Author - Ivana

Večer društvenih igara – “Alias” turnir

17.10.2022. – Centar za mlade KZŽ

Pozivamo sve zainteresirane mlade od 15 do 30 godina, da nam se pridruže na aktivnosti “Večer društvenih igara”, u sklopu koje će se organizirati turnir iz društvene igre “Alias”. Turnir će se održati u Centru za mlade KZŽ (Trg svete Jelene 6, Zabok), 17.10.2022. od 17:00 do 21:00 sati. Prijavi sebe i partnera, pokažite tko je najbolji tim u “Aliasu” te osvojite simbolične nagrade. Prijave su obavezne i traju do 14.10.2022. Veselimo se tvojem dolasku i druženju.

Retro party – 08.10.2022. – Konjščina

Dragi sumještani i prijatelji Konjščine. S ponosom vas pozivamo na Retro party! Stvari koje čuvate predugo u ormaru, baš su za ovu priliku. Kada? U subotu, 8.10., od 17h Gdje? Ispred Doma kulture Kaj bude sve tam? U 17:00h je program i igre za djecu uz nagrade U 19:00h u prostoru Doma kulture održava se humanitarni pub kviz na teme desetljeća od 50-ih do 80-ih uz nagrade. Potrebno se prijaviti na kviz putem obrasca (FB). U 19:45h će se održati aukcija za određene predmete. Od 20:30 uz atmosferu benda Yellow Submarine uživamo i plešemo. Zabavljaju nas i Zalatarbistričke mažorektinje. Ovo okupljanje je humanitarnog tipa. Kako bismo potaknuli zapošljavanje logopeda i olakšali rad, novac odlazi u svrhu kupnje kvalitetnog logopedskog aparata.

MUZEJ REVOLUCIJE – film

07.10.2022. – Zelena dvorana, Zabok

MUSEUM OF THE REVOLUTION, Srđan Keča, Hrvatska, Srbija, 2021., 91’ 

Petak, 7.10. u 20 h – Zelena dvorana

Prije pola stoljeća, arhitekt Vjenceslav Richter predložio je odvažnu viziju za muzej koji bi “čuvao istinu o nama”. U ostacima ovog napuštenog utopijskog projekta nastaje prijateljstvo između sedmogodišnje djevojčice i jedne starice. Kada grad započne brisanje svih tragova Muzeja revolucije, iz života djevojčice nestaju bezazlene igre i priče uz vatru.

Oktoberfest Punkt

07- 08.10.2022. – Punkt Beer House

Vraća se veliki OKTOBERFEST party u Punkt Beer House restoranu. Petak 7.10 i subotu 8.10. rezervirajte za ludu zabavu.

PETAK: TS OSDS UŽIVO

Natjecanje u ispijanju pive, prva nagrada 25 litara Stiegl pive

SUBOTA: DJ LORENZO

Natjecanje u jedenju ljutih papričica by Volim Ljuto, nagrada 500 kn

Očekuje vas tematsko uređen prostor, odlična zabava, hostese obučene u tradicionalnu Njemačku odjeću, posebne pogodnosti, tematska jela i joj puno toga. Svoj stol rezerviraj na 099 39 66770 ili u inbox.

Otvorenje KIKI Festivala – INKLUZIVNO KINO

08.-14.10.2022. – Kino Toplice

Subota, 8. listopada u 18 h – Kino Toplice Pozivamo vas na svečano otvaranje Kiki festivala u Kino Toplice u Krapinskim Toplicamas inkluzivnim filmom Nerazumijevalica, u subotu, 8. listopada s početkom u 18 sati.

Zabok Industrial Race

23.10.2022. – Zabok

Nakon više od 30 godina u Zaboku će se održati cestovna utrka. U sklopu trkačkog događaja “Zabok industrial race 2022” moći ćete birati između dvije utrke pod nazivom utrka “ZA10” duljine 10 km i utrka “ZA5” duljine 5 km. Više informacija o prijavama, stazi i ostalim detaljima možete saznati na: https://www.za10.run/

Radionica osnova WordPressa

13.10.2022. – Centar za mlade KZŽ

13.10.2022. od 16:00 do 20:00 sati, održati će se radionica osnova WordPressa. Radionica će se održati u Centru za mlade KZŽ (Trg svete Jelene 6, Zabok). Broj mjesta na tečaju je ograničen, te vas molimo da se prijavite putem prijavnice koju možete pronaći na www.zagor.info

Radionicu će voditi ESS volonter Mreže udruga Zagor Erkin iz Turske.

Druženje s promotorima

28.10.2022. – Centar za mlade KZŽ

28.10. od 17 do 19 sati u prostoru Centra za mlade KZŽ (Trg svete Jelene 6, Zabok) Dođi i osvoji 2 boda u kategoriji “Umreži se”. Tko može sudjelovati? Mladi koji su se registrirali ili se planiraju registrirati na mrežnu stranicu “Nagrađivanje mladih” Što će se raditi? Mladi će se družiti s promotorima uz kavu i čaj.

Best of TIN SEDLAR show – stand up

12.10.2022. – Punkt Beer House

12.10. (srijeda) u 20:00 sati

“Dragi ljudi iz Oroslavja i okolice, vidimo se u Punkt Beer House-u! Dolazim kod vas s kombinacijom svega kaj imam. Bit će tu best of materijala, nekog novijeg teksta, nekog starog teksta i vjerojatno nečega što mi u tom trenutku padne na pamet. Dakle, svega! Družimo se 80-90 minuta, popijemo pivicu, zezamo se i odemo kući sretniji. Živjeli!”

Upad: 45 kn

Ulaznice mozete nabaviti na šanku Punkt Beer House-a ili putem sustava entrio.hr.

Istanbul, Turkey

Photographer: Lucija Mrzlečki

Istanbul, Turkey

Photographer: Lucija Mrzlečki

Zabok, Croatia

Photographer: Iva Kunštek

Krapina, Croatia

Photographer: Iva Kunštek

Gornja Stubica, Croatia

Photographer: Iva Kunštek

Slušam cvrčke

Nikad nisu bili toliko glasni

Zujanje u ušima

Čudni tonovi vode me u daljinu

U njihovom svijetu nastaje glazba

Zapravo smo mi maleni

Neprilagođeni

Bukom rušimo idilu

Sad nam vraćaju

“Čuj nas”, viču sve glasnije

“I mi smo potrebni”

Neke stvari još uvijek ne možemo kupiti

Neke stvari još uvijek treba doživjeti

Zašto zaboravljamo neke stvari?

Poet: Tina Gmajnić

Umjetnost i slabo mentalno zdravlje često idu pod ruku te se još češće mentalna bolest umjetnicima nađe kao velika muza. Štoviše, konekcija između literarnih umjetnika i mentalnih bolesti još je veća.

Dok ne nužno cementiran, stereotip ‘mučenog, tužnog’ umjetnika jest jedan kojim gledamo na umjetnike već stoljećima, bez kraja u vidiku, datirajući još od 4. st.pr.Kr. kada je Platon prvo izrekao kako je poezija od ‘božanskog ludila’. Sve uz mnogo povoda: razlozi za ovakvo razmišljanje su mnogi. 

Osim znanstvenih studija koji i dalje istražuju poveznicu između kreativnog genija i mentalne bolesti, otkrit ćete kako je vaš prosječan pisac najvjerojatnije u nekom stanju mentalne nestabilnosti te generalno nije neurotipična osoba. Mučen depresijom, socijalnom anksioznošću, bipolarnim poremećajem, psihozom te ostalim, on je, obično, solitarna osoba. 

Autorovo vrijeme u samoći omogućuje mu dugoročan period proveden u svrsi ekspresije svoje žalosti, koja često može biti pojačana manjkom novaca, sna i slično. Dok možemo priznati svaki od ovih indirektnih uzroka, i dalje stoji činjenica da je umjetnik vjerojatno duboko nesretna osoba te mi možda nikada nećemo biti svjesni točnog uzroka ove pojave. 

Smatran jednim od najboljih autora fikcije u modernom Japanu, Shuji Tsushima, kasnije preuzimajući književno ime Osamu Dazai, živi mučen lošim mentalnim zdravljem, adikcijom i afinitetom prema prostitutkama i samoubojstvu.  

Pokazujući još od ranih godina mnogo literarnog talenta, on odlazi na sveučilište gdje inicijalno stvari kreću dobro, sve do naglog samoubojstva njegovog najdražeg autora, Akutagawe Ryunosuke. Ovaj događaj Dazaiu uzrokuje neobjašnjivu bol i on počinje kolebati. U sljedećim godinama, povezan je s Japanskom Komunističkom Partijom, odbačen sa strane obitelji, i vjenčan. Konačno završava fakultet, no ne prije troje pokušaja samoubojstva, od kojih svi završavaju neuspjehom. Njegov život nastavlja morbidnim smjerom sve do posljednjeg i uspješnog pokušaja samoubojstva, prije kojeg uspijeva završiti svoj finalni i najpoznatiji roman: No Longer Human.

Iako se distancirajući od autobiografije, No Longer Human snosi značajne sličnosti života samog Osame. Priča Obe Yoze, ispričana kroz troje ‘dnevnika’ od kojih svaki biva mračniji od prethodnog, jedna je socijalne odvojenosti, anksioznosti i samoće. Prikazujući realistično iskustvo depresivca, Yozov osjećaj nečovječnosti u njemu je prisutan još od ranog djetinjstva te je kao takav raspršen kroz cijelu knjigu, preostajući tako do samog kraja. On nauči prikrivati svoje osjećaje u početku i tim povodom preuzima ulogu komičara te takvim ponašanjem odbija ostale od sumnje u njegovu psihičku stabilnost i svjetovni pogled a dobiva naklonost. Kroz život upušta se u destruktivno ponašanje, tražeći kroz njega način da se otereti svoje boli i, iako ne zamara one oko sebe svojim mukama, nikad ne izlazi iz tog kompleksa.

“I have always shook with fright before human beings. Unable as I was to feel the least particle of confidence in my ability to speak and act like a human being, I kept my solitary agonies locked in my breast. I kept my melancholy and my agitation hidden, careful lest any trace should be left exposed. I feigned an innocent optimism; I gradually perfected myself in the role of the farcical eccentric.” ― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human

Vjerojatno svakome poznat, jedan od najvećih Ruskih pisaca u povijesti i autor dvoje remekdjela, Rat i Mir i Ana Karenjina, Leo Nikolajević Tolstoj u svojim pedesetim godinama pati spiritualnu i egzistencijalnu krizu te postaje depresivan. Iako imućan i uspješan u svojoj karijeri, Tolstoj počinje osjećati iznimnu melankoliju te njegov život postaje “ravan, i više nego ravan: mrtav”. Ovaj osjećaj u njemu budi određene uvide i on počinje propitkivati umjetnost, religiju i smisao života. Njegov problem nije izravno sa uobičajenim životom koliko je sa onim intelektualaca i umjetnika, kakvim je i sam oduvijek živio. Smatra da je živio pogrešno te da se mora promijeniti. U ovom razdoblju, on piše kratko autobiografsko djelo pod nazivom “Priznanje” u kojem istražuje osobno ultimativno filozofsko pitanje: Ako Bog ne postoji, a smrt je neizbježna, koji je smisao života? Djelo počinje bajkom koja metaforički prikazuje Tolstojeva iskustva i osjećaje. On zatim prema temeljnoj dilemi bajke opisuje četvero stavova: Neznanje – u ignoriranju činjenice smrti koja se svakome približava, život postaje podnošljiv. Njegov problem leži u njegovoj svijesti, on naime nije u stanju neznanja. Sljedeće Tolstoj opisuje kao Epikurejstvo: svjestan činjenice da je život kratkotrajan, čovjek može uživati u vremenu koje ima. Ovdje Tolstojev problem suštinski leži u moralnosti. U sljedećem izjavljuje kako bi intelektualno najiskreniji odgovor bio samoubojstvo. U pretpostavki da Bog ne postoji i smrt je neizbježna, čemu nastaviti život? On sam je za ovakav postupak, ipak, suviše kukavičan. Napokon, zbog toga što nije voljan niti je u stanju poduzeti mjere protiv svoga stanja, posljednja i opcija na koju se on odlučuje jest ta da nastavi životom “naprotiv njegove apsurdnosti”. U epilogu opisuje san koji doživljava nakon završetka djela te on stoji kao potvrda o njegovoj radikalnoj transformaciji.

“I asked: ‘What is the meaning of my life, beyond time, cause, and space?’ And I replied to quite another question: ‘What is the meaning of my life within time, cause, and space?’ With the result that, after long efforts of thought, the answer I reached was: ‘None’.” ― Leo Tolstoy, A Confession

U kratkoj priči ‘The Tell Tale Heart’ Edgar Allan Poe na zanimljiv način opisuje ubojstvo koje počinjava čovjek u epizodi psihoze. Protagonist, čije ime ne saznajemo, pripovijeda u prvom licu, dajući priči dojam ‘Priznanja’. U samom početku on se obraća pitanjem: “Zašto mislite da sam lud? Ne vidite li da sam u potpunoj kontroli uma?”. Ipak, upućuje na bolest, opisujući kako su se njezinim povodom njegova osjetila, posebice sluh, pojačala, on čuje zvukove raja i pakla. Ovim agresivnim opravdanjem dobiva se inicijalan uvid u njegovo mentalno stanje. Tada se upoznaje njegova žrtva, starac s kojim živi u istoj zgradi, te on objašnjava kako protiv starca ne gaji nikakve negativne osjećaje, štoviše on ga voli, ne želi njegov novac već njegovo oko, koje ga smeta toliko da ga proglašava zlim. Ponovno poriče ideju mentalne nestabilnosti uvjeravajući kako osoba nezdravog razuma nije sposobna planiranja te elaborira svoj postupak. Predstojećeg tjedna, preko dana starcu iskazuje izričitu ljubaznost dok mu noću potajno ulazi u sobu i izuzetno tiho otvara vrata dovoljno da na njegovo oko položi zraku svjetlosti no, kako je oko uvijek zatvoreno, ne dobiva priliku za izvršavanje ubojstva. Prilika mu se napokon prikazuje osme noći i on uspješno izvršava zlodjelo. Skrivajući tijelo te, uvjeren je da je siguran,  svoje samopouzdanje nastavlja pokazivati i sljedeće jutro kada mu na vrata kuca policija čime započinje manipulativna igra, i naposljetku njegov mentalni slom. Ovaj događaj služi kao okidač rapidnog pogoršavanja njegovog stanja i iako ispočetka smiren i pouzdan, nedugo nakon postaje uzrujan te počinje agresivnim ponašanjem praviti buku u pokušaju da nadglasa unutrašnje zvukove, kada mu se učini da je jedini koji ih čuje. Ovu mogućnost ubrzo isključuje, donosi odluku da su zapravo oni ti koji se poigravaju njime te preplavljen senzacijama osjetila i psihološki iskrivljenim mislima puca i vičući priznaje zločin.

Često izdvojena i razvrstana od mentalnih bolesti, psihoza je poremećaj koji se pojavljuje u oblicima težeći od blažih prema jačim slučajevima i iako stigmatizirana činjenica je da mnogi njome pate te da se ona prikazuje na načine puno drugačije od onih na koje bi možda isprva pomislili, a isto vrijedi i za sve ostale oblike mentalnih poremećaja.

Writer: Stina Lončarević

The exhibition of “Mental Health of Young People” was opened on 20th September 2022 in the Cultural and Tourist Information Center (KTIC) of Donja Stubica. Many people, especially young people, attended the opening of the exhibition.

This exhibition, organized by Mreža udruga Zagor, Stub-Klub Multimedia Center, Centar za mlade KZŽ, will remain open until 4th October. After Donja Stubica, the exhibition will move to Zabok. 

This exhibition is part of the “Art Colony of Mental Health” Workshop. The workshop was organized by Zagor on 2nd July at Picelj. Many young people participated in the workshop under the mentorship of Jana Đurđević and Marija Gebert and they made pictures about mental health. I talked with Marija Gebert about the exhibition and the importance of painting for our mental health.

• Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Marija Gebert. I am a graphic and web designer. I finished school for art, design, graphic and clothes in Zabok. At the art colony on Picelj, I was one of the mentors supporting others in expressing their thoughts through art.

• Why is this workshop important for young people? Can you tell why painting our mental health is important?

As I said, expressing our thoughts can be very useful, especially in the hard time that we currently live in. Young people are the most vulnerable group during hard times, and not giving them a chance to express themselves in various situations can lead to difficulties in their future life on the specter of mental illnesses like depression or anxiety. Expressing several emotions and mental states can be expressed in different ways such as art, music, theatre, writing, etc. Art colony was a creative way of expressing and sharing averseness of the importance of mental health. Painting can be figurative and abstract so it’s a great way to express a topic like this.

The topic was chosen by the Mreža udruga Zagor team. Working with young people they notice the importance of discussing mental health so I really liked the idea.

• How did you feel after the workshop and exhibition? 

I was happy that all kinds of youngsters decided to join the art colony. It wasn’t the point to make a “perfect” painting but to express yourself so at the end of the day, you feel better and have a beautiful piece of art that in a specific way shows how you feel. The exhibition was an event in which we collected all the paintings made at the colony and share them with public so they can find inspiration in expressing themselves and see what is others point of the view of the same topic.

• Did you get any feedback from young people about the workshop?

Yes, the feedback was great. Every young person, watching the exhibition or participating in the art colony shared a lot of different emotions. They also said that they didn’t know painting can affect you in a such positive way. 

• Do you want to add something?

If you don’t like to paint, or you feel you are not able to express yourself via painting, you can always try expressing yourself through other types of art. As I already mentioned you can try music, writing, theatre or aromatherapy as a replacement. Just be aware to share your thoughts through some channels.  

Interview: Evin Arslan

Photos: Evin Arslan

Turkey, Hungary, Croatia… Beyza Çeltik was a European Solidarity Corps Volunteer last year in Hungary and an Erasmus student in Croatia this year. 

She collected a lot of memories and experiences thanks to Erasmus and ESC. Çeltik says “ I gained experience in problem-solving, being practical, organizing events, being creative and leading.”

• Can you introduce yourself?

I am Beyza and I am from Turkey. I grew up in Ankara. Ankara is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia. I am studying Philosophy Group Teaching at Gazi University. 

• How did you decide to study in this department?

First, I tried to study in the faculty of the agriculture department of Food Engineering but I could not like this department and I quit and focused on knowing myself. I like children; sharing ideas and communicating with people. I decided to study Philosophy Group Teaching at the Faculty of Education. I like writing, reading and thinking about ideas. One of the most substantial parts of my life is observing people, walking around the streets, walking and travelling constantly. Since children are the light of our future, it is one of my purposes to do something for them and to be a good teacher. Also, embarking on adventures and being a nomad are among my passions in life. Peace and balance are the base notions in my life and I try to put these notions into action.

• How did you decide to join the ESC project? Can you talk about your application process?

I have been an active volunteer in social clubs at the university for years. Green Crescent, the social club I was most active in, was doing projects. I also would like to go to the Project Coordination Implementation and Research Center at my university and get information. I learned that there are volunteering projects within the scope of Erasmus+, and our university is one of the sending organizations. Also, the GaziEurodesk team has been constituted to announce ESC projects to more people, to write projects and improve their sustainability. I followed the application time; sent my CV and motivation letter for long-term projects, as they should be. I took into account that the institution and project I chose were suitable for me and I was entitled to go. As a country, my alternatives were Italy, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, and Greece. I chose Hungary after considering the contribution of the project in terms of my profession and development and considering its economic suitability. By the way, the allowance and travel fee covered by the project were effective in my decision, otherwise, I would not have had the chance to go financially.

•  When did you start your service?

I started the project in April 2021 and until October 2021.

SUMMER CAMPS, EVENTS, FESTIVALS…

• What did you do as an ESC volunteer in Hungary?

I worked at Compass Egyesület which is a non-profit organization youth center which organizes different events, and activities for every age range. Compass Egyesület is located in Kaposvar, a city with county rights in the southwestern part of Hungary, south of Lake Balaton. I have participated in and organized different kinds of organisations, events and activities, like a summer camp preparation and process, half marathon, consumer rights, language club, bike competition, mother shelter event, civil day events, and festivals. We organized a summer camp for children and it was very precious for me. 

• Have you faced any challenges during volunteering?

Yes, in terms of language, and also we had to struggle to live as a community in house and to be a good team in the organisation we work in. If we can not be a good team in this process, the distribution of tasks, communication and effectiveness in our work will be interrupted. We made an effort on this. I tried to participate in every activity to improve my English skills which required time management and competence in many subjects. 

• What experiences did you gain during the project?

In this project process, how to communicate effectively with my president in my host organization, coordinator, mentor, teammates and the organisations we work with, how to distribute tasks, how to use technology effectively, event preparation stages, time management, taking initiative, being able to overcome my excitement in front of the community, crisis management, I gained experience in problem-solving, being practical, organizing events, being creative and leading.

UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES

• Did you like Hungary? Which places do you suggest visiting in Hungary? 

Yes, of course! Hungary is an amazing country for me. Budapest has a special place and is fascinating to the cities I have seen. Whoever asks the question ”What’s your favourite city?” my answer was always Budapest city 🙂 You could visit these places in Budapest; Hungarian Parliament Building, Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, Buda Castle, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Heroes’ Square, and Gellert Hill. When you go to Hungary also you should visit Esztergom a city with county rights in northern Hungary and for sure you should visit Balaton the largest lake in Central Europe. Also the other city Pécs (The University of Pécs is the oldest university in Hungary and is among the first European universities. Szigetvár, Fonyód, Siófok, Keszthely cities I could recommend for you.

• Can you tell us an unforgettable moment you had during the project?

We had a mentor from America who was about 80 years old. She was such a kind-hearted, energetic and lively woman. Usually, she invited us to her house, listened to our nuisances, played games with us in English, prepared various meals, and always we felt at home. When my project day was finished, I had a train at 6 am on the day. She made cookies for me and came to see me off at the train station at half past 5 in the morning. And all my other friends who were volunteers did not sleep until the morning and came to the train station to see me off. It was a very precious and emotional, unforgettable moment for me.

“PARTICIPATE IN ALL ACTIVITIES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, LEARN THE LANGUAGE AND BE CURIOUS”

• What would you recommend for those who want to apply for the ESC project? 

They should research the country they are going to go to beforehand, know whether it is proper for them or not and whether it is ready for its economic conditions. They should also investigate whether the duration of the project is appropriate in terms of their professionality and development. I suggest that they learn about the organisation to go to. I could say that it is the essential motivation and team spirit for volunteering. I would recommend they have a sense of duty and implement their projects wherever they go. I could tell them to participate in all activities as much as possible and to discover other countries starting from the country they live in. I recommend them to learn the language of the country they live in, even if it is at a basic level, and to be curious. If they are solution-oriented in the face of problems, they will gain a very effective and instructive experience from the project.

• Also, I want to talk about Erasmus. How was your Erasmus journey?

This was one of my dreams – to experience Erasmus+ Exchange and to learn about the education system of a different country. The tutorial was a very nice, sometimes tough and valuable adventure for me, where I saw how I could proceed in the face of tough situations, make my own decisions, and experience what language learning brings. Having friends from different cultures, being able to get to know that culture from them, and being able to communicate without discrimination of language, religion or race as you spend quality time together widen one’s viewpoint. I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience this. I was able to explore Europe and the Balkans whenever I found an opportunity and time. I walked its streets from different countries and cities with my friend who was my comrade and was able to see the difficult and enjoyable aspects of being on the road. Traveling is an indispensable part of my life. Since I studied philosophy group teaching, the most enjoyable moments that will contribute to the field of philosophy, sociology and psychology are the moments of discovery. It is indelible, stories collected in this way.

• What did you gain during the Erasmus?

You could see how you should manage your time with the scholarship given to you for a while. In this process, I learned how to balance and manage my time, education and study process, language improvement skill, social life, dorm life, eating and drinking habits, and economic level. Since I stayed in the dormitory, I had friends there, with whom I could share my nuisance in tough times, and quality friendships were one of my most valuable gains. Being curious about the language, having a broad perspective, getting to know people from different cultures, being able to exchange ideas, enriching my social life with activities and of course studying regularly were among my gains. I have witnessed this as it is always said that language opens many doors. I saw what could change as I improved myself, especially due to my language problem early on.

• Did you like Croatia? How were your Croatia experiences?

Croatia is enchanting with its nature, and I feel like my second country, which remains a pretty and colourful country in my heart and mind. Zagreb was quite calm with a population of about 770.000, and it was amazing and relaxing for me with an underpopulation. It has become a city that enthralled my heart with its cultural richness, parks, museums, cafe culture, cultural richness, nature and people. I could say that people’s fluent English speaking, kindness and helpfulness towards foreigners will make it easier for you to like and adapt to Zagreb. There are also some common words in Croatian and Turkish language (like a böbrek, boya, džezva, maymun) Turkish TV series was also quite famous there.

I studied Unıversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Sveučilište u Zagrebu has many different faculties expanded throughout the city, most of them in the city center. The good thing I could say about this Faculty is that it feels like family, everyone knows each other and professors communicate very well with students. I didn’t have a hard time fitting in because of such a sincere atmosphere. My professors and my colleagues were very helpful. I was so lucky. 

• What are the differences between Erasmus and the European Solidarity Corps for you?

I can say that they offer quite different experiences from each other. When you go for education, your time varies according to your studying and professors. When you volunteer, holidays are limited. This affects your social life, the activities you attend, your language development, and your travel. There is also a conceptual difference between being a student and being a volunteer, which affects your environment. The opportunities offered as a student are more, especially in terms of taking advantage of discounts 🙂

You could get to know and improve yourself on both sides, but with the difference in method and possibilities. I recommend everyone to have these experiences.

Interview: Evin Arslan