My first own project and much more

At the end of my third week I got my first own project I have to manage. From now on I will represent ARS BALTICA in the Baltic Sea NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) Network which supports and strengthens civil society in the Baltic Sea Region by sharing experiences, exchange information, improving knowledge, creating partnerships, supporting the development of international understanding and intercultural activities and raising public awareness.

In November I will visit a conference in Berlin where the upcoming forum will be discussed. I am proud about representing us there but, at the same time, I get a bit nervous because I do not really know what is awaiting me. But, of course, I will do my really best.

The rest of my work is still the same and still nice; last week I published my first newsletter on our website and visited the opening event of the “LKJ” (that is the umbrella association organizing and managing this “voluntary social year”) where I, for the very first time, met all my gap year colleagues who also will be to the introduction seminar on “Scheersberg” which will take place from 22 to 26 October. We were welcomed in a very friendly manner and got to know what would happen in this year as a volunteer (that rhymes :-P).

Inbetween my “hard” work times I created a little “private” project: making chestnut-puppets. That may sound confusing so here you can see some results:

All in all I still love working here. Randy (the volunteer the next door) and I are already having some ideas for our project next summer but this is another story.

First week finished!

Four posts on Facebook, seven texts on our homepage and now a second message in this blog- that’s the product of my first week in the office.

The first impression is that the work is not too hard but also not too little, so I think I’ll be really pleased with it. At all I’m pleased with everything I saw here. The colleagues are nice, the food tastes good and my chair is comfortable- the next year seems to become great.

Big thanks to Johannes who paved the way, and also big thanks to Andrea who has much patience with me.  ;)

I couldn’t have wished a better start.

The new one!

Hello everybody, I am the new one, the Mr. Eihusen 2.0, or just Christoph. From today on I take over the job of the volunteer of ARS BALTICA and sit on Johannes' chair. That means I am responsible for the news on our homepage, for our facebook-page and for this blog.

The former volunteer Johannes has already done excellent preparatory work and it will not be easy to compete with him, but I will try my really best to let you realize the transition as little as possible and I hope you will enjoy my work as much as Johannes'.

I am happy to say that my first tries here at Nordkolleg were really fun and that all my colleagues are so friendly and helpful. Already the second day I went here for sample work I really felt home.
At this point I would like to thank all my colleagues, especially my boss Andrea C. Bayer and my predecessor Johannes Eihusen, for this warm welcome. I am sure that the next year will be great.

Today I met all the colleagues who are not on vacation and got my first deeper look on the complexity of ARS BALTICA's sphere of influence, and it is reaching really far.

I hope you will be content with me and my work – and I’m looking forward to a great Year!

Yours Christoph Starck

Farewell my beloved BALTICA...

Hey everybody out there!

Incredible but sadly true - now it has come so far: Today is my last day at the ARS BALTICA office!
Yesterday my volunteer colleague Sven from the Landesverband der Musikschulen Schleswig-Holstein and me arranged a little farewell dinner with a supporting cultural programme. So I let some pictures speak in the first place.

As “Sherlock” Helge announced I will disclose the secret about Mr X today.
The mysterious visitor was and is Christoph Starck, my successor! From next Monday on he will take over my job and this blog. I wish you all the best Christoph!

It was a really great year in Rendsburg at the Nordkolleg and I’d like to thank all my awesome colleagues and especially my boss Andrea C. Bayer, head of ARS BALTICA Secretariat!

I really enjoyed creating this blog and I hope you had at least a little bit of fun with all the texts and photos.

Maybe you will hear about me again in this blog. Who know's?

I remain with best regards and hope you will remain ARS BALTICA and this blog faithful!

One more time; this was a great, interesting and instructive year in my life and maybe you have become interested in the social volunteer service in the field of culture. Spending a year this way is totally worth it! So, why don't think about this option...

Johannes Eihusen, Rendsburg 31.08.2012

Second Chance

Like yesterday's first impression, we're still sitting in front of the PC.

“Information” seems to be one of the most important terms in this office and always has to be researched excellently – fits to my job as a detective.

And if you ever thought about true office stories, consequent hierarchies, master and servants (not meaning the song by Depeche Mode), you're definitively on the wrong way.

As you see I'm responsible for the blog in these days!

(I reckon they do believe I'm the right one for this job, but actually don't know what I'm selling over here...)

Wow! I've got some news: We're not alone anymore!

In fact it wasn't so yesterday, but I forgot to write about it.

Another guest is at the office, too.

I'm sitting on the opposite observing what Johannes tells him about his work – very interesting talk, very mysterious situation.

Taking a pull on my cigarette I watch out the window and ask myself why this person sits in the same room.

Suddenly there are crazy noises in the office. Johannes starts to whisper something into the unknown's ear and I can't understand a word, mysterious situation again.

Is it a secret information about ARS BALTICA or am I just dreaming?

Maybe you won't find out tomorrow and maybe you won’t the days after, but next week you'll know what I'm talking about.

At that moment I'll probably be anywhere else in world to crack the next case.

Thank you for your attention.

Over and out,

Helge “Sherlock” Holmes