And Life turns again!

   Since beginning of December time start to run unpleasant fast. This is how the life happening i suppose, when we need the most, time turns how it wants! :)

   My project finished at January 6 so I had time to enjoy Christmas and New Year eve at Romania. But Before of course the work. I was participating at two radio interviews and needed to write last report as well youth pass. All these things put me to think a lot about year what was passing and things what had done.

   There was also last organization meeting at office what turns out very nice and warm. I made for them as a memory little frame with pictures. This was one of the thing what I learned during the year, work at Photoshop and make a lot nice posters there!

   How my mentor Katalina said, this was Long year what was passing very fast. and its true from all sides. Can not believe that the year was almost gone... But I am staying with a lot of memories, emotions, fun and hard days, a lot new friends and visited places.

   I can truly admit this was one of the hardest year but as well fullest with learning's and experiences in my life. EVS is not just a fun, its fighting with yourself, through life and situations, grow and become as a stronger personality. Afters speaking with friends who was with me from beginning, I realize how much I was changed as a personality. At one of the Radio interview I said that I am more braver, stronger and there is much less things what I would be afraid for to do! I take this project a bit like step out from my real life.. so now its time to approve all the learning in future lifetime! :) Good luck for that!

   Lets step back a bit to Christmas. Here at Kézdivásárhely (Targu Secuiesc) they are celebrating Christmas in same time and way as in my country Latvia. At December 24 evening have nice dinner with family and continues celebration as well at 25 and 25 December. For me its special time because I have name day at December 24.

   Also New Year eve was not with big surprises, as usual friends is coming together to eat and drink and wait magic midnight with some little firework and Champagne!

   After New Year party I had five more days at my little town what I was feeling already as a home. Dont want even to remember how hard is to put in one suitcase staffs from all year :) It was one of my last challenge in project before returning back at Latvia! :)

  But the hardest thing was to say Good-by! All the people who had ever do it understand me how unpleasant it is. Even more... I know not if I will ever again in my life meet these friends. But this is other story now. :) I make nice evening when all my friends from organization came together and I had chance to say thanks to them. And I am saying again. In the end more that ever I realize how nice people had been around me and I can be thanks-full for all the support and friendship what they gave to me as a totally stranger.

   Now while I am looking again old pictures and remembering events, realize how much nice things had happens. A lot what I would like to share with as well, but time had pass and memory's will stay with me and all the involved! Now we turn the new page in life and start to create other stories!

More than ever,

Sincerely,

Ieva!

Final interview for Green Sun Newspaper!

There is few days left or your EVS year, how to describe in few words how was it, what has changed (mind, yourself , skills)?

   In one word feeling is strange! I am again in my life in front of big gates what have to open right after 3 weeks (when I will return back to Latvia). It’s will be new future and new beginning for me. But till that in these last weeks at Romania I will have to do lot of evaluations... for myself, for radio, for press and final report for National agency. It’s time to call back in memories all the great things what had happened during this year.

   I can say this was one great life-learning experience. In all the ways, integration in new community, understanding new cultures, learn languages, make new friendships, learn to work in new team and manage to communicate not in native language. As well after all I feel myself and my identity better as ever before. I have more clearly future wishes and plans. So now just need to be brave and make them true!

I know that, this year was very busy for you and also varied, lots of events, excursions, but could you highlight 1 or 2 moments, events what you remember with pleasure? 

   From the Green Sun Association events the first came in minds biking tours. I like healthy and active lifestyle and in this way I could enjoy it with pleasure and explore a lot places here in Transylvania. We reach hills and came down from off-road meadows. See a lot villages and country-houses what is different as in Latvia. Beautiful nature, time with friends and freedom on bike.

   Second thing is one of my vacation when I travel with friends to the Black sea spend the week in beach. As a Latvian, I was missing seaside a lot, it’s near by to all the cities where I use to spend time in Latvia. This was almost the most awaited moment for all the summer here. I was completely excited.

Before you decided to going to be an EVS volunteer,  I suppose you have an aim (purpose) what you want to accomplish  with EVS, what was this and have you done it ?

   I had done and reach amazing things for myself during this year. I wanted to challenge myself and I completely did it. I become more patriotic about my country and culture. I learned more about my future wishes, what profession I would like to stand by, jobs to do. And I become as a stronger personality. Person, who can stand up for yourself even a 2000 kilometers away from the habitual environment without any fears. Personal development has been in a full-scale.

One year is a long time without family, I think both you waiting to meet them. Have you thinking or planning to accept an other EVS year an other country?

   In my minds is the saying: For all the things in life has a price. For this life-learning experience during EVS price was being away from friends and family... for the other things is other price.

It was rich time here, but I suppose now I am ready to move forward in to the life. I would say no for one more EVS year long. But just because I feel enough full to reach new heights, to experience other things.

Even is not formally but you are an “EVS ambassador”  ,  what is your message for people how want to be a volunteer ?

   I truly admit it's the experience what would have to go through every youth. Time abroad give me a chance to see life by other eyes. To be open minded in world what is full with so much different should be as a habitual thing. Volunteering for me brought great awareness and fruition day by day.

   All the people are waiting miracles from universe.... But to happen a great things, we have to put an suitable efforts!

New Green Sun Association calendar - 2013

    Have passed more than nine months at my experience richness European Voluntary Service project and left right six weeks when I will return Back in my native country Latvia!

    During these month I had learned a lot and one of the things - from absolutely zero acquire PhotoShop program what was mine little wish for years, just not really had a chance before.

    Had made a lot posters for local events here at Kézdivásárhely (Targu Secuiesc - Romania).

    And as well newspaper about EVS and our project, what was quite extensive work. You can see it at organization web page -  http://eng.zoldnap.info/content/we-saidwhy-not.

    But this time I wanted to share with my latest great PhotoShop project - Calendar 2013 - for Green Sun Association. In autumn we had photo contest / excibition - "Childs in Nature" after what the twelve greatest Pictures become a part of New Year calendar.
    Here is the link, where can take a look to it - http://zoldnap.info/web/content/napt%C3%A1r-2013. And If there are some one very interested, I can send PDF version by email :) Just let me know!

    As I like quotes and saying about life in calendar has included in each month some personal note about Green Life - thanks to my Dear mentor Katika. Calendar is a bit mixed by languages - Hungarian and Romanian - as I am at Romania, but live in Hungarian (Sekler) community!
    That's my little effort for the Next Year!

Have a Green Day,
Ieva

Peace of sentiment...

   Each month one of my Romanian organization volunteers (members) are writing an article how they become an volunteers and what it means for them. These story's are always meaning-full and most parts of it I can attach to myself..

    Today I read these month article and its touch me in a deep way... I have to say in a bit sad way as well... But just for the moment :)

Excerption: My experience is that once you’ve tasted what volunteering is about, and you got involved more than once or twice, you cannot imagine your life without it anymore. You can use much of the experience acquired here, in different areas of life...

One thing is important: you have got to come and try, the rest is a piece of cake. I know I haven’t regretted that I joined the group!

/Bandi Zsolt/

Full version can be read-able here http://eng.zoldnap.info/content/volunteer-green-sun-association-xxiv-bandi-zsolt

    After all... this article bring me to the such a great memories and peoples what I had met during this year... Months and weeks in Romania are melting very fast. And soon I have to say good by, I hate to say good by. But years by years working as a volunteer this is the peace of greatness and sadness in the same time. I had met amazing people from all over the world bringing awareness, experience and different life learning lesson's! And this is the life, sometimes we have to say Good By and move forward to reach new Tops. And I am always thanks-full for the Life and memories what I am keeping in my Heart!

    Thanks to everyone who are reading this... Its means you care and feel what I am saying. Thanks to everyone what I had met in Romania and all over the Europe. :)

    This is just a little indention what came spontaneously today. I still have two months in Romania at my great EVS. After I will move back to Latvia. So we will meet around here! Or in some other time and place.

     You newer know.

Sincerely,

Ieva

Exploring and developing green route!

    One thing what I appreciate the most in my EVS project "Learning by Doing" are a lot of various activities and events what we had done and take part in. Many opportunities to try new things and make wider view of the world what promote my personal development.

   One of these summer exited tasks was to explore and develop "Nemere Trail" green route! What included three Bicycle tours and we went to put five Info Boards in fallowing villages: Csernáton, Kurtapatak, Kézdiszentlélek, Torja and Gelence.

   These boards aim is to inform local people about existing Green Route "Nemere Trail" and show the map for travelers where the way is going. As well in map is specified mineral water places and historical monuments.
   The biggest Thanks we need to say "Rotary Club Kézdivásárhely" association with who together Green Sun Association put these boards. Mine and Gayane main task was painting and taking care of boys, if they are using correctly all tools and boards are placed straight. As well took a pictures and visit new places around our home Town Kézdivásárhely (Târgu Secuiesc).

   All idea about "Nemere Trail" green route starts to born Green Sun Association cooperated together with Cholnoky Jenő Geographic Association in end of the year 2010. There are also Info Boards at other five places: Kézdivásárhely, Ozsdola, Sepsibesenyő, Szentkatolna and Zágon, placed at summer 2011.

   Nemere Trail have a good influence on the developing of the society in our region by helping and spreading the news about easily attainable healthy ways of living, and it also might contribute to the development of the local tourism. The complete route goes through around fifty settlements, touching at least 30 different mineral water sources and 187 mansions. It reveals the unique natural and cultural treasures of the Upper Three Chairs and offers a glimpse of the region’s customs, traditions and way of life. The length of the road is 230 km long on the whole, 150 km of which can be found in the area of Kezdivasarhely, and 70 km in Orbaiszek.
   Green route "Nemere Trail" map created Márkos Ágnes.

eng.zoldnap.info/
nemere.zoldnap.info/en

You always have an opportunity!

   Sometimes work in Green Sun Association are real challenge! Even more, when our boss are not excepting any excuse if we are going to do some work for first time and not really know even how to start. He always courage us and say - you have opportunity to learn. This why the project calls "Learning by Doing"! :)

    Also in last weeks I had complicated task to do, but after all I am happy that had this chance to learn and the work succeed. Its not perfect, but sure great for first time.

    I am speaking about EVS (European Voluntary Service) at Green Sun Association (Romania) Newspaper what came out in last week! Me and Armenian girl Gayane have been in our project "Learning by Doing" already 8 months. It is great time with a lot of learning, challenges, opportunities, travels, work, feeling and be in progress till January.

    In Newspaper you can get deeper understanding about EVS in general, tasks what we are doing in our project, more about our Hosting organization Green Sun Association. Read interviews with Me and Gayane, see general information about Latvia and Armenia. A lot of pictures and some articles of our activity events. As well few friends and organization members thoughts about life in EVS.

    This work was challenge all over from beginning while understand how to manage absolutely new program InDesign - till design, creating model, putting information and become to all that look nice for readers! So enjoy it and don't hesitate to pass it your friends!

Here is available Newspaper - "We said: Why not?" online version - http://eng.zoldnap.info/content/we-saidwhy-not

If someone are very interested I can send PDF version by email!

Have a green day!

Ieva

Mini interview!

   Several time in a year came out our Hosting organizations "Green Sun Association" Newspaper! In last one was Interview with me what made one of the vice-president Biró Levente.

   Full newspaper have been seen here (in Hungarian language) -

http://zoldnap.info/web/content/z%C3%B6ld-napok-ii-%C3%A9vf-2-sz%C3%A1m

What kind of feeling is to be an EVS volunteer? What do you like the most about it?

   Day by day I realized that EVS is an incredible experience, which would be hard to get during daily work in my country. This is the way how to show the world - things can be different!

What are some of the new things that the EVS project gave to you?

   This is a way to check yourself. I got out from my comfort zone and got in a place among people whom I didn’t know and situations what I had never experienced before. With EVS you newer know what is after the next corner. I had learnt here to be ready for everything and act fast in new situations. And also everyday is teaching me to except different cultures and people, to be more patient and attentive. This is the experience for a lifetime and I am thankful for this chance!

What made you to choose Green Sun Association as your host organization?

   To be true - Green Sun found me! In the beginning I was looking for an organization in the Balkan region - this side of Europe! For me it looks strange and different... something what I wanted to explore more deeper!

  In Latvia I am a member and volunteer in the biggest rural children and youth non governmental organisation “Latvijas Mazpulki” the main working area being rural development and free time activities for the youth. 

I was looking for an environmental organization here as well,  where to learn more useful things what can I take back to Latvia and also I can invest my knowledge in the daily activities of an other organization.

Which was the best program organized by Green Sun that is the closest to you, and why?

   I like active and healthy lifestyle, to be in the move and to make changes. In this way, the closest to me stands the “Bicycle tour” and the “24 hours running day” organized by the Green Sun Association! Sport makes us alive and grows happiness hormones!

   And as in the last four years in Latvia in my organization I was working with children and youth, I also enjoyed very much the summer camp, which was organized for 20 young peolpe. It’s a great way to show them that life is full of oportunities that can help them to grow as better personalities.