Welcome in January and the New Year! The name-giver for the first month of the year is the Roman god Janus. He is the God of all beginnings and endings, doorways, transitions, and time. With his two faces, he looks into the future and the past at the same time. In the beginning of the…
Hereby we mark the start of November. It might just be that time of the year to sit down, lean back and relax. With colder days and even colder nights, it has become clear that the summer days have passed. No matter what, we have to try to make the most of every day. Although,…
We have already entered October, which does not make you feel that summer is over, thanks to the sweet rush on the streets because of school. Since the arrival of the new year is closer, this month we take a look at the current year and say “how quickly did we get to October?”. Be…
Hey, I’m Alexander. Son of a Venezuelan mother and a Dutch father, whilst I myself am from Aruba and consider myself Aruban. At home we mostly spoke Spanish, until shortly after I was born when we gradually switched to Dutch. I have 2 siblings, the eldest my sister, we are separated by no less than…
Bondia! My name is Amanda, I'm 19 years old, and I'm from a sunny little island called Aruba. It's nearly impossible to pinpoint some defining traits about me; my interests are all over the place! From singing to poetry to debate: I'd be happy to exercise my skills. I love to travel and explore the…
September carries a bittersweet feeling of summer’s end and the arrival of fall. It evokes images of changing seasons, with leaves turning vibrant colors and temperatures cooling down. The month holds a certain calmness as the pace of life shifts, and it’s a time for reflection and preparation for the months ahead. For the reflection,…
Hi! I'm Büşra and I am 24 years old. I came from Ankara which is capital of Turkiye. I already graduated from university. I am an interior architect. I met VCS at my university's conference. The team told us what they are doing about volunteering. I remember very well how excited I was. I decided…
If I have to identify myself with one thing it would be probably water. An organism that can be everything. I am Ismail Eren Demirtekin, I’m coming from Ankara, Turkiye and I’m 22 years old. I feel that I am in the middle of my long life. I am happy because I am meeting and…
Hello, I'm Nele. I'm 19 years old and I live in Mechelen, Belgium. My hobbies are volleybal, photography and musicals. I am a big animal lover. When I came here the first day I saw a lot of cats and dogs on the street and I immediately fell in love. I came here because I…
Have you ever wondered how it is to live on a Caribbean island? We have just an answer for you as 4 brave girls from Aruba came to volunteer in VCS! Let’s hear what Chantal, Lipika, Emely, and Angely have to say at the beginning of their ESC journey far away from home. Hello,…
July - the month of long summer nights, parties, and sunshine! The anticipation of this holiday month is enormous every year. And what’s a better month than July to read our latest articles in this edition of VOICES? July is a month of traveling, whether it’s to heavenly beaches or high mountains. Our topic of…
“What time is it? Summertime!” Let’s kick off the summer with the month of June, which symbolizes beauty in all its forms, from spring’s flowers to the sunlight heralding the arrival of summer. And what could be more splendid than starting the season with long nights, breathtaking sunsets on the beach, or a warm barbecue…
February is the border between winter and spring.” – Terri Guillemets The time has come to say goodbye to the cold winter and greet spring with open arms! Named after Februus, the ancient god of purification, February is the month for a refreshing spring cleanse. Use the last weeks of long nights to take a…
As another year is coming to an end many tend to have a look back on how we spent the time we were given this year. Sometimes it’s good to take a deep look at the beautiful and peculiar things that are there rather than things that are not. The things that can happen instead…
Hello, my name is Katariina and I’m 19 years old. When I graduated from high school last summer I decided to do something different during my gap year and the long term project in Macedonia sounded exciting! Now I’m so happy that I’m finally here after a long visa process. During the few days that…
November is an amazing month when we start to get ready for Christmas. In the preparation for the best time of the year for some people, start the movie season as well. You don´t know what to watch? The topic of the month can solve that with some of the classic Macedonian movies. In this…
Moin! My name is Tamina and I'm an 18-year-old from Hamburg, Germany. I'm interested in literature, politics, history and arts! I appreciate a nice cappuccino after a visit to the museum and I am the owner of two budgies (if you're looking for more fun facts). I have been doing volunteer work in my city…
Hi again! I’m Hugo, former short-term ESC volunteer in VCS. I’m 19 now and I used to live in a small village in the Western part of France. After spending two months in Macedonia this year, I came back for 11 months! The job suits me very well, the people are fantastic and I missed…
August is here as you can see from the weather and from the new Voices edition! Are you already getting enough from this sun or are you craving even more? Remember to stay hydrated and enjoy this weather, it’s not lasting forever. Speaking about hydration, did you know that people in Mexican village consume significantly…
Le vent se lève! … Il faut tenter de vivre!* (Le cimetière marin – Paul Valéry, 1920) Sun is shining, temperatures are rising and people are escaping to the sea: welcome to July! It’s now the time to relax, party or enjoy a good sunbath (but remember to stay hydrated!). While everyone is enjoying the…