Every day, be sure to tell somebody thank you.

Labvakar! 🙂

Today was such a productive day for me! I had again latvian lesson and after this I met my beautiful mentor Liene! 🙂

That’s what I want to write about today.

Mentoring! In my EVS here in Latvia I met lots of persons, that try to help and push you in the right direction. But I realized that it wouldn’t be the same without my mentor! Every week we meet and reflect my experiences and feelings about the project. Day by day you develop your relationship and I am so thankful to have her by my side!

Here you can see a photo from skiing in Milzkalns, which was so nice! Mentor meeting in another kind of way 😉

I never expected to go sking in Latvia, but „why not?“

On our On-Arrival-Training, which was in February, we also had some special activities to improve the connection between the volunteer and the mentor. I really enjoyed it and realized how important it is, to have a mentor! Before I came to Latvia, I didn’t really think about it.

Aaaaand, today in the evening I continued with my second german lesson! Honestly, I didn’t expected that it would be so successful. When the lessons are finished, I feel so good and confident. And that is exactly want I want to feel! It feels so good to teach my mother tongue here in Latvia and to make people happy with it!

When I will be back in Germany, I go on with my studies for being a teacher in elementary schools and these activities just show me that I decided in the right way and that it’s my profession!

 

Day by day I feel more like it was the best decision in my life to go on EVS. I experience so many things in a different way and I think I would have never explore it if I said „No!“ to this adventure! 🙂

 

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands! :) :) :)

Helloooo! 🙂

Today was a very nice day. In the morning we had latvian lesson with our excellent teacher Ieva! 😉 Es tagad runāju nedaudz latviski! 😀

After practising my language skills I went to the Social Centre and spent a very nice time there. We organized a Kicker- and a Novus-competition. For everybody who has no idea what Novus is:

Well. I am not Latvian, but I think it’s kind of traditional game. 😀 It reminds me very much of Billiard, which we also play in Germany. But more simple. Anyway, we had a lot of fun and the first three winners also got some small presents.

 

very concentrated while playing Novus 😉

 

the winners of the competition, can you see the pride in their faces? 😀

Well as you can see, I had a lot of fun! I really enjoyed it, because every day I get a bit nearer to the children and that’s very important for my work there.

Today, we also created some decoration for Easter, you can see our results here:

 

very creative easter eggs! 

and very beautiful flowers 😉

For me, the most important thing in my work is, to see a big smile on the childrens faces. When I reached this at the end of the day, I am totally happy because I know that I reached my aim. To make them happy! 

 

Paldies par lasīšanu 🙂

See you very soon! 

 

 

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says „I’m possible“! – Audrey Hepburn

Hello 🙂

Today I’d like to talk about something, which surprised me so much!

TRANSPORT IN LATVIA! 

First of all, for orientation… I live in Tukums, which is about 60 km from Riga. If you like to go there, you can take the train, which brings you directly to lovely Riga in 1 hour and a few minutes… FOR 2,65 € ! 

In Germany I live in Essen and the next big city is Cologne. You can also take the train to get there in 1 hour and 10 minutes, BUT…. You can pay about 20 €… Minimum..

To see this, is very crazy for me, because it opened my mind to travel to so many places and other countries in the Baltic States. 🙂

enjoying the snowscape on my way to Riga  

 

Aaaaaand, I discovered another way of transport, which is nearly impossible in my home country Germany. – HITCH HIKING ! 

When hitchhiking, it is good to know at least a few phrases of the language of the place where you are, or of your potential drivers. Here are seven key phrases which will come in handy:

1. Hello!

2. Are you possibly driving to …?

3. Can I ride with you?

4. Can you drop me off at a motorway service area?

5. Can I get out right here?

6. Thanks for the ride!

7. East, West, North, South

 

„Can I ride with you?“

I can understand, if the opinions on this topic are splitted, but I loved to experience transport in a different way like I never did before! And it was successful, a nice couple brought me directly to the main station of Riga! 🙂 Nice talks and new friends included. For me it was an amazing experience and intercultural exchange!

„Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.“ -Ray Bradbury

See you soon!! 😉

 

 

My first impression !!

Hello everybody! It’s Paula. 🙂

 

I want to share my first impressions of my work and daily life here in Latvia with you! 🙂

Actually, I am impressed by Latvia and its people! I live here in Tukums for a few weeks and already feel so comfortable and welcomed.

In the mornings I am working in the Disability Centre „Saime“ and I really enjoy my time there. Even if my knowledge of latvian language is small, there are so many ways to communicate with those people. I learn a lot about communication and how to express myself in different situations, even if it’s difficult sometimes. „If you want, you can manage everything!“ I also discovered the magic of weaving and how much fun it is to do handcrafts. I am really thankful for this!

 

In the afternoons, I am working in the Social Youth Centre. There, I prepare some activities for the children, play with them or do some handcrafts. Two weeks ago I started my first project there, „GERMAN LESSONS“. I was a bit worried, because I knew that it would be a challenge for me, teaching my mother tongue to children living in Latvia, but I really wanted to do it! So I did… And it was great! Now, every thursday I give german lessons and I love it. And the most important thing: The children like it too! They are so motivated and even want homework, which was a big surprise for me!

 

Aaaand, today I gave my first german lesson for the inhabitants of Tukums in the Tourism Office. In my opinion, it was very successful, and my students are very motivated! 🙂 That makes me feel very happy and gives me power to continue and go on with this project!

Everybody is invited to come there, every Monday from 6.00 to 7.30 pm. It would be a honour to me, if there are even more people who want to learn some german. 😉

 

 

I am very glad, that I said „yes“ to this adventure… That I had the courage to try something new, because you have to step out of your comfort zone to experience something special like this!

 

Paldies! 🙂 🙂 🙂