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Author’s word

Hi my dear readers. This is a book about my memories I spent in Poland. In this book I will share

my European Voluntary Service (EVS) best experience and impressions. Reading this book you

can get to know about European Voluntary Service in general and a vivid example of the best

EVS project which I had. Hope you will find this book useful and this book will promote an

interest and wish to do your own EVS project.

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Introduction

What is EVS? First it a youth project, second it is non-formal educational and at the same time

fun project, third a chance to observe another country and culture, forth an opportunity to get

more friends and finally fifth a great opportunity to self-confidence and self-development. For

me EVS was all in one.

Within the European 'Youth in Action' Programme, European Voluntary Service offers young people an

opportunity of taking part in a non-profit-making, unpaid activity for the benefit of the general public in a

country other than their country of residence.

Through European Voluntary Service, young people contribute to social cohesion and solidarity and

considerably enhance their personal, professional, and intercultural skills and competences.

Essential elements of European Voluntary Service are preparation and follow-up activities in the country

of residence as well as ongoing pedagogical, personal, and task-related support like training activities in

the host country.

European Voluntary Service is carried out in partnership between a young volunteer, an organization in

the country of residence, and an organization in the host country. It lasts up to 12 months.

Offering the added value of a European dimension, European Voluntary Service is quality-checked

regarding content criteria and implementation.

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My project and work

“Europe in here” was the name of my EVS project which I spent in Poland form October 15

2009 till July 12 2010. My activity was concentrated around three basic areas:

AREA ONE: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SKILLS

My main goal was the work in Young Creators' Club - with youth from local schools, in

Occupational Therapy Workshop and Therapeutic day-room as well. Those were places, where I

had an opportunity to develop my skills and obtained new experiences.

My work in Young Creators’ Club for youth from local schools My tasks were:

Prepare and lead classes for young people (art, music, sport, theatre, cooking,

photography, journalism, language classes, etc.);

Organized and take part in various social and art events such as exhibitions, happenings,

expositions, shows etc.; especially about European Awareness, EU, EVS, Youth in

Action Program

Help in creating a web blog about activities in Young Creators’ Club and about

volunteers’ activity as well; create a web blog or web page about Europe;

Create an newspaper/film/brochure (with young people in Club) about for instance –

People’s life in EU or other topic according to volunteers’ ideas;

Attend in organized trips (bike trips, camps etc.)

In a usual day in the club I was talking with the volunteers, played various games like billiard,

table-tennis, Jungle Speed and different board games. In the camp we had also meetings with our

coordinator each month and planned our activities for the coming month. In the Club I learnt

spray painting. Sebastian, one of the leaders of the club, taught how to paint planets and galactic

with spray.

Two times in the club we had meeting with the journalists: one local, the other came from

Warsaw. They interview us and publish in the newspaper. More than five times an article about

us was published in the local and regional newspapers.

In the summer every Thursday we went to the gym to play volleyball. One day we organized a

competition “EVS volunteers vs. Young Creators club’s volunteers”. And the EVS team won.

Working in Young Creators’ club was very pleasure for me. The people there were kind and

good friends to whom I have contact via internet till now.

What I did so far:

Halloween On the 31

st of October is the Halloween. We celebrated that event with the teenagers of the

Young Creators’ Club. Everyone had a Halloween uniform. We also made the Halloween

pumpkin with the candle inside. We danced frightened each other and in the Evening we had the

second Halloween party at home. That time we had not only the Halloween uniform but also the

make-up. At the midnight we went to disco where they organized Halloween party. We went

there with our costumes and make-ups. We had a great time in Disco. After 2 days we found our

photo in disco Terminal website.

Santa Clauses

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On the 7th of December in Poland people celebrate the day of Saint Nickolas. That day we were

dressed like Saint Nickolas and we went to the Schools with presents for the children. At schools

we congratulated the children with our mother tongue and gave candies to them. Then we walked

in the streets and gave presents to the children we met in the streets. Then we went to the

ŚWIETLICA (this is the place where we work with children and teenagers) and after a hark work

The Saint Nickolas went home.

Christmas Eve On 24

th of December we had Christmas Eve Party in Youth Creators’ Club. There we tasted

Polish traditional food, sang Christmas songs in Polish and in English. We had great fun!

International movie night On the 8th of January we organized an International Film Night. From 8 p.m. till 8 a.m. we watched films

from different countries. During the intervals we had also Karaoke songs which we sang. Here are the list

of the films we watched that night:

1. Nothing Will Stay (Romance made in Armenia)

2. Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulai (Life story made in France)

3. My bloody valentine (Horror made in Hollywood)

4. All about my mother (Melodrama made in Spain)

5. Avatar (Animated made in Hollywood)

All the movies were in their original languages with the polish subtitles. It was really very nice day.

Carnival On the 28

th of January we organized a Carnival for teenagers of the Young Creators’ Club.

During the carnival we organized different kind of competitions for them.

English lessons From January 6 till the end of my project I lead English classes in Youth Creators’ Club. I taught

them the basic knowledge of English. The aim of the lessons was to improve the English skills of

the youth, to communicate in English. During the lesson I learnt too because the teaching

language was Polish.

Rain-out day This day was one of the memorable days during my project. What happened that day had nothing

to do with my project but I would like to share it. As usual I and Aline (the French volunteer)

went to the club. It was Wednesday the day we worked together in the club as we had language

class that day. For entering the club we needed a “boat”. The previous day it had rained a lot and

all the water has filled into the room. Together with the club workers we did the water out. We

used all possible means to dry the floor. There was 10 cm of water on the floor. It took us 3

hours to dry the floor. Though it was hard, it was at the same time fun.

First day of spring On the 20

th of March the youth from Young Creators’ Club together with EVS volunteers

organized “The Happening”. It is a party for the first day of the spring. We painted trees gave

flowers to people walking around, painted our and others faces, made bubbles, danced: in one

word we had fun! In all these activities we involved also the children and their parents who were

at that time in the “Square of FUN”.

Photography In the Young Creators’ Club there was a section for photography and I joined. We were taking

photos on different topics connected to Sępólno and Poland. During the Happening that was on

the 5th

of June we had an exhibition of our photos on the topic of the nature and monuments of

Sępólno.

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DANONE DANONE was the name of the cooking project organized in Young Creators’ Club. They

organized this type of project last year also. The main aim of the project was to teach the

volunteers of the club how to cook different Polish regional dishes. Each week the group chose

one of the regions in Poland and cooked traditional food of that region. The EVS volunteers were

involved in that project. I was involved in the 3rd

group and learn how to cook Polish cakes,

galomkie (this is something like Georgian Khinkalie (dough with meat inside) but with fruit or

jam, cabbage or mushroom), fruit marmalade and soups. This project helped me to understand

and learn Polish culture. The group not only cooked the food but also they introduce the region

they represented in an interactive way.

In the framework of the project they organized a trip to somewhere near but nobody knew the

correct way.

On the 4th

of June together with club members went to somewhere to see Polish hostel and

hospitality within DANONE project. The fact was that they know where they should go but

nobody knew the way. Before starting I asked Dorota the coordinator of the Club how long

would it take us to get there by bike and the answer was 15 minutes. We started our bike-riding.

On the way we came to the junction. Nobody knew which way was correct. After a discussion

we chose one way and went. We went more than 15 minutes and on the way we asked someone

if this way went to the place we wanted. The answer was negative. They told us to go back and

choose the other direction. Again 15 minutes we rode a bike and chose the other way. We

reached somewhere in the forest and stopped. We decided to call them and know the real way.

Finally they found out the way and it took us 10 minutes to get there. 15 minutes way turns to be

40 minutes way.

The place we went was a small inn in the forest. There were horses that one can hire and ride

them. The person showed us the horse stable. There I saw one empty horse cage and in from of

the cage was written Armenia. I asked if they had brought this horse from Armenia but they said

that many times ago there came to live an Armenian family and they liked that horse saw the

decided to call him Armenia. But the horse was not in the cage. They told me that the horse is

somewhere there but they did not show me. After seeing the inn and getting information about

their services we took a way back home. And this time the way back took us 15 minutes.

That day was one of the most memorable days in Poland.

The conclusion of the project was the three days camp in Kamien Krajeńskie. On the 11th

– 13th

June we were in Kamien Krajeńskie for the camping. In Kamien there was a very beautiful

camping site. We spent there 3 unforgettable days. We stayed in small huts with 3-4 people in it.

We cooked our food ourselves which was the objective of the camp project. During the camp

there were organized many interesting competitions in which we took park with enthusiasm. The

last day of the camp we took part in a disco which was held near the lake. At the end we

returned home with full of enthusiasm and worn out by mosquitoes which were a lot.

Meeting with volunteers On the 19

th of April we met the volunteers from Sośno. During the meeting we represent the

activities of our Club and also about the European Voluntary Service and Youth in Action. We

organized various activities and had a fun.

Europe day in Sępólno On the 9

th of June we organized Europe day in special school in Sępólno. During the event we

represent our countries to the small groups of children and then they represent the countries they

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learnt about. We taught the children also national dances some expressions in different

languages. We organized different competitions based on Europe.

Europe day in Więcbork On the 26

th of May we organized Europe day in special school in Więcbork. During the event we

represent our countries to the small groups of children and then they represent the countries they

learnt about. We taught the children also national dances some expressions in different

languages. We organized different competitions based on Europe.

Children’s day in Więcbork On the 1

st of June we went to the Więcbork where we had organized event for the children of the

special school. Children were very happy and enjoyed the event.

Happening On the 5

th of June near the main Square we organized the Happening. During the happening we

watched movies about previous EVS projects. At night when it was already dark we had fire

show and different kind of activities. With the help of Young Creators’ Club volunteers we

performed a romantic music-spectacle.

Visit to Świetlica in Więcbork On June 26 we again went to Więcbork but this time we were in Świetlica (a day room for the

children) where our friend was working. There we also represented our countries taught the

greeting words of our native language to the children. We also organized various activities for

the kids and have real fun. At the end we enjoyed polish barbeque with sausages.

My Work in Occupational therapy workshops for disabled people My tasks were:

Help instructors with preparation and leading engagements in particular workshops (art,

sartorial, exploration of life, housekeeping, D.I.Y., office and computers.);

Prepare and lead engagements for their wards;

Assistance to wards in day to day activities (help with cleaning after their classes, help

with accompanying wards to the bus stop);

Help people on a wheelchairs

Attend in a keep fit and rehabilitation

Attend in organized trips (day excursions and several day trips)

These were the task what were written in my activity agreement and the first information what I

would do here. But since the day I was in Sępólno I began to follow the tasks and day by day

discover my tasks. The first two weeks were very difficult for me to work with disabled people.

It was a challenge for me. But day by day I leant to work with them and even I liked my work

with disabled people. They were very nice people. Every day I learnt something new from them.

The wards were working in six different rooms: computer, life learning, kitchen and

housekeeping, art, and handicraft. Every three months they change the rooms. In computer room

they were writing articles for the newspaper of the workshop and also learning using computer.

In Handicraft room we were helping them to make angels, animals or some objects from the

wood, paper, plastic and the material from which is possible to make something. In the kitchen

they were cooking the dinner for all wards. Every day they cooked different foods. We the

volunteers also cooked some dishes from our countries. One day I cooked something from

Armenian cuisine. After dinner they clean the kitchen. When they finish the classes everybody

clean the room they were working in. In life learning room they were learning math or painting,

the basic knowledge of life. Every month they made the calendar of the coming month. In art

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room we helped them to make postcards, flowers from paper. They also work with clay. Besides

these they were attending the rehabilitation classes and sport. They had one day in a week that all

wards went to the gym. The other days they also went but by groups. I was helping them with

sport; I played table-tennis, volleyball and billiard with them. After work I was taking some

wards to the bus-station.

Every day in workshops was unforgettable. The topics the wards were talking to me also were

very interesting and also funny at the same time. If I will start writing now about each day it will

make my book too big. I can share it those who are interested. But I want to write about the most

unforgettable day. It was on May. We were tired of working, watching movies. That day all

wards were in one place. I together with other volunteers working with me decided to use

internet and we found some good music for dancing and did disco in workshops. The wards we

with the instructors were so enthusiastic that danced the whole working day.

Except every day’s activities we did some extra activities. Here are those in which I took part or

organized.

Puppet theatre

During my first days in workshops I was witnessed a very beautiful puppet theatre made by the

ward. They were doing their rehearsals for the competition. They were showing a fairy tale with

puppets. One of the wards was reading the tale the others were acting with puppets. It was my

first days in Poland I did not understand polish but the puppet presentation was so good that the

idea was more than clear for me and I understood the tale without knowing polish.

Performance in Philharmonic theatre

One day the wards had a splendid performance in philharmonic theatre. It was without words,

only music and mimic. It was about writers. They were really good actors. Later I knew that with

the performance I was witnessed they won the first place in theatre contest in Toruń and Kraków.

Painting competition

I together with other volunteers organized a paining competition for the wards with the topic

“Christmas”. The deadline was on 24th

of December. On the day of the election we had more

than 25 paintings and it was very difficult for us to choose the best because everyone was unique.

After the 3 hours discussion we finally came up to one conclusion and choose the best of the

bests. Then the day of Ceremony we gave certificates to all participants and also gifts for those

who were on the first, second and third place.

Bydgoszcz Philharmonic Theatre

On 21st of December we together with Occupational Therapy of Disabled people went to

Bydgoszcz Philharmonic Theatre. There we listened to the polish chorus songs. There was also

one guest form Krakow. It was very nice day!

Christmas Eve

On the 23rd

of December we had a Christmas Eve Party with Occupational Therapy people in the

restaurant. We tasted Polish Christmas dishes, sang Christmas songs in Polish! It was my first

European Christmas and I liked it very much.

3D movie “Avatar”

On the 12th

of January together with Occupational Therapy Workshop we went to the

MULTIKINO of Bydgoszcz to watch a movie. The movie was “Avatar”. We watched it in 3D

format with glasses. It was my first time watching film in 3D.

Carnival

On the 27th

of January we organized a Carnival for Disabled people from Occupation Therapy

Workshop and for the children for Day-room. During the carnival we organized different kind of

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competitions for them. Everyone was dressed properly and the Carnival dresses were made by

themselves. It was very nice day!

Sleighing

On the 16th

of February we together with the disabled people of the Occupational Therapy went

to sleighing. It was not far from Sępólno Krajeńskie. The sleighs were tied to the tractor. It was

super. I really enjoyed it. After sleighing we made a barbeque of sausages on the fire. Then we

played snowballs and return home.

Bydgoszcz music group’s concerts in Sępólno

Two times a music group came to Sępólno for a concert. I went there together with wards.

During these concerts they introduced the musical instruments, told about them and listened to

the Old and new polish songs. What I liked in these concerts is that they are not only giving

concert and go back but also they teach something to the audience. During the second concert

they asked questions to the audience about the topics they did in the first concert.

The day of the protection of the children

On the 1st of June was the children’s protection day. That day in the public square there were

different activities for children. I went there together with the wards from workshops. There I

saw how people made paper in old times, listened to the polish music and saw old Polish soldiers

in their uniforms and weapons. Through this event I learn more about Polish culture.

My last day in Occupational therapy workshops for disabled people 29

th of June was my last day in Occupational therapy workshops. They organized a farewell

party for us. They gave us presents which they made themselves. We took lots of photos, said

“See you soon” not “Good-bye” to each other and departed with warm hugs.

I really missed my 9 months working with wards. These 9 months will remain in my memories

forever.

My work in Day-room for children and teenagers from difficult backgrounds My tasks were:

Help instructors with preparation and leading engagements for the kids and youth (art,

sport, outdoors game and plays, etc.);

Help with doing homework;

Help with day to day activities

Attend in organized trips

Working with the children is always very interesting. The kids of the Day-room were amazing.

They were asking us different kinds of questions about ourselves and about our country. Though

the first month was a bit difficult because of the language barrier but after became more and

more amazing. We were helping them with homework, such as: English, German and drawing.

When the kids did not have homework to do, we played with them various board games,

computer games and also energizers. We were helping and at the same time learning from the

kids. They were making various artificial decorating objects, paintings, origami (paper folding)

and objects from clay and plaster. All the kids were very creative and smart. For me was great

pleasure to work with them.

What I did so far:

Santa Clauses On December 7

th the day of Saint Nickolas we went to Świetlica (the Day-room for Children)

dressed like Saint Nickolas. That day in Świetlica there were not only school children but also

small children with their parent. We congratulated them and gave presents. We played and

danced with the children.

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Painting competition I together with other volunteers organized a paining competition for the children with the topic

“Christmas”. The deadline was on 24th

of December. On the day of the election we had more

than 30 paintings and it was very difficult for us to choose the best because everyone was unique.

Children had painted Christmas how they imagine e.g. one of the painting was Santa Clause with

the gifts they wanted and even they wrote some Christmas greetings. Then the day of Ceremony

we gave certificates to all participants and also gifts for those who were on the first, second and

third place.

Carnival On the 27

th of January we organized a Carnival for the children Day-room. During the carnival

we organized different kinds of competitions for them. Children took part in the competitions

with great enthusiasm. Everyone was dressed properly and the Carnival dresses were made by

themselves. It was very nice day!

Cartoon watching During my work in Day-room for children we organized cartoon-watching. We downloaded

cartoons from internet in Polish and watched them in Young Creators’ Club.

“My Europe” Competition The 9

th of May is the day of Europe and we decided to organize some event dedicating to that

day. One of the events was the competition of painting with the topic “My Europe”. This

competition was for everybody we worked and also for the children from the special school in

Więcbork and Sępólno.

AREA TWO: EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

My Activity was first and foremost working in above mentioned establishments, but not only

that. Another important element of my activity was commitment to the actions, which main

target was to deepen a sense of European citizenship as well as promotion of activities related to

EVS and “Youth in Action” program. We conducted meetings with a youth from local schools,

happenings, exhibitions etc. It was a good occasion to exchange experiences, to promote EVS

and “Youth in Action” Programme and to present our culture in local community. You have

already read about those meetings. The second area of my project was fulfilled.

AREA THREE: POLISH CULTURE

We were involved in activities, which allowed us to learn about polish tradition, morals and

culture such as:

- Participation in lessons of polish language;

- Constant contact with polish youth;

- Organized 'polish evenings', as well as our 'national evenings';

- Participation in sight-seeing tours (within our work);

- Participation in cultural events.

My Polish lesson Since the day I was in Poland I started learning Polish. I learnt two months with the Russian

teacher Mrs. Halina from the high school. The teaching language was Russian which helped me

a lot to learn Polish easily. At first we learnt the alphabet. Day by day the lessons became hard

and hard. I was reading Russian text and at the same time translated into Polish. After ten lessons

I began to speak Polish a little. During that time I decided to speak only Polish with my friends

and improve my language. After a month and a half I was already able to speak Polish though

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with grammatical mistakes but my friends understood me. When I finished my Polish lessons I

was able to speak Polish freely. My Polish became more and more fluent due to speaking only

Polish and leading English classes for the pupils in Polish.

I am very thankful to my Polish teacher Mrs. Halina for teaching me that beautiful language.

Meeting with pupils of the high school On May 31

st I together with my Armenian friend Lilit (who was doing her EVS with me) went to

the high school to meet the pupils. Our Polish teacher Mrs. Halina invited us to her Russian

lesson. First we introduced ourselves in Armenian and then in Russian. The aim of the meeting

was to talk to the pupils in Russian but slowly the conversation language changed from Russian

into Polish. The Pupils were asking us different questions and we were answering. We spent two

lesson-hours with the pupils and went home.

The third area was fulfilled as well.

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Our life after work Holidays During my stay in Poland We celebrated the holidays. This gave me a chance to get to know how

Polish people celebrate holidays like Christmas, New Year and Easter.

Christmas Eve

Catholic people have their Christmas on 25th

of December. On the 24th

we were invited to

Christmas Eve dinner in Young Creators’ Club and in Occupation Therapy Workshop. There I

got to know what do the polish people put on the table on Christmas. My coordinator invited us

to Christmas dinner at his house on the 25th

. Polish people put various kinds of food on the table

that if you try a piece from each you get full. The wife of my coordinator explained us how they

made each meal. Each meal has its unique receipt. They were delicious. I like polish cuisine.

New Year

On December 31st at night we welcomed 2010! First we celebrated the Armenian New Year

because of the time zone. Then we celebrated the Romanian New Year! Then At 12 o’clock we

welcomed 2010 with eating 12 olives (we should eat grapes but unfortunately there were no

grapes in the shops) and after that drank Champaign and congratulated each other. Then we go

outside for the fireworks. The whole city was full of fireworks. It was marvelous! Then we

visited our friends’ houses. And after that came home and continued our fun! We danced the

whole night! It was the best New Year in my life. I will never forget that!

Easter

On Easter day, April 4, I was in Miłosław visiting my friends. My friend’s mentor invited us to

her house for the Easter dinner. Again like in Christmas Polish people put various kinds of food

on the table. They put a small peace from in food in the basket and took to the church in the

morning. The pries should bless the food and then they return home and sit at the table. They told

us they we must eat from each food in the basket. Like in all Christians Polish people paint the

eggs in different colors and play egg-breaking. They bake also the Easter pie.

Other activities Bydgoszcz carnival

On the 13th of February we went to Bydgoszcz for a carnival organized by EVS volunteers in

Bydgoszcz. The carnival was for children of the Special school. Everybody had a costume for

carnival. During the carnival we organized some activities and competition for the children. We

dance and had fun with them. After the Carnival we went to the disco club. We tried two

different discos but there were age discrimination. Finally we found one good disco for

everybody. We had a good time in Disco. The next day we went to see the city. Bydgoszcz was

a beautiful city.

Parties After hard work we found a way to relax and the parties were the best way. We had different

kinds of parties such as country parties, welcome and farewell parties, birthday parties or just

parties.

Country Parties

The volunteers I worked with were from different countries. During the hard winter when it was

cold outside we decided to do Country Parties. Every week-end we had party of each country.

Here are the country parties we did.

Armenia

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We were two Armenians in Sępólno and that’s why we had Armenian day. The firs Armenian

party was on November. That time we were two Armenian guys: me and Mushegh. It was hard

for us but our friend Tatev came to help us from Miłosław. That day we cooked Harisa (white

wheat porridge with chicken), beet salad and Armenian wine. We put Armenian flag to make an

atmosphere of Armenia. They liked our food very much.

The second Armenian party was on February. That time I and Lilit (who started her EVS on

January) cooked Armenian Dolma with cabbage and various salads. That time we put Armenian

music on the background. They liked our food very much.

There was the third Armenian party but it was on my birthday party, about which you can read in

birthday’s chapters.

Portugal

The next country party was Portuguese. Our Portuguese friend cooked typical Portuguese food.

She presented each food with the Portuguese music on the background. The Portuguese food was

delicious.

Turkey

The next was Turkish. Our Turkish friend cooked Turkish food. For that day his family sent

Turkish coffee and jazvé (special coffee-maker). That day we drank normal coffee (Polish coffee

was Nescafe or black coffee mixed with water but not boiled like we and Turkish does). And of

course we listen to Turkish music. The Turkish food was delicious.

Romania

The next country was Romania. Our Romanian friend cooked typical Romanian food with good

decoration. Each food he represent in a special way. The Romanian food was delicious.

France

The next was France. Our crazy French friend cooked French food. She decorated her room with

the photo of Eiffel Tower and in the entrance she put the French flag. She put also French wine

and cheese. Every food was delicious.

We had French party for the second time when our friend’s family visited us. This time also they

brought delicious French cognac and wine. They brought with them special kind of cheese and

fish. They put special oven on the table and taught us how to cook and we made for ourselves. It

was delicious.

Poland

After enjoying the food from different countries our Polish team organized “Polish cooking day”.

Our Polish team put all their effort to surprise us one more time with their delicious food. This

time they cooked food which we did not try. This party we had in Club. The room was decorated

with the flags of our countries and also the polish flag: one big and one small on the table. They

asked us to go out and enter in a Polish way. When we entered the room they met us with bread

and salt, after which we danced polish dance and sat at the table. The food was very delicious.

Welcome parties

Ours

On October 18 the ex-volunteers organized a welcome party for us. They cooked different food

and decorated the room and had a special make-up and hair style. During my welcome party I

got my first drunk in Poland. We got to know each other and played different kinds of games. In

general we had a fun.

New volunteers

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When the new volunteers came it was our turn to organize a welcome party for them. It was on

January 14. We cooked for them different food. We also had special hair style and make-up. We

played various games and got to know the new volunteers.

Birthday parties

Birthday parties were the most anticipated parties for us. When one of our friends had a birthday

we bought presents suitable his/her character: such as for Aline we bought a T-shirt with giraffe

on it (she was fond of small giraffe and we sometimes called her “Small Giraffe”), for Edy we

bought and apron and a cook’s hat (he liked cooking a lot and did for us many times), for Dorota

we bought a shirt with the frogs on it and bunch of flowers which we put in the bucket painted

frogs which we did ourselves, for Bea we bought a necklace, for the new-born Lenka we did not

buy anything instead we wished too much health by drinking much and finally for me they

bought a pullover and a T-Shirt written “SINGLEMAN Join me on my Matrass of Solitude” on

as they wished me to fall in Love soon.

Lenka’s

On November 18 my coordinator had a daughter (Lenka). He told us that he wanted to have a

small party. But that small party turned to become a big party. The Polish people have a custom

they drink as much as much healthy they wished their new-born child. And we followed that

custom and we wish Lenka too much healthy. And the result is obvious: we were too drunk. That

day stayed in our memories till the end of the project. Our Romanian friend got home without

boots and coat but on four foots.

Aline’s

Aline is our French crazy friend. Her birthday was on January 26. She cooked French food for us

and had an amazing party. Again as in any other parties we drank much and had a real fun. We

bought

Bea’s

Bea is our Spanish friend. Before leaving for Spain she organized her birthday party. Her

birthday was on January 3.

Edy’s

On March 8 was Edy’s (our Romanian friend) birthday. That day we had guests from other cities

in Poland. He cooked Romanian soup with pumpkin and delicious Romanian salads. We played

various games and had fun.

Mine

First time in life I spend my birthday away from my family but I can say it was one of the

birthday’s parties I did. That day my friend came to help me in cooking. This time we cooked

again Armenian food: tzhvzhic – fried chicken’s lungs with potatoes and onion, gata (Armenian

cake) and beet salad with garlic. And for the drink I had Armenian cognac with me which was

too strong for them but they drank it with juice. I got many presents that day. We had fun a lot.

Dorota’s

On June 27 we celebrated Dorota’s birthday. She organized her birthday in Galleria. We closed

the second floor of the bar and with our friends had an amazing birthday party.

Farewell Parties

Farewell parties sad a bit “sad” parties, because you say good bye to your friends whom you

worked and lived with. In any farewell party I never said my friends “Good Bye” instead I said

“See You Soon” as I hope to see them again in the future. Our best coordinator had surprise for

each volunteer who finished his/her project. He presents us souvenirs such us a tea cup written

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“Poland” in different languages, a T-shirt with the Polish symbol: Swan and an album with the

photos of the best moments during our projects. There we had three farewell parties and here

they are:

Musho’s

Musho was the ex-volunteer who had come to Poland 9 months before I came. He did his EVS

project with Bea but he Bea stayed one more month and that’s the reason we did two different

farewell parties. Musho’s party was on the 5th

of January. That day he did the cooking (We had a

tradition whose party was that person did the cooking). We had great time and at the end said

“See You Soon” to our friend Musho.

Bea’s

We organized a farewell party for Bea at home and at night we went to Disco Terminal. We had

an amazing time in Terminal. From Terminal to our house was just 15 minutes-road but it took

us an hour. When we went out of the Disco it was snowing and we decided to enjoy the snow

and started to play snowball. We rolled in the snow and fun like children do when they see the

first snow. During our fun the police came up to us and asked not to make much noise. We

promised them not to make noise and when they left we continued our fun. We got home late

and were cold to bone, but it was marvelous day.

Ours

The days passed and it came our turn to organize a farewell party. While we were getting ready

for the party we got a surprise. Our coordinator told us to be at the club as he wanted to speak to

us for evaluating our project. We got there on the time and what did we see? They organized a

farewell party for us. There were also the directors of the “Adults for Children” association and

Occupational workshop therapy. They did toasts and thanked us for our help in their

organization. We talked about all the sweet memories we had spent there. At the end our lovely

coordinator Daniel Wargin gave us the “Youth pass” a certificate for fulfilling the project and of

course the souvenirs which reminds me the sweet memories in Poland every time I use the cup,

wear the T-shirt and watch the album.

After the official farewell party we the volunteers together with our friends (including our

coordinator who was with us nearly in all parties) decided to continue our party in Galleria but I

did know why it was closed but we did not disappointed. We bought beers and went to the lake.

We had a very nice time over the lake. We did not notice how the day darkened but we stayed till

morning. That day first time in life I entered the lake completely drunk. Even now when I

remember that moment I shiver. That day we returned home at 9 in the morning.

In that evening we did our farewell party (we planned it as we did not know that they would

organize one for us). As it was a hangover we drank not much. That day I gave my coordinator

and my mentor the souvenirs which I had brought with me. Our Romanian friend surprised us

also. He also had something prepared for us. It was a greeting card with our photo and some wish

written. We enjoyed our last moments with our friends and the next day (on 9th

of July) Edy left

for Romania and three days later (on the 12th

of July) I left for Armenia and our crazy French

friend Aline stayed more in Poland.

Galleria and karaoke

Galleria is bar in Sępólno where you can have a drink, talk with your friend or meet nice people

to talk with. Every Friday and Saturday galleria was full of people. Only on the week-ends the

people in Sępólno drink. We also went to Galleria these days. There I met many new friends.

The polish people are nice. When they see a foreigner they come up and start a conversation with

you without even thinking that their English is poor. In Galleria I tried to speak Polish which

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helped me to learn the language fast. Sometimes we took “Jungle Speed” (an interesting board

game) and played in Galleria.

Once a month they organized a concert in Galleria. Once was a rock concert of the famous rock

bands from Bydgoszcz and Sępólno. The other time was a folk concert. Both concerts were

amazing. Everybody was dancing in these concerts.

Every Thursday they organized a karaoke party. We participated with great enthusiasm. We sang

not only English but also polish songs. When the polish youth saw us in the Galleria on

Thursdays they were “jealous”: I do not know why. One of my friends told that maybe we sang

more than they did; that’s why they were “jealous”.

When we had guest from other cities we took them to Galleria and spent very nice day there.

And once we had a birthday party there. It was Dorota’s the club coordinator’s birthday.

Disco terminal

In A small city like Sępólno we were lucky that we had a disco. Time to time when we wanted

to relax, had splendid time and dance we went to Terminal Disco. Our parties at home and the

time in Galleria were too splendid that I went to Disco Terminal only three times. One time there

was the Halloween party which was amazing. The decoration of the terminal was scary as it is

usual in Halloween parties. The entrance of those who were dressed properly was free of charge.

We had a real fun there. The second time was at Bea’s farewell party. That time was more

splendid. About this you can read in farewell parties section. Ant the third time was just an

ordinary day. We went there just to relax. In general I can say that Disco terminal is the best

place in Sępólno for those who like to have fun and dance.

Bike riding

When the days become warmer we started biking to the nearby Sępólno. We were in different

small towns and villages. Everywhere were lakes and deep forests. One day when we were

coming back it stated raining heavily. It was hard to bike. Nothing was visible but the cars light.

We got home wet to the bones but full of enthusiasm. I like to be under the heavy rain in

summer.

One day we organized a picnic somewhere near the lake. We took food with us and rode to the

lake. We swam and sunbathed.

Watching movies

When we were tired of going to Galleria or doing Parties at home we decided to watch movies in

the club. We downloaded different kind of movies and watched.

Travelling

Travelling is the best way to get to know the country well. During my 9 months-stay in Poland I

travelled in Poland a lot. For travelling I had only the week-ends because I wanted my vocation

to be in France.

In Poland I visited as many cities I managed. But I was in the cities I had planned to visit before

coming to Poland such as Toruń, Kraków and Gdańsk. And I did, but not only these cities but

other cities as well. Now I will tell you about the cities I have been in Poland. Here there are.

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Poland from my eyes

Poland (Polish: Polska), officially the Republic of Poland (Polish: Rzeczpospolita Polska), is a

country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to

the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast,

a Russian exclave, to the north. The total area of Poland is 312,679 square kilometres (120,726

sq mi), making it the 69th largest country in the world and the 9th largest in Europe. Poland has a

population of over 38 million people, which makes it the 34th most populous country in the

world and the sixth most populous member of the European Union, being its most populous post-

communist member. Poland is a unitary state made up of sixteen voivodeships. Poland is a

member of the European Union, NATO, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Economic Area,

International Energy Agency, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Co-operation in

Europe, International Atomic Energy Agency and G6.

The establishment of a Polish state is often identified with the adoption of Christianity by its

ruler Mieszko I in 966, over the territory similar to that of present-day Poland. The Kingdom of

Poland was formed in 1025, and in 1569 it cemented a long association with the Grand Duchy of

Lithuania by signing the Union of Lublin, forming the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The

Commonwealth ceased to exist in 1795 as the Polish lands were partitioned among the Kingdom

of Prussia, the Russian Empire, and Austria. Poland regained its independence as the Second

Polish Republic in 1918. Two decades later, in September 1939, World War II started with the

Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invasion of Poland. Over six million Polish citizens died in

the war. Poland reemerged several years later within the Soviet sphere of influence as the

People's Republic in existence until 1989. During the Revolutions of 1989, communist rule was

overthrown and soon after, Poland became what is constitutionally known as the "Third Polish

Republic".

Despite the vast destruction the country experienced in World War II, Poland managed to

preserve much of its cultural wealth. Since the end of the communist period, Poland has achieved

a "very high" ranking in terms of human development and standard of living.

The culture of Poland is closely connected with its intricate 1000 year history. Its unique

character developed as a result of its geography at the confluence of various European regions.

With origins in the culture of the Proto-Slavs, over time Polish culture has been profoundly

influenced by its interweaving ties with the Germanic, Latinate and Byzantine worlds as well as

in continual dialog with the many other ethnic groups and minorities living in Poland.[2]

The

people of Poland have traditionally been seen as hospitable to artists from abroad and eager to

follow cultural and artistic trends popular in other countries. In the 19th and 20th centuries the

Polish focus on cultural advancement often took precedence over political and economic activity.

These factors have contributed to the versatile nature of Polish art, with all its complex nuances.

Nowadays, Poland is a highly developed country; however, it retains its tradition.

Cuisine

Polish foods kielbasa, pierogi (pierożki), pyzy (meat-filled dough balls), kopytka, gołąbki śledzie

(herring), bigos, kotlety (schabowy and mielony) and much more. Traditionally, food such as

soups have been prepared in large vessels intended for groups, often necessitating the use of

devices such as oars in their preparation. Traditionally, hospitality is very important.

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In the Middle Ages, as the cities of Poland grew larger in size and the food markets developed,

the culinary exchange of ideas progressed & people got acquainted with new dishes and recipes.

Some regions became well known for the type of sausage they made and many sausages of today

still carry those original names. The peasants acknowledged their honorable judgment, allowing

them to maintain nourished for longer periods of time.

Architecture

Polish cities and towns reflect the whole spectrum of European styles. Poland's Eastern frontiers

used to mark the outermost boundary of the influences of Western architecture on the continent.

History has not been good to Poland's architectural monuments. However, a number of ancient

structures have survived: castles, churches, and stately buildings, often unique in the regional or

European context. Some of them have been painstakingly restored, like Wawel Castle, or

completely reconstructed after being destroyed in the Second World War, including the Old

Town and Royal Castle in Warsaw, as well as the Old Towns of Gdańsk and Wrocław.

Architecture of Gdańsk is mostly Hanseatic architecture, common in cities along the Baltic sea

and in the northern part of Central Eastern Europe. The architectural style of Wrocław is

representative of German architecture, since it was a part of the German states for centuries. The

centre of Kazimierz Dolny on the Vistula is a good example of a well-preserved medieval town.

Poland's ancient capital, Kraków, ranks among the best-preserved Gothic and Renaissance urban

complexes in Europe. Meanwhile, the legacy of the Kresy Marchlands of Poland's eastern

regions with Wilno and Lwów (now Vilnius and Lviv) as two major centres for the arts, played a

special role in these developments with Roman-Catholic church architecture deserving special

attention. In Vilnius (Lithuania) there are about 40 baroque and Renaissance churches. In Lviv

(Ukraine) there are Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque urbans with influences of the orthodox and

Armenian Church.

One of the best-preserved examples of the Modernist architecture in Europe is located in

Katowice, Upper Silesia, designed and built in the 1930s. Interesting buildings were also

constructed during the Communist era in the style of Socialist Realism; while some remarkable

examples of modern architecture were erected more

Polish art has always reflected European trends while maintaining its unique character. The

Kraków school of Historicist painting developed by Jan Matejko produced monumental

portrayals of customs and significant events in Polish history. Stanisław Witkiewicz was an

ardent supporter of Realism in Polish art, its main representative being Jozef Chełmoński. The

Młoda Polska (Young Poland) movement witnessed the birth of modern Polish art, and engaged

in a great deal of formal experimentation led by Jacek Malczewski (Symbolism), Stanisław

Wyspiański, Józef Mehoffer, and a group of Polish Impressionists. Artists of the twentieth-

century Avant-Garde represented various schools and trends. The art of Tadeusz Makowski was

influenced by Cubism; while Władysław Strzemiński and Henryk Stażewski worked within the

Constructivist idiom. Distinguished contemporary artists include Roman Opałka, Leon

Tarasewicz, Jerzy Nowosielski, Wojciech Siudmak, Mirosław Bałka, and Katarzyna Kozyra and

Zbigniew Wąsiel in the younger generation. The most celebrated Polish sculptors include

Xawery Dunikowski, Katarzyna Kobro, Alina Szapocznikow and Magdalena Abakanowicz.

Since the inter-war years, Polish art and documentary photography has enjoyed worldwide

recognition. In the sixties the Polish Poster School was formed, with Henryk Tomaszewski and

Waldemar Świerzy at its head.

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My way of discovering Poland Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland. I was in Warsaw in November 22-26 during my on-arrival

training. This training helped to discover Warsaw. Warsaw is the largest city in Poland. It is

situated on the Vistula River. Warsaw's name in the Polish language, Warszawa (also formerly

spelled Warszewa and Warszowa), means "belonging to Warsz", Warsz being a shortened form

of the Slavic male name Warcisław. Folk etymology attributes the city name to a fisherman Wars

and his wife Sawa. Actually, Warsz was a 12th/13th century nobleman who owned a village

located at the site of today's Mariensztat neighborhood. The official city name in full is miasto

stołeczne Warszawa (English: "The Capital City of Warsaw"). A native or resident of Warsaw is

called Varsovian (from French varsovien, an inhabitant of Warsaw).

In Warsaw I was in Old Town one of the most beautiful place in Warsaw. Warsaw's Old Town is

the oldest historic district of the city and also one of Warsaw's most prominent tourist attractions.

The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, with its restaurants, cafés and shops.

Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, barbican and St. John's

Cathedral. There was the statue of Sigismund III Vasa, who is best known for moving the capital

of Poland from Kraków to Warsaw. The second place I was in Warsaw was the Łazienki Palace,

also called the Palace on the Water. The architecture of the building was very beautiful. Near

was a park with awesome nature. Then I went to The State University of Warsaw where I got

acquainted with student life in Warsaw. To my great surprise the answers to the question “How

is the life of students in Warsaw?” were the same: “There is no student life in Warsaw.” At

nights together with participates of the training enjoyed Warsaw nights in Discos. One day we

were witness of the polish hospitality. We had splendid Polish dinner at the restaurant. During

the dinner we also were witness of the Polish traditional dances and we danced with them too.

Near the hotel Agricola, where we had our training, was a very beautiful garden with animals.

There we fed the squirrels and the birds. Near the train station was the house of culture – the

unique building in Warsaw. The building was built by Russians and was a gift for Poland. The

polish people wanted to destroy it after the conflict with Russians but the building was so

beautiful that they decided to keep it.

Bydgoszcz

In Bydgoszcz I was many times. Bydgoszcz is a city located in northern Poland, on the Brda and

Vistula rivers. It has been the co-capital with Toruń of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship

since 1999. Bydgoszcz is the seat of Casimir the Great University, University of Technology and

Life Sciences and a conservatory as well as a Collegium Medicum of Nicolaus Copernicus

University in Toruń. Bydgoszcz has a famous opera house Opera Nova and Concert Hall

(Filharmonia Pomorska) from where many times musicians came to Sepolno besides I was there

with disabled people. In Bydgoszcz there is also Multikino where we went with disabled people

to watch “Avatar” in 3D.

Over the Brda River there is one mysterious statue. The statue is on the wire but it is not tied to

anything and it does not even fall down during the heavy wind. No one from the citizens knows

how this statue is made.

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Toruń

On April 16-18 I was in Toruń: the first most beautiful city I have ever visited in Poland. Toruń

is the second-largest city of Kujawy-Pomerania Province, after Bydgoszcz. The medieval old

town of Toruń is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1997 it was added to UNESCO's

World Heritage List as a World Heritage Site. Toruń is a candidate for the title of European

Capital of Culture in 2016.

The architecture of Torun was awesome. I have been in Old and New towns, Gothic St. George's

Guildhall, City walls and Leaning Tower, the museum house of Nicolaus Copernicus. In Toruń

there is a University of Copernicus founded in 1945. It holds more than 40 thousand students not

only from Poland but also from other countries. The time I was in Toruń was the day of the

funeral of the president of Poland who died in the catastrophe in Smolensk. All people were

gathered in the Old Town Square and were watching the funeral ceremony in Warsaw and

Krakow. In Toruń there is one building which is called Pizza. It has the same structure as Pizza

in Rome. In Toruń I also saw the awesome panorama of the Vistula River and the bridge over the

river. I also had a chance to see Toruń at night. It was awesome.

Gniezno

On April 4 together with my friends I went Gniezno, the first capital of Poland by hitch-hiking.

Gniezno was the capital of Poland on the 10th

century. In Gniezno I leant about the legend of the

city. It was very interesting. Here is the legend: three brothers Lech, Czech and Russ were

exploring the wilderness to find a place to settle. Suddenly they saw a hill with an old oak and an

eagle on top. Lech said: this white eagle I will adopt as an emblem of my people, and around this

oak I will build my stronghold, and because of the eagle nest (Polish: gniazdo) I will call it

Gniezdno (modern: Gniezno). The other brothers went further on to find a place for their people.

Czech went to the South (to found the Czech Lands) and Russ went to the East (to create Russia

and Ukraine). After learning this legend I found out why Armenians call Poland Lehasatan (the

land of Lech). We visited some interesting places in Gniezno such as Statue of Bolesław I the

Brave in Gniezno (who pushed the next Polish rulers to move the Polish capital to Kraków), the

beautiful Jelonek Lake and The Cathedral in Gniezno. Besides these sightseeing we walked

along the Old Town of Gniezno.

Poznań

The first city in Poland I visited was Poznań. It was in November 14. I was there with my

Armenian friend. Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland. Poznań is the fifth

largest city in Poland. The name Poznań probably comes from a personal name Poznan (from the

Polish participle poznan(y) – "one who is known/recognized") and would mean "Poznan's town".

It is also possible that the name comes directly from the verb poznać, which means "to get to

know" or "to recognize". It may simply mean "known town". Poznań has many historic buildings

and sights, mostly concentrated around the Old Town and other parts of the city centre. In

Poznań I was only in Old Town and nearby. The architecture of the Old Town was awesome. In

Poznań we saw one pub with the name “Masis” the name of the Holy Mountain of Armenians.

We entered the pub and we saw pictures from Armenia on the walls. We started speak Armenian

aloud hoping that the owner would be Armenian but in vain. Then we went to the hypermarket

near the Old Town jut to look around. And after that we came back

I was in Poznań second time on 29 of May. There I found relatives through internet. They were

living not in Poznań but three kilometers away from Poznań. During that time I saw Warta River

which at that time had become more touristic place because of the high level which is the result

of the flood in the southern part of Poland.

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I liked Poznań as a city.

Karzimierz Dolny

On 4-9th

of May I was in Karzimiez Dolny for my mid-term training. During the training I got

more information about youth-pass and also got information what I can do after EVS project. .

Beside these topics we also had a chance to discover Karzimiez Dolny one of the most visits

town in Poland. The town of Kazimierz Dolny, situated on the Lublin plateau, lies on the right

bank of the river Vistula on its way to the Baltic. The Karzimiez Dolny community includes the

town and 14 Districts. Because of its attractive position, its rich history, its picturesque medieval

houses, wonderful architecture and kind climate, Kazimierz is known not only in Poland but also

abroad as a sought after tourist center where guests can relax and enjoy their holidays.

In the town centre around the market place and the adjacent streets, we admired the renaissance

buildings. From the "Baszta" /or Tower/, the ruins of the castle, and the "Hill of the Three

Crosses", one can enjoy a panoramic view of the town, which fits in so well into the overall

natural countryside and forms a harmonized entity. As a touristic town it has many hotels in one

of them we stayed. The facilities in hotel were good. It had a fireplace outside and we enjoyed

one night near the fire.

Kraków

After this trip I took the chance that I am in the southern part of Poland I visited the second

capital of Poland – Kraków. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centers of Polish

academic, cultural and artistic life, and is one of Poland's most important economic centers. It

was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596 Kraków was the second most beautiful city in

Poland after Torun just for me. When I arrived in Kraków it was already dark. Kraków was very

beautiful at night. Next day I started my trip in Kraków. The first place I went was some park

near the Wisla river (my friends advised me). It was very beautiful place. On the ground there

was the map of the world with its 6 continents. There I saw also the hoses from Africa and

Arctic: the igloo. Then I went to the Old Town. The Old Town of Kraków is unique, it is not

rebuilt. The market in the old town is the largest in Poland and the second largest in Europe. In

Old Town I heard the music that we hear on radio at 12 o’clock. This was what my polish

teacher told me about. It was super. After working in Old Town more than 1 hour and buying

souvenir from the Market Square I went to the Wawel Castle the most visited place in Kraków.

Wawel has got a legend that was the reason that the president was buried in Wawel. There I had

a chance to see the tomb of the Polish President and also the toms of some polish kings. After

admiring the beauty of Wawel I went to Karzimiez. This is a Jewish cemetery: one of the biggest

in Kraków.

Lublin

Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a

population of 350,392. Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula River. Lublin is a

candidate for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2016. Lublin is a historical city. I was in

the Castle which is in the Old Town. In the castle was a museum but that day it was closed but

the corpus was also beautiful. There were few things to see but I saw the old military machines

and a huge will. The architecture of Lublin is unique. It is not similar to the architecture of other

cities I have visited. It’s architecture in more like Ukrainian. In Lublin the time was not so much

to see more things but I manage to be also in the Art gallery of the abstract paintings. The

paintings were unique in their style. I was also in one beautiful garden.

Gdańsk

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I was in Gdańsk on 3rd

of July. Gdańsk is the most visited touristic city in Poland. It is on the

north of Poland just on the Baltic sea-shore. Unfortunately the sea-shore was too far from the

center and I did have so much time to go there. In Gdańsk I was in the touristic part. The city has

many fine buildings from the time of the Hanseatic League. Most tourist attractions are located

along or near Ulica Długa (Long Street) and Długi Targ (Long Market), a pedestrian

thoroughfare surrounded by buildings reconstructed in historical (primarily 17th century) style

and flanked at both ends by elaborate city gates. This part of the city is sometimes referred to as

the Royal Road as the former path of processions for visiting kings.

In the 16th century, Gdańsk hosted Shakespearean theatre on foreign tours, and the Danzig

Research Society founded in 1743 was one of the first of its kind. Currently, there is a Fundation

Theatrum Gedanensis aimed at rebuilding the Shakespeare theatre at its historical site. It is

expected that Gdańsk will have a permanent English-language theatre, as at present it is only an

annual event.

Tourist Attractions On the whole Gdansk is a beautiful city to be explored. The city brims with many historical and

cultural Polish sites. Have virtual tour of Gdanbsk tourist attractions.

Golden Gate(Zlota Branma) Tourist magnet of Gdansk, Golden gate is 13th century Gothic gate. Formerly it was known as

Langgassentor. Nowadays the gate is an excellent landmark for the city. Golden Gate is the most

decorative monument in the whole area. The gate stands as a symbol of the human virtues of

Gdnask people. Golden gate is a perfect example of the mannerist architecture.

Old Town Tourists often start with the magnificent old town. It is the right place to stroll around. Market

Square here is adorned with several colorful shops and its souvenirs are simply great to collect.

Old town area was thoroughly damaged after the World War II but it was faithfully

reconstructed.

St. Mary's Church It is one of the biggest churches of Poland. The huge church can accommodate 25000 people at a

time. The church is not only admired as a holy place but also as a home to the numerous

artworks displayed here.

Town Hall Town Hall is a witness of the former splendor of the city. It is located at the far end of Dluga

Street. Many artifacts of the old age are preserved in the interior of the hall dating from 13th

century. Painted ceilings, wooden panel, and furniture from the medieval time are on display

here. Town hall serves as a gateway to the Gdansk's most beautiful area, Dlugi Targ (Long

Market) Street.

Artus Court and Neptune Fountain Artus Court initially served as meeting place for the Gdansk citizens. Interior of the court is

exceptionally splendid in architecture. The hall of the court is quite spacious with 12m tall

ceramic style stove, old ship models and other splendid articles. In front of the court lies the

symbol of the city, Neptune Fountain: another Rococo fountain of Gdansk and a popular lover's

paradise.

The Golden House Golden House is the most flamboyant building of the town. Judith of the Bahrs and her husband

Jan Speymann, were the persons behind the construction of the house. The designer of the

Golden House was Abraham van den Blocke. Building has a rich ornamented facade and grand

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sculptural decorations.

Green Gate Formerly the site was home to the Cog Gate. During 1568-1571 the gate was designed for

providing residence to the monarchs of the city.

Grand Mill of Gdansk Grand Mill of Gdansk serves as multipurpose entity. A flour mill, granary and bakery are

combined here. It denotes today's technical advancement.

Oliwa Park It is picturesque garden brimming with different specimens from all over the world. Its and

excellent example of winter gardens, grotto, cascade, and horn been ale.

Parish Church There is no defined history available for the Parish Church. The church is a majestic Gothic style

church. The scraps of the church look like pilasters and the church building has been built in

renaissance style.

Chojnice

Chojnice is a city in the north-west of Poland just 30 km far from Sępólno. It is not so much

touristic city but it was beautiful too. The most beautiful part was the old town with its beautiful

fountains. Like any other cities Chojnice has also churches.

Charzykowy

Charzykowy is very small town 7 kilometers away from Chojnice. When we were in Chojnice

we just walked there and stayed a night near the lake. Charzykowy is famous for its beautiful

lake.

Miłosław

Miłoslaw is an urban-rural town in west-central Poland. Miłosław lies approximately

16 kilometers (10 mi) south-west of Września and 45 km (28 mi) south-east of the regional

capital Poznań. I was in Miłosław after my first visit to Poznań. There lived and did her EVS

project my Armenian friend. In Miłosław I met many EVS volunteers. The town I visited three

times in different times. It was beautiful town. There I was in our beautiful park with children

playground. There I and my friend remembered our childhood and started to play. Every time I

was in Miłosław I visited that beautiful park.

Sępólno Krajeńskie

Sępólno Krajeńskie (German: Zempelburg) is a town in Poland, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian

Voivodeship, about 63 km northwest of Bydgoszcz. It is the capital of Sępólno County (powiat

sępoleński) and has a population of 9,174.

The town received Magdeburg rights in 1360. It was located in the valley of the Zempolna River

(Sępólna), which flooded the old castle because of its proximity to a nearby lake.

In 1466 the town passed to Poland as part of the province of Royal Prussia. It was annexed by

the Kingdom of Prussia during the First Partition of Poland in 1772. Zempelburg became part of

the Duchy of Warsaw from 1807-1815 during the Napoleonic Wars, after which it was restored

to Prussia. In 1871 the town became part of the Prussian-led German Empire. Zempelburg was a

center for the textile and shoemaking industries.

Zempelburg belonged to Landkreis Flatow until 1920, when it was transferred to the Second

Polish Republic after the Treaty of Versailles. The town, known as Sępólno in Polish, became the

seat of Sępólno County. Sępólno was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1939 and made the seat of

Landkreis Zempelburg. The town was liberated in 1945 and restored to Poland.

Landmarks of Sępólno Krajeńskie include a Protestant church in the market built in 1857.

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Somewhere around Sępólno

During our free time we went villages and towns near to Sępólno by bikes. I was more than 5

villages and small towns. Villages were not so beautiful. Here are the small towns near to

Sępólno I was.

Sośno

Sośno is a small town near Sępólno. There I went with the DANONE group. There we met other

volunteers. There was not so much time to see the town but the part I managed to see was

beautiful like any other small towns.

Więcbork

I was in Więcbork two times: one for the Europe day event for children of the special school and

the second time for the children’s day in Special School. Więcbork is a small town too. It has

beautiful buildings and narrow streets like in any small towns in Poland. Więcbork has also a

beautiful lake and a deep forest near it.

Kamien Krajeńskie

Kamien Krajeńskie is a small town near Sepólno. I was there during the camp. Like Sępólno

Kamien had also a very beautiful lake and deep forests around it.

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The vocation in Paris After working 8 moths I took my best vocation and went to Paris: the city of my dreams. From

the 14th

till 24th

of June I was in the city of Love. I went there by bus which took me 22 hours.

These tiring 22 hours deserved what I saw after.

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at

the heart of the Île-de-France region (or Paris Region, French: Région parisienne). The city of

Paris, within its administrative limits (the 20 arrondissements) largely unchanged since 1860, has

an estimated population of 2,211,297 (January 2008), but the Paris metropolitan area has a

population of 12,089,098, (January 2008), and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in

Europe. Paris was the largest city in the Western world for about 1,000 years, prior to the 19th

century, and the largest in the entire world between the 16th and 19th centuries. Paris is today

one of the world's leading business and cultural centers, and its influences in politics, education,

entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the

world's major global cities. It hosts the headquarters of many international organizations such as

UNESCO, the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce or the informal Paris Club. Paris

is considered as one of the greenest and most livable cities in Europe. It is also one of the most

expensive.

Paris is a city of love, emotions, culture... Whatever I will say about Paris will not be enough. I

fell in love with Paris since the first second I was there. During these 10 marvelous days my love

became more and more strong. No word can explain my feeling that I felt in Paris. Now I want to

give you some information about the places I visited. The places were a lot but the time was

short, so I chose the best among the best.

Notre Dame: The first place I was in Paris. Notre Dame de Paris (French for Our Lady of Paris),

also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Roman Catholic cathedral on the eastern half

of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral of the

Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: that is, it is the church that contains the cathedra (official chair)

of the Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. The cathedral treasury houses a

reliquary with the purported Crown of Thorns. Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of

the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe, and the naturalism of

its sculptures and stained glass are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture. The first

period of construction from 1163 into 1240s coincided with the musical experiments of the Notre

Dame School. The cathedral suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French

Revolution in the 1790s, when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. An

extensive restoration supervised by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc removed remaining decoration,

returning the cathedral to an 'original' gothic state.

What I can say about this splendid Cathedral? It was very romantic place which carries lots of

love stories. About the cathedral I can say that it was the best cathedral I have ever seen with its

architectural structure. It is the finest example of the Gothic Architecture not only in France but

also in Europe. When I entered the Cathedral it reminds me the love story of Quasimodo (the

hunchback bell-ringer of Notre Dame se Paris) and Esmeralda (a gipsy girl) written by great

French writer Victor Hugo. In the cathedral there was a registry book of thoughts and wishes

where I wrote about my greatest wish which had already come true (be inside the Notre Dame).

After admiring the beauty of the cathedral and gardens near it I went to the second lovely place

in Paris: Louvre.

Louvre: is one of the most famous and the most visited museum in the world. There are more

than 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited in Louvre. I was both inside

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the museum and the outside area of the museum. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace

(Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II.

Remnants of the fortress are visible in the basement of the museum. The building was extended

many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of

Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal

collection, including, from 1692, a collection of antique sculpture.[4]

In 1692, the building was

occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de

Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie

remained at the Louvre for 100 years.[5]

During the French Revolution, the National Assembly

decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.

The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the

works being royal and confiscated church property. Because of structural problems with the

building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The size of the collection increased under

Napoleon and the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. After the defeat of Napoléon at

Waterloo, many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The

collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the

Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through

donations and gifts since the Third Republic. As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight

curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and

Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.

By 1874, the Louvre Palace had achieved its present form of an almost rectangular structure with

the Sully Wing to the east containing the square Cour Carrée and the oldest parts of the Louvre;

and two wings which wrap the Cour Napoléon, the Richelieu Wing to the north and the Denon

Wing, which borders the Seine to the south. In 1983, French President François Mitterrand

proposed, as one of the Grands Projets of François Mitterrand the Grand Louvre plan to renovate

the building and relocate the Finance Ministry, allowing displays throughout the building.

Architect I. M. Pei was awarded the project and proposed a glass pyramid to stand over a new

entrance in the main court, the Cour Napoléon. The pyramid and its underground lobby were

inaugurated on 15 October 1988. The second phase of the Grand Louvre plan, La Pyramide

Inversée (The Inverted Pyramid), was completed in 1993. As of 2002, attendance had doubled

since completion.

I saw the pyramids in the garden of Louvre. The Louvre’s garden was my favorite place in Paris.

I was there twice. The museum was too huge. One needs just one whole day to see all the rooms

in Louvre. The pyramids in Louvre reminded me the movie “Da Vinci’s Code”. In the museum I

managed to see the Egyptian part, the portion of the medieval Louvre, the Historical room and

the room of the sculptures.

Walking down from Louvre I had a wonderful walk in the Tuileries Garden I reached the Place

de la Concorde: the largest square in Paris.

Place de la Concorde: The Place de la Concorde is one of the major public squares in Paris.

Measuring 8.64 hectares (21.35 acres) in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is

located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées. The center

of the Place is occupied by a giant Egyptian obelisk decorated with hieroglyphics exalting the

reign of the pharaoh Ramses II. It is one of two the Egyptian government gave to the French in

the nineteenth century. The other one stayed in Egypt, too difficult and heavy to move to France

with the technology at that time. In the 1990s, President François Mitterrand gave the second

obelisk back to the Egyptians.

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The obelisk once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple. The Ottoman viceroy of Egypt,

Mehmet Ali, offered the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk to France in 1829. It arrived in Paris on

21 December 1833. Three years later, on 25 October 1836, King Louis Philippe had it placed in

the center of Place de la Concorde, where a guillotine used to stand during the Revolution.

The obelisk, a red granite column, rises 23 metres (75 ft) high, including the base, and weighs

over 250 metric tons (280 short tons). Given the technical limitations of the day, transporting it

was no easy feat — on the pedestal are drawn diagrams explaining the machinery that was used

for the transportation. The obelisk is flanked on both sides by fountains constructed at the time of

its erection on the Place.

Eiffel Tower: Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited places in Paris. One who has ever been in

Paris for just one day s/he visits Eiffel. The second when I just turn my head and saw Eiffel was

amazing (I could not believe in my eyes). I saw it. The tower was built in 1889; it has become

both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower

is the tallest building in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; millions of

people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was

built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall,

about the same height as an 81-storey building. People said that it was made only for one year

but it stayed forever and invites millions of visitors to admire its beauty. People say that a

fantastic view opens when you are on top of the Eiffel, but unfortunately I did not manage to

admire the panorama from Eiffel because there were a lot of visitors waiting and I wanted to see

as much as possible. Walking in the beautiful park near Eiffel I came up to the “Peace” nook of

Paris. There was a statue with “PEACE” written on it in all world languages. I find the Armenian

word and took a photo. Near the statue there were columns also written “Peace” on each. I find

the Armenian column and despite there was mud near I went near and took photo.

On the way back I saw a beautiful building with sculptures, it looks like a cathedral or a

museum. But to my great surprise I found out that it was the Place de Ville: the City hall of Paris.

In an amazing city like Paris the authority seats in a cathedral-museum (hope to see one in

Armenia).

Funiculaire de Montmarte: a place for painters of all genres. There were a lot of painters

selling and painting photos. If you have spare time you can pay and have your portrait in 15

minutes: by the way they did it like professional painters though they were not.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica: Walking down the street I found myself near the cathedral Sacré-Cœur

Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart). It is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica,

dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. A popular landmark, the basilica is

located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Sacré-Cœur is a

double monument, political and cultural, both a national penance for the supposed excesses of

the Second Empire and socialist Paris Commune of 1871crowning its most rebellious

neighborhood, and an embodiment of conservative moral order, publicly dedicated to the Sacred

Heart of Jesus, which was an increasingly popular vision of a loving and sympathetic Christ.The

Sacré-Cœur Basilica was designed by Paul Abadie. Construction began in 1875 and was finished

in 1914. It was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919. Near the cathedral there was a

splendid merry-go-round and a beautiful park to seat and enjoy Paris. The cathedral is on top of

the hill which opens a fantastic panorama of Paris. From there we can see approximately 1/3 of

Central Paris. In a small square in front of the cathedral the black people were doing amazing

tricks and the tourists were gathered admiring and recording their tricks.

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On the way to Mulin Rouge I got out of the underground station and saw the Republic Square of

Paris. The location of the Place corresponds to the bastion of the gate of the Temple in the wall

of Charles V (raised between 1356 and 1383). It is decorated in 1811 with a fountain called the

Château-d'Eau, designed by Pierre-Simon Girard.

Mulin Rouge: Moulin Rouge (Red Mill) is a cabaret built in 1889 by Joseph Oller, who also

owned the Paris Olympia. Close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de

Clichy in the 18th arrondissement, it is marked by the red windmill on its roof. The closest métro

station is Blanche. The Moulin Rouge is best known as the spiritual birthplace of the modern

form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as a seductive dance by the courtesans who

operated from the site, the can-can dance revue evolved into a form of entertainment of its own

and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today the Moulin Rouge is a tourist

destination, offering musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world. Much of

the romance of turn-of-the-century France is still present in the club's decor.

Museum D’Orsay: The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, on the left bank of the Seine. It is

housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898

and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings,

sculptures, furniture, and photography. It is probably best known for its extensive collection of

impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces (the largest in the world) by such painters such

as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh. Many of

these works were held at the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume prior to the museum's opening in

1986.

Palace of Versailles: The Palace of Versailles or simply Versailles, is a royal château (palace)

in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French it is the Château de Versailles.

When the château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a suburb of

Paris, some 20 kilometres southwest of the French capital. The court of Versailles was the centre

of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal

family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789 after the beginning of the French

Revolution. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system

of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was so marvelous that I spent the whole day in

Versailles Palace and its Gardens. I have been nearly in all rooms of the Palace. Each room was

unique, decorated with French furniture of the 17-18th

century. But the most beautiful part of

Versaille was the Gardens. It was too huge, one can be lost easily. The Gardens of Versailles

(Jardins du château de Versailles) occupy part of what was once the Domaine royal de

Versailles, the royal demesne of the château of Versailles. Situated to the west of the palace, the

gardens cover some 800 hectares of land, much of which is landscaped in the classic French

Garden style perfected here by André Le Nôtre. Beyond the surrounding belt of woodland, the

gardens are bordered by the urban areas of Versailles to the east and Le Chesnay to the north-

east, by the National Arboretum de Chèvreloup to the north, the Versailles plain (a protected

wildlife preserve) to the west, and by the Satory Forest to the south.

As part of le domaine national de Versailles et de Trianon, an autonomous public entity

operating under the aegis of the French Ministry of Culture, the gardens are now one of the most

visited public sites in France, receiving more than six million visitors a year.

In addition to the meticulous manicured lawns, parterres of flowers, and sculptures are the

fountains, which are located throughout the garden. Dating from the time of Louis XIV and still

using much of the same network of hydraulics as was used during the Ancien Régime, the

fountains contribute to making the gardens of Versailles unique. On weekends from late spring

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to early autumn, the administration of the museum sponsors the Grandes Eaux – spectacles

during which all the fountains in the gardens are in full play.

In 1979, the gardens along with the château were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage

List, one of thirty-one such designations in France. The Palace and Gardens of Versailles were

one of the beautiful sights in Paris.

On the way back to the central Paris I stopped near the Armenian Apostolic Church in Paris.

The Armenian Saint-Jean-Baptist Apostolic church: It was built in 1904 with the financial

support of the great Armenian businessman and philanthropist Alexander Mantashov

(Mantashyan) and the designer was French architect Albert Dezire Gilberti. The church is

located at 15 Jean Guzhon Street in the 8th district of Paris. For buying the land, necessary for

the construction, the benefactor paid 450 million francs, an astronomical sum for that time.

On passing near the Les Champs Elyse I saw also the statue of the great Armenian composer

Komitas.

Paris is famous not only with its sights which came from the history but also with its new

modern district:

La Defense: La Défense is a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine. With a population

of 20,000, it is centered in an orbital motorway straddling the Hauts-de-Seine département

municipalities of Nanterre, Courbevoie and Puteaux. The district is at the westernmost extremity

of Paris's 10 km long Historical Axis, which starts at the Louvre in Central Paris and continues

along the Champs-Élysées, well beyond the Arc de Triomphe before culminating at La Défense.

There are 41 high-rises in La Defense which are more than 90m high.

Around its 110-metre (360 ft)-high Grande Arche and esplanade ("le Parvis"), the district holds

many of the Paris urban area's tallest high-rises. With its 77.5 acres (314,000 m2), its 72 glass-

and-steel slick buildings including 14 high-rises above 150 metres (490 ft), its 180,000 daily

workers and 3.5 million square metres (37.7 million sq ft) of office space, La Défense is Europe's

largest purpose-built business district. La Défense is seen as comparable to Canary Wharf in

London: both are spaces where "statements of corporate ambition can be made", without thereby

encroaching on the historical quarters of the city.

Grand Arch: Among the other high-rises the exciting one was La Grande Arche de la Défense

also La Grande Arche de la Fraternité) which is a monument and building in the business district

of La Défense and in the commune of Puteaux, to the west of Paris. A great national design

competition was launched in 1982 as the initiative of French president François Mitterrand.

Danish architect Johann Otto von Spreckelsen (1929–1987) and Danish engineer Erik Reitzel

designed the winning entry to be a 20th-century version of the Arc de Triomphe: a monument to

humanity and humanitarian ideals rather than military victories. The construction of the

monument began in 1985. Spreckelsen resigned on July 1986 and ratified the transfer of all his

architectural responsibilities to his associate, French architect Paul Andreu. Reitzel continued his

work until the monument was completed in 1989.

The Arche is in the approximate shape of a cube (width: 108m, height: 110m, depth: 112m); it

has been suggested that the structure looks like a hypercube (a tesseract) projected onto the

three-dimensional world. It has a prestressed concrete frame covered with glass and Carrara

marble from Italy and was built by the French civil engineering company Bouygues.

From Grand Arch a fantastic view is opened. You can see the whole La Defense district, Les

Champs-Élysées and even the Concord Square.

Arc de Triomphe: Walking down from La Defense I reached to the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc

de Triomphe (Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It

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stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the

western end of the Champs-Élysées. There is a smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel,

which stands west of the Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe (in English: "Triumphal Arch") honours

those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars,

with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. The

Arc de Triomphe is the linchpin of the historic axis (Axe historique) – a sequence of monuments

and grand thoroughfares on a route which goes from the courtyard of the Louvre, to the Grande

Arche de la Défense. The monument was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806, and its

iconographic program pitted heroically nude French youths against bearded Germanic warriors

in chain mail. It set the tone for public monuments, with triumphant patriotic messages.

The monument stands 50 metres (164 ft) in height, 45 m (148 ft) wide and 22 m (72 ft) deep. The

large vault is 29.19 m (95.8 ft) high and 14.62 m (48.0 ft) wide. The small vault is 18.68 m

(61.3 ft) high and 8.44 m (27.7 ft) wide. It was the largest triumphal arch in existence until the

construction of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, in 1982. Its design was inspired by the

Roman Arch of Titus. The Arc de Triomphe is so colossal that three weeks after the Paris victory

parade in 1919, (marking the end of hostilities in World War I), Charles Godefroy flew his

Nieuport biplane through it, with the event captured on newsreel.

Beneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. Interred here on

Armistice Day 1920,[14]

it has the first eternal flame lit in Western and Eastern Europe since the

Vestal Virgins' fire was extinguished in the fourth century. It burns in memory of the dead who

were never identified (now in both world wars).

From Arc de Triomphe I took a wished walk in the most beautiful and visited street in Paris:

Les Champs-Élysées: The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris. With its

cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-

Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strips of real estate in

the world. The name is French for Elysian Fields, the place of the blessed dead in Greek

mythology. The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is known as "The most beautiful avenue of the

world".

The avenue runs for 1.91 km (1.18 mi) through the 8th arrondissement in northwestern Paris,

from the Place de la Concorde in the east, with the Obelisk of Luxor,[3]

to the Place Charles de

Gaulle (formerly the Place de l'Étoile) in the west, location of the Arc de Triomphe. The

Champs-Élysées forms part of the Axe historique.

One of the principal tourist destinations in Paris, the lower part of the Champs-Élysées is

bordered by greenery (Carré Marigny) and by buildings such as the Théâtre Marigny and the

Grand Palais (containing the Palais de la Découverte). The Élysée Palace is slightly to the north,

but not on the avenue itself. Further to the west, the avenue is lined with cinemas, cafés and

restaurants, and luxury specialty shops. The Champs-Élysées ends at the Arc de Triomphe, built

by Napoleon Bonaparte to honour his victories.

The Champs-Élysées was originally fields and market gardens, until 1616, when Marie de

Medici decided to extend the axis of the Tuileries Garden with an avenue of trees.

After describing the sights in Paris which I visited now I want to introduce you also about the

part of Paris where I stayed during these 10 days.

Brie Comte Robert: Brie-Comte-Robert is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the

Île-de-France region in north-central France.

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Brie-Comte-Robert is on the edge of the plain of Brie and was formerly the capital of the Brie

française. "Brie" comes from the Gaulish briga, meaning "plateau". The "Comte Robert" was

Robert I of Dreux who owned the town and was a brother of the King Louis VII.

I spent one day visiting the sights in Brie-Comte-Robert. And here they are:

The medieval castle: The castle of Brie-Comte-Robert was built at the end of the 12th century,

when Robert I of Dreux, brother of the king Louis VII, was lord of Brie. Archaeological clues,

elements of decoration and the choice of construction techniques, suggest the architecture of this

turning point in history. The castle became a prestigious residence which the large lords of the

kingdom, in particular the dukes of Burgundy, did not hesitate to visit. It was also the site, in

1349, of the marriage of Philip VI of Valois and Blanche d'Évreux, niece of Queen Jeanne. The

time I was in Paris the castle was closed, I did not know why, that’s why I could not enter inside.

Église Saint-Étienne (St. Stephen's Church): (13th century) Gothic church, with its original

rose window above the quire, wood panels of the 15th century.

Hôtel-Dieu: (13th century) this place has been a hospital, then a nunnery. A recent building has

been built, using the original facade of the chapel.

Unforgettable days in Charzykowy

On the last days in Poland the 10-11th

of July I together with my Armenian and Portuguese

friends did hitch-hiking to Chojnice. After arriving and enjoying Choynice we went to

Charzykowy. There we walked along the river and when the day darkened we listen to the

sound of the karaoke music and went to join them. We saw the karaoke man who had Karaoke

parties in Sępólno. We ordered many sings and sang. We had a great fun there. At the end when

we wanted to go out from the karaoke they called us back and said that they have a present for

us. They gifted us a bottle of Champaign for the best song. We drank the bottle and sang two

more song and went to the beach where we slept as it was too late. In the morning we hitchhiked

back to Sępólno.

The last day in Poland

The 11th

of July was my last day in Poland. I packed my luggage. In the evening we gathered in

Galleria. That day was the final of World Football Championship. We watched the match and

celebrated our favorites team Spain’s victory. But we did not forget why we had gathered. When

it was too late and I need to wake up early in the morning, we started the ceremony of departing:

the one which I do not like. It was too hard to say good-bye to my friends to whom I had worked

9 long and unforgettable months. I did not say them good-bye but SEE YOU SOON, hoping one

fine day I will return back to the small town where I had the best and the most unforgettable days

in my life.

In the next morning both sad that I leave my friends and happiness that I would see my family

and friends in Armenia I took my long way back to Armenia. I arrived in Armenia on the 13th

of

July in the morning.

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“EVS Virus” This is the title of the movie which we shoot at the end of the project. The shooting took us

approximately one month. The plot is as followed: “The volunteer wake up in the morning as

usual. Somebody knocked at the door and bring a magazine. When the volunteers were having

breakfast suddenly they noticed their photos on TV. The TV news said that foreign virus carriers

named “EVS” virus lived in Sępólno. The reporters met with the virus carriers and interviewed

them. They told about the virus they carried on and their life in Sępólno.” This was plot of our

movie which we shoot with the help of our friends. During the shooting we had great fun. We

did each shooting more than 5 times. It took us long but the final was great. It is a bilingual

movie: English and Polish.

The cast of the movie was:

EVS virus carriers` Edy, Aline and me

Reporters ` Lilit, Wiola and Emillia

TV news main reporter` Milen

Cameraman` Sebastian

In the episodes were the wards, the workers and the director in Occupational Therapy

Workshops, the head of the “Adults for Children” Association, staff leader in day-room for

children.

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Author’s advice

Now you know what is EVS? Hope my experience will promote you to do your EVS. My advice

is to do, because it is a great opportunity that is given to the youth and you the youth must enjoy

every year of you youngness. EVS is a great chance to make it nicer and unforgettable. So let’s

all together say:

YES TO EVS