Dates: 1-9 September 2013
Venue: Razlog, Bulgaria
Participating countries: Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Spain and Italy
Participants: Jana Mančíková, Lucie Sigmundová, Jan Hřivna, Jan Hrubeš, Jonáš Melichar
Programme & action: Youth in Action programme, action 4.3, training course
Project report:
Unexpected memories, communication in Czech with Bulgarians, meet nice people who know the way to the airport and don’t speak English, old women at the station who gave me address to write her the letter. These pieces of my memories belong in one of the best week in my life. All things I had first-hand experience of this project.
The plan was clear project started on the 1st of September 2013 in sunny Bulgaria. Razlog with beautiful mountains around was a place for meeting people from Italy, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Czech Republic.
From the beginning, amazing mix of cultures were willing to participate and create something beneficial which was not only for self but also for others. In first moment, there was feeling a love, a friendly atmosphere and an interest in new experience.The name of the topic Cultural mish-mash Innovation and Networking became very popular along participants. We called Mish-Mash everything what we created together meal, dancing, some activities and even mix-language words.
With comfortable accommodation, pure water from mountain and cool owner of hotel Papi everything was in a harmony. I would like to thank to organizators especially Kostadynka, Maggie, David and volunteers for making an extraordinary plan for us. They created such a good atmosphere for cooperation along all cultures. Hot-blooded Italians worked with reserved Latvians. It sounds incredible isn’t it?
Every day after amazing breakfast, we had a plan which should move us to better understanding each other. Common cooking, creation art which was focusing on interculture dialogue, making trip to mountains, playing adventure games with the trip around Razlog; all memories and experience gave us unforgettable knowledge about other cultures.
Eight days we cooperated together as one team. After only one week we were able to work together without any problems. Everyone was willing to accept all cultures there and undestand why they behave this way.
Saying good bye was difficult for everyone but we still communicate. Because of finding new friends from other culture we changed our minds.
To sum up there is one nice accurate statement about Mish-Mash project in Razlog.
“We all get lost once in a while, sometimes by choice, sometimes due to forces beyond our control. When we learn what it is our soul needs to learn, the path presents itself. Sometimes we see the way out but wander further and deeper despite ourselves; the fear, the anger or the sadness preventing us returning. Sometimes we prefer to be lost and wandering, sometimes it’s easier. Sometimes we find our own way out. But regardless, always, we are found.” (Cecelia Ahern)
Jana Mančíková
