Ladies and getlemen, His Highness - FOOTBALL

   Trough out history, kicking a ball or something that looked like a ball was bringing joy to humans. This is how football was invented. At the beginning the rules of the game were very few and simple. During the years the game underwent major changes in the number of players and rules but its goal remained the same – having fun.

   The greatest thing about football is that you do not have to kick the ball to have fun; you can watch the others doing it and be amused as well. The past week the volunteers from ”OLE” decided to bring joy to their loyal pupils and for that manner they organized a football tournament. They named it “Future talents of Mihai Eminescu” and they were right about the name. These kids are talented and their future is brighter than “Alianz Arena” in Munich. Since this was the first event of “OLE” it came as a big surprise to see One hundred and twenty pupils organized in thirteen teams signed in for the tournament. But, as they say: The more, the merrier! And merrier it was. Thirteen teams were carefully chosen to represent their class and supported by cheerleading teams – their classmates. Each team had its own cheerleading team and each cheerleading team did the best to offer its team the best support. Pomes in different colors, confetti and banners with “Tigri albastri” , “FC Arad” , “Go 3C!” and many more could be seen everywhere. As always, football did its magic. The whole school was talking about it and the players of the winning teams were welcomed in the corridors with applause and ovations. As an acknowledgment of their effort and devotion the winners of first place were given a trophy and a foot ball while the winners of second and third place received certificates of participation. Every participant in the tournament received a small gift which was donated by the non-governmental and non-profitable organization “Aspis association” from Arad. It is nice when you have friends to support and help you, isn`t it?

   What I learned from this tournament is that during the years not only the rules of football have changed but the meaning of it has changed also. Football is not only a game; it is a way of life.  A good one! 

New experience: First Aid Training!

As every volunteer realizes very fast when they start this experience, European Voluntary Service is about much more than only one project. Since knowledge is never enough and the most important thing in EVS is doing as much (quality) things possible, we take advantage of every opportunity we have to try new experiences.

Last week was time for first aid training with Red Cross. During three hours we had the chance to learn about health and how to act in emergency situations, so that we can be able to react in a positive way if we encounter this type of case during EVS.

The experience was great! We had a very patient trainer, who taught us step by step what to do in different emergencies, such as if someone is choking, unconscious or seriously hurt in a leg or arm.

For every example we would learn first the theory and then we would do it ourselves, what made us really understand how difficult it can be and what we should do to make it easier. We also learned the importance of thinking fast and improvise when we do not have the desired equipment at hand. 

After all, I can say that we are now definitely more prepared to deal with the emergencies we can come across, which is extremely helpful for our volunteer work. I feel now more confident when I am responsible for the children in the school, since I have knowledge of what to do if they get hurt during any sports activity. 

2 Months of a Portuguese in Arad - TV and UTA

Big awareness, big challenges and big rewards.

From adapting to the language, trying to understand what people say, involve in the local community and with the volunteers, sharing a place with people that we never imagined to share, play with the children and adapt to local customs, etc.

All big challenges that in the end will make us stronger.

So far, so good and it stills can get better. Romania is more and more understandable despite of speaking might not be one of my biggest strenghts due to the lack of vocabulary and some misunderstandings of the "rules" of the Romanian way of speaking. 

Local community and children, it is quite possible the integration. Of course the language gap might lead to some misunderstandings but with the basic, will and gestures, everything might be possible. I have appeared on local TV (TV ARAD), also in a video of the UTA ARAD facebook (the main local football team!), the kids try to understand my romanian and what I pretend of them...so step by step and things are getting done!

UTA ARAD VS Chindia Târgoviște - VIDEO OF THE PARTY

What can I give as an example of success from gestures and lack of Romanian Language?

Entering into a store looking and trying to find out some halloween customs. The store only had Masks. So I asked "pe halloween?", and she replied "Masks". Ok, then I said Halloween customs and started to move on my jacket and pants, and she replied "Haine" (that means clothes in Romanian). After that, she told that she didn't had but gave me a card and the coordinates to the place (asa, aici, acolo, la stunga, la dreapta, da, multumesc, cu placere).

Step by step things are figuring out. Matter of time of "almost  full" adaptation.