Portugal spring time version

Olá nice people :-)

Every time I come back here, I realized that another month or even more is over; it is almost May, I can't believe that I came last October in here, someone deleted some months? Ahah :-)
Well, let's start from the end of February, where we had the chance to go to Braga for our on arrival training and it was a nice chance for discovering even more about the EVS programme, meet cool crazy people from different countries and, of course, travelling a bit in the north of the country ;)
Well, not only Portugal but also Galicia, the north-west of Spain, where with my super collegue Olga we were to meet our great Paula :-) what an amazing weekend, look at this picture:

View from Paula's city, Galicia (Spain)

So, are you still sitting? Just join us and come with us for the next trip in the north of Spain, let's go and meet our amazing Paula :-)
Then, the training course was very nice and great, after that I had the chance to spend few days in Rome, since I needed to solve some stuff with the wonderful bureaucracy, but I was able to spend few days and relax, taking some sun, eating ice cream and relaxing a bit :-)
PS just for make you aware of what I m talking about... :-)

Let's go, no more questions :-)

Then, March was full of events and activities, and then I spent Easter time on the beach, Carcavelos super one ;) very cool, the weather wasn't so warm but still, when you have the Ocean in front of you, organizing a pic-nic and the sun that comes out from the cloudies, yeah it is cool the same :-)

Carcavelos beach, 27 March 2016

And then it is already April, the second part of the month :-) yeah, why don't come back to Beja and exploring Alentejo region in spring time? Check-In organization was the portuguese host partner for the project ''Greentrepreneurship'', where we had the chance to meet and work with people from 4 different continents! It sounded amazing, and actually it was :-) you never stop learning, and grow every time more :-) and, as well, we learned new skills and tips about being ''green'' and respect the environment, that is the most important thing :-) here we are:

The amazing group from all over the world :-)

So, since now it is almost time to have coffee break, you are welcome to join me and let's go a drink a galao together ;) big hug if you were able to read all the post and didn't give up before, you have got a drink when we meet :-)

Abraços

Nico, Lisboa
20.04.2016

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.

O inverno em Lisboa :-)

Olá a todosssss :-)

Here I am after a bit of time, still in Lisbon and with more portuguese skills (maybe, at least this is what I think ahah); and it is with pleasure that I am here ready for telling you about some adventures during the last weeks :-)

After spending Christmas time in Italy (and got some kilos, among tiramisu and pasta and pizza - with nutella), I came back to Lisbon during the first week of January and I started to do some sports.
Yeah, just running actually, but still is some kind of moviments, and, probably you know, what does running mean in Lisbon, ups and downs on the hills...I am almost ready for the next marathon ;)

Our amazing team called Check-IN is full of energy, power and smiles, and in January it was a sooo rushing month, because of several events, and, especially for the deadline of Erasmus plus projects.
But we did everything, we didn't sleep at all and so now I am in a little bit slow motion mode, that's why I find easier to write in english than in portuguese right now ahah :-)

As you remember, I am a sweets food lover, and so our relationship goes on. I started to eat bolo de bolocha, creme - leite and bolo de berlim, even if my secret love is still ''pastel de nata'' :-) so, we went to the chocolate festival em Lisboa, kind of magic world, as you can see and enjoy (by looking at) :-)

 

From heaven with love :-)

At the end of January we host a kazak super great girl, Linara, that is doing an internship here in Portugal and will stay here till April; she gave me the kazak chocolate as a gift, so since the first moment I love her :-) then, besides, few days ago came also Justyna from Poland, that will work with us as an EVS volunteer na próxima primavera e o próximo verão :-) what an amazing Equipaaa :-)


 

From Kazakhstan with love and sun, Linaraaa :-)

               

Then, this last week seemed that everyone came to Lisbon, since I met my friends from Czech Republic, Italy and Croatia and I had also the chance to take part in the last meeting of the project ''Bordeline Boardgames'', where I played several games and took lots of advices and ideas, and also discovered more about Lisbon (through a new game) and of course, by eating other kinds of bacalhau, that is still one of my favourite food here, I need to start and make it also by myself, so my next step will be also pretend to be a chef :-)

     

BBgames 3rd meeting: a full of experience!

Now, it is pequeno almoço time, so... who is going to join me and eating pasteis de nata? Let's meet in Avenida da Libertade :-)

Um grande abraço e boa semana,
Nico

Lisboa, 19.02.2016

WORK WORK WORK... :)

I just saw the last post we published almost a month ago ! To be honest January was very busy month in our spot, a lot of new things happening in the same time, managing different projects, thinking about new ones.. it is a circle :) but as we started this blog to share our life in Check-in we need to continue! 

Winter is almost over, spring will give us more energy for writing :)

As you already know CheckIn is an association that works in different kind of project on local, national but lately mainly in international level, we are very happy to manage a lot of different things:)

Few days ago we started very exciting project LOGinEurope which is an internship that we are organising for one student from Alma University (Kazakhstan), we will support Linara for 9 weeks of her internship, hope she will like it :)

Another exciting thing is Borderline Boardgames meeting that will start next week in our spot, we will help with all the logistics for the project and provide good conditions for participants to feel comfortable and be effective in their work :)

BB games last meeting soon in Lisbon :)

Last thing very exciting is new evs person coming soon !!!! But more details about this soon....

Have an amazing week and stay warm :)

Rome to Lisboa, second part!

Olaaa! Bom dia e bom ano!

First of all, I m here for wishing you all the best, smiles, love and crazy, great moments all year long  well, how did you spend your holidays? I hope great :-)

I was back to Rome for enjoying my city and it looked like spring, so warm winter this year! I got some kilos because of eating too much, I lost some money by playing cards, I took the fever and cold (I don’t know from where, but I found it), and, moreover, I went to run the afternoon of the 1st January, the best way, to start the year…and as a present, I ate tiramisu at the end of the day, ‘’how to get back in 2 minutes the weight you lost in 2 hours’’ :-)

Yes, tiramisu, have you ever heard about it? Take a look (it’s not mine, I just eat ;) )

Rome, what can I say? I love my city, and sometimes come back and take a look of its atmosphere is great, I could be your city guide, and you will discover lots of secrets and cool places, starting from the best ice-cream shop! Don’t forget, where Nico is, sweets food are ;)

Sooo, after new year’s eve and some adventures in Rome, I came back to my other love, called Lisboa  I woke up super early and then I come to my amazing spot, where is the best team Check-IN ;) then, I also had a shower in the city, since it was a thunderstorm and I was walking just with my small umbrella…result? Fever again, so vamos beber juntos um cha!  

And so we are also starting to plan everything, planning is always the best strategy, new activities adventures and much much more ;) yesterday as well we had a fight against rain, but we were the winner, as you can see here

And now, I m wishing you bom dia and all the best, as always from me 

Cafecinho time for Nico, big hug to everyone

Lisboa, 06.01.16