Hey ho!
“Office” holidays past so quickly and we’re again in the office already one week. The plans of me and Tiago changed a bit 
Both of us did not went to Turkey – his participation in the project was not possible and my preparatory meeting is postponed until October. So, Tiago went to Kavadarci and Bitola and I was spending my free time in Skopje I had a small accident with my head, so felt secure just in the flat. But I still met a lot of people, spent a nice time talking, drinking coffee, watching movies, cooking, searching for a good place to stay in Montenegro etc. Caroline enjoyed her time in Sweden a lot, doing all the nice and crazy things which young Swedish girl can do during the summer. And Caroline enjoyed her time in Portugal as well, spending a cool time with her beloved, going for concerts, surfing and sunbathing on the beach. Now, we’re back all together in our flat, telling stories from the past 3 weeks.
In the office we’re slowly preparing for starting a new adventures! Since September EVS volunteers together with one of coordinators – Stevica – will cooperate with high-schools around Skopje. We will have creACTive youth clubs in schools. These clubs will work in a close cooperation with the office in Skopje. We plan to do together many different activities. And of course we’ll have new workshops in the office, as well as some of the workshops which started before holidays will be continued.
We have plenty of different ideas. We plan to have language workshops (Swedish, Portuguese, English), skills workshop (photography, writing CV and motivation letter, Photoshop), hobby meetings (movies, books, arts), sports, flash mobs, video events, ecology events and much, much more! So, starting with September check the website (or Facebook profile) of creACTive for more info!
Before the work will start we’re doing our usual tasks. Caroline right now is on her mid-term training in Belgrade. We’re also meeting people – lately a lot of volunteers are finishing their projects and are going home, so there is more and more farewell meetings 
Soon also I’ll go home, my project is finishing on 10th of September, so in 18 days!
But before that, together with Caroline we plan to go for one weeek to Montenegro, more precise to Sutomore to enjoy beach, sun, sand, sea, slow and relaxing time 
But also we wanna see some more places, so probably we’ll plan the stay “50:50″ with less and more active things.
Stay tuned and keep a track of what is new on our website! Save it in your bookmarks – http://www.kreaktiv.mk/
It have been long time without any news here, at least it seems so! For us the time is passing so fast, that we don’t really notice it to be honest. It’s passing in ultra-speed.
When the summer started the office has been more and more empty. People left Skopje, went to holidays, summer work or other businesses. We needed to suspend most of the activities, so there is also less to write about.
In the middle of the month we moved from the house in Taftalidze to a flat in Aerodrom. Actually just next to the bus/train station. And on the top – 16! – floor.
We took some time in arranging and cleaning and now we’re settling. Well, actually it’s mostly me and Tiago, who are doing it, because both Carolinas went home. Carolina is in Portugal already almost a week and Caroline went to Sweden on 24th of July. Tiago and I, we’re tough and we’ll stay away from home a bit more
Actually from tomorrow until 15th of August we’ll have “office” holidays, so more than 2 free weeks! I plan to go to Turkey for working meeting of one project and then? Who knows? Maybe Greece, maybe Croatia, maybe Montenegro. It depends where I’ll manage to find hosts And Tiago wanna have short trips around Macedonia + he will spend a week in Turkey, participating in a project.
So, there will longer silence here. Maybe a new post will appear after 15th of August. But don’t be angry on us, let us enjoy our holidays And you enjoy too!
In the weekend i was at the Alarm festival in Ljubanista, Ohrid together with a lot of other EVS volunteers from Skopje and Bitola. It started at Friday 08.00 in Skopje and ended again in Skopje at 14.00 yesterday. Sleeping in tent, watching music, dancing, swimming, tanning and enjoying was what the weekend was about which connected to the beach and the Ohrid Lake at the festival was perfect.
From the EVS point of view it was a prefect place for meeting different kind of people and see the culture in a more alternative way with the variety of music, location, people and food. Especially if you are open to this kind of variety and are prepared for not that luxury conditions at all.
EVS is all about learning and this was a good opportunity to learn more about Macedonia and people from Macedonia compared to people from other nationalities. One example is that we met a guy from Greece who were playing in one of the bands and he asked what i am doing here in Macedonia and about my projects and etc so i told him about “Macedonia – the land of the sun” which started a big discussion in the way of Greece vs Macedonia as a country.
But all in all the festival was very giving in many ways and also to see other organisations working and here the lack of information, cleaning and ecological profile which was the main aim of the festival. Hopefully they will learn from this and next year provide a better quality and atmosphere!
Stay tuned / Caroline
The time here is just flying! I know, I’m repeating myself, but what I can do Last two weeks were divided between “office” work and workshops. Now, in our office we have a few workshops per week. On Monday you can find Albanian language, on Tuesday Portuguese language and culture, on Wednesday there are workshops related with the project “Macedonia – the land of the sun” and on Thursday and Friday you can learn how to make great photos – on the workshop on photography. A lot of cool stuff, right?
Tiago dedicated his time mostly to creating and developing the ideas of his workshops (Portuguese and Photo), creating the list of participants, having info meetings related with Photo workshops, preparing the evaluation of the Portuguese workshop etc. Carolina was preparing the Portuguese workshop together with Tiago and writing the text for our magazine – “Libertas”. Besides they both had meetings with Ciprian - for the eco festival. She also had one week of holidays, so we hope she enjoyed her time as much as possible! I was doing preparations for our workshops, writing text about EVS, text from our workshop and also article for “Libertas”, working on the website of “Libertas” and our blogs. Caroline was doing basically very similar work to mine – preparing and leading the same workshop, writing text to our blog, writing article to “Libertas” etc. Both of us were also interviewed by reporter of Kanal 5 (national TV) – asked about our EVS, our work here, people, country, Skopje, food and many other things. It was fun! We just hope it was ok, we did not have chance to watch it yet.
What is going on besides work?
Last Friday we had very delayed birthday party of Caroline. A lot of people came, actually more than we expected It was a nice time, we had a chance to get to know each other better. Then on Saturday morning Caroline and me went to Kosovo, to visit friends in Prishtina. We had a lovely time, visiting the city, have a coffee together, eating a home made traditional dinner, playing cards… Thanks to our friends for hosting us! On Sunday we had time to chill out and also to meet our friends from creACTive. And also eat lovely Tiramisu prepared by Valentina, our teacher Aha, I also fulfilled my civic duty – I went to vote in Presidential elections. Pity, President was not elected then, so we need to have a second round on 4th of July.
Lately we also watched a lot of movies – after the work, before the work, during the weekend. Half of us also get trapped in the trap called “reading good books” So, now Caroline doesn’t have any more books in Swedish to read and we need to visit the American Corner to borrow some books in English. I still have a few books, but probably the same fate will wait also me soon.
And today Caroline went to Ljubanishta for ALARM Festival. I was also suppose to go, but got ill and couldn’t So, together with Carolina and Tiago will stay in Skopje and will try to enjoy my weekend as my as possible!
This week went very fast, at least for me
Last weekend Caroline went to meet some friends in Novi Sad, where they had a lot of fun together. And, where Caroline enjoyed the food a lot All of us, who stayed in Skopje, we went all together in a bigger group to see 2 concerts in the frame of the project “Rediscovery of the Route of Culture”. First it was a band from Africa – “Gangbe Brass Band”. They were sooo charismatic, funny, energetic and positive! They played a long concert and people loved it. And on the request for more they came down, into the crowd and were playing just next to us 
That was awesome! Then there was the concert of Kiril Dzajkovski, famous Macedonian electronic musician and music composer. It was also cool, well made and performed. I loved both of them! You can find photos made by Tiago on his Facebook profile
Then the working week started. Tiago and Carolina – besides the usual work – were leading the Portuguese workshop. Tiago – together with Ciprian and Genesis – is planing the new photography workshop for amateurs. They’ve got a loooot of application forms. Tiago and Carolina have also an idea for a project related with ecology. And Carolina is working on the idea of project related with music. Caroline was planing the workshop in the frame of our project, keeping in touch with participants, prepared quizes for the workshop and also wrote text about promoting EVS for the website and right now is writing an article for the next issue of “Libertas”. I was looking for a Polish movie for the movie night (and later also for proper subtitles), I met the possible volunteer interested in the EVS in Poland, I was in touch with other person interested in EVS in Poland and 2 possible hosting organizations, I was also preparing the content and materials for the our workshop together with Caroline, collecting different events for the next issue of “Libertas” and brainstorming about possible article for “Libertas”.
What’s more? Today it’s already 5 months for me being here as the EVS volunteer. It’s incredible how fast it went! 2 months in Kavadarci, 3 months in Skopje, gosh… During this weekend I’ll try to make a small summary of my stay in Skopje. For sure I’ve learned more about photography, Macedonia, developed my research skills, text writing, coordinating more diverse projects, long-term working with international team, worked on my skills in Macedonian language etc. I’ve met great and interesting people and visited incredibly wonderful places.
Life is passing very quick, the week just started and again there is a weekend. It’s incredible how much the time sped up here And it seems to be the feeling of all the volunteers with whom I’ve spoked. We constantly have the feeling that we should do more, visit more, get to know more people, places, culture, it’s a feeling of “loosing” time, which is not so nice from one hand. But also we wanna enjoy the moment, so it’s sometimes hard to combine both things into one And now it’s also getting hotter and hotter, so the priorities are also adapting a bit to the weather
Last, but not least, I would like to ask you to check the new edition of “Libertas“. Monthly theme now is 2012 – what does it mean? What can happen? In which direction we’re heading? Read it, comment about it, promote it further!
I’m back in the office. I need to admit that it was a bit difficult to jump into working mode after 10 days of wonderful holidays. My Polish friends came to visit me (first guests since I came, so for more than 4 months!) and we went together for an amazing tour around Macedonia. We visited incredibly beautiful places, met great people, ate lovely food and spent a real quality time together
However, after this trip the time came to go back to reality. It’s still nice, warm in Skopje, so we’re often walking to/from the office, but do not spend so much time on the terrace lately – rather on sofa, reading or doing stuff on our laptops. Somehow we don’t watch so many movies like before either.
During last weekend Tiago and Carolina went to visit Pedro in Kavadarci. We’ve heard that they had really a cool weekend They also visited Youth Center in Kavadarci, met other volunteers and workers, and of course also youngsters. They came back to Skopje on Sunday evening, full of happiness
Caroline, Eva (volunteer from Bitola) and me, we went to the ZOO on Saturday. It was cool, even if we’re surprised that some animals have just rocks or concrete instead of grass. But besides that, we enjoyed a lot, especially playing with small goats, foals and bambies. We had a really nice time there
On Sunday both Caroline and me went to the city center to participate in the flash mob, which was organized by some EVS volunteer together with other volunteers and people from Macedonia. At noon we all we’re suppose to freeze for 3 minutes next to the Mother Teresa house. We’re 24 people frozen in different positions + we had 2 cool camera guys, who were shooting a movie. Now, we can’t wait to see the movie! After the flash mob we went together for a Turkish pizza and continued getting to know more people from around here.
But coming back to our work We had a short training made by Dragan, who showed us how to use the server, the networks in creACTive and so on.
This week Tiago was working on some changes in the flyer for the photoworkshop, preparations the Portuguese workshop and also on the website of the project “Macedonia – the land of the sun”.
Carolina is working on a brochure, developing the idea for her personal project (first small detail – it’ll be related with music) and also planning the Portuguese workshop, which both of them delivered on Tuesday afternoon.
I was working on preparation (content, materials etc.) for our first working meeting in the frame of the project “Macedonia – the land of the sun”, which I delivered together with Caroline on Wednesday afternoon. Besides that I was working on the updates of the “Libertas” website, contacting the contributors of “Libertas”, contacting EVS and AISEC volunteers, uploading photos for our Facebook group, contacting possible future EVS volunteer willing to go to Poland.
Caroline was preparing the Power Point presentation, creating the Facebook group, preparing for our workshop and keeping in touch with participants combined with a compote of other things related with our new project.
From one thing to another, in just 2 days the new edition of “Libertas” will be released – stay tuned and check it out on 5th of June HERE
Update by .
Finally the sun has returned and the order is complete, the terrace is the highlight of life and soon we will look like gingerbread.
This weekend me, Caroline, and Aga went to Kriva Palanka to visit the astonishing monastery of St Joakim Osogovski which left us without words, a place you must see before you die! The old monastery surrounded by all this green landscape up on the hill, so breathtaking.
Me, Caroline, also went to Bitola ( the city about walking 24/7) and then to Prilep to walk 6m uphill to the Treskavec monastery which was well worth the hiking, the view of the landscape from the rocky mountains once again made me just stop, look around, and reflecting if i was alive or dead (not just because my suffered body) for all its amazing beauty.
This weekend it also was the Portuguese evening at La Kana which was successfully organized and visited by a lot of people.
Monday was a free day which we spend at home looking at episodes of Lost and just relaxing.
Now we are working on our own again and more about what we are doing will come a bit later in the week.
Enjoy the sun and have fun!
Over and out
Update by .
After coming back to the reality again in the office we have had a good week, at least from my point of view, and landed back on earth it feels like.
This week we have been working a lot on our own and quiet (well just some singing while listening everyone in there headphones) in our computers. I, Caroline, have been working with finding materials for making articles to publish on our upcoming website for Macedonia – the land of the sun and also had time to turn 20 which took a lot of the time from Monday. For this project we are also trying to start a workshop for young people from Macedonia to join our project which probably will start next week.
Carolina has been working with a lot of graphic things like a brochure for creACTive and other things related to this and the Portuguese workshop and the upcoming Portuguese evening on Saturday at 21.00. This week the Portuguese workshop started very positive and is going forward one step at a time and so far very good.
Tiago has been preparing for the Portuguese workshop and doing research for the new Photography workshop that will start soon. For Aga´s part, she is on vacation this week and half next week with friends from Poland and they have been around Skopje, Tetovo and will go to Bitola and Ohrid in the weekend. So we will here more about here next week
So have a nice weekend and stay tuned!
Over and out (and pictures from our on-arrival will come soon)
Caroline and the rest of the creACTive Skopje volunteers
Including in EVS are the pre-departure training, on-arrival training, mid-term training and last one final evaluation in your own country. Carolina, Tiago and me, Caroline, was between the 10-15 of May in Sarajevo for our on-arrival together with 19 other EVS people from different parts of the Balkan.
We decided to go earlier to spend a night in Belgrade first so we packed our backpacks and danced on the bus at 00.00 at Friday the 7th of May. Seven hours later we arrived very tired to the capital of Serbia and went to check in at the nearest hostel we could find. Friendz Hostel was the one we found 7.00 in the morning with a drunk receptionist who offered us ice cold vodka for breakfast before sleeping..and a few minutes later the owner, who was Swedish, showed up even drunker then the first one. The day went by with some sleeping and a lot of walking to discover this city with Pedro ( volunteer for creACTive in Kavadarci, Macedonia) as our private tour guide. A beautiful city with a lot of nice green areas next to the busy city life and pubs/cafés where ever you go – a town really worth to be found. A tips – you can really bargain if you want to.
After this we decided to once again go with a night bus to continue to Sarajevo on Sunday night but after going for around 10 minutes the bus suddenly stops – the bus drivers got out and they spend about one hour fixing the engine (or something)..but then we were running again! After arriving to the next capital, the capital of Bosnia/Herzegovina, we realized that we didn’t have any Bosnian money and it was 6.00 in the morning.. at least we had some euros so we could take a cab to the hotel and in the hotel we almost run up to our rooms for some much longed rest in a soft warm bed.
The week was full of training about learning to learn, about what life is, conflict and other subjects concerning EVS and the hosting organization. Between this, in the evenings, there were more inter cultural exchanges while drinking and discovering the city in the city. Sarajevo was even more beautiful than Belgrade with lots of small streets full of shops, people and bars all over the place. In Sarajevo there were also a fortress up up on a mountain that we went to, you could see the whole city including the other side ot the city that is hiding behind this fortress – magnificent, breathtaking and beautiful.
Saturday morning 05.00 we left the hotel – more drunk than silver, but we made it, 17 hours travelling..!
Now back in the office it feels good and we are back on track after this really cool, interesting, learning and nice week
Our blog decided to vanish in the virtual reality So, let’s start from the beginning. We’re volunteers coming from different countries, all doing our volunteering service in the Youth Association creACTive in Macedonia. More info about us in the bookmark “our team” and also under this post.
Rigth now it’s pretty peaceful in our office. Part of the people are in Kavadarci (as there is European Week going on – http://kavadarci.kreaktiv.mk/), some already finished work for today and the rest of volunteers is on their on arrival training course.
Yes, Caroline, Carolina and Tiago left last weekend to Sarajevo, for one of the obligatory training courses for EVS volunteers. They will come back during next weekend. Guys, I hope you’re enjoying being in Sarajevo, making contacts with other EVS volunteers and learning about culture and cultural shocks
So, right now I’m single EVS volunteer in the office (and in the house!) and I need to admit it’s a bit strange feeling – I’ve got used to volunteers around me So, right now I’m trying to work on the EVS blog, our project related with Macedonia and all the other small details which needs to be done now. And in my free time I slowly try to prepare my first movie, but it’s a secret, so more if I’ll succeed
Interested in Macedonia? Love this country? Apply to participate in our project! More info: http://sk.kreaktiv.mk/активности/работилница-за-македонија-macedonia-the-land-of-the-sun.
Update by .