One week in Alhama de Granada

In the second week of May we went twice to Alhama.

On 10 of May we spent a day there, helping Marissa work. Exceptionally, we had to get up really early :D The journey started very funny as Marissa showed the trick, how to stop by the car and wait until the last passenger arrives where it is not allowed to stop exactly... :D

At the start we were waiting for the participants to sign the attendance register and after assisting in the preparation of the coffee break. Participants were from all over Andalusia and brought all sorts of local delicacies. We ate together. Daniel also lectured about Erasmus + structure. He was also trying to outline in this very creative way how this system is. I already understood more and more in Spanish. Lunch was served in a local restaurant. They made a big portion again. It's like have two main courses, which is exactly the truth ... It has the result, as I slowly feel that my jeans will not come to me. There is nothing wrong with it, but it's a good idea to change a bit, especially with the evening overeating... : D I'm delighted that during the second training we could taste a lot of delicacies, Spanish gastronomy.

From 11. till 18. of May we helped in an another training in Alhama. Topic was: How to write youth exchange. Although we haven't officially been part of the training since this project was organized by Las Niñas de Tul as volunteers we helped Daniel's work and at sometimes we were able to join to different teamwork. We practically took part in everyday life.

Therefore at the beginning it was  harder for me to pick up the rhythm because we were at the same time as a helper in logistical tasks, but at the same time we could join to the groups. They were talking about such interesting topics that of course we enjoyed to join in common tasks as well.

First day

On Thursday I went to Alhama by car with Dani and Marissa early in the morning. We prepared the working room. Printing, cutting, sticking ... Didi worked in the office and came to Alhama in the afternoon with the group. Participants came from the Azores, the Canary Islands, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and Hungary. Really colorful team :)

On the first night we played some dynamic games to know each other more. We explained  the games one to one with Didi as started to prepare ourselves  for the energizers to  the week.

Special CV was preparing

Our breakfast was always in the pension, lunch and dinner were in two different places.
There's been a lot of experience during the week, I'm not trying to describe everything, but I'll link a lot of pictures.

Many times we had spoke about the 8 key competences and what will be written in the youthpass: D We made the coffee break and bought staffs, fruits, foods etc. In the first round of lunch and dinner, mainly because of Spanish, Didi was able to help more, but we found the way how can I help, too.  There was vegetarian, gluten sensitive, lactose intolerance, so it was not easy. But at the beginning of the day we wrote the menu with sign which is for which diet and everyone could choose. Then we collected the list, sent it and in the restaurant we just had to control the waiter. We also helped prepare for the intercultural evening. We made videos and photos about activities taking place during the day. Many times we were involve. 

By the middle of the week, I've been able to let go of all my unpleasant feelings about whether I'm doing well everything etc., and I have enjoyed the new company and the tasks. My personal project for the week was the development my confidence and communication skills. I think I've managed to get ahead in each one, thanks to the daily activities and challenges.

Coffee break

I could write a novel about with how many wonderful people I met during one week. Maybe I can't meet everybody in the future and we may not be the best friends, but we all gave and got something for/from each other. The world really opens... Conversations help us to break down the prejudices and give an other approach. It was also interesting to experience the feeling that we are all people regardless of whether we come from the Canary Islands or from Hungary or from around the world. Of course there are a lot of differences and this is a good thing that we are not the same, but we can find a lot of common points in each other's life. When in a conversation these common points are come across it is a really wonderful feeling. You experience the fact that there is a fellow sufferer everywhere in the world and wherever you go in the world, you can feel at home even if home is always sweet HOME.

I think this week has shaped and shaped me a lot. In my further volunteer work I can use the experience, too.

The week was very intensive and Daniel was really laughing at us when he saw that our yoga mat was packed for the week. Well, we didn't use it. Although the morning program started at half past 9, many times a little bit after 9 pm we were prepared the room. We split the energizers with Didi and we made the food and drinks for the coffee break in a beautiful, old hospital building, not far from the training room. Then again, a brief sessions. Lunch. Siesta. What we really did was just a couple of minutes, and then we went back. The program continued from 16 o'clock with a break of coffee until 8, half past 8 o'clock. Then dinner. After dinner we had 3 evening intercultural nights, one day we were watching Eurovision together, or we listened music and danced together.

There was a very pleasant and funny surprise this week: D The team think up to play a 'secret friend' game. I finally decided I would not get in. Somehow I got into the game: D

The team also had an Italian guy named Luca who did not write his last name on the paper, only Luca. So Alicja thought my name is on the paper and last day we heard a knock on the door and  one pack arrived. The sender ran away and we did not know who was. It was a big surprise, but since I did not play ... Beautiful packaging with a small letter.  We told  Super Eva about what happened and then we found the solution, but we did not tell to Luca. We agreed with Alicja that I would join the game because she bought the present for me and for a boy, so she didn't want to change. And it was really funny too join. So at dinner in the restaurant we secretly ordered beer for Luca and provided a short Italian felicitation. He was very happy but later he told us that he was a bit sad that on the other days of the week he did not really get any signals from her secret friend ... :)

It was also amazing to meet again with Hungarians. Speaking in Hungarian, in English and sometimes in Spanish. It's not a bit of a challenge to the brain, but at least it was a good training for me. Éva, Évi, and Lívia were very nice and they brought a little mood of home to Spain. I also participated in their Hungarian presentation. They sang and I danced. It was very special.

Hungarian song and dance. Thanks for Didi for this  picture

One week is very short to really come to know each other, but it's enough to get acquainted and then continue and visit each other. I knew very dear and warm-hearted people.

Intercultural evening- Croatia

Products from Hungary

Intercultural evening- Italy

Intercultural evening- Pakistan

Team work

Funny Alhama visit

Intercultural evening- Miriam from Gran Canaria

Intercultural evening- Azores

Intercultural evening- Slovenia

Intercultural evening-Spain

Crazy girls :)

Final evaluation with Dixit cards

The last day the final evaluation was with Dixit cards.  Everyone chose one, and in a few words told why he/she had this choice. I feel the right way and finally I'm on my way, where I search for myself, but every day I find more and more of my own world and the life surrounding us. This little box symbolizes the training for me, because I found a lot of treasure during this week.