Moving to Slovenia - by Ingunn

In less than two weeks, I'm moving to Slovenia. For one year I will work as a volunteer for United Games Slovenia, together with Juli from Hungary. And I'm really excited!

But believe me - there's a lot to think about before leaving too: telling Norway you're leaving (through many forms and paperwork), telling Norway you will be coming back, telling your university that you are leaving and coming back, telling EU you're going to be a volunteer, telling Norwegian embassy in Ljubljana that you are coming, buying tickets, saying good-bye to friends and family and well, packing for one year... The list gets longer every day!

First, I wanted to pack, well, pretty much everything I have. But after living out of a backpack for 6 weeks this summer and not missing a thing, I see that packing might not be that hard. Still, I'm not quite sure what to bring - what will I need one year in Slovenia? More than I can fit into one suitcase - that's for sure. So the plan is: I'll bring most things now, and my parents the rest when they are visiting me later this fall:-)

As I said, there's a lot of preparations. But there's also so much to be excited about! A new language, a new city, new people, new (and old) friends, coffee in Ljubljana, be able to focus on only volunteering without being interrupted of studies, fall in Slovenia... This list is even longer!:-D

Today, I helped my granddad put up skype on his computer so that we can stay in touch when I'm there and he's here. And I would encourage everyone else to do the same. And let's face it - we will stay in touch through facebook, skype, msn and mail. And don't forget to visit me either;-)

Sooo, this is it for now people. I still have some forms to fill out and people to say good-bye to. The adventure starts in less than two weeks. Wish me luck;-)

-Ingunn:-)

Let's get started by Juli - The Preparations

I have a really-really great question that is in focus right now: how to prepare for a one-year-long volunteer-ship??? Anyone with an answer?

Well, as I thought, no one. Me neither... I mean, even though I'm standing right at the door that opens to a new world, I just don't have a clue, how I could properly prepare myself for such a complex year. I guess I'll be more wise when I come home, and tell everyone, oh this and that would have been useful, and oh, even that would have done some help over there. But right now, I'm just asking around people for advices and ideas to fulfill my what-to-bring list (that is quite empty right now).

The biggest problem with this to keep everything in mind. I mean, do you really know what kind of things and gadgets you use just on one day? And can you imagine how much longer is the list when you consider a whole year? I guess the packing will take at least a week like this. ;)

But... let's take it more officially. As it is said, the voluntary work doesn't start on the arrival day and doesn't finish on the departure day, but the whole thing is a bit more complex. This EVS complexity consists of 4 major parts: preparation, implementation, evaluation and the follow-up.

The current situation is the preparation (just to have some rhythms over here ;) ), that is... surprisingly again a complex part (as all of them :D ). The preparation as a part of the project includes not only the volunteer but the sending and the host organisation, too. All of them has different tasks to do, as it's predictable. :) Let's have some words about them.

The tasks of the host organisation: In my case the host organisation is United Games of Slovenia (on the top you can find a link to the website of the umbrella organisation.) This organisation (in close contact with the organisation of No Excuse Slovenia) is responsible for all the preparations that should be done abroad. This includes the accommodation, food, workplace, language course and whatever is required for your stay and voluntary work abroad.

The tasks of the sending organisation: In my case HelloEuropa Association (not yet with homepage, but I'll add it asap). Their task is to arrange insurance, vacations, a preparatory working weekend, to help to arrange the travel abroad and to help the preparation of the volunteer.

The tasks of the volunteer: Yeah, that's me. :) My role is less significant in arranging stuffs, but more essential in the future of the project. I have to prepare mentally and physically to the project. As you can read the project's basics on the right side, I'll not list all those things here again, but my preparation is built on those project plans. So considering those, my project-work here, at home is the following:

I made some research on methods, mainly on the page of SALTO Toolbox. I found it really useful and gathered several beneficial energizers, team-builders and other methods for my peer-to-peer work and group-leading. I have also tried to widen my knowledge on the field of arts, with visiting libraries and gaining some new information. And I guess the most important (and least measurable) part, I was brainstorming on my own and with some friends and mates, about what else can I do later on, there in Slovenia, or after coming home, here in Hungary. I've gathered several ideas for the street-art project, and now I'm thinking about a monthly "Street-action" project.

And, finally, something that I was thinking about... I don't like the title... Come on, it's about talking to children and this is the 21st century, we need a nicer title. So I'll need to talk to my boss, but I have an idea. I was thinking about a provocative question: So, what if I care? With this I think we could somehow pique those children around, and with showing what will happen if they care, they would really care.

I could go on for ages and ages, I have so many things to tell, but let's keep it for later. I don't want you all to get bored of me already, though I haven't even started :D. So see you around, and please, care! ;)

Ps: And yeah, I almost forgot, please feedback me, and comment and ask, that would be really nice! :)
Hugs (still) from Hungary

About the structure of the blog

Hi everybody, welcome, welcome! As long as the structure of the blog might be complicated, let me describe it.

As long as we have two authors, we had to find a way how to differenciate us. So to be bright, we will use colours! Yupppy ;)

Me Juli, as long as I prefer the orange colour, I'll use this orange, I hope you won't have problem with it. (If so, tell me and we can make some changes.)

And Ingunn, will write in blue, and hopfully that will be visible too:-)

Hope you can follow the stories like this. We will even post the name in the titles ;).

Follow us guys!