I am so happy to finally feel that Lithuania has changed. The feeling we used to hold so close of the smaller and inferior country is feeling further and further away. We are proud of so many things - and we don't need to feel lesser for maybe some weirder aspects of that. Yes, its all ours and it's something that is important to remember - it's okay you find our pink soup a little strange or skyscrapers aren't tall enough. Finally we can be proud of the authenticity, of the unique quirkiness we hold. And it's okay. And it’s awesome!

Exactly a week ago I made my first balloon animal. A dog. A good one. For a first attempt anyways. It felt strange to be in a space so far away from my daily realities of holding space for stories of trauma, fear and running for safety. It was different. And yet so familiar. This space and those people - I have realized I have spent 23 years in youth work, lifelong learning and non formal education. Maybe scary. Maybe inspiring. Maybe a little bit like folding air…

From 12th to 14th of October 2021, we were part of the project WOMAN project: Working On Mastering Adult Nonviolenza (n. 2019-1-IT02-KA204-063155). Partners from Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland and the Netherlands met in Trani, small town in South Italian region of Puglia.

Travel is amazing - learning new things, meeting new people… creating more space for yourself… but it also has more difficult and more challenging parts to it…

And while I pick the fruit filling the large buckets and enjoying the jolly banter of zio Mimmo (or uncle Mimmo) in the background (or sometimes really close to me!) I cannot help but wonder how this wine will taste next year….