Hey guys,

how are you? I hope fine… Well some time ago I posted my idea about the local project. Marco gave me some addice and I thought once more about it. It would be more complicated if the youngsters have to travel and much more easier if we will come to them. So I really would like to combine this project with the evaluation meeting in Maidla. Propably the evaluation meeting in maidla will take place at the 2nd of april, so far I know. It would be a good chance that on the same day the evaluation meeting takes place to make some presenations about the different countries we are coming from and maybe a short description of our EVS working place (what we are doing there and so on). First of all the youngsters get to know different countries and different tasks about EVS. So please guys participate. You all will come to the evaluation meeting in maidla, so maybe we can make the meeting in the morning and this project in the afternoon. So the trip will be reimbursed and you don´t need extra money to participate. I will try to invite as many youngsters as possible. Maybe we can also get some volunteers who have already done the EVS, such as Kai? Kai what do you think? I think this project will be a good step to motivate the youngsters to think about doing the EVS too.

Now I know allo f us have holidays and so I don´t want to hurry. But I write you very early because then you have enough time. I will write you in January an invitation too, so please think about this project and if you want to attend!!! The presentation need not to be longer as 15-20 minutes… Of course, if somebody wants to do the same at his/her EVS place, I would like to come and speak about austria…

Having said this, I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!!

Häid jõule ja ilusat uut aastat!

Tsau, tsau

Marina

Hello everybody, My name is Aleksei Shatunov, Im doing my EVS in Portugal (Lisbon) Im here almost 2 month, My project is in the foster house of Barcarena. Place have 48 kids who have no family (or different problems in the family) center help the kids to find another family (adapting), or help the real parents (with finding job or other ways)  kids are from 5 to 20 years old (the older kids stay in the centr till they find work and would be capable to have independent life)
   I have 2 main directions in my project: art and sports. Im artist and i do wall painting for the center, also I have big experience in Volleyball and Im training kids to play beach volley. It is a great place, it is like a big warm family. I have a lot of freedom and good relationship with workers and kids..only one problem is the language..
I live in Lisbon  with 4 other volunteers. 1 girls from Spain, 1 girl from Catalonia, 1 guy and girl from Poland. Lisbon is a small town, but bigger than Tallinn of course, topulation of Lisbon is near to 600 000 so, its not big. people are nice, but tricky..Portugues people call Brazilians malandras ( what means sneaky and tricky) and pretending that they are not.. well dont believe it.. they are the same malandras..if they will have a chance to trick you, they will do it, dont think they wont..:)) (if you going to speak english) Specially taxy drivers and bartenders they are the worst.

 The city.. I love the city!! City have a beautiful parts and views, have a lot of mountains so you have to walk up and down always. City is very international and mixed, you have all skin pallet from white to black. Cant say much about the good climate, because its raining here alot because of the winter time :)) but in the march probably i will write how good is the weather here :)) Food is very good, a lot of fruits,fish and everything alse, prices are the same that we have in Estonia.
 Negativ stuff.. Lisbon is one of the dirtiest cities that I have seen in Europ, people have a strange habit to leave the garbage on the street, I mean to take your garbage from home in the garbage bag and live it on the street..and of course a lot of different trash everywhere.(like dogs shit..is everywhere.. I dont see much dogs..but some small smelly things are always reminding me that they have a lot of them..) what Else..oh yes drugs..drugs are everywhere, everyday on the street somebody asking me would i like to by some hashish or cocaine..maybe i look like drug adict i dont know..but i just look like a foreigner that's the thing.
 Language. I like the language  a lot, it is beautiful, but it is not easy to learn it. Main problem is people with whom you hang out..we always speak english, it would be much faster to learn the language if we would speak Portuguese  but its not happening so far.

So far Im very happy to be here, I like the people with whom I work, I have a lot of freedom, I like the country, city and the most important thing i like my project. A lot :))