On-Arrival Training

(Photo: Luis Santos)

Every EVS Volunteer has to go through it. Some call it the best part of their entire EVS. Our On-Arrival Training consisted of 5 days in the lovely Puduri Guest House near Ķegums, where we met some amazing people (volunteers, mentors and trainers), learned a lot about Latvia, our projects, EVS and ourselves, enjoyed amazing quantities of food, killed werewolves, painted eggs, sang Bosnian and Spanish songs, blindfolded our mentors and jumped over a bonfire (ok.. a candle). 

Thanks for the amazing time, guys!

Super Stencil Extravaganza!

Spring is in the air, so the EcoTurbulence youth group organized a workshop to help us bring some colour into our wardrobes! Using stencils cut from old cereal boxes and special sponge-and-toothbrush techniques, we brightened up some of our old T-shirts, tops and even trousers!

Going Green with Little People

I'm not a superstar with little children, especially ones that don't speak my language. So entertaining some 30 random kids at the Kalnciema Kvartāls farmer's market was quite a challenge for me! Luckily, we had a small army of (local) volunteers helping us out. This is Anna, planting some veggies in egg boxes with a cute little girl.

World Water Day

It's World Water Day! Together with Pasaules Dabas Fonds, we cherish Latvia's most important body of water: the Baltic Sea. After a lecture by PDF's water expert, we educate the audience about the quality of tap water and show them how to substitute chemical soaps with home-made natural cleaning products.

A Flowery Birthday

It's my birthday today, and apparently in Latvia that means you MUST get some flowers! Thankfully, I have some really nice new colleagues! Thanks girls!

Also, I've learned that your name day is even more important than your actual birthday. I'm slightly respelling my official passport name to "Johanna", and I'm expecting lots and lots of hugs, flowers, presents and kisses on 15 December!