My first days in Lithuania

I decided to leave home in Germany to work at a radio station of the Didzdvario Ginmazija in Siauliai ( Lithuania) for 9 month.
The EVS ( a project of the European Union) gave me and another German girl, Linda, the chance to spend some time aboard. There are 6 volunteer in Siauliai at the moment. 3 girls form Turkey and one Portuguese guy who will work as teachers assistants.It‘s very instructive to have many different cultures at one place.

The day of traveling was pretty exiting. I left home early on August 31st but when I arrived at the airport there was lots of time left. I waited with my parents for more than 2 hours just for saying goodbye.When I histerical left them and got in the plain it was getting better but seeing my home disappearing through the plains window was not that easy I expected it to be. I arrived in Siauliai at 9 pm. I got to a Germans techacher‘s house Linda and I will live. I feel well about sharing a room with her, I think we will get along all the time.
The next day, September 1st, was schools beginning. We went to a celebration and I was surprised that it is that big. Students wore glamorous dresses and suits.In Germany when school starts there are lessons the same day but Lithuanian students just celebrate and after it they can go home.
On Wednesday we went sight seeing around the town. When I compare Siauliai to Cologne, the city I live in Germany, than I can say that Siauliai is much smaller than Cologne. In Siauliai there are around 150 thousand citizen and in Cologne there are 1 million. But I like Siauliai. There is everything in here you need and you can get almost everywhere by foot easily which is not even imaginable in Cologne. Most of the schools are in the Center so pupils can go for Coffee their free time. When I wanted to go anywhere in free lessons at home I always had to take a train.
On Friday we were invited to a party.We took the chance to get to know about young peoples free time in Lithuania. We wanted to go there by taxi but it wasn't that easy. The taxi driver did not understand any English word so we had to call a kind Lithuanian girl for translation.
On Sunday our tutor invited us for lunch. On the bus stop we met the friendly Portuguese guy. We got into the bus together. It was really small and so many people were in there. Some stood in the corridor. I think it is quite dangerous, in Germany buses are much bigger. The lunch was great we met some new people and the conversation was very interesting. We talked a lot about traveling, different countries and customs.
Today is Monday again. My adventure lasts exactly one week now and today we start working.

In the end I want to tell you my opinion about Lithuania for now. I noticed that almost everyone is kind and helpful. Additional I remarked that the standard is not that far away from Germans than most Germans think. When I am honest I also thought Lithuania is on a lower standard than it really is. Maybe the reason is that nobody in Germany knows a lot about it and there is just an old picture in peoples heads. I started changing my mind now.
You can only see differences on the streets for example. When I got by bus to Siauliai we were on a fast street and suddenly the asphalt changed into gravel. In Germany such a street would already be closed.
The whole beginning is hard for me mostly because of the language. In the Supermarket its hard to find the right things because most of the packages are not in English.
But the hardest point for me is my family and my friends at home.

All in all I can say that my first days were great and very exiting. I notices some differences to Germany but I think I can get along with them. Siauliai is great but there are some things from home no other country can replace. I already learned a lot for now but I'm looking forwards to every new experience in the next month.