bands - 4 - lets say - weren't Polish (2 Swedish, one I don't remember from where and one mixed). And I must say that I liked the song which won. If you want to hear (and see) it - it's HERE. I must say that I liked the idea that Poland will be represented by girl with Russian origin and black British guy :D It seems that young people don't support the 'only-one-right-government' with his 'mission of Polish Poland'. At least not in music tastes. I'll cross my fingers for this song when the time will come...

Ok, going to sleep finally!

Ce soir...

2007-02-01T00:02:00.000+01:00

...je éprouver de la nostalgie...

Beaucoup...

La vie maintenant

2007-01-31T00:33:00.000+01:00

Il est juste pendant 2 jours après que je suis venu à la maison... Et il semble être des âges... Et manquant toujours beaucoup... Mais c'est sentiment tellement gentil à l'intérieur de moi que j'ai rencontré un si grand peuple et ai le temps tellement merveilleux ensemble... Pitié juste il est fini déjà...

Je pense que j'ai déjà édité cette chanson avant, mais elle n'importe pas maintenant... Costumes justes ici et maintenant... Seulement en anglais - à fatigué...

***********

It's just 2 days after I came home... And it seems to be ages... And still missing very much... But it's so nice feeling inside me that I've met such a great people and have so wonderful time together... Just pity it's finished already...

I think I already published this song before, but it doesn't matter now... Just suits here and now...

"Life Is Wonderful" - Jason Mraz
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
Ha 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 so full of
Ah la la la la la la life is so rough
Ah 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 our love
Ah la 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

C'était un temps extraordinaire

2007-01-29T19:44:00.000+01:00

Le bout 10 jours étaient étonnant. Stupéfiant en raison des personnes, de l'endroit, du temps, de la formation, de la nourriture, des conversations, des parties, des additions savoureuses aux parties ;) Temps merveilleux avec de belles personnes. J'ai trouvé peu de gens avec qui pour sûr je voudrais rester en contact et développer cette relation dans une amitié à long terme. J'espère que ce sera possible...

J'essayerai d'écrire une 'vue d'ensemble 'courte de ce temps... ;) Après un long voyage avec beaucoup de moments soumettants à une contrainte (dus à ce vent orageux tous les trains ont été retardés) je suis arrivé à Kraków. Là j'ai rencontré le premier participant - type roumain frais appelé Liviu (ou Ninja ;)) Nous voyageons ensemble à Stróże. Dans le même train était également Piotr, mais nous non parvenu à se réunir dans le train. Après être venu à Banica nous avons dîné gentil. Pendant de soirée les participants allemands et roumains également est venu. Les participants bulgares, turcs et autrichiens sont venus plus tard - pendant le 2ème jour de la formation. Les premiers jours nous avons eu des entrées de 2 nos entraîneurs - Karolina (poli) et Anna (russe), avec également notre participation. Alors nous avons eu la moitié par jour libre - plus du groupe est allé pour un looong, promenade gentille autour des montagnes près - à une pension, où nous avons eu le chocolat chaud et le dos intéressants. Alors nous avons fait aller le jour 2.5 pour la pièce appelée les "participants des entraîneurs" - chaque groupe de réflexion a eu la moitié du jour à mener à posséder la session. Nôtres étaient au sujet "de communication interculturelle" et étaient tout à fait gentils. Plus tard nous avons eu un jour "de l'espace ouvert" et le jour passé - des projets et évaluation. Becasue de retardent en venant à la moitié de Banica du groupe que nous avons eu la soirée internationale dans 2 parts ;) Ce qui était tout à fait gentil ;) En général - toutes les soirées étaient agréables et spéciales :) Tout à fait bientôt nous avons eu un sous-groupe de personnes partying ;) Naturellement j'étais dans ce groupe. Mais surprisely nous non eu toutes les parties dansantes (très bonnes pour moi !), mais séance juste, causant, buvant, fumant, riant, dessins animés en difficulté d'observation ;), écoutant la musique, appréciant la cheminée et. Elle était si grande ! J'aime vraiment ce petit groupe tellement ! Elle est incroyable combien vous pouvez apprécier un sejour avec peu de gens pendant 10 jours !

Et cet endroit... si vous avez le beau, chaud, savoureux, intéressant séjour dans l'endroit silencieux - visitez Banica. Choisissez la maison, pas aussi près des autres maisons et de peu de kilomètre de village. Entouré par de petites montagnes, beaucoup d'intéresser et choses tout à fait vieilles à voir autour, chevaux, forêt, nature, fleuves, neige... Propriétaires de gentil, chauds et intéressants... Nourriture incroyablement délicieuse, dans la grande maison de partie faite... Maison magique avec de belles choses dans elle... 5 chats... Petit ruisseau près de la maison... Bel endroit ! J'irai chercher là sûr quand j'aurai seulement une prochaine possibilité ! Je la manque déjà !

Les gens... Petit groupe - 16 participants et 2 entraîneurs. J'ai passé un beau temps avec peu d'eux : Laura, Sergej, Jakob, Liviu, Olta, Piotr... En outre Iuliana, Marius et Jan.... Il était si grand... Je suis absent ils déjà ! Au moins j'ai le rai avec Laura et Sergej déjà un peu... C'est quelque chose ce qui me fait désirant ardemment un peu moins. Mais toujours... ;) Si tout sera correct - en 10 jours je rencontrerai Anna, Jakob et Sergej à Berlin :D et passerai peut-être quelques soirées agréables ensemble ! J'espère ainsi !

Oh... quelle belle heure j'ai eue là... Mais je pense que j'étais un ange trop long à être maintenant une mauvaise fille... Hm... pitié ?

Grrrrrand temps ! Il a valu la peine d'aller là pour sûr ! Maintenant, seulement désirant ardemment tellement...

**********

Last 10 days were amaizng. Amazing becasue of people, place, time, training, food, conversations, parties, tasty additions to parties ;) Wonderful time with beautiful people. I found few people with whom for sure I would like to keep in touch and develop this relation in a long-term friendship. I hope it'll be possible...

I'll try to write a short 'overview' of this time... ;) After a long travel with many stressing moments (due to this stormy wind all trains were delayed) I arrived to Kraków. There I've met first participant - cool Romanian guy called Liviu (or Ninja ;)) We're travelling together to Stróże. In the same train was also Piotr, but we didn't managed to meet in the train. After coming to Banica we had a nice dinner. During the evening also German and Romanian participants came. Bulgarian, Turkish and Austrian participants came later - during 2nd day of training. First days we had inputs from 2 our trainers - Karolina (Polish) and Anna (Russian), with also our participation. Then we had half a day free - most of the group went for a looong, nice walk around the mountains near - to one hostel, where we had nice hot chocolate and back. Then we had 2,5 day for the part called "Participants go trainers" - each reflection group had half of the day to lead own session. Ours was about "Intercultural communication" and was quite nice. Later we had one day of "Open space" and last day - projects and evaluation.
Becasue of delay in coming to Banica half of the group we had International Evening in 2 parts ;) What was quite nice ;) In general - all evenings were nice and special :) Quite soon we had a subgroup of partying people ;) Of course I was in this group. But surprisely we didn't had any dancing parties (very good for me!), but just sitting, chatting, drinking, smoking, laughing, watching sick cartoons ;), listening to the music, enjoying fireplace and each other. It was so great! I really like this small group so much! It's incredible how much you may enjoy a staying with few people for 10 days!

And this place... if you have lovely, warm, tasty, interesting stay in silent place - visit Banica. Single house, not so close to the other houses and few km from village. Surrounded by small mountains, many interesting and quite old things to see around, horses, forest, nature, rivers, snow... Nice, warm and interesting owners... Incredibly delicious food, in big part home made... Magic house with beautiful things in it...5 cats... Small brook near the house... Beautiful place! I will go there for sure when I will only have a next possibility! I miss it already!

People... Small group - 16 participants and 2 trainers. I spent a lovely time with few of them: Laura, Sergej, Jakob, Liviu, Olta, Piotr... Also Iuliana, Marius and Jan... It was so great... I'm missing them already! At least I've spoke with Laura and Sergej already a bit... That's something what makes me a little bit less longing. But still... ;) If everything will be ok - in 10 days I'll meet Anna, Jakob and Sergej in Berlin :D And maybe spend some nice evenings together! I hope so!

Oh... what a lovely time I had there... But I think I was too long an angel to now be a bad girl... Hm... pity?

Greeeeat time! It was worth to go there for sure! Now, only longing so much...

Going again

2007-01-19T00:26:00.000+01:00

Ok, didn't manage to write anything during last busy days. Now I'll also not write much. Just one to inform those, who are reading it that between 18th and 28th of January I'm off from home.
I'm going to be trained as well ;) I'll take a part in the training for trainers on cross-cultural competences, which will take place somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Polish mountains (but those small ones). Seriously - just our hostel and one farm, even not a village.
We'll have this small hostel for ourselves. Group is small - I think 17 people + trainer, coming from 5 countries: Poland, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Germany. I hope it'll be a good time.
I'm suppouse to have a wireless internet there, but let's see how it'll work. Especially that the weather is totally crazy, so who knows...
I will be back on 28th at the evening. Hugs!
Aha, you may find the info, where am I - HERE. Even in English and German ;) Some of our small hostels seems to be modern ;)

Happy New Year!

2007-01-10T22:27:00.000+01:00

I know it's a bit later than probably it should be 'announced', but it's still just beginning of the year, so it suits here perfectly. Thanks Serhan for the inspiration :)

And probably all of you already know very well that I just love this Campaign and I'm in with my heart :) Link on the right side of my blog ;)

Back from Berlin

2007-01-06T23:31:00.000+01:00

Back from Berlin. Back from Warsaw. Don't feel like writing the post about it. Don't feel like having this blog any longer.

Berlin was amazing, beautiful time with great people. Happy to meet so many new interesting people. Great time, place, people... Only little dissapointments, but it doesn't matter in the whole vision at all. One of the times of my life for sure! And miss it a lot... a lot...

Going to Berlin

2006-12-30T09:08:00.000+01:00

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 ;)

2006-12-26T23:21:00.000+01:00

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 ;)

2006-12-24T12:49:00.000+01:00

Daily life

2006-12-12T20:59:00.000+01:00

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

2006-11-26T14:14:00.000+01:00

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

2006-11-18T09:59:00.000+01:00

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

2006-11-15T21:52:00.000+01:00

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

2006-11-12T23:04:00.000+01:00

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 ;)

2006-11-10T20:40:00.000+01:00

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

2006-11-08T15:30:00.000+01:00

...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

2006-11-08T14:00:00.000+01:00

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

2006-10-30T00:47:00.000+01:00

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

2006-10-27T23:21:00.000+02:00

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 ;)

2006-10-08T23:27:00.000+02:00

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!

2006-10-06T18:19:00.000+02:00

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

2006-10-06T17:22:00.000+02:00

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

2006-10-06T12:54:00.000+02:00

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

2006-10-06T12:35:00.000+02:00

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

2006-09-21T10:26:00.000+02:00

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

2006-09-19T22:34:00.000+02:00

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

2006-09-18T19:55:00.000+02:00

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

2006-09-17T01:33:00.000+02:00

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

Again Rotterdam

2006-09-16T16:46:00.000+02:00

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!

Rotterdam story

2006-09-09T15:05:00.000+02:00

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.

Almost on the way

2006-09-07T12:18:00.000+02:00

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!

Words of the world

2006-09-04T00:50:00.000+02:00

"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

I need some energizer...

2006-09-01T20:40:00.000+02:00

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.

Night life ;)

2006-08-25T22:34:00.000+02:00

A bit longer breake. For more than 4 days I didn't had an Internet connection :/ But nothing important happened, so not much to write about ;)

This month is 'full' of memories: already three meetings with friends - 2 friends from high school and 1 from my studies. That's really cool - to meet with them after some months, even more than a year! I hope that now it will be shorter break ;)

Finally I bought a ticket for my first trip during this fall. So, on 7th October I'll start my travel and on 8th I'm going to visit René in Rotterdam and then on 10th September I'm going for a seminar to Brussels. I'll stay there until 14th September. It will be my first time in Rotterdam, so it will be nice visit :) And I like Brussels very much, so I'm happy to be there again. I hope only that weather will be nice :p

Bad news is that tickets to Cardiff are more expensive that they were in July this year :( That's even a very bad news for me. And I still don't have this last reimbursement and those 2 other delayed transfers :/ Difficult life...

And now I'm watching a world premier of "Ça Ira" - an opera composed by Roger Waters (Pink Floyd). The main idea of it it's a French Revolution and revolutions in general as a 'movement of the world". Between this main revolution you may see also eg. so called "Springtime of Nations", Polish fights with communism etc. Btw - it's organized in Poznań :) As a symbolic thing - city so strongly related with fights for freedom during the communism. About the Poznań 1956 protests (sometimes called Poznań insurrection 1956) you may read here and here. If you'll be interested of course ;)
But coming back to this opera. It's directed by Polish artist - Janusz Józefowicz. He is quite unique artist in Poland - he's director, producer, choreographer, actor and artistic director of Theatre "Buffo" in Warsaw. Besides that he likes also sing a bit, dance a bit and even tap dancing ;) What I must admitt - he's doing all shows in a very professional way, but also full of colours, interesting clothes, props, in innovative ways, with innovative methods etc. And when Roger Waters selected Poland for world premiere of his opera - I'm not surprised that he decided to have Janusz Józefowicz as a coworker :) Good for us. And one plus for our public TV - they have live broadcast :) Something not really usual in this TV, to show 'artistic, cultural' and new things ;)

Ok, I don't have creative vein today, so better to not write long, but stupid posts ;) Sometimes silence is gold... ;)

Bittersweet day

2006-08-14T22:58:00.000+02:00

Today I was reading new posts on my linked blogs. And I found a wonderful post on Adelines' blog - specially for me! This is sooo sweet - wonderful poem and a poster from a great movie "Life is beautiful" :))) Cool! Thank you very much Adeline!

That's a good moment of today :)

Day in general was quite ok. It was very lazy morning and noon- long sleep, slow breakfast and coffee with cakes. Then we thought that it would be nice to go to the nearest town - go around and maybe a bit shopping. So, we did it ;) And my uncle with aunt decided to buy first some small things like fruits and a film for my old camera (to have some nice pics from this visit ;)) But after that they decided about two things more - a coffeeset for 6 people (for my parents) and a nice 'sporty' handbag (for me). That's very nice, specially for me - when I'm travelling I often didn't had anything small to put only my wallet, camera and mobile phone ;) So, nice presents :) And then we have a nice ice-creams :)

But at the evening there was not really nice situation - when I told my mother about the seminar in Brussels, she get a bit angry. They borrowed money for my last tickets and I still didn't get my reimbursement, so they can't give them back :( And now new ticket arrived :( And she decided not to borrow next money from other people, so I don't know how I'll solve this situation. And I must go! I have already problems with my final seminar of TATEM in Morocco - crazy costs of tickets :( Now this, and this is just a beginning of my travelling during the autumn. Ufff... It's so stupid, that people must lost their energy, time and even health (yes, too much stress is not good at all for our health!) for getting money all the time :/
Ok, stop thinking about it for now...

Yes, Adeline - I'm from Poland and I still live here :) But I'm starting to be more and more surprised how I may live here with so stupid political situation ;) But who knows, maybe in the future I'll live for some years in different countries, eg. France :)

Correction: this Anonymus in my comments it is (in 95% of time) my friend Rene. I don't understand why he's avoiding writing his name there :p

Fruition

2006-08-12T01:18:00.000+02:00

From some time I love songs of Polish singer - Michał Bajor, he has really interesting and poetic lyrics. I felt that I would like to publish some of them here, but I coulnd't find any English translation of it. So, I decided to translate it by myself ;) Few minutes after the start I was angry, that I decided so ;) But I decided to finish it :p So, this is very amateur translation, be gentle with me :p

"Fruition

You don't even know how much I would give
For one night, for one day
Of being loved by you
So close you even through a dream

Touch of your hands, taste of your lips and whisper
Don't rush ourselves, let's wait
It's so difficult for me to understand your each gesture
Which was unknown for my heart until now

Dream, my dream
Live the whole eternity in me
Last here to spin this wonderful fairytale
Dream, my dream
Give me know a new depths
Reach for coronas of all stars

Again whisper, touch, your smell
Your breath tore by happieness
The biggest glamor, inmost secret of souls and bodies
Insted for days when you weren't here

Already don't know which body is whose
The soul forfeit its owner
There is no transe, because it is the top
There is already no way to rise above

Dream, my dream
Live the whole eternity in me
Last here to spin this wonderful fairytale
Dream, my dream
Give me know new depths
Reach for coronas of all stars

You don't even know how much I would give..."
Thanks to M. and new mail of Arthur ;)

Update

2006-08-11T23:35:00.000+02:00

I need some change, so at least changing coulour of the font ;)

I know (somewhere deep in my heart or brain) that probably you're right with your comments. But with my strange mood since some time I don't believe you :p But I still believe that it'll change somwhere in the future. Besides, my friend from Polish blog believes strongly that dreams come true and she is trying to convince me ;) If some of my night dreams could come true it would be so incredible :)

When I was last time in Toruń (yes, with you Biba :))) there was a beginning of the Festival called "Summer of movies". During this opening we 'discovered' a great French band called Taraf Dékalé. I liked them a lot even after those few songs, which we've heard. So, since few days I have a pleasure to listen one of their albums "Vieille machine". It's a cool music, I recommend it :)

Today I have a nice guests. My friend from highschool visited me. Together with her kids :) My god-daughter is 3 years old, she loves laughing and don't want to talk much :) Her older brother (6 years old) is a clever and nice thinker-talker :) They are very nice :)

Amazing is a fact that girl, with whom I was sitting in one desk has already 2 kids, third in November and the oldest will start the reception class in September! In comparision with that my life still is definitely hm... "childlish?" and empty. Our world is strange...

Yesterday I received an invitation for a reunion of graduates of my department. Am I so old?? But seriously, there are 4 reasons for this reunion: 10 years of department, 15 years of the European Studies (speciality), 80 years of my uni, 50 years of work of my promoter. It looks very interesting. But on 20th of October I'll be in Izmir, having an evaluation meeting of our training course. A bit pity, next opportunity will be probably in 10 years - when there will be 90 years of my uni.

It looks that we'll not meet during this long weekend with Eva and guys, but in the next one. Long weekend because of bank holiday on 15th, so whole Poland is relaxing ;) So, guys promissed to visit Eva in next Saturday, so after one month we will (maybe) see each other. Maybe there will be also Johannes, Biba :) He still has his volunteering time in Toruń. Should I convey a piece of news for him from you? Or maybe take his e-mail address?

It would be great to meet 'my small group' again :) I miss them a lot...

Crisis?

2006-08-06T22:29:00.000+02:00

I'm not sure if I should continue this blog. I'm up to date in my Polish one and it's not so good idea to write similar things on both. I thought that it'll be a place for my friends - to be updated with my life. But it seems it don't work so well. So, maybe I should leave it. I must think about it.

I have a strange period in my life. Very unstable emotionally and because of that rest is also not so good. I can't concentrate on my work, I'm lazy and must 'push' myself to work, I'm not creative at all and not efficient :/ And it doesn't seems that it'll change soon - my personal life seems not change in the nearest future. And if yes - probably it'll be not for good, at least if I may judge the situation. Eh...

I should prepare myself for the nearest projects, but as I wrote already - it doesn't work good. But I MUST. I want to be professional during them. Cross your fingers for that (if anyone will read it ;))

It seems that my autumn will be travelling time. Starting in September - (probably) Rotterdam, Brussels, Cardiff. Then will come October with still Cardiff at the beginning then Izmir, probably Hungary (sorry Biba, I can't remember this name of the town :/). Then on the turn of October and November will be Bonn (probably) and after it - Essaouira in Morocco. And I think it'll be all for this year, but never know... But all those travels are under the question mark, because of money - I alway must buy ticket first and then will be reimubrsed. And it's very expensive if you will count all of them! And if it comes to participation - most of the they are paying during projects, so it's quite ok. But e.g. with Cardiff I don't know how it will looks. Preparatory meeting was in the first part of June and I'm still waiting for my money :( And the most expensive will be Turkey and Morocco. I hope that I'll solve this problem somehow, but I'm not sure :(

Ehhh...

Ostroh - last photos

2006-07-16T23:45:00.000+02:00

Picnic - memorial signs

Monastery in Meżyrycz

The same monastery

Again monastery in Meżyrycz

Together with Eva and our host family before departure

Ukrainian and Polish coordinators and volunteers

Our group and all host families

Ostroh - picnic - photos

2006-07-16T23:32:00.000+02:00

Feast prepared by our host families

Exercises create a master ;)

Painting Marcins' arm :)

My other work

Academical choir

Next integrational game

Together with my huggy friend - Paweł :)

Ostroh - first photos

2006-07-16T23:20:00.000+02:00

Welcome evening

Castle

Books museum

Visit in the Children Centre :)

Picnic with all host families

Picnic - integrational games ;)

Lviv - photos

2006-07-16T22:46:00.000+02:00

I have so many nice pictures from this trip, that I'm affraid it'll be more than one post with photos ;) Let's see...

Lviv - Eva and me together with the painter - Nikifor

Lviv - I like this door very much :)

Lviv - adventure is waiting behind the corner...

Lviv - lovely kitten on the lovely balcony

Lviv - the Lyczakowski Cementary

Lviv - the Polish Eaglets' Cementary

Ukraine

2006-07-16T19:28:00.000+02:00

After coming back from Strasbourg I was 2 days home and then - thanks to my friend Marcin - I had a first opportunity to travel to one of our East neighbours - Ukraine. It was kind of exchange - kids, youth and adults together ;) First we spent one day in Lviv. I've heard so many stories about this city before visiting it. But my general impression was - grey and not so well developed city under renovation. Of course, there are many beautiful places too :) For me the most impressive place was the Lyczakowski Cementary (incredible, old, amazing, huge) together with the Polish Eaglets’ Cementary (Polish youth figthers about the freedom during the WWII). After touring we have also some free time, which was very nice :)
At the evening we started our trip to the final destination - Ostroh. In this city is a HQ of the NGO which is partner of Marcins' NGO. They are doing such exchange third time - first Ukrainian families came to Poland, then Polish go to Ukraine :)
After coming to Ostroh we have very nice and warm welcoming, introducing to the host families and going with them home :) I was toghther with my second friend - Eva. Our host family was really nice - quite young marriage with 7 years old daughter. They treated us very warm, want to host us as good as it is possible in their situation. We spoke a lot - in strange mixture of Russian-Ukrainian-Polish ;)
Next day was quite intensive. A lot of tourism - Orthodox church, castle, museum of books, Ostroh Academy. We have also a meeting with the President of the City Council and the rector of OA. At the afternoon we visited a Children Centre - partner of the SMGP. And after that we have a lovely picnic near the river organized by our host families. It was a great time - all those funny games, singing songs, painting our bodies ;), eating those delicious things, relaxing, talking etc. And after that we goes for a disco. It was funny - due to the exam period almost nobody (besides us) was there. So our group was leading this evening :)
Last day we visited only the Catholic church in Ostroh and the wonderful monastery in Meżyrycz. Then we were in the pottery, where we bought many nice and cheap things. After that we have a free time to spend it with our host families. We have a nice home lunch, nice conversations and also we were shopping.
And at the late afternoon we have a farewell meeting, last 'family-photos' and going back home.

That was a very interesting trip. I like all those people, which we met. But I also must admit that there is quite big difference of the standards of living between Poland and Ukraine. I didn't expect so strong 'visible' difference. All people which where first time there said the same. But if I'll have next opportunity - I'll go there again. For the people, but also to see more and to learn more about this country. There is something in it...
I liked also our group :) I've met many great people :) I was also a 'guardian' of 3 teenagers - Eva, Wojtek and Kamil. All of them were very nice and funny. But Wojtek was/is amazing - momentaly he found few people with whom he want to be all the time - talk, hug, joke etc. I think he miss love and care in his family. Even now he's sending me messages each 2-3 days etc. That's so sweet :) But there were more nice people - Justyna, Marek, Kamila, Bartek, Agnieszka, Maciej and Paweł. Especial with Paweł I have a very good relation - he's my new huggy friend. Because of young age (19 y.o.) I may say even - mascot :) And of course I may not forget about my flatemate Eva and our great coordinator-organizer Marcin. My favourite 3 people of those days :)
What a long post - uffff...

Photos from TC Charter

2006-07-16T19:00:00.000+02:00

Time for few photos from this Training Course in Strasbourg ;) As usual - I'm photomaniac ;)

Promoting Youth Campaign "All different - all equal"

Creative summary of the TC ;)

One of the energizers

Our lovely trainer - Andreas :)

Simulation game :)

Dinner in town...

Study visit in local radiostation - NGO

Strasbourg - again :)

2006-07-08T23:26:00.000+02:00

So, at the morning on 14th June I start my travel to Strasbourg. Again more complicated because of different reasons. First by bus (National Express) to London. Due to the traffic we have more than 45 minutes of delay! This fact influence on me strongly - much stress that my travel details will changed, finally I didn't had time to go by the underground, so I used taxi. But I manage to catch my EuroStar train from London to Paris. It's is a nice travel, take only 2:50 h, I can't understand why people prefer planes on this way - if you'll think about the timing, ways to/from airports etc. In Paris I needed only to change stations from Nord to East, they are very close, few minutes only. Then I had a train to Strasbourg. Very nice travel. And in Strasbourg by tram to European Youth Centre. Ufff... long description ;)
In Strasbourg I was a participant of the TC Charter - Training course on Developing Youth Participation Projects. It was very interesting training course, with many nice inputs and remarks. I liked work of the team, especially Andreas and Nadine. Didi as an expert was also very interesting.
Our group was very diverse. Many motivated people, but few (mostly from local authorities) came there only for vacation - in my opinion. They didn't want to participate almost in any group work, even if they did - it was just saying few words and that's all. That was a bad example for others and also loosing money of the Council of Europe for such people. There were so many applications for each place, that's pity that they took place of other people. But that's always a risk, you never can't choose only active and motivated participants only by application form.
I've met there also 2 participants which I've met earlier - George from Giorgia and my friend Anna from Hungary :) I like Anna very much, she will come to visit me tomorrow and stay some time in my home :) Besides them I've met there few other nice people - Kaja, Antonella, James, Ranko, Sonya, Chloe etc. With 3 of them (Kaja, Anto and James) we created a very nice little sub-group :) I've spent a lovely time with them - talking, laughing, walking around city, drinking wine on the river bank, watching match - Italy versus Czech Republic, eating tarte flambee etc. Great time :) With Kaja and James I'm in contact via MSN, with Antonella still only via e-mail.
Generally, it was a good time - interesting training course, very nice non-formal time, wonderful - my beloved - city, nice weather :)
I stayed in Strasbourg for 11 days - since 14th until 25th June. Then I was going home... for 2 days ;) Maybe I'll put few photos from Strasbourg, but not now.

Cardiff

2006-07-08T23:00:00.000+02:00

Ufff... long, long time of silence. Time to overtake it a bit ;) So... my a bit crazy June ;)
First on my list was Cardiff. I was there only for 1,5 day - for a Preparatory Meeting of the trainers team and organizers of European Module 4 (here is more about European Modules). Due to different reasons (mostly financial) I came to Cardiff by bus. It was long trip, but I survived it in better condition that I thought I'll. Our EM will be held in Novotel Hotel, what means very nice environment for youth event ;) During the first evening we have time to get know each other a bit more. I think I'll work with interesting people. I hope I'll manage my tasks as good as possible. I must admit that I'm a bit affraid - it's first such serious job for me in youth work. Cross your fingers for me :)
Next day was quite busy - we spent most of it on reading all those applications and choosing future participants. Besides that we're talking about the framework and background of all Modules and this particular one, about future communication, about my tasks etc. And at the evening we have dinner in very nice Italian restaurant, where we'll also take our participants during the training :) That was very nice :)
They also have meeting on the next day, but I was already on the way to Strasbourg.

Last week

2006-06-11T10:57:00.000+02:00

This week was quite interesting :) Since Monday until Wednesday I was participated in seminar in Toruń (lovely Polish city). It was seminar about elections for local authorities, creating campaigns during it, convincing people etc. Very nice seminar with professional trainers. Half of it it was theory and half - practice :) We're simulating eg. press conferences, door-to-door campaing. It was very funny, but I learned a lot.
During this seminar I've meet again my friend Marcin. It was very nice meeting. But also met 3 wonderful ladies - my roommate Jola and two others - Aga and Ewa. Cool girls. I like Ewa veeery much and I hope we'll work in the future - we live quite near. So we spent a nice time in small group 3-4 people all the time :p
I cam back from Toruń at Wednesday afternoon. Whole Thursday I was helping in organizing Final Conference of I Scheme of LEADER+ for our Local Activity Group. Even it was a bit stressful it was cool, because I was doing interesting things together with my friends :) Conference was starting at 4 PM and took 5 hours. It was in a very nice place - agroturist farm with a very nice style. There was even a golf course, so I tried it first time in my life :) But before that I also had a short lecture about 'my part' of Strategy of Local Development, which we created during last months. I've met there aslo Arthur, my very good friend :) Other friends too of course ;) It was a nice time...
And last evenings were also great, because I spent them mostly on talking with my friends via MSN and Yahoo :) It was great, because some of them are not so often online :p

In 2 hours I'll start my travels. Today I'm going to Cardiff - by bus :( Terrible, so long time in a bus :( But I'll survive! We have a preparatory meeting for the team of European Module 4 there. I'll be there until Wednesday morning. On 14th June early morning I'll take a bus to London and then I'll take this famous EuroStar train London - Paris :) And I'll go from Paris to Strasbourg also by train. I love travelling by trains. And due to my lack of money I'll use them in my travels quite often. I'll stay in Strasbourg until the morning on 25th of June. Then I'll travel whole day through Germany and I'll be back home on 11 PM.
On 26th of June I'll have a short training in nearest big city - Bydgoszcz. So I'll be for sure online on 26th (evening) and 27th (who knows :p) - finally ;) But I'll try to use also a cybercentre in European Youth Centre in Strasbourg - as often as it'll be possible ;)
And if everything will be ok - on 28th June I'll join a trip to Ukraine :) Or maybe I will go to Płużnica one day earlier - connection is not so good between our villages. We'll see!
Hugs :)

Still words...

2006-06-11T00:06:00.000+02:00

10th June 2006

"And again - only great moments during your trips and... good, but interesting people on your way. And..."

Words around me...

2006-06-09T20:07:00.000+02:00

8th June 2006

"Agnieszko, human of touch...

You should be used by people as a medicin on their hurts...

That's all for today...

Goodnight Agnieszko-who-is-healing-by-her-touch"

No adventures!

2006-05-28T01:38:00.000+02:00

Dear Rene, there are no adventures in this week :p And you already know everything from our meeting on Yahoo :p
"My" youngsters gaves me a CD with this movie. And it was visible that they forgett about technical requirements from organizers. And I couldn't contact with this camera-guy, because he is on his vacations and without mobile! So, little problem... But I asked one of my friends (Marcin :p) to help me. And he did this job in few hours, so I already sent this legend to organizers. I hope they get it and everything will be ok :)
Besides that I have to write 2 charters of our application form for LEADER+ Program. Until next Monday. What means very little time. But I don't have the 'right mood' for writing such things, so I'm trying to have as many other things to do as it's possible :p But I'll do it for sure.
In this week I had only 2 working meetings. One for the whole group - 4 hours workshop (talking with Arthur :p) and next day 6 hours of group work on the application form and splitting further tasks between us. And that's all.
Next week seems to be also "lazy" - just this LEADER+ application form, second application for our local church (to save it) and third one - I'll help with English application for EVS to my friend (Marcin :p). So 3 applications, at least 3 working meetings... And it seems to be all. Aha, maybe a meeting with 'my' youngsters - to plan next things for them and to plan holiday actions more in details.
As it's visible now - there are no adventures in my life... Nothing special happened in last days... Only I'm still confused about my personal live and lost in it... I hope it'll change soon! And I'll have a clear vision about it... In any way...
So, you must wait for next adventures - maybe until my trip to Torun, maybe until Cardiff or Strasbourg or maybe (still not sure!) Ukraine... But never know...

Good times... bad times...

2006-05-22T22:50:00.000+02:00

I think I lost my will to write two blogs - Polish and English. On Polish I'm more active. But it's easier - I have there "friends" reading my blog and asking "why you not publish new post??", so there is some kind of motivation ;)
Last week was quite lazy - just few little things to do, some meetings and that's all. But I had realy strange mood during it, so I want to forget about it as soon as possible.
But the previous one was just great. First I was 3 days in Warsaw. I was attending for a international youth meeting organized by the Polish Robert Schuman Foundation called “All different – all equal. Make the unity in diversity work!” - first event related with the Campaign First day I was a bit stressed, because of my workshop - I was a leader of the workshop "Europe without dividing lines?". And it was first work for this NGO, so it was important for me. Event (at least this part I was attending) was good, people were cool :) At the end they participated in so called "Schuman Parade". You may find photos here
From Warsaw I traveled to Maróz - small village in one of the most wonderful places in Poland, called Mazury. There was a 5th National Meeting of Rural NGOs. It was just great! Interesting lectures and workshops, cool people around, each evening - BBQs, fire, free beer and dancing with band :) And each evening we'll continuing party in our room or on the landing stage on the lake. I've met my one friend Marcin and he was with a group of friends, so I've met many new great ppl. In next year - if I will have an opportunity - I'll go next time with big pleasure :) And photos are here
This week we're continuing with our LEADER+ application form. The deadline is 31st May, so there is not so much time. I hope we'll manage with the applicaiton form, bank loan (first we must pay for our expences and then they will give us money back) and all other things. I'm sitting home and working on it and also on other applications. On Wednesday and Thursday we have a group meeting to finish some things.
"My" group of youngsters made a new movie interpretation of one local legend for a contest. Maybe it's not professional, but cool one :) I hope they will get at least some diploma! They are realy active, have a good ideas and they are very nice :) I hope they will have such a nice motivation for a long, long time...
Soon June will start... This crazy June... Let's see where and when I'll travel ;) I'm sure about 2 things - Cardiff and Strasbourg. And not sure about other two - one city in Poland and Ukraine. I hope I'll go in all those places. It'll be so great. Cross your fingers for that!

Friday night...

2006-05-07T19:07:00.000+02:00

I've manage to do what I needed to do before Friday, so I had a free mind to enjoy our short trip.
Our Local Activity Group goes for a study visit (related with group integration) in other Local Activity Group, about 1,5 h from my home. This group is much 'older' and have a great experience.
First they took us to show us some of the effects of their work, then we had some presentations. After that they took us to our mini-hostels (we have accomodation in 3 different mini-hostels! and we're only 38!). Then we have a nice dinner in the restaurant on the lake-bank. Then some short lectures. And party :) During this party found out that one guy has his 39 birthsday, so it start to be even more funny. We're singing, dancing, drinking, joking, talking, laughing... Some of us were also on a walk around the beach :D Nice evening.
But organizers finished this party very early (around 00:30). So we're going to our mini-hostels. But one girl from my mini-hostel remind that she has some alcohol in her room :) So, we decided to continue this nice night in her room, we gained even 2 more guys from the other hostel. It was a realy interesting party, first very crowded, but at the end just 5 ppl. I slept only 30 minutes! And it was funny at the morning to saw those surprised faces of other ppl when they saw those additional guest during the breakfast :D
The rest of Saturday it was mostly work on our strategy and vision. We must prepare an application form for money for 2007-2013, but at this moment must detailed must be 2007. Much to do, but it is nice work.
During the way back home everybody were tired, but very happy and satisfy. It was even sad to say hello. And definately we're much more integrated now :D

News

2006-05-02T23:50:00.000+02:00

Losted will for writing this blog? Don't know.

Different things happened during this 'silent' period. The most important for me is a fact that I was accepted as a junior trainer / documentalist in one of the European Modules organized by the Partnership Programme on Youth Training of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. I'm very happy, it's first big step in my career as a trainer.
Until now I did only training for youth NGOs.
Besides this I'll be a translator during the International Fair in Spain (products made by women) at the beginning of June.
Also in June I'll go to Strasbourg for a training course about youth participation - this time unfortunately as a participant. But from the other way it's also good sometimes to be a participant ;)
I'll also apply for being a trainer in Portugal in July, so also a preparatory meeting in June. And I applied for being a trainer also in Turkey in June - it's a bit late, but they still need a trainer. Now I'm waiting for their decission. So, if everything will be ok I'll have a busy June! Starting from 2nd June, finishing at 25th June. Portugal - Spain - United Kingdom - France - Turkey - it would be a nice June :) I hope it'll be in this way!
And I just received an info about very good grant possibility for our NGO, but the deadline is 8th May! And I have alredy one publication to create, 2 applications for being trainer to fill and a little training during next weekend, so there is not much place for creating such big application. I'll decide tomorrow morning.
At the end - I miss my friends from other countries, want to see them as soon as possible!

For my friends...

2006-04-15T23:42:00.000+02:00

I will not be realy unconventional now ;)

What can I wish you this Easter? You are already so rich in all the things that really count… You have a loving heart, a joyous spirit and a positive outlook on life… So, the only wish I can possibly make for you today is that some small measure of the joy you bring to others will return to you now to brighten your Easter and Spring.

Happy Easter!

What a time...

2006-04-05T23:21:00.000+02:00

Hm... those breaks between my posts here are not good :( Even if I get most of my energy back again (hurra!) I still don't have will to write more often.
Those days since my last post were incredible! I wrote alone 2 applications for small grants - for the English program "Be the Change" and the Polish program "Make a Connection". Results should be known in one month. Besides that I helped my friend Anna (Hungary) to write an application for a training course about a gender equality in decision-making - it was first time to her :) And also I worked on one training course and one study session with one trainer-fellow Serhan (Turkey). And also create an application for a travel grant for an exchange, which is planned by my friends Astrid (Norway) and Ethemcan (Turkey). So, together 6 projects!
But - as I just knew some time ago - 2 of them probably will not work :( Study session received a 2nd priority on AEGEE-applications list, what means probably no money :/ And the last application (exchange) was not presented in our NA - our President didn't manage to do this on time :( This is even worst, than SS - it's broking of the whole frame of exchange :( I still don't know how I should inform my friends about it :( Do you know any other possibility to get funds for 10 people to travel from Poland to Norway? Board and lodging is not so important ;) Or at least for me? ;) I miss them so much...

I survived all those paperwork thanks to 2 CDs. Both are Polish (ok, one
is partly English also) - "In the room" of Krzysztof Kiljański (what a sexyyy voice ;)) and "Tu Es Petrus" of Piotr Rubik. Two completly different CDs. First is mostly about feelings between women and man and this guy has realy suuuch voice, mniam... ;) And second hmm... I may say it's kind of religious, but for me it's more about universe and universal things like good and bad, love and hate, peace and war, faith and despair... It's great Oratorio with great choirs and orchestra. In those cases it's pity that you can't understand text (even if you would buy any of them). Music is great, but together with lyrics both are incredible. You must learn Polish ;)

During last weekend I was in Gdynia - it's one of the cities in so called "TriCity" (http://guide.trojmiasto.pl/) It's unique place in Poland - 3 cities in very strong synergy. It's north of Poland, on the Baltic Sea. Here are very nice photos of Gdynia - http://www.gdynia.pl/?co=galeria&lang=en I was there for a conference organized by our Ministry of National Defence - about possibilities for cooperation between them and NGOs. I must say that, even if on the beginning I was a bit sceptic (average age: 55 ;)), it was realy frutiful meeting (at least for me) . I've learned a lot about them and different possibilities. Besides that I visited a seaside (I know it's April in Poland, but so what? ;)) - I didn't visit it since April 2005. And what is most important I've met my brother and niece. He visited us some months ago, but I didn't meet Julia since 2 years! It was realy great - she is realy cool ;) Funny little lady :)

And now I'm relaxind a bit and preparing my plan of activity for next weeks - there are other grant possibilities in April. And in May there are 3 events which I want to visit. But from where I'll get funds for that?? I had a proposition of a job in Warsaw, but for funny money :/ It could be enough if I would live there with my guy/husband who should also work there. In this case this amount could be ok. But not in my case. What means that I still need to find some 'normal' montly earnings. Ehh... I need to be an international/national youth trainer more often and write more applications (btw - I'm starting to be a kind of expert in writing applications ;))) so maybe I'll earn some additional money. Any propositions for me? ;)

PS. Bent u nu tevredenstelt, Rene? Hope it's a right gramma ;)

My week

2006-03-26T14:07:00.000+02:00

Long breake, I know. But there is not much to write. The beginning of this spring is very heavy for me, both - physically and mentally. I'm tired all the time, sleepy, without energy, in sad mood and so on. I have enough of it already and hope it'll finish soon.
During last days I had few things to do. I worked on the long-term strategy of development of our region. It's needed for our Partnership of NGOs, local authorities and business sector to apply for funds from LEADER+ (EU-program for rural areas).
Besides that I had a meeting with pupils from our local grammar school. I want to help them to develop some ideas and be more active in our local community. We did a need assessment and first two places were: to have a internet cafe and to meet other young people from different regions of Poland and also different countries. About internet cafe we're thinking in our association to apply for an info-point in our village. And about meetings with others - they have time until tomorrow to think what exactly they would like to do and tomorrow afternoon we'll meet and talk about it. If there will be a nice idea(s) we'll try to apply for some money for that. Cross you fingers for that! :)
I was also in Warsaw for two days. First day I had a job interview. Very interesting job, but I don't have much hope I'll be chosen. We'll see, decission will be taken until Wednesday.
Second day we have a meeting of the board of the PYC and during the afternoon the meeting with the representatives of our member NGOs. It was interesting meeting, about new statute, declaration of membership and so on. We're making many changes to have everything fine before applying for the European Youth Forum (yes, Bettina, we took our decission finally :))) So much work to do - those old documents are not very good :/ Don't know who created them.
On Friday I was in little village for a Conference - closing a first part of the Program LEADER+ for this local community. It was interesting and I've meet Marcin - a friend who I know from CMS in Olsztynek (February 2006). That was very nice :)
With a second friend from this CMS - Anna and one Turkish trainer we're working on a Training Course about gender equality in decission-making process, in Hungary in October 2006. It looks cool :) We'll apply for funds for 1st April. And maybe also a second TC in Turkey - about Human Rights Education, what is very interesting for me :) If both will be accepted I'll be very happy!
And somewhere in my soul is still a need for a next travel. I wish to go to Bruxelles, Strasbourg, Paris, Istanbul... Travelling again, please! And there are two problems: lack of money (what is related with a job) and no interesting opportunities for few nearest months :( Somebody have an idea how to solve it?

Memories

2006-03-12T13:26:00.000+01:00

Because I had still some problems in my life (mostly in professional part of it) I'll use my old habbit - remind myself a great moments of my life. For better mood :) And I'll use this possibility also for explaining my adventure with French language.
I've started to learn French in last year. Due to lack of money I just used a multimedia course for that. After some time I was accepted as a participant of French language course And here my photostory begin ;)

In this place I was living for one month :)

I was a participant of the French language course organized by the Council of Europe.

We have a much time to know city very well ;) And, of course, for some of us it wasn't first time in Strasbourg.

And even if we have really hard work to do...

... we still found some time for parties :p

So, we have a great time during evenings...

... but also during the days :)

And after this month I for sure...

...even more than before :)

And after that I may say that my French is better. But still - I'm beginner :)

Better

2006-03-07T23:23:00.001+01:00

It's better :) Not very good, but for sure better. Thank you guys for your care!

I'm still filling some applications! It seems it's never-ending story... Applications for being a trainer or participate in some events, job applications, grants applications ufff...
Yesterday I was in Warsaw - I had a meeting concerning possible cooperation with a network of women' NGOs from the CEE. It was quite interesting. We'll see how it'll be in the future :p After this meeting I've met our (PYC) president to talk a bit about board stuff. There are many things which we must solve nowadays, but the most important is cooperation with our Ministry of Education (after change of the Minister) and completing all documents needed for application for being an observer member in European Youth Forum. We want to complete this and send before April. Hope we'll manage. Next week we'll have a board meeting, also to manage this application.

I've noticed that since some time I'm listing only four CDs:
1. Mission Impossible 1 - soundtrack,
2. Pulp Fiction - soundtrack,
3. Musical Hair - soundtrack,
4. Carla Bruni - Quelqu'un m'a dit.
My favourites are Carla and Hair. At least now ;) I don't have "special" kind of music or artist, which I like the most - it's chaning all the time. I love so many different kinds and artists. In my opinion if you're listen only one - you put some limits for yourself and you don't know many great things. So, in my case it refer also to movies, books, food...
Now I'm looking for a guy singing great songs in French. I need some change ;) Of course, I know some great artists like Aznavour, Montand or Dassin. And I love also this kind of French music. But now I'm looking for something more in "Carla" style.

Finally - part of one song of Carla - Raphaël. But you should hear it to "feel" it...

Pas de délice, pas d'étincelle, pas de malice sans Raphaël,
Les jours sans lui deviennent ennui, et mes nuits s'ennuient de plus belle.
Pas d'inquiétude, pas de prélude, pas de promesse à l'éternel,
Juste l'amour dans notre lit, juste nos vies en arc-en-ciel, Raphaël...

A l'air d'un sage, et ses paroles sont de velours,
De sa voix grave et de son regard sans détours,
Quand il raconte, quand il invente, je peux l'écouter
Nuit et jour... Hmm

2006-03-05T00:18:00.000+01:00

I feel...

...transparent.

...invisible.

...virtual.

...empty.

But it'll change...

...some day

For Francofou

2006-02-28T23:30:00.000+01:00

Dear Francofou - thank you for this proposition and your good will. Of course, I will be happy if you'll help me to increase my language skills :) And I'm not offended at all!
However, I don't know how to contact with you (there is nothing in your profile ;))) So I hope you'll visit my blog again and see this post then :)
P.S. I will delete your one comment - there are two of them, the same :)

Daily life

2006-02-28T00:28:00.001+01:00

I'm trying to convince my good friend - Rene (yes - you ;))) to join me here and write together with me. But he is shy :p

Meeting about the new NGO was quite interesting and efficient. Statut is accepted, board and audit commission elected. And a big surprise for me - I was elected as a board member! The bad news is - it's for 3 years :S But I may always resign - in the case of new job somewhere or lack of free time for it.

Since few days I'm writing applications for a job as a trainer. They are quite many in those days. Wonder if I'll be accepted. Now I'm filling one about YOUTH Program training for SEE-countries. And listening the soundtrack from "Pulp Fiction" :)

Professional work as a trainer is my biggest dream since one year. I'm trying to take any possible steps to be closer and closer to it. But this is quite difficult. Last time in Strasbourg I've spoke with my friend Howard that trainers environment in Europe is like a "magic circle" and it's hard to get inside for new people. It needs time and patience. But I still believe it's possible and fight for my dream.

I'm home since 10 days and already miss travels! I must have some big travellers in the history of my family - it's the only one answer for my "strange" attitude. When I'm home for some weeks, I'm beginning to be not realy nice person :p So, I must travel to have a good mental health - mine and people around me ;)

Travellers' tests

2006-02-25T23:01:00.001+01:00

Today I was reading some blogs, jumping from one to another. In this way I've found some really interesting blogs. I will continue reading them in the future.
During this I've found a blog of young Finish journalist. And there I've found 2 interesting websites. First I knew already (from blogs of my two friends - Bettina and Jola) and made my "test". Second was new for me, but really cool. One problem - you must remember all those flights :/

Outcome: nothing extraordinary ;) Summary: I've visited only 12 countries (some of them of course at least few times), what means 5% of the globe. There is a much place for improvement ;) About flights - together more than 18200 km. Plus at least 22000 km in buses or trains. Sounds quite much, but that's nothing.

But with my passion for travelling I'm convinced that it is just beginning!

My youth work

2006-02-22T23:10:00.000+01:00

It's just beginning, so probably I'll have quite many posts ;)

I thought today about many things. Too many to write them here. Chosen one is youth work :p Surprisly. When I've started my volunteering it was middle of 2002. Just to see what it is about. And now? I'm in 4 NGOs and some people are asking me about creating one in our village. But I think it's too much for one person. I must make selection. Choose the most important things. Let's see.
Polish Youth Council - I'll stay there. I like it, even if it is very hard work. Through 2 years nothing happened. In last year we made a "revolution", have a new board. It started to change, but very slowly, not so efficiently as it could be. Still there are problems with communication between people in the board. And also identification of member NGOs with PYC is not so high. There is still soooo much work to do. And not many people. And no money at all :( But we're figthing and we will!
AEGEE - I'll also stay inside. I like it also. Good ideas, interesting people. I'm not occupied with my things there, so it's not matter of this NGO at this moment.
Fundation "Partnership for Krajna and Pałuki" - our regional, very new foundation. I think it is really good possibility for our community to develop. At this moment I'm coordinating only one little thing. But it is just beginning, just register in court. I think I'll try to help them.
And two things which I consider now:
Foundation "Szansa XXI" - small local foundation, which is not really efficient. And I don't like very much way of thinking of the board - they are most important, not things which are they doing and people for whom they are doing those things. It's rather kind of business. Let's wait a bit and see.
And last thing is this idea of association in my village. I think it is really good idea to have one here. But two things are not really clear for me. First - why they choosed as a topic peoples' culture, not culture in general, but only local peoples' culture. It's important, but they are saying so much about development of our village and in this situation they will not have many possibilities for that :/ But about this maybe I'll have a more info tomorrow - there will be a meeting. Second thing is my role (if they will have only this topic I don't see myself in it almost at all) and other question is - will I have more time to involve in this?
So many things to do. At this moment it is almost like a normal job. And it is not paid. I may afford on it only because I don't have "normal" job at this moment and my parents help me. But I must start professional work very soon and after that I really don't know how it'll be. It would be perfect to work professionaly in one from those NGOs and be volunteer in rest of them. Just ideal situation :) But not really possible.

New adventure

2006-02-21T17:35:00.000+01:00

February as a beginning of something? Why not - winter is ending, something new may born ;) I have already one blog - in my mother tongue (Polish), but I thoguth that it could be interesting to have one in English. Maybe - when I'll improve my skills - next one will be in French. But there is still a long way to French blog :p

What means "podróżniczka"? It is traveller in Polish. Why I chose this name? - that's easy ;) I'm trying to travel as often as it is possible. Even if 99% of my travels is related with youth projects, events and so on, still it's fantastic! Until now I visited only 10 countries, what means 4% of whole globe. Not much :/ But still have some time for improving :p

Something about me? It'll arise after, from next posts. For this moment - I'm youth worker in few NGOs on local, national and international level and I love it :D