Introduction (finaly)

Name:
Mikko Rinne

Age:
24

Why I'm going to Slovenia?
To get new experiences and maybe new friends.

What are you Expecting for your time in foreign country?
A lot of new things atleast

Is there something you find exiting?
I was googling about all of the local bands Slovenia has to offer.

What are your hobbies? What kind of stuff are you interested in?
I like hanging out with friends playing Frisbee-golf, Paintball or just on computer playing games.

What is the most important thing you're going to stow with you?
Positive and open mindset.

What would you like to tell about your homeland to people you'll meet in your destination?
Theres no Polar bears in Finland

What you wish for your future? What is your dream?
I dont have any dreams right this moment

Juuso - Back in Finland / Final thoughts

How you doin?

Heyo, long time no see! I'm back here with some final thoughts about my EVS trip in Ireland. Its been almost one month now and I think now is a good time to make my final(?) blog post.

First of all, I want to say that the whole trip was amazing. Even that one month is kinda short in a way, I'm amazed how well me and Allu got through living in a foreign country and using English in a everyday basis. Also, just how much I learned about Ireland and learned something new of myself as well.

One of the biggest things that happened to me in the trip was how well I actually understand English. And I realized that when Laura took us to this Mental Health Talk that happened in the Sports Festival week. That evening was kinda "special" to me, 'coz I actually understood like 99% of what the people were talking about in there, and that kinda blew my mind. I walked away from the event with small grin on my face and just thinking "Hey, my English is actually pretty good"

Also, one of my biggest dreams is to live abroad.. At this moment, I don't know where/when/how but, its a dream and trip to Ireland kinda boosted my confidence that I could actually survive in a foreign country... Well at least in a English speaking country.

Now then, 'lil something about the stuff that we did when we got back to Finland.
We had couple of meetups with the whole group, Terhi, Anna-Kaisa, Vesa, Susanna and Allu. There we talked about the overall trip, challenges, what we learned etc. These were super fun and it was nice to "open up" and just talk about our month in Ireland.

I'm not a writer by any means and writing a blog, still feels kinda weird, but I hope you got something out of this and from my other blog posts. Also, I hope that if someone has questions about the whole EVS process, I'm pretty sure I can answer some of them.

Last but not least, I want to thank everyone who was involved with this project and a big thanks to Allu, the trip wouldn't have been the same without you. Also, big cheer up for Mikko who is leaving to Slovenia!

Bonus pic of my cat Leo!

Work coaches say hello!!

Well hello there! Kako si?  It is great to realize that our lovely EVS volunteers Teja and Denis are just few weeks away from Finland! We are so excited to meet you guys and have you working in our workshops! Few of us you met in Skype, but the ones who couldn't make it to the meeting, will be introduced to you in a picture I'm gonna add here! :)

I'm sure that Teja and Denis you have a lot of preparations to do on your trip to Finland but we coaches have also been doing some. First of all the schedule for your month here is almost finnished. We have a lot of plans and interesting projects and things for you to do. With us and our youngsters of course! You will be informed about everything when you guys get here! :) So have no stress, no worries, I'm sure we'll have a blast when you get here!

Maybe there is nothing else to say at this point than WELCOME TO LAHTI AND TO THE WORKSHOPS!!! Hope you will have lovely few weeks there before we meet. Untill then Adijo!

On behalf of work coaches, Lauri!

Živjo! Here are the work coaches! In this picture (from left to right) Saija (media), Auli (drama), Vesa (media), Merja (interrior decorations), Mia (interrior decorations) and Lauri (drama)

Introducing Denis and Teja, the volunteers from Slovenia

"We're doing good, so let's continue with this story!" said someone at the APV , and the rest agreed :) And now is the time that new volunteers from Slovenia meet Finland and that Finland meets them!

The two volunteers who will very soon take part in Lahti Youth Services drama, multimedia and interior design projects, are Teja and Denis. Being very open, they will be really happy to answer any questions you might have.

Teja

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Where are you going?

To Finland.

Age: 19

Why I'm going to Finland?

One of the main reasons why I to go to Finland is to gain new experiences, to see things I've maybe never seen, to do things I've maybe never done. The second reason is meeting new people, creating new friendships, changing the environment I live in and to »expand my horizons« a little bit.

What are you expecting for your time in foreign country?

I expect adventure, to learn something new, get to know even more about Finnish culture and everything written above.

Is there something that you find exciting?

Nothing in particular. I believe that everything can be exciting if you make it that way.

What are your hobbies? What kind of stuff are you interested in?

Denis & Teja

My hobbies would be singing and reading books. I'm interested in many different things, because I know that there are so many things I would like to experience and learn. I can't expose nothing in particular, because I'm very open to do stuff I've never done before, and learn new things.

What is the most important thing you're going to take with you?

The most important thing I will take with me is my optimism, smile and a will to gain new experiences.

What would you like to tell about your homeland to people you'll meet in your destination?

Anything they would like to know about, maybe break some stereotypes about Slovenian people if there are any.

What you wish for your future? What is your dream?

I don't know what to expect, I don't even know what exactly I want for my future, because I believe we are making our own destinies. I've always dreamed about finishing my college, settling down, having a family and travelling around the world.

Denis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Where are you going?

To Finland.

Age: 30

Why I'm going to Finland?

I'm going to Finland to improve my English, to meet new people, to gain new working experiences and learn something about Finnish culture.

What are you expecting for your time in foreign country?

To enjoy in every single activity and to be surrounded by optimistic people. 

Is there something that you find exciting?

Changing the environment, to get along with co-workers, smiling at the workplace as much as possible. I would really love to see the capital city and visit my Finnish friends there.

What are your hobbies? What kind of stuff are you interested in?

My hobbies are sport, reading books, listening to music, watching good movies.

What is the most important thing you're going to take with you?

Positive Slovenian energy and attitude.

What would you like to tell about your homeland to people you'll meet in your destination?

That Slovenia has a lot of beautiful highlights, a lot of nature, that we are very opened and talkative.

What you wish for your future? What is your dream?

To work in a global company and maintain my financial stability, also to improve my German language, to improve my “peaceful state of mind”, to be happy as much as possible, to buy new apartment and to have a family.

Their story is to be continued and we're all very much excited to hear about it!

Finnish volunteer going to Slovenia in couple of weeks!

Hi guys! September is coming fast! A lot has been happening in the back ground after we have returned back to work from summer holidays. For example our EVS-team has been meeting up with Juuso and Allu after they have returned from Ireland, we have been planning the period in our workshops for the Slovenian volunteers who are coming in the beginning of September. AND preparing Mikko for his two month period in Slovenia where Mikko is leaving at the end of this month. So soon you can follow his journey!

Before summer break we chose the volunteers for Slovenia. Sometimes in a month can happen much and now the plan is that Mikko will be going to Slovenia. Soon Mikko is writing the presentation of himself, can't wait to read it!

So this week we had the first session of Mikko's pre-departure training. Me (Terhi) and Larissa are Mikko's mentors in Finland, we had the training together. 

There is always nice to have some snacks :)

In the older posts you can find a post where Anna-Kaisa told what the pre-departure training is all about :) The structure is pretty much the same in this case, but of course there is little changes because the place is different.

In a nutshell, first Mikko aswered questions about himself, which we will send to Slovenia before the period starts. We try to work in a way that the start is easy for the volunteer and also to the host country. We have received lots of information from Slovenia to share with Mikko. Information makes things easier! When Mikko knows what kind of work he will be doing and how for example living, eating and free time is organized, he will have a lighter mind to go in a new place :) Also it is the same situation for the mentors in Slovenia. When they have little bit knowlage about Mikko, what he likes and doesn't like, things will go smoother.

This kind of things and work Mikko will be doing with the orher volunteers!

We also went throw volunteers agreement (agreement for the period), code of conduct and lots and lots of things to make sure that the experience is nice!

Of course we talked about the travel arrangements and other practical stuff. Will you go by buss to the airport? Is someone willing to give you a ride to travel centre from home? Do you have the receip when you bouth the passport ? What is the weather like in Slovenia in the fall? You should back clothes which you can do the renevation work with... And be ready for a warm and cold weather!

Hmmm we wonder how are the local busses going? Mikko has to be in that time in the airport, before that he needs to get to the travel centre where the long distance busses are leaving... 

Of course it's important for the volunteer to see why am I going? What will I learn from this experience? How can I take advantage of this in the future? We will continue from this next week!

Terhi, coordinator