MIDTERM TRAINING in SOPUKKA

Hello dear bloggers and blogreaders. 

It's winter and it's really cold outside, but I hope that you're all doing well and if not, read my heartwarming post and I am sure that you will feel better.

Today I will tell you about midterm training which was in Training Centre Sopukka.

This was only 3 day training, but that was enough to recharge our energy batteries and to increase positive emotions.

Training was very interesting. We talked about our projects and we shared our experiences. This time we had more things to discuss, because we have all  been in Finland for quite long time.

We had little group presentations about our projects and some other group works.

I really liked all the group activities, because we were working in small groups which was making easier to know each other better.

 For me the best part was meeting my friends from previous trainig, because we really missed each other, even though we sometimes organise meetings. This was a great chance to spend more time together again.
As this group was bigger, and there were more people from different countries I had great time while talking to them about their country culture and of course it was pleasure to tell them about Armenia.
I really enjoyed this midterm training, even if this was by the end of my project, so this was my term-end training.
Thanks for reading!!!

Celebrating Finnish Independence Day 

or 

ITSENÄISYYSPÄIVÄ

 

Finland became independent on December 6, 1917, this day is a national public holiday and a flag day in Finland. This year  Finland celebrated 102 years of Independence, and I was a part of this celebration. We celebrated the day with our coordinator Riina's and coach Irene's families. That was a typical Finnish way of celebrating the day and I felt like a part of this country and people.

We started the day watching the legendary film ''The Unknown Soldier'' based on a novel about  the Second World War. Later we lighted blue and white candles and had a dinner all together.

Ater the the dinner it was time for the most important event, which is Independence Day Reception held by the President. It is a gala event for VIPs and specially selected guests and Veterans. The invitees include high-ranking officers, politicians, diplomats, as entertainers and activists. This event is broadcast on national TV. The TV reporters make comments about all the guests as they line up and shake hands with the president and his spouse on the way in. And we also did some commentary with our observation, while playing specal 'Bingo'.






 After the handshaking ceremony the band started playing, guests were enjoying the evening:dancing, eating and drinking and reporters are interviewing famous people and asking them about their ideas on independence.

But of course here everyone has his own way of celebrating this day. The main point is that the country worked hard to gain its freedom and fought hard to keep it. People learn at a young age that self-determination should never be taken for granted and they are reminded of this every year on December 6.

''LAPLAND''

TRIP TO YOUTH HOLIDAY CENTRE VASATOKKA 

AND A PERFECT DAY IN NORWAY

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO!!!

Today I want to share with you my memories of an incredible trip to Northern Finland. 

I spent a week in Vasatokka, and that was one of the best travel experiences that I had in my life.

Vasatokka was a beautiful place, and it was perfect for observing Lapland's nature. This is a place where nature has been kept unspoiled.

I had a week full of interesting activities organized by Youth centre Vasatokka.

We had a tour to Inari Reindeer Farm. It was an incredible experience meeting Inari Sami people and their reindeers. Of course this was the first time in my life to see reindeers, before this reindeers were only Christmas magic for me(Santa, reindeers and elves😂😂😂).They have a big farm where reindeers are kept, and there was a little but interesting handicraft shop and reindeers safari. We had a little presentation about Sami culture and history.

 As Sami culture is must know if you are in Lapland, we had the next trip  to Sami museum in Inari. Sami people are native to Lapland, they have different tribes, and all they wear different native clothing. There are only 9000 Sami people around Finland, but still they have their own language and flags.

 The next place where I have been was very special.

It was Husky Sledding park in Inari. This was a big Husky camp, where different types of that nice creatures were living. You cannot believe, but in this camp there were more than 70 huskies living in a peace and love.

And we had a special day. It was day when we traveled to Norway. The place where we have been, was not too far from Lapland, but when we crossed the border everything changed, it was another world, everything there was differet. It was very nice place by the Arctic ocean. Photos and words can't show the indescribable beauty of Norwegian nature. 

 Later we had ''Survival skills'' activities in a forest near Vasatokka, that was interesting, helpful and very cold, but it was survival skill lesson, so we survived.😅
And later we had hendicraft workshop, where we made some keychains and jewelery, but not usual ones. Everything was made of reindeer bones and leather.
This was another special week of my life in Finland. And my special thanks to Lahti City Youth Services for organizing this tour, and  for making me a part of it !!! 😊😊😊

6 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS IN 

''VILLA ELBA''

The last week was a week full of memories, emotions and good vibes. 

From 28.10-02.11.2019 we had an on-arrival training in Kokkola in a very warm and hospitable Youth Centre Villa Elba.

Evrything was highly organized for us to feel comfort.

I met all the volunteers at a train station, and when we talked a little bit all together, I said to myself   

''-This  gonna be a cool week.'' and I was right, and it was far more cool than I could imagine. 17 volunteers from different countries of Europe and not only, took part in this training. And all the people who were in Kokkola were super friendly and sociable, so we could easily communicate and have fun together.

One thing that made me really happy was that we created a real team from the firt day. There were no misunderstandings or some conflicts between us, and I liked it.From the very beginning of training I felt a good and strong SPIRIT that all volunteers had. Training program was also very interesting, we had many attractive group activities about volunteering in Europe, volunteering principles, about the solidarity in our projects and ect., we got some practical information about ESC  programmes and Erasmus+, we had 2 days of finnish language lessons and they were really hepful.

We visited the first Arctic museum which is in Pietarsaari.

      

And we have been in Laivurintalo, where we had coffee and pulla and a presentation about Kokkola, and after we had a walking city tour.

And I am really happy that I was a part of  this training, now I know more good people around the world, and yes, now I can say that I have good friends around the Europe. 

I will always keep this good memories from Kokkola.

“Armenian Special Edition”

Last Thursday, 03.10.2019  was really important and memorable day for me. That was sprecial day  not only for me but for all the armenians who came to participate. And the Event was called

 ''Armenian Speial Edition''. 

This Armenin event was organised in Multi-Culti and it was sponsored by them. 

This was not an ordinary event. I've tried to organize it in a different way, without any formalities. 

We had a special guest, DJ Moris. Armenian DJ living and working in Fnland, and he made the event even more attractive, playing armenian music during that few hours. And all our guests were dancing and having fun with us.

The aim of this event was to represent Armenian art, culture and of course Armenian hospitaliy,  and I think it succeed. During the event I had a little presentation about Armenia, its histoy, cuisine, art and the culture. 

Some Armenian national dishes were served, like dolma, baklava and other sweets, 
made with love (by me😚).

 So that finnish people could feel the taste of Armenia. 
And for me it was pride and success to have so many guests. We had more than 30 guests during that evening and not only armenians or finnish people, but from Romania, Honduras, Iran, Afganstan and ect. 

This was perfect and unforgettable day for me, and I'll remember this day forever, and I hope that those who were participating will also remember this event and some things about Armenia.

#YOUTHere  ESC  EUsolidaritycorps  ESCvolunteer Dusya Armenia Finland volunteer

Hi everybody !!!

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to introduce myself. I’m Dusya and I am 21 years old. I came here from sunny Armenia and I am going to live here for 8 months, sooo, this means that this is not our first and last meeting))).

I have recently graduated from Yerevan State Linguistic University of Languages and Social Sciences with a bachelor degree and I was looking for an opportunity to live, travel and get practice abroad, so ESC was really good chance for me.

So now it will interest you how I knew about this project and that’s what I am going to tell you...

I was on an internship at Brusov YSULS Career Center and Graduates Association, and they offered me to participate in this project (p.s. Brusov YSULS Career Center and Graduates Association is ESC coordinator in Armenia). I thought about it for few days and decided to send my CV for participation, and as you see I am one of the lucky volunteers who was choosen to participate in this project.

And now I’ll try to do my best to be useful for this project and of course I will enjoy my time here, in hospitable LAHTI!!!

Nice to meet you all. 

Levon, Armenia, 23 years old

Hi everyone. I am Levon from Armenia. I am a friendly, polite and honest person and i am looking for new friends and adventures. I’ve graduated from my university this year and wanted to get a good package of experience before proffesional work and also travel to Europe, see wonderful places, broaden my world-outlook. I’ve been doing volunteering in my country since 2016 and participated different kinds of projects. I have learned about this ESC project from my friend who also participated in it.

Before coming Finland i knew about it only some things, that it is very cold here)))) about Laplandia, and also about heroic Finns who fought against Russian conquerors and saved their homeland.