End of Intership:)

10 months have passed.
Looking back now it doesn't seem so much, but in the beginning I really thought it would be a big challenge.
I learned a lot of things, how to look at people, not be so judgemental, be more patient and rely more on me.
Last year my LC(local comittee Constanta) matched me for an ET intership, for teaching English in Slovakia, Spisska Nova Ves.So, in august 2008 I "landed" in Spisska Nova Ves to become the future "misses teacher otzeanu":)))
The beginning: hm- I was quite dissapointed- taking into account that the town is small and there weren't so many internationals around.
Cultural shocks: not very huge, our cultures are similar.
Some differences: I think Slovaks are slow thinkers, and that they are not as witty as Romanians. They are afraid of taking risks and they say they know stuff but then u realize they dont. Nevermind. The slovak food was also a little different and containing a lot of cabbage:)))
I was a little depressed when starting there. Also because I had some problems with the papers, due only to the lack of information( but when u are abroad everything tends to grow out of proportions) Everybody was telling me "don't panic Livy"-but of course I did. Then I got better.
I made new friends, aka a Hungarian boy who was also in an Intership there for two months. I must admit I really had fun with him, as we were travelling every weekend to some places.Also a girl from South Africa(Jaqui), she is great and she even visited Romania because she liked my best friend and me.:)Due to her, now I know there are lots of white people in South Africa:D
I was travelling almost every weekend, to my best friend in the Czech Rep. or to some places in Slovakia. I increased my network, I met interesting people and done some fun stuff.
I have also participated in some projects at school and I went with some students in gorgeous London.
One major experience was staying for 9 months with an old lady who was speaking only Slovak. I called her "grandma". She was really great: she was washing my clothes every week and sometimes she was even cooking for me. I had a nice time with her, we washed windows together:) She had a simple system to make me do smth: she just gave me the necessary tools and showed me what I had to clean or do:) Communication was difficult in the beginning, using a dictionary, but when I left, I could make simple conversation with her and I understood like 40% of what she was saying and showing me.
Communication wasn't very easy but I learned a lot from my colleagues and from my students.
My colleagues where great, they were my friends and my family there.
My students were quite polite and I consider them my friends, we both have a good memory of this experience.
The aiesecers there- they were friendly but I also had some minor conflicts, because of their organizing my coming there. But I had a nice time with them and I appreciate their help. I must admit some of them were very helpful and friendly.:)Thanks guys!
I liked being in another country so I decided to spend some more time in Sk, but in Bratislava.
Thanks AIESEC a lot for the opportunity of going abroud. The AIESEC network is just great! Really!
I advise everybody to take this kind of opportunity, it's a great experience!

Hugs,
Livy

Sarbatori cu drag!

Tot acasa e mai bine! Bine a zis cine a zis aceasta sintagma pt k e f adevarata. Nicaieri nu e mai bine ca acasa. Si cu atat mai mult sarbatorile petrecute acasa au un farmec aparte. Sarbatori cu parfum de "acasa". Mos Craciun a fost darnic si anul asta, atat cu mine cat si cu ai mei. Cadouri, felicitari, urari, o masa mare si imbelsugata! Si un somn pe cinste in patul cel vechi! Am cautat cadouri pana in ultimul moment, am impachetat ore intregi(cam doua, dar eram in pragul rabdarii:D), am ras, am glumit, am facut poze si m-am simtit bine! Se pare k toti au fost satisfacuti de cadouri, doar tata a reciclat cadoul, oferindu-l unui var( pe sistemul "dar din dar se face rai", si oricum nu ii placea cu mirosea!). Si chiar daca nu au fost foarte incantati au mimat fbine.

Birthdays!!!

Getting more mature, wiser and unavoidable older-it all comes with your birthday. The passage of years affects everybody one way or another.
What are birthdays good for? I have thought of some reasons:
1). Getting presents. Yep! This is definitely no. 1. Its not that I am a material person- I just love receiving gifts.
2). Everybody remembers you. On this particular day you can get more phone calls( not business ones, but congratulating ones), everybody is nicer to you, you might even get to be the center of atention.)
3). You can look back on your experiences, make a balance of pros and cons and revise your life. This might come in hand. Its a good time for reflection even if it sounds melancholic.
4). Have a great cake! Birthday cakes rule! My mum used to bake me amazing cakes and when I was at the university she would send the ingredients for it with a recipe attached:).
5). Having a party! Yep, you have to spend some money ( a lot actually), pretend that you like everyone-but hey, these parties are a lot of fun .
Of course you are getting older, cause you want to get wiser. You wouldnt want to get younger and dumber! Think of aging like wine! The older , the better(sometimes, if youre not vinegar material:)))-even so, vinegar is useful in salads, hi hi).
Happy birthday Sagittatius friends!