Farní charita Česká Lípa

Prague is one of the beautiful Capital in the Europe, there are a lot of particular and different buildings! We visited in Prague more things, for example Charles bridge, the central square and, because of girls is important shopping, also Palladium; there are into one hundred shop about clothes, food and beauty center. We went again on Sunday with Sona and we decided to visit another more things but new, we went in the Castle (Pražský hrad) and we were with our mouth open because this part of Prague it`s different, very amazing and this castle was founded around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premysl dynasty. The first stone building to be erected within the Area of the Castle was the Church of the Virgin Mary. After we visited also Armenia church near the central square and another catholic and orthodox church, very nice. Finally we saw a new places in Prague and I think no all.

First working week after holidays is always hard. All volunteers were exhausted after one week of holidays as we all were traveling. But students from Slovanka were waiting for new interesting English and art classes, so we did our best despite fatigue.

One of the classes I want to tell you today we prepared with Sona – volunteer from Armenia. As the children in 5th grade are with a good level of English it is hard to make them learn new words because some of them are actually better in English than we are. After searching the internet for activity all day long we came up with a brilliant idea – to create the human body. Now you think probably, that it could be a not very relevant task for 5th graders, but believe me, they are very smart and curious kids.

At the beginning of the class, we taught them the basic vocabulary such as heart, lungs, stomach, intestines. Then, we ask them to draw the shape of human’s body on a big paper, one of the students were lying on the paper while others were outlining him with a pencil for making a real-size shape of a body.  Next tasks were to cut organs from color paper and to glue them on big paper in order of the real system of internal organs. Artworks of students were very amusing.

 For example, meet Adam, Adam has blue eyes, charming smile and very strange shape of the liver, he has no heart (it’s hiding behind the lungs), but he has the brain, which is more important.

1. What subject or subjects do you teach in Nový Bor?

My specialization is English, French and Czech but this school year I am teaching only English.

2. How did you know about our project and the activities we do in the schools?

A colleague from a ZŠ in Česká Lípa has told us about these activities. Then we have contacted Gabriela Medwell.

3. Why do you think this kind of activities can be interesting for the students?

What is the most important thing is talking. Talking in a way that others can understand, not grammatical accuracy. You do not mark students. You do not correct their English.

You are young, so close to our students.

You break our routine.

English is neither their nor your mother tongue and the first real speaking English is easier with you than with a native speaker.

4. Nový Bor is a small town, how do you think we can impact in the way of learning of the children of your class? Do you think we will open more their minds to learn English and about other countries?

Definitely yes. We (teachers) are just a theory, you are a reality. Pupils do not believe us when we tell them about the importance of learning English. With you they can see that learning English is useful, that they can speak English with anyone, not only with native speaker (who seem to be far away from us). You do a lot for their motivation. And all the more so that Nový Bor is a small town where students do not have the opportunity to speak English with somebody else, only with us - teachers.

5. Are you satisfied with Czech educational system?

Basically yes.

6. Would you change anything in it?

Nothing comes to my mind.

Europe union is the biggest European organization where 28 countries are part of. Different nations and different cultures raised up to me questions like “ How does all this diversity work”? I thought long about it and decided to put this topic in the table and discuss it with my colleges. The seminar was all about human diversity, to understand more about it, to feel part of it and to find or give messages connected with this topic.

The seminar started with a brainstorming, where everybody gave ideas about what people are different, and found values that connect us all as human. There was an interesting game called “where do you stand”, which had the aim to show the fact we are so different but we are all the same.

The peak moment was when during seminar was played a video made from a Swedish tv channel. This video touched our hearts and maybe it made some of us cry, it was so beautiful to understand in the middle of us, that we are same, we have so many common things, so many things that unit us, so many things that make us equal.

It was great to feel part of our community, this time for real and so close. We have a very simple message for everybody out there “Don’t hate if you don’t understand”. It is time to learn that in Diversity there is beauty and there is strength. Let’s treat each-other with respect and no judgments.

In the end of seminar, everybody wrote a message in a small paper and it was just great to read it.

Thank you for reading this article.

During this three months we had a lot of workshop in Slovaka,in Euroshkola,in Partyzanka but this week we had a workshop in Tyrsova,it was first time that we enter this school.The topic was people around the Europe.We prepared a lot of questions and their task was to ask this  questions to us.

Our workshop we started with a little quiz,each volunteer spoke in their native language and students had a task to guess what countries we are from.Then we continued with an energizer.Main activity we did in 6 group,in each group there was 5 or 6  student and we spent 10 minutes in each group.For me it was no difficult because students were talkative and they gave us a lot of questions.

After main activities they gave us feedback,everyone were happy and they told us that they are happy to see us in their school.

For me it was also interesting and I spent good time their,I like when I speak about my country because there are a lot of people in Czech Republic  who don’t know about Armenia and it is very useful to give them more information about my old and small country,who had a huge history and interesting places to visit. J J J

I am going To tell you about florian café. In my opinion it is the best café in Ceska Lipa.

There is very good atmosphere  and very delicious cakes and coffee of course. Every day they have different choice and every day you can find different type of cake. I am sure you will be fall in love with this café.

One day we were in a office and it was time for lunch. We didn`t have idea where we wanted to go. And… One of our volunteer said that, in Internet she found one café, which is very beautiful and it would be very good if we visited here. And we went… For us it was little a bit difficult to find Florian café, because we are not from Ceska Lipa and we didn`t know all streets very well. Finally we found it and we were so happy. Firstly, our attention took wall of café, also there are very comfortable chairs to seat and the most important, outside they have veranda and in summer in will be perfect to spend time here. I want to add something. Also staff is perfect. They know English and if in your dictionary is only ,,dobrý den’’, ,, nashledanou’’ and ,,dekuji’’ definitely it is your place. For sure we had excellent time together and we were very happy that we discovered very beautiful place in Ceska Lipa.

We are here in Ceska Lipa already 3 months and every weekend we like to spend differently, sometimes we traveled, sometimes we prefer to  visit and discover new places in Ceska Lipa. This weekend we were invited to my mentors Elishka’s flat.She has prepared for us special dinner,traditional Czech food with duck,it was my first time that I ate duck meat and I can say it was really very tasty.That day we also tasted 5 bottle of different  beer.

After the dinner, we visited our favourite Florian café,there was exebition .We spend there very good time,we like that café because you can find very delecius cakes and coffee and also we like that café’s atmosphere and workers  .Aftter diiner and Florian café we decided to go club for dancing.

We had a very good and interesting weekend and all of us now waiting for Friday,because we are going to try new sport,cross country skiing, in Novy Bor J J J

Dear readers,

Today, in our focus is one of the most sportive and hard-working person in our organization. He joined it before 3 months.

I hope you will find it interesting, as it was for me also. He has so many things to share with all of us. Who known, young people out there will read this interview and might think to have the same experience as Santi is having in Ceska Lipa, doing EVS is something amazing.

1- Tell us something about yourself. Who is Santi?

Santi is a 22 years Spanish boy who finished his law degree last year and was looking for a change and next experiences when he started his EVS. He likes running and triathlon and he is very active.

2- Why did you decide to go in Czech Republic?

 I decided to do EVS because I needed to change something in my life. In Spain to get a good job is difficult and even I didn't know what a good job is for me, because I'm discovering myself yet. I'd like to find a job in the field of international law or human rights and for that I need to have international experiences and to learn about other countries and cultures without forgetting the importance of improving my English. I didn't choose Czech Republic, I've just wanted to go abroad, for this reason I'd say that she chose me.

3- Can you please share with us your expectation and how do you feel here?

 I feel really well here. I think we are a great team and I'm having really good time. I expect to learn a lot. I have learnt already many things in only three months. For example cooking, but anyway I have to improve a lot jajaj. I would lie if I say that one of my expectations is to understand the women, but now that I'm living with two at least I have to be careful. I hope also to learn basics of Czech language. And the most important, I hope to find a job and to stay here at least one more year.

4- So, you love running, will you participate in any competition ?

Yeah, I'm going to run Prague Marathon and for preparing it I will run before a half marathon in March. I'm also enrolled to Ceska Lipa cross race of 15km that will be in October I think.

5- Are you preparing for this marathon and do you have any objective ?

Yes I'm trying to prepare it but I'm finding here the hardest winter of my life, a lot of snow and not too much free time, so I'm training less than I wanted but my aim is yet to finish with less than 3 hours, if I can, with less than 2h 50, but that would be an amazing time and for that I have to train more.

6- How is your day in Ceska Lipa?

 I wake up around 7 or a little before, I go to the school or to the office at 8 and I finish around 1 pm. Then we have lunch and we go to the office to prepare activities for the next days or week. In the afternoon normally I run, I go to the gym or to play floor-ball, and I try to find time to study a little bit or to watch a film.

7- Which is one of the most beautiful moments you had till now in Ceska Lipa?

One of the best moments till now could be the first snow of the season, before Christmas. Anastasiia and me were at home and it started to snow a lot so we decided to go out because I hadn't seen snowing from 3 years or more and we went to make a snowman. We went to the square of city centre and we made pictures. The Christmas market was closed so we decided to buy wine in Kaufland and to make our own hot wine homemade. It was a fantastic evening. But we had other good moments and we will have more.

8- Do you have any advice for young people according o EVS?

My only advice for young people in order to EVS is they shouldn't be afraid because maybe they will face a lot of difficulties but also they will enjoy a lot and they will learnt a lot.

THANK YOU SANTI FOR THIS INTERVIEW. I HOPE OUR READERS WILL LIKE IT.

                                                                                                        ERLINDA

The 3^rd week of 2017 for EVS-volunteer was first working week in school.  Surprisingly for us, even 20 min activity for students needs a lot of preparation, so each afternoon after classes we were working hard.  Also, the weather was awful all the week: minus 10 degrees and frozen ice on the roads did not allow us to go somewhere.

Lucky for us, Česká Lípa can propose you a lot of entertainments: bars, restaurants, concerts, clubs, gyms, swimming pool etc. Of course after noisy classes we prefer to relax in bars and jacuzzi in the swimming pool.

What more helps us to refresh? Hobbies! For example, we are baking pies with Nicola, Santi runs, Nini goes to the gym. In the evenings of these frozen days we prefer to watch nice movies and to enjoy lazy everyday life of small town Česká Lípa. We still have 9 months to travel, explore and enjoy!