O NAMA |
International Students Volunteers - 1. grupa
Volonterski kamp 20009 - Gvozd
Greetings!!!.
For the month of June, students from Canada and the United States will be volunteering at Suncokret here in Gvozd. These students are part of the International Student Volunteers (ISV) program, where they will spend two weeks volunteering in different countries and will spend the following two weeks on an adventure tour exploring the area and places of interest.
Our group of volunteers consists of three girls from Canada and five girls from the United States. We are all very excited to be here and assist your community in various ways. We are very interested in your culture and think that Croatia is such a beautiful country. We hope to learn more about the language, the people, and the history of Croatia and Gvozd while we are here. This is an experience that will stay in our hearts forever.
And now to introduce ourselves.
From the United States:
Hi! My name is Marie Puissant.
I am from Green Bay, Wisconsin. I come from a big Catholic family, with two brothers and four sisters. I have a dog named Emma. I am going to school at University of Wisconsin- Madison for Business and Journalism. I hope to work for an international publishing company when I graduate. I enjoy writing, singing, dancing, and learning new things.
I came on this trip because I wanted to travel and because I love to volunteer. I love kids and learning about different cultures so this is an amazing experience for me to do all those things. I hope to learn more about the history here and to take lots of pictures to take home for my friends and family to see. Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity to be here!
Hey! My name is Jamie Graver.
I am 19 (almost 20) and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I go to Temple University where I am studying Psychology and minoring in Anthropology. I really have no idea what I want to be when I grow up ha, right now I am just focusing on school and traveling. Penguins are my favorite and I love to cook, listen to music, meet new people and hanging out with a few good friends.
This is my first time out of the United States so I am really excited to be here in Gvozd! I think it is beautiful here, and I hope to make a positive contribution during our stay.
Hello, I am Marcy from Canton, Ohio.
This spring I graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor's degree in biology. I will be applying to grad school soon but in the mean time I hope to travel to experience cultures outside of the States.
This trip is my first of hopefully many adventures I will endure through out my life. I thought spending two weeks in Gvozd would be a great opportunity to learn more about Eastern Europe culture and I am excited to start this adventure. I hope to learn many new things that I can share with my family and friends back home.
Greetings from Illinois, a state in the United States of America. My name is Jennifer Gardner.
I am 28 years old, and I am a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana/ Champaign. I am receiving my Bachelors degree in Science of Community Health. I can work in public health, or assisting with community development projects. However, I am going to a graduate school in 2010, where I will get my Masters degree in Science of Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapy is a profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by enhancing the individual's ability to participate, by modifying the environment, or by adapting the activity to better support participation.
I chose the Community Development project in Croatia, because I have a desire to assist people with their daily activities. I wanted to go to a place that I could make a difference. I enjoy hard work, and even more I enjoy the fulfillment that comes along with helping others. I enjoy being around kids, but I especially enjoy helping the children with physical needs. I am a certified nurse's assistant at my job. I work at a facility that takes care of children and adults with severe mental and physical disabilities. If you want to know more about the great place that I work, you can visit the following website: http://www.medicalrehab.com/LTC/swann.htm
Hi, my name is Kristen Runvik
I am from Crystal Lake, Illinois, USA, which is a suburb about an hour from Chicago. I enjoy traveling, learning, volunteering, painting, drawing, and all types of music. I am studying Communications and English at Northern Illinois University. When I graduate in 2011, I am hoping to work for a non-profit organization, so I can help others fulfill their goals and hopes. I really believe everyone should be able to have equal opportunity for education, happiness, a fulfilling life, and the tools to accomplish them.
This is my second time volunteering; I volunteered for the first time when I was 15, in Juarez, Mexico, and it changed my life. I think having the opportunity to volunteer and travel the world is something all people should have the ability to do because it really helps you understand more about yourself, your culture, life, and you also gain understanding and compassion for people and cultures unlike your own. I am really learning a lot about the Eastern European culture in Gvozd, and am enjoying all the wonderful people I've encountered since I've been here. Thanks for an amazing experience.
From Canada :
Salut! My name is Sherry Stanbury and I am from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
I am 19 years old and I am currently studying Geography and Environmental Studies in both English and French at the University of Ottawa with hopes to become a teacher in 3 years. I live with my mom and dad and younger sister when I am not away at school in Ottawa. I love to be outside! I go camping often and I love to play recreational sports with friends.
I am really enjoying my time volunteering in Gvozd. The local people here are very friendly and I wish I knew more Croatian so I could interact with them more. I am eager to see all that Croatia has to offer during the adventure tour that starts in a week, but I will never forget all the memories I have made here in Gvozd with the local people!
Hello Everyone! My name is Sarah Murphy and I am from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
I am in my third year at the University of Guelph studying psychology and biology with the hopes of becoming a child developmental psychologist. From a very young age, I have had a passion for volunteering because I feel that there are always people in need of assistance no matter where you are - whether it is psychological, physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. I enjoy volunteering, traveling, learning about new cultures, playing basketball, and spending time with family and friends.
Since I have arrived here in Gvozd, I am amazed by the beautiful landscape and the kind people who live here. Also, I learned that there are many people from Gvozd who live in my hometown Hamilton which I could not believe! As time progresses, I realize that this experience is one that will reside in my heart forever. Thank you for this unforgettable experience
Hello! My name is Alison, and I come from Calgary, in Alberta, Canada.
I go to school at Queens University, in Ontario, and am studying English and History. I really enjoy working with children and volunteering anywhere I can make a difference, so I am absolutely loving my time here in Gvozd! Everyone is so friendly and eager to help out-I only wish I knew more Croatian, so that I could communicate even better with everyone!
In my free time I love Highland Dancing (it is the national dance of Scotland), playing soccer, reading, and drawing, so doing all of the outdoor activities with the kids in Gvozd has been really fun for me. I look forward to learning even more about the culture and people of Croatia, and am very excited to help out in any way that I can. Thanks to ISV for providing me with such an amazing opportunity to work with children and further my volunteering and teaching skills all at the same time!
