thursday - living like a local day.

when you are tourist in city you most of the times see just what other see, however if you stay at some place longer, get to know locals, then the city gets completely other image most of the times. And its all that not only because of the traditions or culture, but more over of some amazing places, that are there but you have no idea...or more over, you pass them hundreds of times, but never feel like exploring or going in, as the outside not always is the best advertisement. 

as from this week we are left alone of studying portuguese, as our teacher was not able to continue teaching us further, we had to investigate how to learn the language in other way than till now.

how S. celebrated the halloween two days long.

as it tends to happen with me, then the most best things comes least expected. So it happen this year with my Halloween celebration. Have to say, that in Latvia Halloween became popular just lately, more for the young generations and the tourists, as the public celebrations are done in the clubs, pubs, bars or we like to organize our own house parties. Here in Lisbon, its kind of the same as in general the tradition to celebrate Halloween started not so long ago, so to find something special and extraordinary you really have to look for it around the clubs or bars or just organize it yourself in case you are looking for the costumes and theme parties.

Welcome Almada aka my EVS On Arrival training.

Olja & Sandra @Belem, happily not lost.

Before I go to explain my adventures, i`d like to give small introduction of what the EVS On Arrival training is made for. All in all its easy and simple, as part of every European Voluntary Service Program project happens the On-Arrival training, which for every volunteer is a must to do. In different regions of Europe the training are organized by different bodies and institutions, so they varies. Also in some of the countries, you are lucky that the training takes place in different locations that you are living in, so you have the opportunity to choose not only by date but also by place. Here in Portugal, its all connected with Anime NGO, which on regular basis organizes these training events. As it seems they happen every two weeks, as the volunteers rotate fast and projects are happening all the times. In usual conditions if hosting organization communicates correctly of the timings for the on arrival training, then you should have it on the time when you are three or four weeks here.

But now, well, its time to share the first of adventures...

S. goes to Braga and to Portugal Participa.

Welcome @Braga.

I like to think that one thing leads to another,so if you take action, other actions follows. So this what happened with me when i got the offer to travel to Braga for the weekend seminar of Youth Participation. Since i returned from Slovenia trip, these last two weeks, I have managed to meet bunch of portuguese speaking people, either going out for the party with friends of friend, later on joining the youth round table done by IPDJ or after all finally managing myself to join the Toastmasters meetings. The busy week with portuguese culture lead to get invited to join National Youth Council organized seminar in Braga which was about Youth Participation. For me having the chance to actually experience and see how the youth acts and reacts in Portugal, how they think and if they are any different by taking actions than in Latvia seemed to be a perfect match for my weekend. And more over I had the opportunity to travel to north of Portugal, to visit the European Youth Capital 2012 aka Braga.

a day when things goes other than you wish.

CITIZENS, Flashmob of fashion show @Lisbon this eve.

After a great Braga trip and a great time in Porto, today I woke up in my Lisbon house with a terrible mosquito bite on my face. Not using the anti mosquito stuff just for one night costed me the "lovely" bite.

otherwise, i went to work. Managed to do the tasks very fast and cool, oh, luckily one thing went good and smooth today. 

Then out of sudden i got the message in my FB asking if im going to Fun. concert tonight, as he just got the ticket and has no company...i was amazed...i looked up for tickets two weeks ago, and at wortens they told me that tickets are sold out...and here out of nowhere a guy tells me that he just got one ticket at El Corte Ingles...Damn.

S. finally meets the Toastmasters.

My catch of moment @Toastmasters MBA Club.

I remember myself browsing around and coming across the Toastmasters International name and the time when first time heard, i wanted to know more of this sandwich name and see what is this about. Have to say, got to think of the sandwiches for just a short time as my curiosity brought me the true answer. If im not mistaken, then like year ago this all happened. Then i discovered that its nothing to do with toasts nor any other sandwiches and its all about improving your public speaking. And since some time they also say its about the leadership skills development.

All in all the first time I was curious to join their organization and to see what`s it all up was in Ljubljana.

Dinamo rocks at Round Table about Youth and Mobility.

A new way of Round Table.

As Dinamo, my EVS hosting organization, promotes youth participation and as well likes to lobby their interests within the governmental level, then I got the great chance to go for a round table about the topic of "Youth and mobility" connected with the celebration of the European Single Market, which was organized by the IPDJ or in english saying the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth. Yes, thats right, they mix the sports and youth all in one place.  So yes, we were invited to participate in the round table, where to share the experience and out vision on the youth opportunities and how mobility works from Dinamo perspective.