Meanwhile, in the camp

Meanwhile, before packing the office for moving to Stockholm, we had the Active summercamp in Fredrikstad, Norway. As everyone was there, I'm not going to write a long introduction, but describing what the volunteers did (and what I liked doing):

Our preparations began before the event, in Örebro, thinking out performances, making costumes by Janika, taking stuff etc. On the spot, we started by compiling the anti-tobacco boardgame boxes. First days there was the Active Congress and we assisted with coffee breaks and technical stuff.


Hope that the outcome of the Congress was successful. It was interesting to listen and watch, but on some point - when it was discussed what we are going to eat next time - I made a calculation, if there is a congress every two years, then there are 5 congresses in 10 years. The congress lasted about three days. So it means total of 15 days in 10 years. And if, say, half of it is spent on minor details and technicalities, is it really 7 days in 10 years to discuss the important issues by all the people who fly there and back 5 times? Hope I'm wrong :)

Just to clear it up, it wasn't all about the food, that was just one small episode what made me thinking. And the girl who brought it up, she shouldn't give up, but maybe she can realize it not as an "inner circle"-thing about our own private eating habits but as a public project about animal rights what Active can support. In my opinion, if it's good, why not.




Besides the congress we had the Board performance, directed by Sanja, and our Office performance, what we were scared of... but managed to complete. At least it was very funny to do for us :P Also there was the All Rights project meeting for 2 days, and meanwhile Janika was busy with different tasks, making the video + waking for 7:30 to assist the team with the breakfast arrangements. In the end we had the Active shop and carrying the tables.




On the downside, by the end of the camp, I have an impression that other people's work is not always valued.

For example, if we had set up our outlets, someone dropped random stuff for their performance on the table on our shop items. Without saying anything. And as we were standing on the chairs and hanging up sign for Active shop, behind us the beamer was started and directed to us with presentation for some next performance. Without saying anything. As we were invisible, only people's own goal mattered. There were more examples.

Seem as small things, cultural difference maybe, but for me these are examples of egoistic behaviour, even if people themselves doesn't notice it. So from my point of view, Active people are doing well on alcohol issues but the peace and friendship parts can be improved.




Anyway, the camp itself was good, and thanks to the organisers because it's never easy to make something of this size to happen and satisfy all the tastes and needs of people of such different backgrounds.

Generally, it was good to see all the people, people who you have just talked over the internet, people you have heard of, old and new friends. Hope to be on the next camps in Latvia and Iceland. And then I'll have more time to meet the people and not so tired :)

Alari

Dear Alena, Tadas and Eliina!

In the summercamp I felt like I am giving the reins to the next volunteer crew in the office. So this is my letter to you.

There's 6 days left to work in the Active office and I will leave Sweden at least for some time. So what would I like to say to you?

First. Work in Active office does not equal with Active summercamp through all the year. It's work and it's office. Of course in more tolerant and friendly surrounding than usually, doing the things that you used to do in your free time before. That's why it feels great.

It is very important to set your goals for the year and to keep them in a visible place. You have the opportunity to do much and to make a change - fresh new ideas are always needed. So think for a while, why did you come and prioritise the things that you want to prioritise. It could be writing an extra project on the topic you like, working with some region you want or having your own campaign. Volunteer can do as much as volunteer is capable to do. You should do something that you would be proud of in the end of the year. The plan is needed, because it is very easy to fall into the routine, to be comfortabe and to do only the things that are needed to do.

Then a second thing...you can live in Stockholm - that means a lot of different opportunities to spend your spare time - they even teach Swahili language there for example. Take most of it (not from Swahili, but Stockholm).

One thing that you need, is patience. Even if it seems that Active people are communicating in facebook really much, you will definitly end up waiting for emails that you need answers to and for the end of the year you would do rather anything, but emailing. If you actually meet the people with who you are doing your project, you want to do everything with them and you definitly do not say a sentence "you can send it by email or we can discuss it via email". I know it sounds strange now, but you will see. It's one of the most annoying things  to wait for an email from what your work is depending from.

What you will definitely learn, is how to set goals, make a plan, motivate yourself and to actually finish the planned thing. This kind of work teaches you loads of self dicipline, as you can plan your work time on your own, as well as the activities after work will be new for you. You get more realistic view to the life and will definitly have more control over your life in the end of the year.

A lot of things seem to be more simple and possible.

A year abroad is not always easy and it is never what you expect from it to be.

So go for it!

Janika