Greek Agenda

From 20th to 26th  March 2011 I went to Greece for a Comenius project. We were 7 people, 2 students, myself and 4 teachers from our school. We left Rome at about 09.30 and when we landed in Salonic. I met Nicholas , the student who would be hosting me in his house in Filyro , a small village 10 km form Salonicco. Nicholas hosted me in his house for a week: the first day I stayed at his house for a bit where we watched TV, played with his XBOX . In the afternoon Nicholas brought me on a tour of Filyro , and in the evening we had dinner and we went to sleep. On the second day we all met all at School and I got to know all the students from Portugal, Poland, Greece and Turkey. Together we visited the school and later we went to a Church and then to Salonicco. In the evening we all went to a Cafeteria and we toured Filyro . On the third day we visited 2 museums in Salonicco and after reaching the Tower of Salonicco ’on foot , we had lunch

at MacDonald’s and later, we walked across half the city reaching the Turkish consulate. After this trip everyone went home to change and to rest and in the evening we all met at Thodwra’s

house (a student) where we spent the evening.

On the fourth day we all met at school, because the school had organized a big party for us so we danced, ate, and played football. We returned home and we rested and later we wen tto a big school in Salonicco, and then to the city’s biggest mall, Here we ate, and bought a few things. On the fourth day we visited a museum out of town , and later we went to mount Olympus, toured a little village, then went to the sea, where we walked on the beach, ate ice‐cream and took photos. The fifth day (25.03.2011) was an important day in Greece, because on that day a parade is organised . After that we went to a Café, where all of the students and teachers from the comenius project received the certificates of attendance. In the evening we all met at a student’s house and we stayed until midnight and said goodbye to each other. It was a bad time for all us, we were all crying. The last day was the saddest of my life, in the morning the father of a student took us to the airport. I was very very very unhappy ! because I had met the best friends I have ever meet in my life. I will never forget them and they will always be in my heart ! I promised to go and meet them again in the summer. I would like thank my teachers Mrs Latempa and Mr Marrocco , the principal and the secretary and all those that made this experience possible and really hope to repeat this unforgettable experience , because it is the best trip I have ever done.

Thank you my Portuguese, Polish,Greek, Italian and Turkish friends,

By Souktani Mohamed

Poland internship

 In Poland I got a very warm welcome. Each person who I met was so nice and friendly… even if I was with huge luggage in a big city at the wrong station at 3 a.m. There were always people who helped me. So one of the first feelings I had was feeling of safety!

Torun is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, in list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gothic architecture, the spirit of Teutonic Knigths, live music, cozy pubs, gingerbread and ice-cream – this is atmosphere of Torun’s streets. Great, isn't it?

My internship was in Ecological Organization, where I participated in the development of scenarios and preparation of events open to the residents.

My colleague and I lived in a hotel of the recreation complex where the organization and forest school worked and a lot of events took place. Moreover, I could learn hotel administration at practice. So home, work, study and distraction – all this activities were so interesting and …in one single place! =)

Although we were only two interns, we didn't feel all alone at. From the first step at the train station till the last hugs on the same station we were surrounded with AIESEC-ers (those 24/7 funny and smiling people) and interns from other projects. And with these GREAT PEOPLE are connected my most vivid and precious memories. Together we traveled through Poland and reached the Baltic Sea, partied hard and spent a wonderful time.

Communicating with a whole bunch of different people (now I know at least one person from each continent  ), quest for a common language with them, other country’s life and culture, splendid cities and landscape – it was an amazing trip and fantastic experience! I want one more time! =)

By Olga Neamtu

Source:here

Belgium: a truly neat place

I first arrived in Belgium when I was nine. It was an experience so new but exciting. I felt that my life was launched into a new direction. I had no idea how long I would be living in Belgium, but I knew it was going to be an experience far different from living in Fairfax County, Virginia.

I remember driving to my new house from the airport. As I looked out the window, I tried to read the signs and advertisements. Now that I think of it, it was almost funny. I remember being frightened, because I didn't understand what the signs and advertisements said. I asked my parents what they meant, and they didn't really know either. They told me not to worry, because in my new school I would learn French. That almost scared me even more. At the time, I was nine, so I really didn't understand the world, fully. I was going to have to learn French! What about English? I was so afraid at the time that I would forget how to speak English and only know French. Now, I am so grateful that I have been taught French. I feel so much more cultural. Plus, now that I know French I can understand what and where I am going when I travel.

While living in Belgium, I have been able to experience life differently than most Americans my age. I live in the town of Waterloo, where the famous battle which brought Napoleon to his final defeat, was fought.  Waterloo is a town known for its historical background and its international community. Waterloo is probably one of the most international places in the world, being that a lot, if not most, of the people living there are not from Belgium. This is largely due to the fact that the European Union, NATO, SHAPE, and other such organizations are headquartered in Brussels. Brussels being only a few minutes drive from Waterloo makes it a prime location for the many diplomats and businesspeople.

Belgium is truly a neat place to live. It is located North of France and south of the Netherlands. Also bordering Belgium is Luxembourg. To the right of Belgium is Germany. People from all over the world live in Belgium, due to its strategic place on the map and its connections with the rest of the world. With all of these people from different cultures intermixing in Belgium, it truly makes the Belgian culture richer. I have learned so much about cultures from all over the world. For example, the custom of greeting people in Belgium is with three kisses to the cheek. The American custom is usually to shake hands, but to the Belgians this is considered almost impersonal.

With Belgium's close vicinity to the rest of the world, it is really an awesome experience. For example, on school-sponsored trips like basketball, volleyball, or ISTA (International School's Theater Association), I have been to The Hague, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, and Dussledorf and stayed with families from these cities.

Living in Belgium has really helped me, too. As I said earlier, while living in Belgium I have learned about the different cultures and met people from all around the world. This has really helped me in things like the MUN (Model United Nations)or MNATO (Model North Atlantic Treaty Organization) programs. I have been able to use my knowledge of the world and better portray the viewpoints of the countries I represent in these conferences. For example, last year for MUN at The Hague, my school was picked to represent the United Kingdom. I have been to London quite a bit, and in my school there are many students from the United Kingdom, and that really helped. I was able to talk to them about how they view certain topics. I was even able to find information through the British Embassy, which was really beneficial.

There's something about Belgium that is far different from living in the United States. Don't get me wrong, the United States is my home, but Belgium has characteristics that are unique and special. It's a place where I think the world really comes together, and all the different ideas and cultures can really be seen.




Source: here

My Trip to Paris, France in a Wheelchair

The overnight flight from Houston Intercontinental airport took 8 hours 45 minutes, and left town at 3 pm central standard time.  It was almost impossible for me to get any sleep.  For some reason, I’ve always had a hard time getting any on airplanes.  Just 3 or 4 hours after dinner service would’ve been nice, but no dice.
We landed in Paris, France, at 6:45 am (French time).  Baggage claim was close to our gate, as was customs, and we breezed through both without any problems since we had an airport person usher us through.  He even took us to the taxi line where we piled into a mini-van style taxi before leaving on the 45 minute drive (40-50 €) into the city to the Hotel Prince and what I’d hoped was a wheelchair accessible room.
Situated in the 7th arrondissement, we found the Hotel Prince to be in a quaint part of Paris that is only 8 or so blocks from the Eiffel Tower.  It has one accessible room on the bottom floor which is spacious (by French standards) and costs 130 €/night.  No roll-in shower, but I wasn’t complaining about that.  Paris is a very old city and accessibility is obviously an afterthought here.
Our rooms weren’t ready so we dropped off the luggage and crossed the street to a sidewalk café for a celebratory drink and then an early lunch.  Afterwards, we got into our rooms and took a good long nap until about 5 o’clock.  Oddly enough, we were fresh and ready to do a little exploring before finding another place to dine.
Not surprisingly, the first place we struck out for was the Eiffel Tower which was only eight or so blocks away from out hotel.  All the sidewalks had cut curbs and I found it smooth wheeling there and back.  In fact, most of the city, that we covered on foot, was easy to get around.  We hung out around the Eiffel on the ground for about an hour.  There were long lines to go up and wheelchair users can only go to the first level anyway so we decided to stay down.  It was a grand sight to see.
On the way back, we stopped at a corner café to have dinner on the sidewalk as the sun set and with the Eiffel looming over our heads.  What I didn’t know was that they light it up at night with a million dazzling lights that periodically put on a show of their own.  I found something else out that day too, that you aren’t supposed to tip after meals in Paris like we do in the states.  You’re supposed to only leave a few euro if your service was superb.  The tips there are already figured into the price of the meal.
All of our waiters were friendly and most spoke a little English.  I didn’t notice any of them getting annoyed with us unlike some of the stories I heard about over the years.  Perhaps that’s because we came during the tourist season and the French people are expecting an influx of American tourists.
Day two, dad and I went down to the Eiffel to try to get on one of the double decker tour buses because they told us that they had an accessible one.  Well, maybe they did, but we got to the location and waited for more than half an hour.  Then they tried to just get me on the next bus and park in the opening just inside the door on the bottom floor.  I think maybe they saw that we were about to leave and wanted our money, but I’m too old to fall for something like that.  I told them ‘aint happening’ and we took off down the Seine river on foot toward the Musee d’ Orsay.  The river cuts Paris almost in half and a lot of landmarks are on or near it.  Again, keep in mind that these places are a fair piece apart from each other, a couple of miles sometimes, but getting there was easy and I wanted to see the city on foot anyway.  Musee d’ Orsay is the impressionists’ museum and a lot smaller than the Louvre.  Another nice surprise is that disabled guests get free admission to all the museums in Paris.  Merci’ beaucoup!
Tip:  Follow the crosswalk signals or you take your life in your own hands.
Another neat thing about this city is that everything you need is right around the corner.  We did a little exploring around our hotel and found a supermarket, a bakery where we had breakfast on the sidewalk every morning, a fine cheese shop, a butcher, several bars and cafes, fruit stands, delis, a small park, you name it.  Every little side street had several charming little shops it seemed like.  These places come in handy if you want to eat in Paris on the cheap.  We quickly discovered that all our money was going to eating at the sidewalk cafes and restaurants.  You can, however, pick up cheaper meals at the supermarket & deli and take it to the park or back in the room.
One of the little differences while dining in Paris is that the waiters leave you alone for long periods of time.  In France, meals are more of a social event and are supposed to be enjoyed without a lot of interruptions.  Don’t expect them to be coming over to constantly fill your glasses or check on you, it won’t happen.  I really started to enjoy this too by the time we left.
After Musee d’ Orsay, dad and I kept going down the Seine until we got to Notre Dame.  What a site!  Dad was impressed with the architecture since it is one of the oldest structures in the city and the first to use flying buttresses to support the walls.  I was impressed with the inside of this cathedral.  It’s breathtakingly beautiful.  We got in and around very easily.  They do have stairs up to where the hunchback used to hang out but that isn’t accessible, and there are a few steps up to the area behind the altar that I decided not to do but dad could’ve gotten me up them fairly easily if I’d wanted to go.
By the time we made it back to the hotel, the day was over and it was time for dinner.
The next day we took on the Louvre, once again on foot.  And let me just say right now, you’re going to need at least three days if you want to do it right.  The place is huge.  It’s also bustling with tourists, which is a drawback because it’s not easy enjoying the unbelievable artwork with twenty people hurrying by snapping pictures of everything with their digital cameras.  It’s also difficult to not get swept up in the fast pace.  Take it slow and appreciate what you’re seeing.  The highlights are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory as well as the many wall-sized painting and sculptures by Michelangelo.  It’s tricky finding your way around in the Louvre so you have to find out where the elevators are and where you want to go.  Study the maps.
That evening, the four of us walked down to Champs Elysees to see the Arch De Triumph which was commissioned by Napoleon.  Another must see of the Paris sights.  Before we found a quaint little restaurant.  Of course, most of the places in Paris are this way.  Expect a lot of places to have a step up into them and not very much room to get around in.
We didn’t attempt the Metro (subway) because very few terminals have working elevators I heard while doing research for the trip.  The only other option, other than a cab, were the public buses that we didn’t bother with either.  We also didn’t go on one of the riverboats that go up and down the Seine which are accessible.  Maybe next time.
Tip:  Be aware that if you phone for a cab to pick you up, the meter starts as soon as he leaves.
We took a cab up to Montmartre which is another cool place that overlooks the entire city and is a popular place for tourists.  There are places to eat and drink and several local artists have their work on display.
Another thing to know when you go to France is to give everyone a simple greeting the first time you meet someone or enter a business.  And do it in their language.  If you do this, the people are more willing to help you.  Overall, Paris is an extremely charming city, especially at night.  It’s not cheap though while the euro is stronger than the dollar.



Source: here

EVS experience in Romania

When I first arrived in Romania, I didn’t know what to expect.  I was quite stressed about what was going to happen. Soon I found out that there was no reason to be worried at all!

I work as a care volunteer in two houses for 4 - 14 year old children. Basically, I play and spend time with them.  I try to teach them some English words and in return, they would try to teach me some Romanian words. For example: şurubelniţă (screw driver), dumneavoastră (you formal), domnişoară (Miss), cal (horse) and cinci (five).They find my pronunciation quite funny, so they like it…

Then there was the piano. I got the idea to do a small music project with the children in order to teach them some songs and let them explore what it is like to make music by yourself. Although most of the kids didn’t have the patience to learn a whole song, a few managed to play Jingle Bells and Old McDonald. Whenever I hear them playing it, I’m filled with joy.

Twice a week I go to Sacele, another village nearby Brasov, to assist in creative workshops with children. Although I don’t know the kids very well, I noticed that there are a lot of similarities with the children from the houses. The work in the houses in Tarlungeni and in Sacele is very rewarding for me.

Apart from the work, there’s the new culture and the fact that you meet people from all over the world. You learn a lot of new things, especially because most of the volunteers who come to Romania share the interest of cultural differences.

I’m staying 6 more weeks and I hope the future will be as good as the past! 

by Marjolein Schutz  

It is all about Spain

Hola, Bonjour, & Bonjourno!  My husband and I are back from an adventurous vacation along the Mediterranean Sea.  I wanted to share my experience with you on 1 of 3 countries visited and I hope you will take away some useful information before your next European vacation.




SPAIN 
Madrid | Seville | Barcelona
 


Spain is beautiful and culturally very rich.  The Spanish people are extremely warm and very welcoming towards tourists.  Although I suggest you should know a few basic words in Spanish so you can communicate with the locals, the Spaniards are more than willing to speak in English.  When traveling by train/bus, messages are translated from Spanish to English which was a great help to us. 

In terms of food, I can't say I was super impressed by Spain.  There is a lot of red meat consumption (ham) which makes it difficult for people, such as myself, who eat chicken and very little seafood.  In addition, it is difficult finding vegetarian options, however we managed.

In Spain, tapas or small plates are very common.  You will tend to see people sharing tapas sitting outside a restaurant and people watching.  Each tapa can be shared between 2 to 3 people which is a great way to experience new dishes.  The cost of a tapa in most places is about 3 to 5 euros each. 
 
On the other hand, the desserts, the coffee, and breakfast in Spain was awesome and more than compensated for the lack of vegetarian options.  We started each morning with a hot cup of Cafe con Leche (coffee with milk) and some kind of baked good, usually an ensaimada which is a baked bread topped off with powdered sugar.  I also enjoyed a Spanish cake called a magdalena which is very similar to a Lemon Muffin.

When it comes to wine I am a sort of a novice and if you are anything like me, I suggest going for a house wine, or copa (in Spanish).  Copa is so good and it comes at an affordable 1 to 2 Euro(s) a glass.  You can even order the entire bottle for less than 10 Euros which will get you about 5 glasses of wine.  However, if you really want a true taste of Spain, go for the Sangria which a blend of red wine and chopped fresh fruits, usually apples and oranges.  


Out of all the cities visited, I have to say Barcelona was easily my favorite due to its amazing architecture, widespread streets, and gorgeous weather.  If you do plan to visit Spain, here is a recommended itinerary: 
Madrid - 2 nights or more 
Seville - 1 to 2 nights, more for daytrips
Barcelona - at least 3 nights

Other Places to consider: 
Cordoba | Granada | Toledo | Costa del Sol | Ibiza

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Travel Tips for Europe: 

- When traveling to Europe, opt for the house red wine which is dirt cheap. Cocktails (hard liquor) aren't as easily available so go for red wine which is also good for you. 

- Know the local cuisine before you go.  For example, pesto is the dish to order when staying on the Italian Riviera. 

- Dining out 3 times a day can quickly get expensive, to be frugal and romantic at the same time, grab a pizza pie and a bottle of wine and head to the beach.  You will find many locals/tourists doing this on the French Riviera, in particular.  

- Most European locals eat dinner later than Americans.  The best time for dinner is usually after 8 pm.  Typically around 5 pm I would grab a coffee and a dessert to curb my appetite for a few more hours. 

- Tipping in Europe isn’t expected as it is here in the United States, however it is appreciated to leave something.  Anything from 1 Euro to 4 Euros would be appreciated.  Also keep in mind a few places do amount for a cover charge, typically 2 Euros per person.  Again, it all depends on you and the service you receive.  

- Make sure you take an electric converter, there are universal ones available which you can use in almost every country. 

- Travel light!!!  I can’t stress this enough, travel light!  There are areas in Cinque Terre where cars are not allowed, so you literally need to drag your luggage to your hotel/B&B.  Also, if you have multiple destinations involved, it helps when your luggage is light.  

- Train delays are very common in Europe, particularly in Italy, plan alternative routes just in case. 

- Typically public facilities aren't the best in Europe so always use your hotel restroom prior to leaving.    

- Pick a city as a primary base and visit neighboring towns rather than checking in and out of multiple places. 

- Withdraw money from a well known bank's ATM to receive the best exchange rate.  Use cash as much as possible to avoid unnecessary foreign transaction fees. 

- Europeans drink their coffee different than most Americans do, and so if you want American Black Coffee, you need tospecify American Coffee (Caffe Americano).  The most popular types of coffee in these regions are as follows: 

Spain - Cafe con Leche (coffee with milk) 

France - Cafe au Lait (coffee with milk) 

Italy – Caffe Latte (coffee with milk) 

- Learn a few words before visiting a country, such as, Hello, Bye, Thank You, Please, Excuse Me, Where is, How much, I would like.  Know how to say the numbers from 1 to 5 at the very least.  Although most Europeans do speak English, as a visitor in their country, it is respectful to learn a few words in the local language to ensure basic communication.  

Now you can LIVE to EAT or EAT to LIVE?!?!?!?  I think I'm the former!  :-) 

source :here

Trip to Estonia and Latvia

I really enjoyed reading Elizabeth Snouffer’s article “Eating Abroad with Diabetes–Hong Kong,” Catherine Price’s interview with world traveller Bridget McNulty, and Catherine’s posts  describing her own trips to Tokyo and Hawaii. So I thought I would follow the trend and write about my own first experience traveling with diabetes.

This summer, I went on a two-week trip to Estonia and Latvia to do research about my grandfather’s family. I had originally been given a grant to do this last summer, right after I had graduated from college, but then I was diagnosed with diabetes in early July. At that point, I couldn’t imagine traveling to a foreign country–I panicked even when trying to estimate the amount of carbohydrates in a Cosi sandwich. Luckily, the people at Penn who had provided the grant were understanding, and allowed me to wait a year before taking the trip.

I’m convinced that a major reason why Estonia and Latvia aren’t bigger tourist destinations is because they were behind the Iron Curtain, and so remain unknown to many Americans. They are both beautiful countries. I spent the first week of my trip in Riga, the capital of Latvia. Riga’s medieval old city is surrounded by rings of parks, constructed after the city’s medieval fortifications were razed in the late 19th century. Beyond these parks is Riga’s truly unique feature–a sprawling art nouveau district that UNESCO has declared a world heritage site. You can walk for blocks and blocks and only see incredibly rendered art nouveau facades.

         One of Riga's many parks

      Art nouveau architecture

Before World War II, Riga was home to a large Jewish population that included my great-grandparents and their children. By coincidence, I found out that the hotel where I was staying was in the same neighborhood as the apartment buildings in which my great aunts and uncles lived. I walked to each one and took photos–the building in which my great-uncle Isak lived is now a Ramada Inn!

I also got to see some of Latvia’s countryside. For two days I went to Sloka, a town about an hour away from Riga by train. Here, my great-grandfather’s family once owned a farm and raised horses. Architecturally, Sloka is now an incongruous mix of small wooden houses and looming Soviet-era structures. Although quite a few of the Soviet-era buildings are crumbling and dilapidated, many of the town’s inhabitants have no other option but to continue living in them. As I took the train back into the city, I looked out the window at the fields passing by and caught glimpses of people picking flowers to make into wreathes to wear on St. John’s Eve the next day.

        the Ramada Inn

Sloka

After all my worrying, my diabetes-related challenges in Riga were few. Since I was only going to be traveling for two weeks, I brought all my supplies with me, in addition to prescriptions from my doctor in case I misplaced the supplies I had and needed to buy more. (I’m happy to report I never did.) My parents, who were curious to see the places their ancestors had lived, came with me for the first week of my trip. It was reassuring to know that, in case of an emergency, I would have two people with me who knew what to do. In addition, many people in both Latvia and Estonia are at least reasonably fluent in English.

Unlike some of the other ASweetLife travelers, I didn’t do anything especially physically strenuous. But I was walking all the time. Our hotel was half an hour away from the Riga’s center, we’d inevitably make the trip back and forth more than once a day–retrieving maps, going out to dinner, etc. And once we reached the city center, we would have to walk somewhere else. It felt great to get so much exercise without even trying, but then my blood sugar started to go low more and more frequently. Finally, I decreased my dose of Lantus, and the problem was solved.

Source : here

My Trip to Italy

I just returned from Italy, visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice over the course of two weeks. I went with my immediate family, along with my Aunt. Originally, the trip was meant as a sort of "reward" for my mom when she started to get a bad diagnosis about her cancer last year. When she was told a year-long course of chemo was ahead for her, I promised to take her and her sister (my aunt) to Italy to celebrate when she was done with chemo. Unfortunately, that never happened and she died soon after, but at a family gathering around Christmas last year I told my Aunt about the trip and asked if we could maybe go anyway the following summer, as a sort of tribute to my mom. She enthusiastically said yes.

It was my wife and daughter's first trip to Europe, and my first pure vacation trip there (I'd only been twice previous, for mostly work-related reasons). My Aunt lived in Germany in the early 1970s (my uncle was stationed there in the military at the time) and they had the chance to take short vacations through Italy so she could often compare today to 40 years ago.

Overall, the trip was an absolute blast. I was worried about culture shock of a new language, new locations, and new food, especially with my young daughter tagging along. Oddly, my two years of high school of Spanish (and occasional use since) made the Italian language feel about 75% readable and it was easy to pick up short phrases (that were mostly tweaked spanish phrases I already knew). The food overall was very good and close to what a lot of high end Italian places serve in the states, and since it was a vacation it was pretty easy to slip into the relaxed Italian lifestyle. I can't imagine an easier non-English speaking country to visit.

Rome

We flew into and out of Rome and knew spending some time there was pretty much mandatory on your first trip to the country. They have a great deal of relics from the original Roman Empire and many other sights and famous buildings in a pretty small section of the city center. Unfortunately for us, while Rome's late Spring had been pretty mild, the day before we arrived a heat wave blew in from the Sahara and temps hovered around 90-95F the entire time we were there. It was brutally hot and tough to spend more than a couple hours out in the sun doing things before a rest in some air conditioned place was necessary (and two showers a day became the norm).

Our first night was spent in a nice hotel near the Colosseum and we spent the remainder of our time in a nice little apartment a block away. As always, having an apartment was great because we could eat whatever we wanted for breakfast and come and go as we pleased (also helped to have laundry in our unit). I have to mention while we had a small CarreFour grocery store nearby, the best fruit and eggs I've ever purchased came from a random convenience store near our apartment. The eggs we got (at the equivalent of your average 7-11 in the States) were as yellow and great tasting as my friend's organic fed chickens. The quality of basic food at small shops and stores was really something else, feeling farm fresh.

We ended up eating in a lot of nearby restaurants, and being close to the Colosseum meant a lot of bad touristy places that cater to English speakers. Friends on twitter steered me towards the iPhone app "Rome for Foodies" which is a quirky but reliably awesome hand written guide to the best food near you from an American ex-pat living in Rome as a food writer and sommelier. Our best meals were had thanks to that app and we also found some great little bakeries listed in it too. We also had the best tasting lunch of our trip by just walking into a restaurant where the waiter picked antipasto for us for lunch, no menus, which sounded like a tourist scam to drive up the bill but everything that came out was amazing.

On the advice of a friend, we hired a tour guide (from this outfit) to take us through the ancient sites (it helped that our guide was an anthropologist) and the Vatican, both to understand everything we were seeing as well as skipping long tourist lines. The ancient sites are really pretty spectacular and it was hard to even grasp the time period in regards to our own lifespans. I found it hard to make sense of looking at a building completed 1900 years ago and thinking how it survived through such massive political, social, cultural, and even atmospheric changes. And even for an atheist like me, the Vatican was pretty incredible. The art was amazing and the massive cathedral was impressive.

Overall, we had a pretty good time in Rome seeing the sites. If it was a bit cooler out, we could have seen more and walked more places and spent more time outdoors at ancient sites, but I would definitely recommend first time visitors to Italy to not miss Rome.

Florence

Florence was even better than Rome. We spent five days and four nights in Florence and the next time I travel this way I will make it at least a week. Food was almost always incredible, using Yelp reviews was key to finding the best options and it helped that finding great gelato was easy. We also took a side trip to the Tuscan towns Chianti and San Gimignano and both served as a wonderful relief from the heat and the crowds of Florence.

Florence was like a puzzle composed of thousands of pieces, so many streets, alleys, nooks and crannies to explore. Over the course of our time there we visited half a dozen museums and churches and there was still another dozen I wanted to see that we never got a chance to see. Every day we'd travel different paths though the city center and every day we were rewarded with new shops, chapels, and bridges to see. We spent several days exploring and had a full day guided tour on the penultimate day of our stay. We thought we'd seen most of the city center but our guide spent the day showing us streets, attractions, and places we hadn't even known existed. The food was pretty amazing no matter where we ate, reminding me of my Italian grandmother's cooking.

We stayed smack dab in the center of town, overlooking the main cathedral and the largest, most crowded city square. It was fun to be in the thick of it and close to everything, but it came at the price of nearly 24hrs of crowd noise outside our windows (ear plugs helped). We didn't plan on it, but our stay coincided with Florence's big John the Baptist celebration day which included a big procession and the opening of some doors in the church that only open once a year. That same night, we got to see the most incredible fireworks I've ever seen (it helps that the big fireworks companies are often Italian family-owned) over the Arno river. The Euro 2012 soccer series was also going on and we got to enjoy watching Italy win some key matches amid the cheering locals crowded around TVs at bars.

Our brief day trip to Tuscany made it clear why people make such a big deal about the region surrounding Florence. The landscape is amazing with views from every hilltop and the weather was really mild. San Gimignano was known as "medieval Manhattan" and even though it was kind of a cheesy tourist castle-as-city, the best chocolate ice cream I've ever eaten was there and it was a nice place to catch an afternoon Sunday concert from local players in their city square. Florence was a real gem and I would love to visit it again someday and explore the region more.

Venice

Almost every American I talked to before the trip said we should see Venice but warned us that it would disappoint. Too crowded, too dirty, and too touristy most said. I have to admit the first couple hours in the city weren't that great. It was very hot, we paid too much for a water taxi, and we ended up lost for 40 minutes trying to find our hotel amid the alleyways. When we finally found it and dropped our bags, our first experience at St. Marks square was being around 10,000 cruise line attendes clamoring for souvenirs.

But every moment after those first couple hours was pure bliss. It was our first relief from the heat wave we'd endured in Rome and Florence. After Florence I had gotten used to the serendipity of wandering back alley paths and Venice was a city that definitely rewarded those that went with it. I found stores, restaurants, and coffee shops I never could find again. When we had to cut across the island to save time we'd see a new museum or specialty shop we loved. The water "bus" system was easy, economical, and fun to use, letting us get from anywhere to almost anywhere else in Venice. We avoided the crowded St. Marks Square for the most part and enjoyed quiet art museums and galleries as well as gardens.

Visiting the San Giorgio tower and getting to see the city from up high was one of the best experiences. It let you see just how fragile the whole city was, this collection of tiny islands with thousands of people in buildings that were nearly a thousand years old, the whole place felt more special and precarious. I have no idea how electricity and fresh water get to the islands, and we frequently saw supplies still delivered by hand cart and construction done via boat.

Our hotel was nice, food was pretty good (Yelp use here is minimal, so I instead switched to the more popular Trip Advisor), but by the end of our time in Venice I think I loved it most of all the places we visited in Italy because it was so relaxing, laid back, and the weather was so mild being on the water. I would highly recommend not only visiting if you get the chance, but spending more than the standard overnight trip (we spent four days/three nights and I could have stayed more).

Some general travel tips

Rome: buying an unlimited Metro pass for the number of days of your stay is a good deal. We found we could get from our apartment to almost anywhere we needed to be in the city using the network of buses and trains. Keep in mind the core area of most attractions in downtown Rome is only a couple miles from end to end so if the weather isn't too bad and you're reasonably fit you could walk almost everywhere. The main international airport (FCO) is fairly far out of town and is about 50 euro to taxi into the center of Rome. Yelp was useful and reliable for reviews of restaurants. During siesta time (about 1-4pm) most businesses closed up shop and didn't post hours. In the heat, we just got used to either resting during this time or visiting a museum.

Florence: there is a plethora of museums and I would highly recommend picking just a handful out and making reservations well in advance if you want to see the original David statue at the Academy Gallery). A tour guide came in handy here to see lots of small things we hadn't spotted before. Everything we did was walking distance except for our trip to Tuscany, and our tour guide/driver came in handy because I didn't want to drive in Italy.

Venice: The water bus system was great and time-based unlimited passes were worth the price. During our four day stay, a 72hr unlimited ticket covered all our needs and let us explore the entire length of the grand canal as well as some of the smaller islands. Water Taxis will take you directly where you need to go but will cost a lot (60 euro from the train terminal to St. Marks). The gondola rides are even more expensive (100 euro for 30-40min) but as a tourist you kind of have to do it once for the full experience. The art/museum pass was also a good deal and let us skip lines at the most popular spots.

Nerdery: I had good results from using a Wind.it microSIM on my iPhone (that was only 20 euro and came with 10Gb of bandwidth), but there was about a 12hr delay until it started working. I couldn't get their data-only SIM to work in my iPad and instead got one from TIM (which worked instantly, also without a PIN on the SIM), another telephone company in Italy. There were no phone kiosks in the Rome airport, but it was pretty easy to find dedicated phone stores in Rome from Wind, TIM, and Vodafone. WiFi was generally available everywhere for either a fee or you had to ask for the password (free open WiFi was prohibited for the last decade due to anti-terror rules). My iPhone's battery ran down faster than I remember, probably because I was using Foursquare so much. I eventually dropped my connection down to Edge-only to get a full day out of my phone.

Food: The best meal in Rome was had at Da Danilo. My favorite meal in Florence was at Za Za (which is touristy and crowded but still worth it). The best meal we had in Venice was at La Zucca. Overall, food was generally great everywhere, I had some of the best risotto of the trip at the cafeteria in the Rome train station. In general, I used Yelp to find highly reviewed places near me. At first I realized it was difficult to evaluate restaurants with only Italian reviews I couldn't read until I realized they were generally better since native Italians were eating there. I used Trip Advisor only when I needed to because their reviews are generally rubbish and untrustworthy (the highest rated place in Florence on TA was almost exactly the same as the food you would honestly get at an Olive Garden in the US. Forgettable crap).

Traveling around: Rome buses were great, especially the tiny electric ones because they went down very small streets and alleys. Rome's subway was reliable and quick. The national high speed trains were great for going from one town to the next faster than a plane and very cheap considering. The best trip we had was a nonstop from Rome to Florence in a brand new train with lots of room and it was incredibly comfortable. Those trains also offer WiFi if you have a TIM sim card in your phone.

Two things I didn't get about Italy:

1. Casual tolerance for tagging-style graffiti. I'm a fan of graffiti art but I find tagging your name on stuff annoying and ugly. We saw some supposedly 14th century graffiti in Florence so maybe people are fine with it for possibly historical reasons, but I found it annoying to see many historical sites with some guy's name spray painted on it. The subway trains in Rome looked almost like 1980s NYC trains they were covered in so much graffiti.
2. Most every museum, almost all churches, and even some stores had "NO PHOTOS" signs posted. I understand not wanting camera flashes to annoy patrons in a museum and no one likes a guy with a tripod blocking up a crowded place, but no cameras at all seemed really weird to me. I ended up taking photos of things using my phone, usually acting like I was using my phone and not taking a photo.

Source : here

My Multicultural Experience in Europe

After traveling to Europe my views on teaching changed in ways I never thought possible. As, a college sophomore I thought I had my life figured out. I knew I wanted  to be a teacher and I figured I would teach in the same area I grew up in because that was  what I was comfortable with in my life. I grew up in an upper to middle class suburb of Chicago and always thought that I would teach in an area very similar. I attended 

Catholic, private schools, my entire life. These schools had no diversity at all. I had  never even thought about how much different life outside of my life in the suburbs could be. 

I was given the opportunity through the help of Quill to travel to Europe for a few weeks this past summer. I was able to participate in a multicultural education class. This class opened my eyes to a world I had never seen before. The class gave me the opportunity to see a diverse school for the first time in my twenty year old life. I thought to walk away from my experience with more credits and a view of the world I had never 

seen. I never could have even imagined that I would come away from the trip with so much more than what I had expected. 

 One school that we visited in Paris changed my view on teaching forever. St. John St. Georges consisted of students from all over the world. Some students were refugees who boarded at school while other students came from wealthy families. It was amazing for me to see students from England, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, China and many other countries working together in the same classroom. In today’s world it was amazing to me to see Catholics and Muslims sitting next to each other in class as one. The students did not even seem to realize that they were different. The students all seemed to celebrate in the fact that they could bring different positive aspects to the classroom including religion. The students all wore uniforms and most families were able to work with the school to see that their child received everything they needed. In the case that they needed financial aid it was not a problem for any student. We were given the opportunity to travel to other schools but no other school touched me the way that St. John St. Georges did. St. John St.George was the most diverse school we saw in our class. 

This year when deciding which elementary school I wanted to student teach at, I shocked my entire family; I chose a public school. I know this may not seem like a big deal to most people but this was huge to my family. Not only had I chose a public school I decided to teach in English as a second language classroom. I can honestly say that if I had not been given the opportunity to travel abroad I would probably be in the same type of classroom I had been accustom to in my life. I am not saying that the school I attended was a bad school but I believe that I have found my true calling because of the experiences I had in Europe. I know now that I would really enjoy teaching in the inner city school system. I want too look around my classroom and see students of every nationality. I only wish that every future teacher was able to share with me in this 

amazing opportunity.

By Emily Ann Bishea
USA

source : click here

تجربتي مع فريق الامم المتحدة للسلام:

عندما تم قبولي للانضمام الى فريق الامم المتحدة للسلام في اوائل عام 2011
لم اكن اعرف او بإمكاني توقع الكثير فكل ما كنت اعرفه ان ذاك هو انني كنت سأعيش للسنتين القادمتين في جمهورية مالدوفا.
و مع وصولي الى مالدوفا, شاهدت عالما مختلفا تماما عن الذي كنت اعيش فيه.
كل الناس في مالدوفا كانوا شديدي الترحاب والتقبل لقدومي. كل الرعايا هنا قاموا بمساعدتي و الاجابة عن اسئلتي باللغة الانجليزية قدر استطاعتهم .
خلال اقامتي لعدة اشهر في مالدوفا, واجهت عدة صعوبات في تعلم اللغة المحلية ,الرومانية , و التعود على المناخ و المناطق هنا.
و لكن العائلة التي استقبلتني طيلة هذه الفترة ساعدتني كثيرا في لاندماج و التعرف على الثقافة و العادات العريقة لهذا البلد. و كذا فان الطاقم الذي يشتغل في المدرسة التي اعمل فيها حاليا ساعدوني في التعرف على مختلف الاعياد و المواسم التي تقام في مالدوفا حصرا.
حقا لا يمكنني, و لم يتبقى من الوقت هنا الا بضعة اشهر ,الا ان اكون في اشد السعادة لما تعلمته خلال هذه التجربة. فقد سنحت لي الفرصة للتعرف على ارض مختلفة كل الاختلاف عن وطني , و ان ارى مختلف الثقافات المتواجدة في شرق اوروبا.
ان اهم شيء في حياتي هو السفر و التعرف على ثقافات جديدة, لأننا ومن دون ذلك سنظل في وحدة موحشة وسط هذا العالم الفسيح.

مات جرانلي

فلوريدا, امريكا

English Version

Peace Corps Experience

When I first got accepted to join the United States Peace Corps in early 2011, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew at that time was that I was going to be living the next two years in the Republic of Moldova. Upon arrival in Moldova, I noticed an immensely different world then the one I had been living in. Everyone in Moldova was so welcoming and accepting of my presence. Country nationals were showing me where to go and helping answer any questions they could in English.


Across my first several months in Moldova, I had experienced many difficulties with learning the native language, Romanian, and becoming acquainted with the territory. However, the host family that I lived with helped me to integrate and learn about the rich culture and traditions present in this country. In addition the school I currently work for has also introduced me to the many holidays and events that take place specifically in Moldova.

At this point, with only a few months left in country, I could not be happier with my experience. I have had the fortunate opportunity to see a land completely different from my own and see the diverse culture that exists in Easter Europe. The most important part of life is to travel and to meet new cultures, because without this, we would be all alone in this vast world.






By Matt Greenley
Florida, USA

Arabic Version

مما شاهدت في المانيا

iswi دون ادنى شك, كان يوم وصلتني رسالة من

من اسعد ايام حياتي اذ تم قبولي للمشاركة في ملتقى للطلبة في المينو 2011 قرب فرانكفرت

و ذلك يعني انني سأقضي 10 ايام في الدولة التي طالما حلمت بزيارته

كانت توقعاتي عالية, و لحسن الحظ لم يخب ظني بل عدت بحماس اكبر.

و في 2012 تم قبولي للمشاركة في مهرجان اخر في شمال المانيا ,حماسي هذه المرة كان حقا اكبر و اعظم.

بداية, زيارة المانيا كانت بمثابة بهجة لعيني, و كمعجبة كبيرة بتميز اسلوبها المعماري و ازقتها المرصوفة

وانه لمن المدهش كيف استطاعت المانيا ان ترمم و تعيد بناء كل البنايات القديمة التي هدمت خلال الحرب العالمية الثالثة و المحافظة على قيمه التفافية البنايات السوفياتية في الشمال هي من اكثر ما اثارني

تلك البنايات تجدها في كل الدول السوفياتية سابقا, لم تعد تظهر بنفس الشكل الكئيب و المظلم

فقد باتت واجهاتها مبتهجة بالوان زاهية كما تعطي الزهور جل نوافذها

و مما اعجبني كفاحهم و ابتكارهم لطرق جديدة لتحول كل ما في المدن الى شئ جميل يسر الناظرين

.الشباب ايضا يمثلون جزءا كبيرا من هده المبادرة, و يعملون في مختلف المشاريع

الرسومات الرائعة على الجدران هي من بين نتائج هده المبادرات الاكثر وضوحا

و لست اتحدث عن اعمال الهواة التخريبية و انما الاعمال الفنية التي تضفي روعة و اضافة خاصة لجو المدينة

بالطبع, الناس تحمل في نفسها معتقدات و احكام مسبقة عن كل دولة

و اكثر هده الاحكام شيوعا عن المانيا تتعلق بمدى انضباطهم فيما يخص المواعيد, و من خلال تجربتي يمكنني القول بان القطارات و الحافلات يمكنها ان تتأخر عن موعدها الى ما يناهز النصف ساعة

لكن هذا لا يحصل دائما , و القاعدة هنا ان المواصلات دائما تتبع مواعدها بشكل جيد

و من الاحكام التي تطلق عن الامان انهم يتعاملون بمشاعر باردة و قلة ترحيب ازاء بالأجانب ,لم احادث الكثير من كبار السن

.لكن الشباب كانوا في قمة الترحيب و تقبل اختلاف التفافات

لا تنس اخد وجبة خفيفة عند ذهابك الى حفلة هنا في المانيا فالمضيف ليس من المفترض ان يتكفل بالتوفير الطعام و الشراب

للحاضرين, ولا تنس ان تحمل معك نصف دولار او دولار لدخول المحال التجارية

كل المحالات التجارية تكون مقفلة ايام الاحد و في الاغلب لا تفتح ابوابها ايام السبت الا بعد الساعة الرابعة زوالا

و توقع ايضا ان تقتني اروع المثلجات التي تباع في اكشاك خاصة صغيرة على اطراف الشوارع

و من الغريب هنا ان تمن قارورة ماء يفوق ثمن جعة ,و جهز نفسك لان تقوم بعزل النفايات لكي يتم اعادة تصنيعها فيما بعد.

وعلى العكس من مالدوفا, فالمقاهي و الحدائق لا يوجد بيها ولوج مجاني للأنترنت, كما ان تمن تذكارات المواصلات باهض الا انه تمن مستحق للمناظر الطبيعية التي

ستراها عبر النافدة اثناء التنقل. كما انك ستشاهد اثناء السفر العديدة من التوربينات و اللوحات الشمسية التي تولد الطاقة و كذا حقول مليئة بأكوام القش

.و بلا شك فالدراجة هنا هي واحدة من اهم وسائل المواصلات هنا

العيش في المانيا لمده عشرين يوما علمني ان الامان جد مسؤولين عن حياتهم و يهتمون بمستقبل بلادهم

كل شيء هنا مثال حي على ان لهذه الدولة مبادئ راسخة تتبع التقاليد و هي مثال يجب على باقي الدول الاحتذاء به

و اني لأتوق لزيارتها مجددا

 ارينا بريكيدوفا

 شيسينو , مولدوفا

English Version