Celebrating diversity

Just one fact - currently I'm in the biggest AIESEC conference International Congress in Poland with 549 other people from 95 countries. Pictures speak for themselves.

That is how African Growth Network looks like.

Cultural understanding:) with MaryAnn, a Ghanaian girl:)

Kenyans were really prepared.

Walk like Egyptian...

Sifaan, a guy from Sri Lanka, who just cannot leave AIESEC:D

With "bobute" Audra representing UAE.

Moroco, Poland, Ghana, Lithuania and Singapore.

Tribute to Ausrele - with Australians:)

Tribute to neighbours - Nigeria!

still about home

I've got the answer to my question "how to define home?":

"Home is where your slippers are":) and these ones are with "zydras zuikis":p

Picture time

I woke up this morning at my parents house in Lithuania and it felt like a dream, though it's hard to tell if the dream is to be in Lithuania or the time spent in Ghana was a dream that is over? Good that I've made my hair for IC to be representing Ghana, it doesn't let me forget;)

And I've started thinking "how to define home?". Is it where you are? Where your family is? Where your boyfriend/girlfriend/loved one is? Where your friends are? Where you have residence permit in your passport?:) It's a bit tricky to define and I don't have the answer yet, but here are some pictures from both worlds.
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In Ghana...

Money in Ghana is a fun issue, because the biggest nominal of paper money is 20 000 cedis, which is a bit more than 2 USD or 3 litas or a bit less than 2 euros. So just imagine if you need to buy something bigger - you take a black bag full of money:) Here you see my "salary".

My best friends in Ghana (a fun thing is that for two weeks since next wednesday none of us will physically be in Ghana:): Patrick, Peter, me and Maryna.

Martin - "my first trainee" and a ride in a tro-tro, which is always quite an experience.

A fun gang at Cape Coast Castle: Leke, Misha, me, Daniela (in front), Martin, Kerstin, Saulius, Christian, Patrick (on Saulius)

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In Lithuania... First night out with friends...

Sexy Elvio with Ghanaian necklace. I HAD to put this picture here:p

Daiva & Elvio:) This picture also has more important features: mojito ice tea - delicious;), elvio's gadget collection and both of them are wearing Ghanaian necklaces:)

Somebody received some really cool presents;)

In case you don't notice: I've received an official bracelet with Ghana from the football championship!!! It's priceless...

2006 08 11

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments of dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure ... measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strive
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in your life?

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23rd year of my life has been very special and brought with its end lot’s of changes…

A year ago I was sitting with Giedre, Dovile and Erika at Mambo pizza talking about our future plans. Now Erika is happily married and has a lovely daughter. Giedre has finally returned HOME to start building her life there. And Dovile is leaving for London, to do something I didn’t actually expect of her – following her heart:) I’m proud of you, girls!!!

A year ago I was sitting with Aurelija at Double Coffee talking about upcomming academic year, our work, economics and just our lives. Now she is an even dearer friend, who I can trust with anything. And who, I am sure, has all the abilities of beating anybody (including Kvedaras:p) in expertise of global economics.

A year ago I realized that there are some bonds with some people that cannot be broken by distance, by time or by marriages;) Sidule, Karolyte, Oncik, Indrut – you all still have a big place in my heart.

A year ago I was eating my birthday cake at midnight in the parking lot of a cinema with people who then where just starting to be my team and now are my friends I think about very often. Ausrele, Rutele, Mantai, Romka – I’ve learned a lot from you. The year wouldn’t have been so special without you!

A year ago Daiva&Elvio have already been a role model of a happy couple for me and remain till this day. But during the year I realized, that you are the people understanding my weird passions (like for “Nikita” or me-to-you bears), sharing hobbies (like playing uno, pool or eating nice food) and people without whom New Year (or any other occasion) will never be a fun celebration.

A year ago I spent a wonderful evening with a person I’ve been spending most of my time with for the rest of the year. I don’t know if much has changed there, I just know that you are still the one… Mano katinas yra mano katinas:)

A year ago my work was just my work and my collegues just my collegues. Now they are my other family, who are supporting me, cheering for me and wishing me all the best. I’m sure this doesn’t happen often.

A year ago I loved my family little less than I do now. I’m very greatful for all the doors that you opened to me and the values you’ve transferred. I couldn’t be more proud belonging to any other family…

Juozai, Airidai, Mindazai, Tomux/ Milda, Vaida, Stefa, Lina/ Patrick, Peter, Maryna, Saulius, Misha, Eric - you are also important part of my special year;)

I guess it’s obvious how I measure MY year… I’m happy to have shared it with YOU!

Evening time

The evening time in Ghana starts at 6PM, because that is when it is already getting dark and most of people are done with their work (including trainees). I cannot say that I’ve been to many places already, but the “special” ones are worth mentioning:

Number 1 of course – Smoothy’sJ A sweet place in the “center” of the town (place called Osu), where you can get a smoothy (a shake from different fruit and some ice cream) or a big cup of capuccino. For almost a month there was a promotion week, when you could get two capuccinos for one price. That is how we got addictedJ Also there is one more very important plus for the place – wireless network! As the statistics of previous weeks shows – I go there like three times a week. ObsessiveJ

Number 2 – Champs. The place itself is nothing special, a kind of pub for Obruni people. It’s one of the very few places where there are more obrunies than obibiniesJ And I have to admit, it doesn’t look natural being there. BUT it has one good thing – Thursday is a quiz nightJ Each table can form a team, answer 6 rounds of questions (10 questions in each round) and somebody wins. The winning team gets to make the quiz next week + 300 000 cedis, 2nd place – 200 000 cedis and 3rd – 100 000. There’s also beer and tequila round, which prize is obvious. Well it is a US/UK kinda enterntainment. But I still like itJ

Number 3 – Next door. This is an amazing place near the ocean, where you can sit on a terrace of a restaurant and watch the huge waves crash into rocks underneath. It’s one of those places like from the postcards with palm trees, ocean and happy holidaysJ We’ve been there only once, last Saturday, but I’m really looking forward to going there again – maybe next Friday?;)

Other places I’ve been and other things I’ve done include mini salsa lessons last Wednesday, movie evenings (not in the cinema…) and a club called Boomerang. Now this calls for a little bit more attention. If you know me, you know I’m not a very clubing type of a person, so I’m sure you wouldn’t be surprised that I’m saying that Boomerang is the place I wouldn’t want to go back again. It’s very mordern club with half of Accra in it, packed like “sprotai”, laud music (that’s normal of course…), everybody pushing each other for more space, cages with girls in them… Yet the funny thing is the music they play. It’s not the very mordern music you would imagine in such a clubJ It’s same old R&B that you’d find everywhere in GhanaJ

So that’s my evening life here so far. Though home/office + internet café round the conner are still my best friends, I hope more variety of occupation is coming up;)