Živa
I studied marketing at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Slovenia. My interests involve visual arts, nature, sports, learning foreign languages and traveling. I like to try new things and embrace new opportunities, so I saw OBC as a perfect opportunity to embrace new challenges. I'm looking forward to discover new passions and share inspirations.
"It's never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot
|
New beginning
The only constant that we have in life is constant change. Not so long ago, I felt some changes are going to happen soon. By changes I mean that little things or steps, which can later have bigger effect in someone's life. So here I am in another city, out of Slovenia, doing an EVS exchange. So...why Slovenian girl goes for an exchange to Zagreb? Who knows...not even me. ;) Maybe because this city and me were meant to be! I've been dating the city of Zagreb now for 1 month and a half. It has been quite good actually. More I get to know the city, more I like it and it fits me perfectly. It already feels like home, even though I have a lot of dates yet to go to in the following months. And of course what would be home without people included? I'm greatful for everybody I have met so far. Also I have a band by my side, also known as my EVS buddies, with whom I am happy I will have a chance to share the path of self - discovery, learning, inspirations, adventures, break - throughs, challenging moments, laughing moments and much more! :)
"It's OK, I'm with my band" - a.k.a. D. M.
"It's OK, I'm with my band" - a.k.a. D. M.
First memories...
Firstly I admit that I was having this blog in my mind for a while now. It's my first blog and I figure it out, it's better to write thoughts on paper right away. Otherwise they get lost during time... I will do my best now to squeeze shortly the best of... :)
After almost 4 months of my EVS, I had time to see how an EVS look like here and of course to think in which directions everything can go. I already strengthen my mind with treasures that other people gave me. Since I came to Croatia, I went on my/our first OBC Youth Exchange, called „Back to the roots“, which was organized in April. It was the first time for me to sleep outside by the campfire and I started to love it. Since then, if possible, I will always choose to sleep under the stars. It's like choosing 100.000 star hotel in natural environment, where you can just enjoy in the harmony of nature sounds, and relax yourself. I didn't mind I had to move under the roof in the middle of the night, because the rain started to fall down. It was priceless. If you are surrounded with good company, even better. During that days we get to know herbs and wild plants more closely, go hiking, chill a bit, had fun, make first international friendships and break the ice with getting to know each other more and connect with each other.
More or less 1 month later we went on Velebit for 3 days to get our first OBC outdoor experience. I like outdoor activities and nature, plus you learn more about yourself, when you go away without mobile or any kind of technology. Therefore the mission was accomplished! I noticed that every time I distance myself from familiar places, there are chances that I will get much more out of my experience. Also I got reminded that you shouldn't forget to enjoy the journey and not think too much about your destination, even if it's a short one. Generally I got reminded that the road of happiness matters. Sometimes we value the comfort and the feeling of stability in life too much. You also easily forget that actually you are the one who is having control of your life. I got reminded to change my perception and value change more. When I check back in time for a moment, I realize how it goes by so quickly, but that only means that I am spending it good.
We are having 4 projects in front of us in the next three months or little more. Of course outdoor adventures are ahead of us as well. I remember the moment when I was thinking: “It would be so cool to work there(OBC), with so many outdoor activities and chances to try something new“. Now I'm here, a part of the OBC team and is even better as I thought it will be. I can learn much more than I imagined, not only from a personal point of view, but also professionally. When it comes to any kind of challenges, fear is replaced with curiosity and mistakes are transformed in a valuable experiences. At the same time I realized, how beautiful is to share your imperfections with others, who help you on your own path and who also help you to grow personally. From my point of view it's about learning new things after accepting the lessons, about different ways of thinking, about new ideas, about sharing and giving, about different kind of life, it's about imagination and it's about a courage to see what you are capable of.
Right now I am looking forward to this weekend, cause I'm going to the Croatian coastline to get some vitamin sea. Me and our roomie Erwin are going to visit our EVS buddy Andrea(Anna I know you will read this, so next time you will join me and we will go dancing somewhere untill the sun goes up again, then we will probably rest on the beach, eating icecream with lots of coconut flour crisps on top or drinking ice coffee ;)).
I will finish today's thoughts with a simple, lovely and meaningful song, which goes like this:
„New life, first breath
Clean water, stress less
Bright lights, no test
So you outta get dressed
Feel right, your at soul rest
Check your order, manifest
Insight, no regrets
Love your life, go on rest…“ – Joss Stone
After almost 4 months of my EVS, I had time to see how an EVS look like here and of course to think in which directions everything can go. I already strengthen my mind with treasures that other people gave me. Since I came to Croatia, I went on my/our first OBC Youth Exchange, called „Back to the roots“, which was organized in April. It was the first time for me to sleep outside by the campfire and I started to love it. Since then, if possible, I will always choose to sleep under the stars. It's like choosing 100.000 star hotel in natural environment, where you can just enjoy in the harmony of nature sounds, and relax yourself. I didn't mind I had to move under the roof in the middle of the night, because the rain started to fall down. It was priceless. If you are surrounded with good company, even better. During that days we get to know herbs and wild plants more closely, go hiking, chill a bit, had fun, make first international friendships and break the ice with getting to know each other more and connect with each other.
More or less 1 month later we went on Velebit for 3 days to get our first OBC outdoor experience. I like outdoor activities and nature, plus you learn more about yourself, when you go away without mobile or any kind of technology. Therefore the mission was accomplished! I noticed that every time I distance myself from familiar places, there are chances that I will get much more out of my experience. Also I got reminded that you shouldn't forget to enjoy the journey and not think too much about your destination, even if it's a short one. Generally I got reminded that the road of happiness matters. Sometimes we value the comfort and the feeling of stability in life too much. You also easily forget that actually you are the one who is having control of your life. I got reminded to change my perception and value change more. When I check back in time for a moment, I realize how it goes by so quickly, but that only means that I am spending it good.
We are having 4 projects in front of us in the next three months or little more. Of course outdoor adventures are ahead of us as well. I remember the moment when I was thinking: “It would be so cool to work there(OBC), with so many outdoor activities and chances to try something new“. Now I'm here, a part of the OBC team and is even better as I thought it will be. I can learn much more than I imagined, not only from a personal point of view, but also professionally. When it comes to any kind of challenges, fear is replaced with curiosity and mistakes are transformed in a valuable experiences. At the same time I realized, how beautiful is to share your imperfections with others, who help you on your own path and who also help you to grow personally. From my point of view it's about learning new things after accepting the lessons, about different ways of thinking, about new ideas, about sharing and giving, about different kind of life, it's about imagination and it's about a courage to see what you are capable of.
Right now I am looking forward to this weekend, cause I'm going to the Croatian coastline to get some vitamin sea. Me and our roomie Erwin are going to visit our EVS buddy Andrea(Anna I know you will read this, so next time you will join me and we will go dancing somewhere untill the sun goes up again, then we will probably rest on the beach, eating icecream with lots of coconut flour crisps on top or drinking ice coffee ;)).
I will finish today's thoughts with a simple, lovely and meaningful song, which goes like this:
„New life, first breath
Clean water, stress less
Bright lights, no test
So you outta get dressed
Feel right, your at soul rest
Check your order, manifest
Insight, no regrets
Love your life, go on rest…“ – Joss Stone
From summer to autumn
During summer I went on some short getaway trips, specially fulfilling was the costline. If not the costline, you can always go to sunbath on your favourite getaway place in the city and for me that would be Jarun lake. I was surprised how empty the city is during summer, because everybody goes towards the sea. For me that only means, you can always choose your favourite spot to chill by the water. Soon I went to Veliki Žitnik, where we had youth exchange "Creative tradition", then later the same month I went in Samobor, where we had EVS camp "Clean nature, clear mind" and right after that I went back to Veliki Žitnik, where the training course "Love every challenge" took place. I must say these projects are a great chance to get connections, learn more about project coordination, facilitation and learn how to inspire others with creating a team spirit. At the end your feel fulfilled, because you see all that happy faces, thankful for the opportunity they shared with you. It's also great, because you can see the "follow up" projects, which participants are doing. This is how ideas are spreading internationaly. So a lot of good memories and a bunch of inspiration got into me during last months. After all the projects we went in Split for a midterm EVS meeting. It was good to meet more EVS people, share experiences to each other, future plans and ideas how to keep up with your personal self - discipline. It was an amazing feeling to go for a swim at the end of October and I must say I will definitely repeat that.
My biggest EVS personal challenge was to climb and abseil. First reason which stands out is my fear of hight. It was something new to try and totally different from previous experiences. I got to the point where my legs started to shake and my stomach was also telling me something. The second time I did it, I went on the rock more calmly and confidently. You practice your fisical strenght, focus and you have to deliver a particular mental and physical effort. A good thing is, you always have people behind you, who support and encourage you. Abseiling was also a rewarding activity of physical challenge. The hardest part is always when you have to do the first step to cross the edge. My body was screaming that this move just isn't natural. It's kinda funny when your mind is asking you: »Why am I doing this again?«. Right after the first step or more realistically a few mouse little steps crossing the edge, became easier to continue. Still a little bit stressful, but then I started to enjoy, look around a bit and realize how beautiful the view is from upper perspective. I got an advice, that it's like riding a unicorn. It gave me even more motivation to leave the fear behind. All these activities are challenges by choices. I knew I want to do it and I just needed to break the ice. At the end I got a feeling of achievement and I was happy as hell! I am looking forward to get to know this sport more closely in the future.
My biggest EVS personal challenge was to climb and abseil. First reason which stands out is my fear of hight. It was something new to try and totally different from previous experiences. I got to the point where my legs started to shake and my stomach was also telling me something. The second time I did it, I went on the rock more calmly and confidently. You practice your fisical strenght, focus and you have to deliver a particular mental and physical effort. A good thing is, you always have people behind you, who support and encourage you. Abseiling was also a rewarding activity of physical challenge. The hardest part is always when you have to do the first step to cross the edge. My body was screaming that this move just isn't natural. It's kinda funny when your mind is asking you: »Why am I doing this again?«. Right after the first step or more realistically a few mouse little steps crossing the edge, became easier to continue. Still a little bit stressful, but then I started to enjoy, look around a bit and realize how beautiful the view is from upper perspective. I got an advice, that it's like riding a unicorn. It gave me even more motivation to leave the fear behind. All these activities are challenges by choices. I knew I want to do it and I just needed to break the ice. At the end I got a feeling of achievement and I was happy as hell! I am looking forward to get to know this sport more closely in the future.
Croatia's treasures
I went cycling one afternoon during the summer and I found lavender. It's strong smell motivated me to bring it home with me and put it in the water. The smell was strong and very pleasant. After weeks of blooming in the room, I realized how usefull it is. It helps with headaches and has calming aroma. You can mix it with chamomile and drink a cup of tea in the morning or you can just throw it in the water and enjoy a customized relaxing bath in the evening. After few weeks it seemed a waste to throw it away, just because the colour was disappearing. I took flower heads of and put it in the small green silky pillowcase. Few months later I am still smelling it on my bed before I go to sleep.
I love nature and animals, but there are some annoying creatures, that I would avoid at any cost. How to deal with mosquitoes? A million $ question. If you are on OBC outdoor program/project or just if you are being outdoor, even in the city, they will definitely take a chance to have a taste of you. I am not a fan of commercial products for protection of mosquitoes, so I was thinking of any kind od natural alternative. I quickly came back to lavender. I read on internet, that it is a natural mosquito repellent. I decided I will give it a try and I used lavender oil as a part of my travel cosmetics. I must say it works! You can also use olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil(yes, I tryed them all) and put a few drops of essential lavender drops inside. Your skin is soft, it smells nice and most importantly, a million $ question gets the answer. For me it's satisfactory. I also use lavender essential oil for candles, which is also another why to scare mosquitoes away. Of course there are some other plants efficient for the same problem, also rosemary would be a good Croatian example. It fits perfectly well with lavender in a flowerpot and it also has a strong pleasant smell, which mosquitos don't like. But I will use this herb more efficiently at next opportunity. For all of the future Outward Bound Croatia EVS newies, I would suggest to take this Croatia's treasure and have it with you on your outdoor program learning experiences.
I love nature and animals, but there are some annoying creatures, that I would avoid at any cost. How to deal with mosquitoes? A million $ question. If you are on OBC outdoor program/project or just if you are being outdoor, even in the city, they will definitely take a chance to have a taste of you. I am not a fan of commercial products for protection of mosquitoes, so I was thinking of any kind od natural alternative. I quickly came back to lavender. I read on internet, that it is a natural mosquito repellent. I decided I will give it a try and I used lavender oil as a part of my travel cosmetics. I must say it works! You can also use olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil(yes, I tryed them all) and put a few drops of essential lavender drops inside. Your skin is soft, it smells nice and most importantly, a million $ question gets the answer. For me it's satisfactory. I also use lavender essential oil for candles, which is also another why to scare mosquitoes away. Of course there are some other plants efficient for the same problem, also rosemary would be a good Croatian example. It fits perfectly well with lavender in a flowerpot and it also has a strong pleasant smell, which mosquitos don't like. But I will use this herb more efficiently at next opportunity. For all of the future Outward Bound Croatia EVS newies, I would suggest to take this Croatia's treasure and have it with you on your outdoor program learning experiences.
Doing what I would rather be doing
The last 4 month went by fast, the last month even faster and the last week the fastest. I even manage to forgot about the time, I'm pleased to realize that. We were enjoying the city and planning our work for the last month. I still had 100 small things in my mind to do. Plus Zagreb it's a city full of happening, things to offer. We presented OBC for two weeks in high school to inform and motivate youth. My conclusion is, If you get smiles back looking at you with curious eyes, you win. It's incredible feeling to encourage the youngest ones to make their first step towards something new. We went climbing as a wish to learn more about outdoor hard skills and it was clear to me that I get rid of the fear of hights for more that I would thought so. I can say now – I love climbing and abseiling! Yey! Every wilderness explorer should try this sports.
For the future I want to play with colours and creativity, learn rules like a pro, so I can break them like an artist. It was a pleasure to create visible material with Outward Bound pictures of outdoor adventures, specially because nature inspires me the most. I like also their whole philosophy about learning through experiences. Learning by doing and stepping out of your comfort zone motivates people in a way that also changes them. Part of their tool box is asking questions to stimulate critical thinking and use of ideas. All that is mixed with personal challenges. It was a memorable and incredible year. I was surrounded by amazing people and nature. I had lots of bonfires, laughing moments, international crossroads and I learned to love every challenge or at least embrace that uncomfortable feelings you get when you try something new.
Not so long ago I read a book and its title got me thinking. Recognizing you are doing what you would reather be doing feels great. It was about focusing on what you really want, or putting attention to what inspires you. It was about provoking your own thoughts, having deep conversations and doing all sorts of stuff that makes you smile. For me it wasn't just about discovering my potential, but also about recognizing unlimited capacity to create my own life. And I would say the right way doesn't exist, it's just your way. I remember a quot that says that sometimes you need to ask an expert for advice – yourself. I agree, but I would add „first ask yourself always“, because you need firstly to trust yourself, to trust life. I will connect this thought with an Outward Bound quot: „We are all better than we know, if we can only come to discover this, we may never again settle for anything less.“ – Kurt Hahn.
For the future I want to play with colours and creativity, learn rules like a pro, so I can break them like an artist. It was a pleasure to create visible material with Outward Bound pictures of outdoor adventures, specially because nature inspires me the most. I like also their whole philosophy about learning through experiences. Learning by doing and stepping out of your comfort zone motivates people in a way that also changes them. Part of their tool box is asking questions to stimulate critical thinking and use of ideas. All that is mixed with personal challenges. It was a memorable and incredible year. I was surrounded by amazing people and nature. I had lots of bonfires, laughing moments, international crossroads and I learned to love every challenge or at least embrace that uncomfortable feelings you get when you try something new.
Not so long ago I read a book and its title got me thinking. Recognizing you are doing what you would reather be doing feels great. It was about focusing on what you really want, or putting attention to what inspires you. It was about provoking your own thoughts, having deep conversations and doing all sorts of stuff that makes you smile. For me it wasn't just about discovering my potential, but also about recognizing unlimited capacity to create my own life. And I would say the right way doesn't exist, it's just your way. I remember a quot that says that sometimes you need to ask an expert for advice – yourself. I agree, but I would add „first ask yourself always“, because you need firstly to trust yourself, to trust life. I will connect this thought with an Outward Bound quot: „We are all better than we know, if we can only come to discover this, we may never again settle for anything less.“ – Kurt Hahn.