Our most recent project and visit was our Bulgarian twin city, Popovo. Our group was very happy to be there,and most glad about this opportunity to be a part of such a project that allowed us to express our opinions and ideas about different parts of our society. Our journey started on the 17th of October, when we packed our bags and went on an adventure that will turn out to be a great experience. We arrived at Popovo where we were greeted by our hosts from the project,and gave us directions about the next few days and the way the project was going to go on.
The next day,we headed of to our first presentation,where we met kids from Popovo, also participants in the project and we had a chance to get to know each other and start working as a group.
Our first assignment was to make a comparison between our two cities and just get to know our similarities as twin cities and differences, what we would like to change about them, and just present our problems out in the open and try to come up with solutions that might help. The task was not easy,and working as a group with people we do not know was a challenge, but we overcame the obstacles and saw this as a chance to make a fine mix of hard work and making friends. Eventually our well oiled machine produced a fine product from our ideas, points of view,and experiences, so we all just had a chance to present our views about the task and find out how we can solve whatever the problem was.
And after a day of hard work, there is nothing better than a nice football match. Macedonia vs. Bulgaria, people place your bets, the winner takes it all! Our non-professional football players, did a nice job on the field, but in the and the hosts were victorious. Well, at least our players left the heart on the field, and a well taught lesson to take home.
Oh,and did a mention our little Macedonian crew had an artist and a opera singer in it? After the football match we had the honor to be guests in Elizabeta Najdova’s art exhibition,where the opening was crowned with Kristina Palija’s magnificent voise,that bounced of the walls and landed into our hearts.What an ambrosia for the soul.
Our job was to work as a group again and be a part of a simulated municipal council and try to integrate our ideas about how we can change and improve Popovo as a city. The youngsters in Popovo gave us a glimpse of what ideas and improvements they would like to be done in Popovo, so that it will become a better place for future generations and of course themselves. We were divided by political parties and we had to make alliances in order for our ideas to be approved from president of municipal council and get majority of the votes.We had a long day filled with ideas,and of course the best ones were approved, but the important thing was that for the first time the youngsters could really present ideas and ways for them to be realized all by themselves.
And now, guess what?! It’s Paintball time! For many of us, it was our first time doing this, but as it turns out, there is a little soldier hidden in us as well. We were assigned in mixed groups, we put our helmets, and safety vests along with some really cool military clothing (safety first). And let the games begin! The game took place in a really big park, but it really felt like the woods. Paint was fired, soldiers went down, but hey, you know what they say, no pain no gain. After a long day we went to dinner and, afterwards a party of course! The perfect ending to a perfect day.
The last assignment was about the European Union. The Bulgarian youngsters presented the ways their country has changed since they became a part of EU and their expectations for the future. We, the Macedonians, presented our hopes and also expectations from the EU, since we are candidates for membership to the EU. This gave us a chance to share points of view about the EU with our east neighbor and see the way their country has evolved since 2007, the year they became members of the EU.
This journey was an unforgettable experience,and we were amazed not only from their professionalism and the way they greeted us,but also from their culture,which was very rich and diverse.We all hope we will come back to our friends in the east,and that this story will continue.The memories that we carry in our hearts will stay there forever and friendships that were made here will never be forgotten.We are all the same and yet so different,but the one thing that unites us all is the hope for a better tomorrow and creativity that is a necessary tool to affirm ourselves in this society and world that we cherish so much.
Text: Elena Petrova
Photography: Monika JoševaCoordinator: Emilija Andonova
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