Yesterday, we started to look at some old pictures of Lemi 4H. We plan to use it for the “90´s birthday party” in November. We went through some old dias to find the best pictures. Let´s see in November!

Each volunteer needs to attend some training at the beginning of his EVS. So last week we went to Kokkola for this training. After a day trip we finally met the other volunteers who are currently in Finland. We were about 42 people and we spent the whole week together. We´ve participated in different workshops about volunteering in Europe, but we also shared our experience and different projects. In our spare time we discovered different cultural aspects of Finland, for example how to light a fire, paddling, walking into the forest and spend time in the sauna.

 

It was a really nice experience and we met a lot of people from different nationalities. We have also shared some cultural aspects from our home country, for example some traditional dances or games. Now we have friends spread all over Finland and we are looking forward to see them again.

Yesterday we spent the day in the forest with some students from Lemi school. In the morning, when they arrived they had been divided into four groups. Each group made four different activities. We organised one of them. It was a game to learn about the rights and rules you have to follow in nature.

After all groups finished the game we went into the hunting house for lunch.

In the afternoon we all went together into the forest. Merja and the teachers explained some things about the forest, the trees, the mushrooms and the berries. We tasted some berries and picked some mushrooms up. We were really surprised and impressed about their knowledge of the nature.

This week we have spent a couple of hours at the school of Lemi. We visited the 7th, 8th and 9th grade to inform them about Lemi 4H. During one class a boy told us about the word “noni” and its meanings. So after school we made some research about it on the internet and we found a funny video where a Finnish guy explained the different meanings of the word “noni”.

If you want to see the video click here.

If you have some other important finnish words for us, just let us know.

Saturday, 8th September was a music festival in Lemi, Capital of Metal – L1VE. We met there for the first time.

Our task was to help holding a fake tattoo workshop at the entry of the festival.

It was not our taste of music, but still we discovered it and listened to some bands there. The music sounded very loud for us and we couldn’t hear the singer, but however we were very impressed of the drummers in each band.

 

More info about the event: click here

I´m now in Finland for nearly one month and I now have settled down. The first few days in Finland I feelt a stranger, because everything was new and different from home and also the language is difficult and you absolutely understand no word. But after the first few days the things became better. One of the first things I did at work, was helping at that music festival in Lemi, but I didn´t had a lot to do so it was rather boring there, also because I didn´t knew anybody. The weeks which followed I started to get to know some people and I also visited Lappeenranta a few times, with Janika or Merja. I also just walked around in Kuukanniemi to get to know it a little bit. I really like the lake and the sunsets there but the sunsets are generally quite beautiful here in Finland.

Some other places I´ve visited are Janika´s and Iins´s school, and I´m quite impressed of their schools and the school system here in Finland. School here seems to be quite nice and also like a place where you like to go to learn something and there are quite a lot of things in school, which are different than in Liechtesnstein. Another place I´ve visited is the gymnastics club in Lappeenranta. It was really nice to do some sports again and I think I want to go there every week, because I know that I can´t motivate myself to do some sports if I´m not in a club. Besides, there was also a girl in my age, which I like and I´m glad if i get to know some people. In this firts month I also started to learn some finish words, but it is a really diffcult language and I hop we are going to find a someone who can teach me some finish, because I would really like to understand and say some things in finish.

This week I´m going to work and live with my mentor Sini and I´m glad about that and I´m also excited about the arriving of the french girl, at the end of this week.

Hello everybody.

We are Céline and Pauline, the new volunteers of Lemi 4H! We will help organizing activities and events for youngsters with Merja. We can also share our experience abroad with those of you who are interested in international programs and going abroad.

My name is Céline Meier, I am eighteen years old and I live in the middle of the alps in Liechtenstein. I just graduated and now it was time for me to take a gap-year, before I go to visit art school in Liechtenstein. In my spare time I like to do gymnastics, taking pictures or spend time with my friends. Furthermore, I enjoy outdoor activities and travelling. I will stay here in Finland until May 2019, which means I´m going to be here for 9 month.

I wanted to do this European Voluntary Service because that way I will get to know a new culture, meet new people, gain lots of life experiences, learn a new language and do something meaningful at the same time. EVS is a good thing because on one side the participating organisations offer many various and interessting projects and on the other side they support the volunteers ery much and give them the chance to leran something new.

I´ve also been interested in doing a Voluntary Service because I like the idea of helping and supporting others, working in a team, spend time outside, developing new ideas and learning from each other. I regard this as an opportunity, where I can get in touch with lots of different people and a different language and maybe get a more in-depth knowledge of a different culture.

And I am the other volunteer! I’m Pauline, I’m 24 and I just arrived last Friday here in Lemi. I come from Paris in France. I have studied Literature and Public Affairs (politics, history, communication, etc.) and graduated 2 years ago. I was working in Paris for an equal opportunities program for youngsters there. I used to organize events for them and workshops so they can improve public speaking, feeling well at ease and know their capabilities better.

It was a really a rewarding experience because we shared many things with youngsters, but I have always wanted to go abroad. So I decided to change and come here in Finland! I’m sure we will learn from each other and discover new cultures. I also need to learn Finnish, and that’s a big challenge!

During my spare time, I like to spend time with friends, I love cooking and sharing it with other people. I also sew some clothes as a hobby, and I used to play in a theater group in Paris. I like to spend time in the nature, doing some sport and travel to discover new landscape, countryside, and people.

My EVS experience starts right now until July, so for 10 months. I’m sure I will enjoy it!

We hope we will enjoy our stay, and see you soon!

Céline & Pauline