Thứ Tư, 24 tháng 8, 2011

Germany trip 2010

REPORT ABOUT THE WORKCAMP IN TAUCHA, GERMANY 2010

The days I spent in Germany was so beautiful that I think it’s the most wonderful and meaning time to me. I learnt lots of new things about German and also new cultures from different nations. I feel really grateful to VPV, which helped me a lot during the time of prepartion and sent me to the workcamp. Now, I want to give my opinions and show you how I experienced my life in Germany. I hope it will be useful for other generations who want to continue the workcamp not only in Germany but also in another country.

1.    During preparing time: ( Before leaving)

I had lots of problems during the time for preparing. The official invitation letter arrived later then scheduled so I had troubles with the visa application although I applied 1 month ealier than the day I went. Then, when it was solved ( actually, the letter didn’t come, maybe some mistakes happened to the post, the leader in German workcamp had to phone the Embassy for me to annouce about that), it’s really short time to prepare everything for such a long journey like that (1 month).

2.    During the beginning days in Germany:

Actually, the International Airport in Frankfurt is very very big and because it’s first time that I have travelled alone to such a far place like that, I truly felt worried. But you don’t have to think about it anymore. Although it’s big,  police is everywhere when you land and you can ask them whenver. ( this was what I really felt safe and comfortable when I was there).

Also, I had some problems with my phone and the ticket for the next train to Leipzig
I didn’t prepare my phone with international call, so it’s impossible to phone my friend who lives in Leipzig too and also my family when I arrived. ( also the German leader in my workcamp, he would see me when I arrived in Leipzig.) Then, I was quite anxious coz I couldn’t contact to anyone. So, I found a machine in the airport and bought 2 International Calling Card. ( actually, I just wanted to buy 1, it cost me 10 Euro per one ~~> really expensive, but I just had 20 Euro note and so the machine gave me 2 cards instead of refunding 10 Euro for me )~~~> 


EXPERIENCE: You’d better change your money into as smaller as possible before coming there or you want to waste money like me.

That machine above is the one that I bought my calling card! 
NOTICE: You can just use that card in the Airport, not possible to use outside. SO, YOU SHOULDN’T BUY IT!! YOU CAN HAVE SOME COINS BEFORE AND USE THE COINS TO CALL.  I WILL SHOW YOU THIS MACHINE TO CALL WITH THE COINS:


 This machine you can use coins to make a call.1Euro at least / time!!

















Next, about the ticket to another place, Leipzig!

It’s really really long time to queue for buying the ticket! So, if its possible to buy before or buy online, you’d better buy it!! It will be much cheaper for buying online ( 50%)! You should also find information about the trip and time of the train before so that you can save more time to buy!!

This is the centre to buy train ticket, it's quite near the luggage place, just some minutes to walk:
                                                   
  From the centre, follow the direction to go to the train station, it's the gate leading to:                                               
                                                  

                         




  3.Leipzig, here we go!!!!!!

It’s was quite long to wait for the train (coz I wanna make sure I will not miss it). The system of transportation here is so modern and very well- organized! Although it is still in the Airport and to move from this place to another place in the airport is quite far, but you can’t feel confusing because instructions are everywhere, and when you need help, you either make a call at INFORMATION CALLING or ask for police everywhere! 

This is the Information Calling, call the airport staff for free and it is used to make an international call with the International Calling Card you bought through the machine above (10euro/one, I already showed you above).


Finally, I already called my friend living in Leipzig to pick me! 

This is some pics I took from the train, this place is not very far from Frankfurt City. The landscape changes when I passed every region. In the North, it's almost flat and there are many coin fields, no mountains, no beaches. The architecture here is also much different to Asian's.!! Houses with lots of chimneys, a few tall buildings, everything is so ancient (it's because I'm on the train way, not in the centre of city )!! 
   
 






Eventually, I arrived to Leipzig!!!!! My friend picked me, and then she lend me her phone so that I could contact my leader in the workcamp! Then he came and picked me with his car to the place we stay:

It’s the community center in Taucha! We stay there, it so beautiful and so convinient inside with many kinds of entertainment:

the park besides our place

our kitchen:)

 our girls' room. so messy:))

entertaining room (also eating room)


 International languages board

 eating outside for greeting new comers.


FEELINGS ABOUT THE FOOD & DRINK:

It’s really hard for me during the beginning time staying there. I couldn’t stand the food there ‘coz it was so fatty and dried. People always eat salad (no tasty, they just put salad, onions, carrots, tomatoes, some salt and they eat everyday like that ~.~ ), butter, cheese, bacon,…
They eat bread in every meal, ( I just could eat rice 2 times during the workcamp!!:(( ).
They don’t usually buy uncooked meat like us, they prefer something to eat immediately than cooking it before to eat. And of course, the taste of that meat will be never as good as our meat with spicy and cooking ( I think so)!
If you are not familiar with that kinds of food, it will be very hard!! One more thing I really like here, German always drink beer!!! I really love the beer here, it’s very light and there’re many kinds for you to choose even you’ve never tried beer before!!

The water, it’s very clean and you can drink water everywhere, even in the toilet! However, I don’t like water with gases inside, but it’s very common there, so I prefered to drink water in toilet than that water!!! J).


4.    OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORKING:


 

Our work was very easy: scratching the old painting on wall out and re-paint itJ. We painted with new colors and designs- made by us!! After 1 week for scratching and 1 week for repainting, we give our hands with re-decorating the items in the park besides our place.


our team!!!! (just lazy ones don't want to work anymore) :))










 cute mates

 joking in work:)

 again relax



                                                          hard working guy:x




writing  in many languages!!

On the wall is our achievement:
                  “Community Centre” written in Vietnamese, German, French, Serbian, Japanese, Spanish.

Futhermore, we had some lessons about Environmental Issues, Self-organization, Cutural Exchange. We shared our thoughts about those topics and made a report about our speech. Through then, I found many new things about different nations’ thoughts. How they think? How they solve? How they face to environmental problems? What did they do by themselves to contribute? Many questions were mentioned and discussed very extensively, which really helped me realize many important things.


~~~> Some pics about Honey Making "Class":




Now are more about Bio "Class"





OUR AIM to this workcamp: how self-organized we are when we’re together. Everybody had the right to say what they want to do with our money and then all we had to make a common decision. At first glance, it seems very easy but not. We had to make one decision and make a clear plan with our money per week.
 our task

 our money making decision

 our plan for 3 weeks

 discussing what to do
  OUR MEMORABLE MOMENT:

 free hug:X:X

 lazy sleepy girls:))

 cooking team:X

 3 girls hanging out and trying new carry sausage:X

crazy girls trying new style




asian dishes

spanish dish

french food

everyday always with big meals at night:X


 warm and happy dinner together:X

after dinner:)), telling ghost stories and playing card.

our beautiful pic:X


OUR VIOLENT GAME BUT SO EXCITED :X:X



























5.    OUR LEISURE ACTIVITIES:

5a. Leipzig:


Leipzig is a quite ancient city with many old buildings and architecture. Our place is just 10km far to this city so whenever we want to go out, we usually go to downtown and go shopping or just for sightseeingJ








hanging out 

on the tram:)








5b. Berlin:

We visited Berlin on Sunday of the second week. It just cost us 15 euro ( include the train fees, foods, sightseeings…) for the trip per one. SO CHEAP!! Our leader is living in Berlin so he wants to introduce about that city to us!! We walked the whole dayJ Very interesting city!! Everywhere is full of music and people!!!
































Funny moments!





















             



5c. DRESDEN:




We went to Dresden due to a Music Festival!! It’s so funny and interesting! Festivals are hold every week to raise funds and everybody can join if they want!! People come to have fun at weekends and to relaxJ. They really enjoy their life, I think so! We stayed there for 3 days 2 nights!!