candidate Jena Workshop 21.11. 09 - 22.11.09 Dear readers ...
last weekend was to finally come. After months in which I could replace my rarely about my future plans as European volunteers, I met nine like-minded people who have the same goal: Get out of home! The workshop started on Saturday morning 10 am with a welcome to our workshop leader Heath. As one of the first workshop, I had the chance I like to get rid of individual questions. Patiently answered all my questions and cleared Heath from last uncertainties. Uncertainties? As I come to this? Now I have to say that the application process but can often be very stressful. You spend countless hours at the computer. As long as I did there? When applying it is much to do. The range of projects in the European Voluntary Service is nearly endless. The matching projects is not easy to find. Once you have found the projects, it is to apply and hope for a positive response. As if the tension on the result is not large enough, so little later, patience is again on the test. I found a project in Greece and the joy is immense. However, I have to wait until mid-January until the decision is whether my project is approved. Wait, wait, wait.
Now back to the workshop.
After the welcome we immediately began the first task. Everyone had an outline of the drawing on a poster. This was then filled with sentences that are in relation to the EVS. The phrases were in small blue tickets, had to pull the man. After all the posters with their ideas, wishes and dreams had filled, had to be present at any poster. I immediately noticed that all participants have one thing. The desire to travel to another country to experience a new culture, to gather life experience and not to forget the local people as best we can to help.
The morning flew by and we were at lunch cooked by Inka, a volunteer from Latvia, very good. During the dinner I had the opportunity to meet other volunteers and developed a lot of interesting conversations about various topics. In the afternoon Heide
made clear with an RPG, how difficult it is people from other cultures and explain a different language, saying things and going into their practices. The group was divided into two groups, with one group representing the experts and another group's culture was the Dartianer. I was in the expert group and I had to admit that I am not dealing with forms of Dartiander really felt comfortable. Our task was to develop a bridge design and these add to the Dartianer further. After some problems, which are well explained by the different habits, was the bridge and our job was done. The role play lasted for the whole afternoon and 16h we all went home.
Full of energy were the 10 candidates the next morning on the mat. Soon we started with a task whose meaning I did not quite understand it at the beginning. In the course of the game to me the meaning was clear. Everyone should rig up a picture frame and looking at our environment, a picture which he finds very interesting. When everyone had found a suitable location, looked all participants in the various pictures and wrote their interpretation of the image down. In the evaluation it became clear that for a picture can have many different perspectives. After this game, the groups were divided into three groups. We played MauMau. MaMau? Yes, that's right. However, the players were not allowed to talk to each other and the rules were somewhat different. We had to explain the rules of sign language. After initial difficulties, all players were able to cope well. Then all the players were switching to a different table. It quickly became clear to me that there was a game at each table three different rules. Now all the players had to find a way to go to. At my table sat down by the two girls and developed a mishmash of its rules. My Rules were unfortunately ignored. Well, I would create it once with the capacity to adapt;.)
was after this game we Heide in a small lecture an overview of the various cultural areas, including wine. Then again
was lunchtime. Inka was there again. Again, it tasted delicious super. During the dinner I had the opportunity to come up with a little Inca in conversation. It is since January this year in Germany and speaks pretty good German, although she could not speak before. I asked her several questions about their EVS as it has come about and how you like it in Germany.
After dinner followed by another talk on the heath Application process. Then developed another loose discussion. During this time met Connie in a Stadteilladen. It is another staff member and takes care of where they can for their candidates. From her some things were to learn about different projects.
As the time passed in flight after lunch and it was 16h. Workshop at the end. Too bad, but not change it.
I got the feeling in the tram to have experienced a really great weekend. I learned a lot, make new experiences and interesting people to know.
One can only hope that the dream is fulfilled and the project is approved.
thanks for reading and I hope that busy posting their comments.
