Hello :)
We have safedly returned from the European YMCA tensing festival in Zigenhein, Germany. It was a great week filled with tensing, singing and new friendships. The YMCA volyn group was joined by other Ukrainian YMCA tensing groups as well as over 2000 other tensingers from Europe (even one group from Brazil). I was happy to be the only representative from Canada at the event and everyone kept asking why the YMCA in Calgary doesn't have a tensing group!!! I was able to meet the head of YMCA europe as well as the international representative. I was in a good place and I was very fortunate to meet Peter, who informed me that he worked out at EauClaire Y when he visited Canada, he only had good things to say and he was very interested to hear about the partnership between Canada and Ukraine. I did a lot to spread the word about international partnerships and I made friends with as many groups and leaders as possible. We are currently working on improving the relationship between the YMCAs of Ukraine and Norway. I did my best to represent Canada and the YMCA, everyone was glad to have a Canadian at the festival and they were all proud to hear about the long relationship we share with Ukraine, hopefully this will influence them on connection with an international partner and supporting the development of YMCAs across the world.
As for the festival, well, I danced and participated when our group performed, I think I did well :) I have some photos that I will post shortly. Zigenhein was an interesting village and everything seemed so clean and efficient. It was nice to be in Germany, but its even better being back in Ukraine. The food at the festival was ok, they had a good vegetarian option and did their best to meet dietary needs. There were soooo many people from all over europe at the festival and it was hard remembering names and cities where the participants were from. I made good connections with YMCA groups in Russia and Belorus as well as meeting groups from other regions in Ukraine :) It was a great experience.
My time in Ukraine is almost coming to an end :( I have 23 days left here and its going to be hard to leave. participating in the festival allowed me to realize for the first time since I have been in Ukraine that this partnership is also about me. It is also about my relationships that I have been building with people here and the friendships that I hope will last for a very long time. Being with the group for one week, sleeping in gymnasiums and riding together on a packed and stuffy bus across Europe helped me to realize that I am part of the YMCA Volyn team not only as a volunteer working everyday with youth in the city, but also as a friend :)
