Intensive time

Ola,

I am Justyna ,new volunteer in Checki-in association. Taking a decision to leave everything what you have and take a deep plunge into something unknown is never an easy one. I took such a decision, left my job and decided to take one-in-a lifetime to opportunity to do my EVS in Lisbon. I am here almost two month.These months went by so quickly. 

cooking together

 
March was a polish month in Checkin. Intercultural JantarINho started this month. We cooked together polish ,kazakh and azerbaijani dishes, we exchanged our culinary talents , we explored our national cuisines,we had a lot of fun during preparation of dinner :) .  After the dinner we presented a few interesting facts  about Poland and Kazakhstan culture.

Schedule of training

Last week I went for on-arrival training in Braga .I spent there very productive time by learning more about EVS and youthpass with great people from different projects and organisations.I took part in different useful activities. New friends ,new ideas and energy to create my own path in EVS journey.

Team in Braga

In meantime we had time to explore Braga.:)

Porto by night

amazing sunset

After the Braga I went to Porto with my friend Linara. It is a highly atmospheric place with good vibes.View from bridge by night is amazing . We were there only two days , I will come back to Porto for sure.

What is really happening here ?

So the 6 month of my evs recently started.. Can't understand how time passes so fast. Last weeks are crazy busy here, with a lot of this happening in the same time.. But I guess that is better than being bored :)

Finally after some time I went with Nico for on-arrival training in rainy Braga. I thought training about evs cannot surprise since I am so OCD that I read everything about evs before even coming here, but actually it was more than just this. I realised few things that I forgot in the middle of being busy...

Presenting Check-In

One of this things is the base of European Voluntary Service- VOLUNTARY!

I am a volunteer, not a worker... I think you can forget this especially working in a busy organisation when everything happens so fast.. you have some tasks, you do them, then another tasks, projects, events etc.. but it is important to realise that I am a VOLUNTEER, and should take this time to be one. This opportunity is is for me, it should be all about me. 

I could try to be a little more independend, try to organise something on my own, don't be scared of failing because I am JUST a volunteer.. and this is great, this should make me feel more free and comfortable. No one can fire me if I do something wrong.. 

Flipchart was made by trainers during On Arrival training in Braga 

Second important thing that stayed in my head after some session from this training is resolving things on time. I am very bad with this actually.. When something what I do not like happens I have a hard time to express this in front of the others and I always postpone in to later and later.. and eventually it doesn't happen because no one even remembers the situation, but it stays inside of me building this ugly wall of being unhappy...

Besides great atmosphere of trainings and meeting all of the people around the world I always try to do get something just for myself like those two things that I wrote. I think this should be important in all Erasmus Plus actions, it is not only meeting different people and partying, it is not even just learning new things but it time for your own personal growth, learning something new about yourself, something that will stay with you after and it is not a massive hangover.. 

Waiting for summer

Beijos

Olga.