It's crazy how fast time goes by. It's strange but I'm sure some of you will understand this feeling that 3 weeks ago (when I last wrote something in the blog), seems both like just yesterday and 2 months ago -yeah, at the same time. Anyway, let's quit all this chitchat and focus on the very present -or in the recent past that I'm just going to tell you about.
Last week of August my flat seemed like a hostel. Sarah's mother arrived on Wednesday for visiting her for almost a week. On the other hand, I hosted two volunteers of Slatinka that had some trouble. First it was Tanya, whose flight was delayed 2 days and stayed one night with me -and she helped me create a Russian facebook account, yay! and of course we ate grecka-, and then it was Taylan, who had the bad luck of losing his wallet in Prague and stayed with me two nights in a small break of his planned trip. Also by the end of the week came Timour, who recently started his EVS in Slatinka, to enjoy a gypsy festival close to Bratislava and then stayed for the weekend.
On the last weekend of August / first of September, there was also another festival in Bratislava city center about folklore and crafts. It was nice to walked around Hviezdoslavovo namestie and see how people wearing traditional costumes were making decorated eggs or cookies, making ceramics and -of course- the music and dancing sessions. For sure, I also like to have some guests over and have a visit to Slovak pub or to Next Apache -this nice second-hand book shop / coffe place.
What else? Oh, right! We've been moving our workplace. Our previous office was close to the bus station, in Kosicka, and our current one is in Palarikova, close to the train station (Hlavna Stanica). This means that the last 2 weeks have been quite messy with the packing and unpacking of many boxes, especially last Friday when some volunteers from Ernst and Young came to help us and also did some other tasks like gardening or cleaning -quite a nice bundge.
Because of that the time in the office was mighty relax. Therefore, I was happy when Zuzka, from INEX, called me Monday afternoon asking if I could urgently replace a leader who was not feeling very good. The workcamp was in Bratislava, in Integra, this center for disabled people we've visited sometimes before, and I had to join the project the very next day.
That evening I packed my luggage for 3 days -since Integra's center is quite far from my place-, and the next morning I arrived there after breakfast -Michal, another volunteer from INEX was very kind to give me a ride there since he was also picking up Betka, the girl that I was covering. I felt a little bit confused because when I arrived the session with the clients had already started and the group (of 8 volunteers) was split into two teams. Anyway, when later we had a break I catched up more or less with them, and also Betka was very kind to explain me basic information about facilities and timetables, so everything was fine.
It was Tuesday afternoon when finally we had some free time and I got to know the group and spoke with Eva, the other leader, about the situation. She was very energetic and actually she needed to be that way since most of the staff in Integra they don't speak English and she had a major role translating everything -instructions from staff to volunteers but also when volunteers were speaking about their countries to Slovak for staff and clients. Anyway, nothing better than cardgames and some free time to chill to connect with a nice group of people.
Next day, Wednesday, we had a planned visit to a bee farm together with the clients. I think they were pretty excited to go on a trip, and I don't think is something they make a lot during the year because the lack of staff -so they take advantage with this group of volunteers, and they also get to know something different. They explained to us the process of making honey and then we tried some -yummy! We had a little stroll in the farm and saw other animals, and then we sat in a fireplace and ate some sausages.
In the afternoon we were back in Integra and we had a brainstorming session for the things we could make for the following days for the clients. We decided to make 'Pretty salon' on Thursday morning, where we painted some tattoos (in Greek or Japanese alphabets), gave some massages and created some bracelets or hair accesories. I think it was both funny for us and for them.
Then Thursday afternoon we got to the old town for a guided tour by Karci, former History teacher, current tourist guide in Bratislava and always helpful volunteer within INEX. We started in namestie L. Stura -where I put one of the heart-shaped stickers a friend of mine gave to me-, then Hviezdoslavovo and then a little pause in Bastova street, in a nice-decorated book-crossing bar which I can not remember the name. After it we continued our visit until the castle, and then back to the old town to pass by a supermarket before finally getting back to Integra and having dinner. Fun fact: in the castle there was a hardcore concert for free and they were making the sound test during our visit -Karci was a little bit pissed but they sounded quite good.
Friday morning I left Integra to come to INEX new office an help in a long unpacking day, when we actually made look the workplace like a proper place to work. But before joining the work I passed by my flat and change my luggage for a new one, since I was going to spend the weekend in Zvolen visiting the new EVS friends of Slatinka.
As you can imagine, I was pretty tired Friday evening when I arrived there, so we just watch a movie -a comic drama, In Bruges (2008). Next day we woke up rather early for a beautiful hiking day in Polana, where is an inactive volcano with amazing rock formations and, apparently from what we saw, a paradise for climbers -so many of them. I add some pictures, made by Timour.
Very nice sights, indeed. And you see that cute puppy? He's Janka's new dog. Janka is part of Slatinka organization and she helped us a lot as a local partner during INEX workcamp there. I was glad to see her and also Kristinka after some time, and of course I was even glader when I saw that dog -I think anybody that slightly knows me can tell about my reaction to dogs, I love them!
In the afternoon we came back to Zvolen and meet with a 'metalhead' -friend of some contact the guys made some weeks before-, that showed us around Zvolen and its underground side. I didn't tell before but both Timour and Thibaut are quite fans of metal music and videogames -singular couple, haha. We went for dinner to a mighty cheap and tasty pizza place, and later we met his rather drunk friends in Triangulo bar -a punky place, no doubts. I had a great time in this atmosphere, it reminded me of my group of friends back in my hometown, maybe also because of the heavy drinkers and the table-football playing -funny evening, yap.
Then Sunday came and after some lazy time I came back to Bratislava in the evening. This week is the moment for arranging the final details of the project Matiss and I helped to write, a youth exchange about unemployment starting just next Monday in Banska Stiavnica. There had been some last minute events that are testing our nerves, but I really feel everything will be fine at the end.
So, in the meantime I'm in the office still helping to tidy up the last packed boxes and finishing all the snacks the volunteers from Friday didn't manage to -fatty mind mode on. I'm looking forward to the exchange but I also sense that after it I could use some free time away from these kind of projects, that are quite absorbing -interesting but demanding.
It's funny because yesterday and today morning it really looked like autumn because of the rainy weather, but right now there is a shiny sun in the sky. Slovak weather, right? Anyway, feels like the end of something and the beginning of something new -September means always change for me. I think I can hope for something good that ends, and something even better to arrive, can't I? Yes, I can! :)
Wish you also face September with a good mood, patient readers.
Take care and lots of hugs,
Ali
