Maribor

August 1, 2012.

New day. New story... Destination – Maribor! J

Today we woke up in the early morning and at 5.45 a.m. we started our trip to European Capital of Culture and Slovenian second largest city-Maribor. When we arrived at 9.30, the hosts of cultural institute presented us project which is divided into 7 sessions, and importance of volunteering. An important aspects of this project are cultural and art events; festivals, exhibitions, cooking lessons where participate a lot of painters, musicians, writers, dancers, photographers... Volunteers are one of the most importaint aspects of this project because they are in charge to host V.I.P. guests. The project counts 86 volunteers who have obligatory training before starting with their work. Volunteerism is very importaint from social aspect of life because there can particaipate everyone who has passion for culture and working in intercultural environment without age limits: students, employeed, unemployeed and retired people. We also had an opportunity to hear feedbacks of 3 volunteers and their positive experiences.

After morning sessions, we had walking sightseeing tour to the main Maribor's attractions and we also visited the bell of  St. John Cathedral which provide us beautiful city view and a lot of nice photographies. J

Lunch in the local restaurant with traditional food and free afternoon. During the afternoon we had a lot of work with questionnaires about tourism and feedback of Maribor.

Nice day, great experience and a lot of fun!

Thank you...

Croatian team J

31 July 2012.

Hello,


Last day of July... We got our moring session at 10 with Agata Kiluk from Krakow University in Poland. The title of session was «Voluntourism, educational institutions and social capital creation» through which we seen the current situation of the Polish educational system and how the voluntourist are helping to improve the current situation, even by using new technologies. Before lunch time, Miha gave us instructions about the trip to Maribor for tomorrow.

                                                            In the afternoon we had workshops with our groups in order to finish all our tasks in next few days. In the evening we had our dinner and then around 10:30 in the evening took a swam in the sea to refresh ourselves. After the short swam, we returned back to our flats and started to prepare for the tomorrow trip to Maribor.


Best regards! 


Croatian team  - Ana, Filip, Livio & Matija

Day 9

Dear readers, 

The day began around 8 AM because we had to be at the faculty at 9. The lecture was held by a Portuguese professor Goretti Silva and it was about social capital and its impact on  our lives. The lecture itself was pretty interesting because of the way of Mrs Goretti presenting. Also, at the end of the lecture, she put on few songs and one of them was called "I'll be there for you" by the Rembrandts, which her workshop group had to sing. In the middle of the lecture there was a pause, that lasted around half an hour which is longer then usual (and we liked it very much J). After the lecture we had a lunch and afterwards went to take a swim. At 3 PM we had a few hours of very interesting workshops where we had to make plans about presenting our assignments.After we finished all work for today we could have relaxed ourselves by going to the beach and afterwards going for an espresso with our colleges .Espresso has woken us up and gave us energy for the rest of the night. For the dinner we had risotto with schrimps and some salad and it was extremely tasty. After the dinner we made a plan to go to a bar in Mandrać to have a farewell party for the Portuguese professors and their children Francisco and Carolina. The farewell party was great and also very emotional because we enjoyed our time with them as they are great and extremely positive people.So with tears in our eyes we said goodby to them and went to bed. Hopefully we'll see them again!

Croatian Team

Ana, Filip, Livio & Matija

Volunteer day in Piran

Monday, 30 July 2012.

Dear readers,

At Saturday we visited the small town of Piran which is close to Portorož and is one of the most important cities of Slovenian coast. Our group met the representatives of the most important NGO in Piran which organizes many local events related with tradional arts, environment, etc... They gave as a small «quiz» with questions about Piran. Our duty was to answer on that questions by visiting the different spots in the city centre.

     

After our tour in historical center of Piran, we joined the members of the local NGO and started to prepare some promotional touristic brochures about Piran and got a «salary» for that, or better to say a small sachet with local lavender as souvenir. At noon we were free with our activities and got free time to lunch or return back to Portorož. Some of us used the late afternoon to swim in Portorož, and in the evening we met all together at 10 p.m. on the beach (11 p.m. by Croatian and Portuguese time)!! We had a nice party at Alaya club! :)

Greetings!

Ana, Filip, Livio & Matija 

EXCURSION TO FISH FARM „FONDA“

July 26 2012., Friday

Hi friends,

The day began in the early morning because we had to be in front of  the hostel at 8.15 when we departed our ride to the Lucija, a little town in the vacinity of Portorož. After a short but beautiful view of Piran Bay from the top of the hill we proceeded our walk to the little port where we took a boat to visit the Fonda Fish Farm.Our host was a lady who presented us the story about her family's business. Fonda Fish Farm produces top class products, especially the sea-bass,but also mussels which are considered as the best mussels in this region.We also had an opportunity to try raw fish, delicious fish canapes and drink a glass of excellent „Malvasia“ wine.

  

In the afternoon we enjoyed in the beach volleyball and other activities so we spent really nice time together and we are very grateful for free afternoon. Now we are preparing for the night party and see ya at the beach...

We are also looking forward to visit Piran tomorrow! J

Regards,

Ana & Livio & Filip & Matija

Workshop day

Dear readers,

Today we spent our time in practical activities related with the main volunteer organization in Slovenia. They introduced us their history, focus area, usual activities, etc... During the summer they have a working camp in a salt pans close to Portorož, where they try to revive that ancient industry of the Piran and Portorož area.

The volunteers came from different countries, we had the possibility to meet a Macedonian and a Polish girl that are currently volunteers in that salt pans.

During the afternoon we had the chance to discuss about some actual problems in society, like globalization, discrimination, stereotypes, impacts of volunteers on Third world countries, etc...

The last session was focused on sustainability; how to use different objects and materials to recycle them and use it for new purposes. The participants were invited to express their creativity in order to «invent» a souvenir which will present their country. 

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The day finished with a pizza party in a local restaurant and we started to prepare for the next day in Sečovlje and Lucija area where we plan to go to visit Fonda's fishing farm.

Croatian team:

Livio Defranza

Filip Oštrić

Ana Palaversa

Matija Vrbić

Pozdrav! :)

Workshops

Croatian teamThe fourth day of the SWT «Voluntourist 2012» started with presentation about the Eurobasket under 21 event that was organized in Slovenia recently. We got the possibility to talk with the head of the organization committee who told us about his previous experiences as volunteer in Lithuania and how that experience helped him as a good case practice to organize the Eurobasket under 21 in Slovenia. Since the event was successfully organized, Slovenia got the candidacy bid for the next Eurobasket event in 2014. Slovenia seen that event not just as a chance to be a very good host country, but also to reach some sports succcesses in basketball, a sport that is very popular in the country.

The second session was about the NGO Whalenation, led by the english volunteer Ed Bentham. His NGO gives a contribution on environment and Third world societies with the participation and help of mostly young people coming from Europe.

Volunteers of Whalenation get symbolic fees for their work, but anyway they earn money by selling products of Third world countries and taking 50% of the revenue. True that system the local population can sell they products on the western markets and on the other side the volunteers are enough sustainable to reimburse travel expenses and costs of living.

After the lunch we were separated in few working groups with different topics to anaylses how we could improve Portorož tourism by involving volunteers and NGOs to give new ideas and creative solutions.

All in all, even if was a intensive day and we would like to had more time to swim and enjoy at the beach, it was worth of it and the sessions fullfilled our expectations.
Leisure time & dinner & sunset! :)

DAY ONE!

DAY ONE

The Croatian counts has 4 student: Ana Palaversa from the University of Applies Sciences VERN' Zagreb and Filip Oštrić, Matija Vrbić and Livio Defranza from Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management Opatija.

We met each other in Poreč and we took the bus for Portorož.

First impression was very good, we got a warm welcome from Slovenian side. Mitja helped us to find the dorm and the other host students showed us the city centre later on.

Unfortunately we came too late and with a cloudy and windy weather so we didn't have an opportunity to spend time on the beach.

After we settled down in the hostel, we used our time to take a dinner in a fine fish restaurant "Riblja kantina" and later on we played billiard with Kaja, fellow Slovenian student and a co-host, who taught us the basics of Slovenian grammar. All in all we had a very interesting first night... 

 

DAY TWO

After we woke-up and came to the reception where we met the students from other countries.

Together we preceeded to the faculty where the dean of university and SWT organizators warmly welcomed us and presented weekly schedule. After that we had gala lunch. 

Everything was well-organized. In the afternoon we had free time and we spent on the beach with other students in beautiful environment where we had an opportunity to meet each other better.

Now we are preparing for I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM PARTY and the after party in the city.

Best reagards of Croatian team.

C ya!