Five Aspects of UpWithPeople program:
1) International Participants
2) World Travel & Host Family Living
3) Community Partnerships
4) Global Education
5) The Show
Cast C tour:
USA: 7 July - 6 August
Denver, Colorado 6 August - 13 August
Tucson, Arizona
AZIJA: 13 August - 3 September
Thailand
EUROPA: 3 - 10 September
Espoo, Finland 10 - 17 September
Sodertaije, Sweden 17 - 24 September
Vimmerby, Sweden 24 September - 1 October
Uelzen, Germany 1 - 8 October
Erfurt, Germany 8 - 15 October
Hasselt, Belgium
USA: 15 - 22 October
Gwinnett County, Georgia 22 - 29 October
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 29 October - 5 November
Easton, Maryland 5 - 12 November
Woonsocket, Rhode Island 12 - 19 November
Hartford, Connecticut 19 - 26 November
Suffern, New York - Mecy's thanksgiving parade 26 November - 3 December
Somerset Hills, New Jersey 3 - 10 December
Bangor, Maine
30.06.2007., subota
Varazdin television (VTV) interview
2 weeks ago, Monday 18th June, I was guest at local television station VTV. I was interview guest in evening show called Koktel which is broadcasted in whole Croatia. I was talking about Up with People program in which I will participate from 7th July till 10th December.
I would like to thank VTV and his director Marijan Varovic for inviting me to Koktel and giving me support for participation in Up with People program. I would also like to thank Andreja Loparic for interviewing me in show.
Here you can see my interview (in Croatian language):
So, as our trip is getting more and more closer, there are more activities to get to know each other more before we meet in real in Denver.
Here is the 2nd activity and my answers:
1.What are your goals for the Up with People program?
My goals for Up with People program would include giving people chance to learn about my culture, motivating and inspiring other people during all activities, making friends for a lifetime and giving my contribution to community.
2. What three goals do you have--either personal or professional--that you want to pursue during the program?
Gaining new skills and as well improve old ones
Learning about other cultures and get to know better how people communicate in other cultures
Networking – making contacts with different people from different places
3. What do you see as steps in accomplishing these goals?
Communicate more with people, participating in all activities with other participants and as well with host-family and having desire and motivation to learn from others
4. What challenges do you anticipate in accomplishing these goals and how could you overcome these challenges?
Overcoming fear of new things and new places (especially 7th July when I’m traveling alone) and home-sickness. As I’m open to new things and I always follow that extra mile no matter what(quoting: “Life is amazing! Even though there will be times when you think you can't go any further and you're about to break down, if you just hold on a little bit longer, incredible things can, do and will happen for you. So don't ever give up and always go that extra mile.”
2 weeks ago I was invited to join UpWithPeople Facebook group so I can get to know people with who I am going to travel with during my semester. It's really great opportunity to meet all participants.
Also, we received our first assignment the same week I joined the group. Our first assignment was to make group of 3 people and find 3 similarities and 3 differences between us. I joined the group with Hanna from Philippines and Rafael from Brazil. Here is what we concluded after long email discussion:
Similarities:
The only one traveling from our countries
Photography
Liking ice cream and chocolate
Differences:
Hanna is an only child, Rafa has a brother, Zeljka has a sister
Hanna is Filipina , Rafa is Brazilian, Zeljka is Croatian (differences in country)
Hanna is Asian, Rafa is South American, Zeljka is European (differences in race)
1. How did you find each other?
Hanna asked Rafael and he asked Zeljka through Facebook. It was pretty fast...
2. How did you establish your similarities and differences?
We started by enumerating things about each other and picked the most similar and most different (it was hard to choose because everything seemed so interesting!!)
3. What strategies can you apply to get to know and make new friends during orientation in Denver?
hmmm -- since we are all new friends the easiest "ice breaker" is to ask about each person's country. From there we can move on to finding common interests and of course talk about differences also in interests and culture. Oh strategies are hard to think about -- the best thing to do is to do what comes naturally!
It would be great if we will meet friends of friends also!
4. What was easy about the exercise? What was difficult (besides the technology aspects)? What's easy was that everyone was so excited and eager to make friends. Each one's interest in getting to know each other is really sincere. Difficult? Hmmm... maybe it was only the first step of "asking" that was difficult. Plus the delay brought about by the time difference/ time zones :-))
It was interesting to read what other people concluded and added as their answers :)
Today I had my US visa interview. I woke up at 4AM to catch bus at 5AM to reach Zagreb till 7. Immediately I went to search for local bus connection for Buzin (Business area of Zagreb) where is US Embassy situated. Luckily, I went on the first bus, which was great, because there was some traffic accident and for some 15 minutes bus didn’t move at all. So, at the end, I came 10 minutes before my arranged interview and now came the waiting part. First I had to wait for a call of security person to enter the building and after that I had to wait for an interview. I waited approximately 1 hour for an interview and I was over with all that around 11. Lady with who I was talking to was really nice and I got my visa
After that, I went to buy my airplane tickets in my traveling agency and ISIC student traveling card and luckily I managed to catch bus for Varazdin at 12 sharp so I did manage also to make one step forward to one of my exams.
In a month, I'm going to eat my ice-cream in Denver
Wow… in less than a month I'm going to explore Denver, US. Time is ticking so quickly that I’m still not aware of the fact that I’m really going to travel with Up with People.
This Friday I’m having an interview for US visa and I’m going to my travel agency to pick up my airplane ticket.
Yesterday, I have received email to join Up with People Facebook so I can start communicate with my tour members. This is going to be great. Through this I will get global picture who I’m going to travel with and I’m really looking forward in meeting all those people.
I’ll write soon as there will be more to write in few days probably.
Today I received notice that article about Balkan Case Challenge 2007 competition has been published on FOI web page (Faculty of Organization and Informatics).
2 weeks ago, Monday 18th June, I was guest at local television station VTV. I was interview guest in evening show called Koktel which is broadcasted in whole Croatia. I was talking about Up with People program in which I will participate from 7th July till 10th December.
So, as our trip is getting more and more closer, there are more activities to get to know each other more before we meet in real in Denver.
2 weeks ago I was invited to join UpWithPeople Facebook group so I can get to know people with who I am going to travel with during my semester. It's really great opportunity to meet all participants.
Today I received notice that article about Balkan Case Challenge 2007 competition has been published on FOI web page (Faculty of Organization and Informatics).