Author: Vasko Talevski

My first thought when I started writing this article was how to combine a simple and useful guide to accompany travellers in their exploration of the biggest state in America- Texas. The Lone Star State, as many people call it, is the American proudest and friendliest state. This giant desert is home to 25 million people: a diversity of communities living under the same blistering sun by the motto “friendship”. Travellers going to Texas need to know few things about the state’s weather, transportation, the beautiful national parks and nature, the manner of conduct, and the tasteful cuisine.

The weather in Texas varies a lot due to the state’s large size, but it is mostly hot, and when I say hot, I mean REALLY hot! The Texas desert is so hot and dry that there are many fires throughout the year. In fact, it is so hot that there are not many trees to offer shade. Texas also has the highest number of tornados in America. People that want to travel across Texas need to take necessary precautions, avoid direct sunlight, wear a hat, and use sunscreen. Furthermore, if you decide to walk and explore the countryside make sure you have lots of liquids with you.

Due to the extreme weather in Texas many people use transportation. The most used vehicles in Texas are the trucks. Texans use trucks for all sorts of stuff but mostly because they are good work vehicles, and go hand in hand with cowboy hats and rough terrain. If you want to explore the countryside, to save some time, and to avoid the scorching sun you better take your car with you or have some other type of transportation.

Texas Highway 22 by Texas Photo Wrangler@flickr.com

The Lone Star State takes pride in its nature. Texas has it all: national parks, mountains, prairies, forests and seacoasts. The abundance of national parks draws many visitors to this state, and this is where the real adventure begins. If you go to Texas and have a chance and time to visit a national park be sure to do so, because it is a must. The parks are vast, clean and well maintained. Some of the most popular national parks in Texas are The Guadalupe, Big Bend, and The Rio Grande among many others. The true colours of Texas are seen in the big clear skies, while the remarkable desert that this state provides always beats the cramped city living.

One thing visitors in Texas have to remember is to respect people. This is one trait everyone should have, especially in Texas. Texans are friendly and like to be addressed by Ma’am and Sir, but get easily offended if not treated with respect. Among the few things Texans do not like is to be called “rednecks” and to be criticized about their barbeque cooking. So, whenever you find yourself in Texas try to be on your best behaviour.

Texas is a place that has a great diversity of people and with great diversity come variety of things. One thing that stands out is the delicious cuisine that Texas provides. The Lone Star State is actually its own culinary region. With the blend of American and Mexican food we get the famous hybrid cuisine known as Tex-Mex. Some of the most popular Tex-Mex dishes are Enchiladas, Chili con Carne, Guacamole, Taco Casserole, Texas Pinto Beans, and many others. Therefore, if you happen to find yourself in Texas, make sure to stop by and try some of the variety of delights offered by the Tex-Mex cuisine.

To indulge in the great adventures and pleasures this gigantic state has to offer, you only need to remember and follow the above-mentioned tips. So be fully prepared, buckle up, and ride through the countryside like a true cowboy.

Yippee-Ki-Yay

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

Fontana Magica by MorBCN@flickr.com

 Author: Jasna Veljanovska

Ah, Barcelona! – Words that are often heard from people who had the opportunity to visit this city. Barcelona will literally take your breath away. You will want to go there again and again. As soon as you arrive in Barcelona, you will be pleasantly impressed by the beauty of the city, especially if you decide to have a walk during the day. The sun gives the city a special charm and portrays the spirit of the typical Catalonian buildings and monuments. What is more interesting is the fact that the sun in Barcelona usually sets at 9 o’clock or even at 10 o’clock in the evening. However, I must point out that even during the night, street lights give one-of-a-kind charm to the city, something that cannot be noticed during daylight.

Let’s start with the city transport. Barcelona’s transport is very well organized. Traffic lights are placed in appropriate places and they ease jams. Of course, sometimes there is a traffic jam due to the great number of tourists who come to Barcelona either with their own vehicle or with sightseeing busses that offer a panoramic view of the city. You will notice that local people frequently use a bicycle to get to desired destinations.

Besides, Barcelona has a huge harbor. It is one of the biggest harbors in Europe which has been increasing the number of tourists throughout the years. Near the harbor, there is a vast monument of Christopher Columbus who points to the sea. The harbor is divided in three zones, the Port Vell zone being the most popular one where only small ships, yachts and boats anchor. Port Vell is well-known for having the biggest aquarium in Europe with about 9.000 different fish species.

MorBCN@flickr.com

Moreover, there is Maremagnum, a huge mall that is, in fact, the only mall working on holidays and on Sundays due to the great turnout of people. There, you can find many brand shops, such as Leftie’s, Bershka, Stradivarius, H&M, Pull & Bear, Skater Shop, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Barcelona FC fan shop, souvenir shops etc. Right near the aquarium and Maremagnum, there is a huge IMAX 3D cinema where you can enjoy yourself watching movies. When getting to this Maremagnum complex, you will cross a bridge that is overcrowded with tourists who either take photos or sit on the benches and take pleasure in the amazing view of the sea. In case you decide to get to the city center walking, you will come across the most famous street, La Ramblas.

There are many different boutiques, restaurants, cafeterias and souvenir shops on both sides of La Ramblas. Just bear in mind that you should be very careful when passing through this street because it is a big target for thieves. Although there are many policemen, they cannot always help you if you get robbed. Barcelona is widely known as a city where tourists are constantly thieves’ target. So, I’d advise you to wear a small purse rather than a rucksack as you won’t notice if someone cuts your rucksack and slowly and professionally “empties” it. The thieves usually operate near the monuments and in the metro so keep your eyes open. You won’t recognize them since everyone can be a thief, from teenagers to elder people. Be careful when asking local people for directions because one of them might be a thief. However, you shouldn’t be afraid too much. Without a doubt, there are many nice and polite people who will gladly help you. Anyways, if you get in touch with the local people, avoid saying that Barcelona is one of the most beautiful Spanish cities. Namely, Barcelona is the capital of the few Catalonian provinces, so locals regard themselves as Catalonians, not Spanish.

Parc Güell - Barcelona by MorBCN@flickr.com

Among the other places you must visit is the famous basilica La Sagrada Familia which is a work of the well-known architect Antonio Gaudi. The basilica is a Roman Catholic Church built in a gothic style. It is not finished yet because it is still in the process of construction. Also, when in Barcelona, you must see the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. Its beauty is not only in its hugeness and glamour but also in the delivery of a spectacular display of colors and lights with a musical accompaniment during nights on certain days of the week. This is a wonderful experience. Try not to miss this sensation. Then, continue going up the hill Montjuic where you can see a typical Spanish village, the Olympic Stadium where the summer Olympic games are held and the renowned football stadium Camp Nou which is number one in the world in seating capacity and former number one in greatness. Here, you can visit the football team’s museum where you can find many trophies, pictures and football stuff which are part of the history of FC Barcelona. When on Montjuic, don’t forget to take a splendid panorama photo of the city.

If you want to eat or shop, Barcelona is a perfect place for that. Not only there is a variety of things, but the prices are suitable, too. The prices in the boutiques are the same almost everywhere; however, if there is a discount, you will surely leave the shop with lots of new stuff. Also, don’t buy souvenirs in the first souvenir shop you see. Go to souvenir shops that are placed far from the momentums or in some mall so that you will get souvenirs for a cheap price. Plus, don’t panic if you didn’t buy that amazing souvenir in the first shop because you can find the same one in all other shops. Last but certainly not least, don’t miss the opportunity to attend a Flamenco show. You will be part of a tow-hour wonderful show with an original Spanish dance and music. Besides, you will have the opportunity to drink as much Sangria (a fruit wine) as you want. But don’t drink too much because the sweet taste can blur your mind so grabbing a taxi will be the only way to get to your place.

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

 Author: Linda Poort

Students will often find an excuse not to dive into the adventure of studying abroad. “I don’t speak the language”, “I don’t know where to start”, “I can’t miss my boyfriend that long”, and the most used excuse: “I don’t have the money”. Think again, it’s all part of the experience. And money is to be found if you work hard to find it!

How to find scholarships?

A good start is, of course, to follow MladiInfo, your link to free education. Every day of the week, we put a lot of possibilities online. Scholarships, paid trainings and conferences, jobs, internships and grants. Even the contests can give you everything you wish for. Just keep an eye on this website.

Google

Another way, if you are in a hurry, is to go look for yourself. Just type in Google which country you want to study in and/or which field of study you are aiming at. For instance, with the search ‘scholarships, grants, fellowships, New York’, I run into this huge list ‘Scholarships & Grants for international students’ http://www.isoa.org/list_scholarships.aspx.

Other websites

• Diversity Abroad http://www.diversityabroad.com/

• Study Abroad http://www.studyabroad.com/

• International Scholarships http://www.internationalscholarships.com/

and many more…

Per country

• Nuffic, Study in Holland http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/

• Hotcourses, scholarship search UK http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk/

• China Scholarship Council http://en.csc.edu.cn/

and many more…

International Scholarship winners by Nottingham Trent University@flickr

How to apply for scholarships?

 Every scholarship has, of course, a lot of rules. Like I said, free money doesn’t come to you easy.

Eligibility

You need to come from a certain country, have a certain background, gender or age, speak a certain language, have certain grades, experiences and/or needs. You need to be in a certain year, or have done a special research.

Then, when you have established you are an eligible candidate, by being for instance,

‘A Macedonian girl aged 26 , who has a University Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and 3 years of recent full-time professional work experience, who speaks perfect English and has a good health, a good character and wants to complete a Master’s Degree at the World Bank’,

you need to go through the application process.

Application

For the application process, you usually have to include a motivation letter, resume, recommendation letters and copies of your passport and certificates. Besides that, you might need to fill in a questionnaire, include an assignment and/or proof of why you need the money.

Scholarship in the digital age by 46137@flickr

How to find the best project abroad

Certainly, the best idea is to already know where you want to go, or what you want to do. Not only does it make the searching a lot easier, but also, you will have the right attitude towards the project, and, therefore, a bigger chance that the money you apply for, will be awarded to you.

If you just want to study abroad, no matter when, where, how and what, then all the links above will give you a good start to find out what do you want. This is very important since you will have to be very clear in your motivational letter WHY you are the best candidate to receive the money.

Either way, the quest for a grant or scholarship will take a lot of searching, writing and working, so you have to be prepared to put a lot of energy in it!

Why studying abroad is great

Are you a little bit startled that getting paid for your experience abroad is not as easy as you hoped for? Well, you will receive a lot in return!

Forget about your excuses

Because studying abroad….

• Is the optimal way to learn a language;

• Allows you to get to know another culture first-hand;

• Will help you develop skills a classroom setting will never provide;

• Will expand your worldview;

• Will enhance your employment opportunities;

And furthermore…

• You will make friends around the world;

• You will learn about yourself;

• You will break out of your academic routine;

• You will have unforgettable experiences;

• You will gain a new perspective on your own country;

So good luck! And let us know about your best tips for getting a scholarship or grant!

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

writing by jjpacres@flickr

Author: Kristina Karabova
(Mladiinfo Editor)

This piece of writing is supposed to be one of the “How to…” guides that people, especially dummies or lazy bones, could use as the first steps to write their article and, possibly, have them published somewhere.

Based on my experience as an editor, after several emotional eruptions, I decided to write something really easy, yet comprehensive, so that next time after you sit in front of your word-editing applications (I guess nobody now uses traditional typewriters – the word that older generations are still familiar with and the younger ones probably have no clue about), you won’t make editors (that is, me) blow up.

Writing

Let’s start with some very essential points that some of you may already know, but for some reason, some people tend to forget about them, so I feel the urge to repeat them.

1. Target group and the style

Think about the imaginary audience you want to pass your message on to. Do young people really want to know about the details you would confide with your professor honoris causa, PhD. squared? And the other way around, would the professor be curious about your last night adventures? I doubt it.

Therefore, my advice is to pick the right style and appropriate vocabulary for each group you might be writing for.

If you are writing for Mladiinfo, try to picture the crowd of people not willing to neither yawn over your dissertation theses nor be repelled by obscenity. Or try to picture me.

And remember, explicit vocabulary such as “f***” or “pi**ed off” shouldn’t appear anywhere, only if you find it absolutely necessary, but still, I would use them either with asterisks and/or definitely put them in quotes.

proofing by sidewalk_flying@flickr

2. Topic and Content

What is your article about? What is it that you are writing about? Before you start writing, try to make an outline of your text. Follow the golden (and beaten) rules of writing: Introduction, Body and Conclusion. For example, paragraph 1 – Why I went to blabla; paragraph 2 – What I saw in blabla; paragraph 3 – Everybody should go to blabla, because blabla; paragraph 4 – I am glad that I was in blabla and definitely want to come back soon etc. Bla.

Stay off OFF TOPIC. Is everything you intend to write related to the topic? If not, leave it out.

3. Heading

Take your time to ponder about a good title for your article. Any journalist will tell you that a good headline is the half the work done. Naturally, it should contain info about the topic. Try to make it catchy and not too long. Not to go too far for examples, I’ll take some titles from Mladiinfo: Stereotypical Stereotype Breaker, My Most Magical Capitals in Europe or My Do’s and Dont’s for Macedonia.

its_love by jonl1973@flickr

4. Turn on your SPELLCHECK

Don’t have one? Install it. Using it, you avoid small mistakes, typos and misprints and you spare the editor a lion share of work (roar!:). If natives can use them, why not non-natives, especially when they are not too confident with the language they use for sharing their ideas.

5. An article, as obvious as it may sound, is not an e-mail.

Remember the nearly faded or scraped off graffiti on the wall in your neighbourhood: “I love you”? You surely do and here, as well as anywhere else, “I” comes, surprisingly, as the capital letter. Always. Note it: capital “I” everywhere there might be “you” (meaning “I”) in question.

Apostrophes. The little zany thing: ‘. You all learned it at schools.

You wouldn’t believe how much effort it saves for the one obliged to read the text after you and also, its important that the word keeps it’s meaning.

These flaws may be easily eliminated by installing the spellchecker. Therefore, install it. (A small hint: it usually comes as the part of the Microsoft or OpenOffice pack, if not, you just google and subsequently download the spellchecker compatible with your word-processing application.) Mac users: click and read here.

Emoticons. Keep in mind that modesty is after all a virtue. No need to use them after every sentence to stress it’s funny. Trust me, if its funny, it will speak for itself and again, go back to the mantra number 5: Article doesnt equal email.

6. Beware of double spacing – a nightmare of people in charge of layout.

One day, they will kill you. No joke. They will come at night and drink your blood: haaahaaa, the revenge of graphic designers. Btw, also to be fixed by the spellchecker.

cat by dude seriously productions@flickr

Pictures

Writing an article is most certainly a very demanding task, but here is another tricky part: pictures. Don’t forget about some topical pictures, as they can enliven even a dull article. Pictures should be your own or you can take them from flickr, but to avoid dragging lawsuits with angry picture-makers make sure they are under Creative Commons license.

Sending

So, your sweat has transformed into an interesting well-structured and spellchecked article, you have selected colourful pictures and now you are entering the last stage: sending.

A point to make: editors do NOT want to see “mail-articles”; your text should arrive as an attachment in a suitable format (text: .doc, .txt, .rtf…), not in the body of your e-mail! The same applies to pictures (.jpg, .gif, .png…) – attach them in stead of putting them in the document.

Right. And now, following these steps you should be able to write and send an article. Not maybe the greatest one, because (unless you are a prodigy) such articles usually come out of either strenuous efforts or long and rich experience, but definitely an article that wont make editors (and me) want to throw axes.

P.S. There are several intentional mistakes in my article. Whoever finds them first gets a free spellchecker from me.

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

Hitchiking in a tunnel by tommyhevroy@flickr

Author: Tomas Marcinkievicus

Freedom of movement is one of the most common human right concepts. Poverty is another concept, mostly common amongst students. Combining these two is a basic skill of surviving in the academic society, and nowadays it‘s not so hard to do it. Cheap flights, bus, train and ferry tickets, carpooling, hostels and hospitality services on the internet are all part of it, but the most philosophical way of free movement is for sure hitchhiking.

Popularized by guys like Jack Kerouac and Douglas Adams, hitchhiking is still commonly used and admired throughout the world, especially in Europe. There are hitchhiking clubs, races, travel logs and databases, but no stable system: some prefer it alone, some do it with company, some do it occasionally, others live on the road, some see it as fun and others make a distinguished philosophy out of it.

Hitchhiking in punk Kosovo

I am the philosophical type here. After hitchhiking in about 15 European countries, I can share my system and its set of commandments, though I‘m sure you will question and discuss it in the comments based on your personal experiences. Here they are:

Thou shalt not think only about destination, but enjoy the road.

Of course you want to get where you‘re going, but that‘s not the only point to hitchhiking. I usually feel disappointed of my hitchhiking trip if a car stops in five minutes and takes me right to the destination point. If it‘s like taking a bus, I miss changing several interesting drivers, having to find the best spot to stand, making signs, even the meditation mood that comes to you after an hour or two by the road. If you’d rather take a bus, be kind and do take a bus.

Exceptions: having no money and desperately needing to get somewhere; being tired as hell and falling asleep in the car; standing by the road for more than 3 hours.

Hitchhiking to Sofia with subtitles

Thou shalt not panic or give up.

It was about 9 PM and already dark when I got dropped off next to a small Slovak village. My destination of the day, Budapest, was hundreds of kilometres away and my chances looked grim: during the whole day I only made a few hundred kilometres, the trip included missing the right turn, staying for two hours in one town, standing on the highway and walking through mountain villages. But these are the moments you love hitchhiking for: almost the first car stopped and the driver said „Yes, Budapest“.

When hitchhiking, one needs to have faith in future. The worst thing that can happen to you is getting stuck in a totally unfamiliar place without any money or acquaintances, but that‘s the adventure, isn‘t it? So keep your head calm and your thumb up at all means.

Exceptions: we‘re all humans: moments of panic and despair are part of our lives; I was feeling most hopeless ever – after 7 hours being stuck by some Slovenian road and sleeping in a truck parking lot on Slovenian-Italian border. Thankfully, I had a good traveling friend then who kicked my ass and made me go on.

Thou shalt not take the road for granted.

You wouldn‘t want to make the gods of hitchhiking angry, would you? They can strike back with furious anger. One of the most important thing while thumbing is letting it go and falling free into the hands of fate. Chaos of the universe is not something you can handle or plan, so just give in for it and go to the end.

If the car stops, even if it‘s for a few kilometres or to the next gas station in the right direction, I get inside. If people prove to be insensitive bastards, I always believe there‘s one black sheep somewhere amongst them. That‘s why I was riding with drunken drivers for a few times (one of them was doing 140 km/h) and I‘m still able to tell you these stories here and now.

Exceptions: the guy who has just stopped has a bloody chainsaw in the back of his car (maybe he just works in a slaughterhouse?) or is about to rape you; standing in the middle of highway is nothing but pure fate.

All ways lead to Riga

Thou shalt be humble.

You‘re a guest in the car that stopped, so don’t apply your rules here. It‘s pretty hard to balance on a tight rope of funny conversation and politeness, but hey, that‘s art. Tricking drivers, like hiding your male friends in the bushes or directing them to a wrong road just because you‘re going there is unacceptable. Why? Think about all the other hitchhikers on the road and how this guy or girl will not pick any of them anymore if you leave a bad taste in his/her mouth.

Most drivers are nice and helpful: they stopped for you, didn‘t they? There‘s nothing wrong to ask for or take offered food, water, beer or a place to sleep, but demanding that is just inhumane.

Exception: stand up for what you believe in anyway: if driver‘s a homophobe, you don‘t have to become one just to please him/her, just disagree nicely; if he/she‘s creepy, you don‘t have to stay at their place.

Thou shalt not think it‘s impossible.

If there‘s a road, one can hitchhike on it. There‘s always a way, even in countries (like the US of A) where it‘s forbidden. Highways have entrance ramps, gas stations and emergency lines. In Lapland, there are roads where one or two cars go per day, but hey, are you in a hurry? And you can for sure hitch yourself a motorbike, pickup truck, horse cart or a tractor. I‘ve been driving in a tractor‘s cart for a few times in Albania and Macedonia and believe me, there‘s nothing more fun than enjoying local scenery this way.

Exceptions: Somalia and North Korea.

Through Polish mountains to Budapest

Extra commandment: Thou shalt not behave according any list of commandments.

Hitchhiking is about first-hand experience, so if you think some ass on mladiinfo.com can tell you how to do it, you‘re wrong. There are lots of discussions on what‘s better: being a guy or a girl, going alone or with friends, using signs or simple thumbing, asking in gas stations or standing by the road, going as far as possible with each car or looking for the best spots to stop etc. All of them deliver one answer: it‘s all personal and relative.

But that‘s what it‘s all about. When I see the road, I am amazed by all the places it could take me to that day, tyranny of accidental events and webs of endless opportunities that I know nothing about yet. So may the exhaust gas of passing cars be your morning tea!

This is one of the winning articles of the Mladiinfo Article Writing Contest. The content of the articles does not necessarily represent the view or the position of Mladiinfo.

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

Author: Vasko Joshevski

People who have taken part in Youth in Action training courses would surely agree that one of the most well-liked activities on the schedule of the course are the intercultural evenings. All the participants gather together, waving their national flags, wearing some characteristic piece of cloth, showing videos and brochures, singing and dancing their traditional songs, and inevitably—offering the drinks that are typical for their countries.

As it turns out, this last “method” of presenting your country is probably the most popular one. It is nice to see how people easily remember the names of the drinks they tried during some previous training course. You can always hear someone asking the Polish guys, “Hey, have you brought Żubrówka?”, or somebody else secretly telling the Macedonians to save a bottle or two of Skopsko for them.

As time passes, many training courses have been organized, and some of these drinks have become quite famous. So, let’s see which bottles attract the largest audience during the intercultural evenings (and apparently, are the first to be emptied).

Żubrówka. One of the best Polish vodka brands. What makes this vodka different from the others is its unique ingredient—bison grass, which grows in northern Poland. You can see a specimen of this particular herb in each bottle of Żubrówka. The very name of the drink is derived from the Polish word for the bison that feeds on this grass.

Drink by Darco TT@flickr

We are still on the Baltic coast. Trejos Devynerios (meaning “three nines,” or simply referred to as 999) is a Lithuanian drink made of twenty-seven (three times nine) different ingredients. It looks like a really complicated recipe. There are three variants of 999: red, green, and brownish. I have had the opportunity to try only the green one, known as Green Nines, and I must say that it has a rather weird taste.

Now, let’s get down to some hardcore Balkan stuff. Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro…there cannot be a feast or a ceremony in these countries without the host offering the guests a small glass of his homemade rakija.

Rakija is a very strong drink (often containing more than 50% alcohol by volume) produced from different kinds of fruit. In Macedonia, for example, it is traditionally made from grapes, but the mixed-fruit rakija is very common, too.

Rakija is usually combined with a vegetable salad (shopska, preferably). In winter, it can be heated a bit and sweetened with some sugar or honey.

Which Balkan rakija is the best? Well, this is a very sensitive question. You know how the Balkans work: each country always argues that they are right, and all the rest, especially their neighbours, are wrong. Each country claims their right to everything, and blames the neighbours for “absurdly” presenting other countries’ land, or history, or whatever else, as theirs.

Anyway, couple of months ago, during an intercultural evening in Albania, a rakija contest took place. After long discussions and negotiations, a neutral commission, consisting of representatives of non-Balkan countries, announced that the Serbian slivovica (rakija made from plums) should top the list.

Tomato and Feta Through Rakija by quinn.anja@flickr

Greek ouzo may be labeled as another member of the rakija family, especially if you take into consideration its striking resemblance with the Turkish rakija (Turkish raki): they both have that distinctive flavor and they both turn milky when mixed with cold water. Very strong drinks; I wouldn’t recommend drinking them without any “meze” (a vegetable spread) close at hand. Turkish rakija, for instance, goes well white cheese.

There is no need for a best Balkan beer contest, since I think almost everyone would agree that this title is assigned to Skopsko. However, we need some geography here: Can Slovenia be regarded as a part of the Balkans? If the answer is yes, then Skopsko might be rivaled by their Lasko.

Nevertheless, talking about beer, and not mentioning Germany doesn’t seem right. Unfortunately, I still haven’t had the chance to meet German participants in these training courses and try original German beer. Czechs and Belgians, I salute you now, too. The European beer throne is all yours.

Similar circumstances limit my choice of quality wine—no Frenchmen or French evenings so far. Therefore, while waiting for them to happen, I would have to refer to my beloved Balkans again. And there, the audience’s “mashallah” (I’m citing a friend of mine from Vlora; “mashallah” is an Arabic phrase expressing delight and appreciation) go to the most famous Macedonian wine brand, T’ga za Jug.

T’ga za Jug is a semi-dry wine, with a lovely aroma and beautiful dark red colour. If you consider yourself a gourmet, this is the right thing for you. 

It is interesting to note that the name T’ga za Jug, which translates as Longing for the South, is taken from one of the most emotional poems in Macedonian literature. You certainly won’t find a better illustration of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “wine is bottled poetry.”

fruit | wine by Robert S. Donovan@flickr

The Balkans drinking journey cannot be complete without the Albanian cognac Skenderbeu. Personally, I’m not a big cognac lover, but I have to admit that this one is definitely worth trying. You can also find a cognac set with a wooden base, a nice souvenir or gift for you friends and relatives.

And at the end, something lighter. Bunar (meaning “well”) is a cocktail that is extremely popular in Macedonia. At first, I was pretty sure that the same thing applies to the whole region, the whole Balkans, but then I was surprised to find out that many people have never heard of it.

All you need is one liter of white wine, a quarter liter of mineral water, and another quarter liter of Schweppes. Mix all that in a jar, and finally, add ice and some chopped lemons or oranges. In just a couple of minutes, you will have one of the most refreshing drinks you have ever tasted.

Cheers!

P.S. After intercultural evenings, participants usually go to bed with a very, very big smile on their face.

This is one of the winning articles of the Mladiinfo Article Writing Contest. The content of the articles does not necessarily represent the view or the position of Mladiinfo.

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

Gran Via (Madrid) by Felipe Gabaldon@flickr

Author: Tamara Atanasoska

This is not a usual “what to do when in Madrid” guide. It is more of a “Madrid seen through the eyes of a Macedonian girl”. With my 10 points I’d like to comment on what amazed me in Madrid and how those amazing things differ from my home city. Also, if these things are taken into a consideration, they could be seen as points that Skopje still needs to work on, to live up to Madrid.

1.    Amazing public transport!

I don’t just accidently put this first! Madrid has great public transport, as every major European city does. The metro is cheap, only 1 euro for a ride, and it literally can take you anywhere in the city. There are many lines that interchange and are spread all around the city. This website (http://www.metromadrid.es/) tells you everything there is to know about the Madrid metro. There are trains every 5 minutes, from 7 a.m. until late night, depends on the line. I strictly recommend the metro when in Madrid; it is clean, fast and efficient. There are stations everywhere, so you can jump on wherever and whenever your feet feel tired of walking. It was quite surprising for a person from Skopje like me to enjoy such a public service. Train tickets are a bit more expensive, so travel, if necessary. For longer distances, buses are a better choice: there are buses for every direction and are more or less of the same price as trains.

2.    Cheap food!

Yes, you heard right, cheap food! The prices of goods in supermarkets are even cheaper than in Skopje, especially of products originating in Spain! Freshly made bread around 0.60 Euros, milk 1.00 euro and so on…I was amazed by how big the supermarkets were and there is everything you need. There were special gourmet sections where extra quality food could be bought, but also with more elevated prices. If you prefer to explore the national food and eat out, there are lots of cheap and good places where you can do that! There are tapas restaurants where for only a 1.50 for a beer you get to choose from the rich variety of tapas (side dishes with meat and cheese) for free! There is also “Chocolate con Churros” sweet breakfast, a kind of a national banana-shaped pastry with chocolate which costs from 1.00 to 3.00 Euros, depends on the place. Explore Madrid on a budget, it is very possible!

la fiesta "Virgen de la Paloma" by Leoncido@flickr

3.    Fiesta!

I had the pleasure of being in Madrid when there was the “FIESTAS DE LA VIRGEN DE LA PALOMA” (15th of August). There was a central place with a stage where music was played live, and with many bars and grills around it. It was huge. I have never seen so many people on the streets, having fun and dancing, young and old. The city streets bustling with such positive energy! From the central stage, there were little corridor streets branching all around packed with young people! The bars have all taken out their drinks and had created bars outside so people were dancing out, on the streets to different tunes coming from every place. The streets were closed with policemen taking care of the traffic in order no one to get hurt. It surprised me that the policemen were really nice, they were also dancing, and contributing to the positive energy around. This is happening in a very large part of the city, there is even one large street that is turned into a fair

4.    Cheap and cozy places to stay!

For as little as 11.00 Euros a night you can sleep in Madrid hostels. For as little as 16.00 Euros a night you can have a private room for two. And that is all in the very center of Madrid, where you don’t need any public transport to get anywhere. We slept in the United World Hostel, a huge hostel where you can meet many young people! If your budget is not limited as ours was, you can sleep in some of the hostels that offer more luxurious places to stay.

5.    History monuments and contemporary art!

I can talk and talk about how I am amazed by the historical buildings and the museums, but there are many guides on the internet that talk about this. I would just like to point out that Madrid has a continuous interest in art and pays much attention to contemporary art. If you have an interest in art, check online for the ongoing events, and I am sure that you can fill not only hours, but days, with things to see! Also street performing can be found everywhere, you can see people singing, dancing and entertaining you on every corner. Mickey and Minnie smiling from the streets, trolls scaring you from behind ( this really happened), Spanish guitars filling the streets with music and I even saw two men creating the whole symphony on pots and pans in the subway. Just amazing.

Winter in Crystal Palace by Felipe Gabaldon@flickr

6.    City that never sleeps!

They call Madrid “the New York of Europe”. And I must say that I agree. At night, the city is so lively! Everything works until late, so many bars, so many discotheques, so many places to go! On the streets there are people inviting you to their clubs, people that are in a state to drag you to the place they work at (in a non-invasive way ), they promote everything from the drinks and prices to the bands that play that night, which I found a nice way to find out about new places. There are some that just pass leaflets of the places they work for and they carefully choose the people, so they might hit you in the spot. For example, they gave my boyfriend leaflets promoting strip bars only when he was alone .  There are even districts that are strictly made for fun, but unfortunately, I had no chance to visit them. For partygoers and for the people that want to have fun in the first place Madrid is definitely the place to go.

7.    Madrid is green!

Parks! Parks everywhere. If you look at the map of Madrid you will see how green it really is. The city is well planned, there are trees and parks on every corner, benches to seat on, tables people can have picnics on or just play some chess. People are allowed to sit on the grass, and in every park there is a sculpture by which you can remember it, or a fountain, or just some beautiful tree. I’ve been to many big cities, but this was the greenest of all. The atmosphere is very relaxed, kids and dogs play together on the grass, young people play the guitar and sing, and pensioners smile to the sun rays. My recommendation is definitely Parque de Montana. I have experienced the best view and sunset in Madrid. It was truly breathtaking.  Also in summer, the sun sets later in Madrid (about 9:30 p.m.), so you have plenty of time to spend the day as you like.
*One interesting fact: In parks, you can see mostly Chinese people that walk around with bags full of ice, carrying cold drinks such as beer, water or coke. You will notice them, as they shout: “Cerveza, Cola, Aqua!” or they will just come to you and offer. And everything costs 1.00 euro! No need to walk to the store, and miss that amazing sunset.

8.    Clean!

People have enough culture not to throw garbage on the streets, so it is clean all the time. Besides good manners, there are teams constantly cleaning the streets. After midnight, there are so many people who clean that it is impossible for the city not to shine in the morning. If there is any trouble, there is police constantly, but the ones that actually care for you. You can always ask them for any kind of help.

Waiting for the Spring by Felipe Gabaldon@flickr

9.    Diversity!

Madrid is a diverse city. You can meet people of any color and nationality. They all contribute to the look of the city and create its atmosphere. There are a lot of Chinese, Africans and Indians. Throughout the city, you can notice many “Alimentacion” Chinese food stores and their Chinese shops with Chinese products. You can find anything there. As for Indians, they have a lot of restaurants with traditional Indian food and many clothing stores, too and not to mention many Turkish “kebab” restaurants and so on! They are mostly grouped in smaller neighborhoods where you can see a lot of people of one nationality. This is always my favorite thing about big cities, the way that they are international and multiethnic. I mean, Skopje is also a multiethnic city but its inhabitants still have issues with the fact. I would be happy to see my home city like Madrid one day.

10.    You can’t get lost in Madrid!

There are signs everywhere, pointing to every direction, every single street is named. If you have a map in your hand, or if you know a little Spanish and you know where you are going, you literally can’t get lost. I would suggest getting one of those free maps at the airport that have a detailed map of the city, with every street named, so take a stroll through Madrid. There will always be something new to see and discover!

That is about it. Just at the end I have to point out one difficulty I had when in Madrid. Almost no one speaks English! Not even the young people. It could be a problem for people from Macedonia, because we are mostly taught only English at school, so if you can, prepare a bit before you go. Without knowing at least some phrases, buying at the store can be a bit difficult as well as getting directions and stuff like that. But I am sure you will manage, with a little effort (also if you secretly watch Spanish soap operas . I hope I helped, and enjoy Madrid!

This is one of the winning articles of the Mladiinfo Article Writing Contest. The content of the articles does not necessarily represent the view or the position of Mladiinfo.

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German flag mickey pin by neoliminal©flickr.com

Author: Ana Alibegova

Though we always keep on talking about the privileges when living abroad, there are some kind of so-called irritating things, that should be mentioned. The most important thing is not to forget to be open minded and ready to “accept the differences” when living in a foreign country. When we say “differences” we do not think about people’s mentality, but the way the daily life functions in the country. Let’s take Germany for example.

The public transport is quite seldom on time

One thing you should be aware of is that the transport in Germany is not always on time. I would rather say it is quite often late, and the worst is that to reach one place, which is not near to yours, you have to change at least 2 means of transport. That makes the system more complicated, because, for example, if the first train is late, it is quite logical that you will miss the second train. The good news is that the connections are quite often, in the big cities each U-bahn comes every 10 minutes. It is good to know to plan your trip in advance, and do not always stick to the timetables. The night buses are very useful, you can use them instead of taxi, which allows you to save some money and still reach your destination.

Straßenbahn in München by kaffeeeinstein©flickr.com/

The taxi is too expensive

There are many people who came for the first time in Germany and were shocked by the price of the public transport tickets. Around 2.50 for a single ride is too much compared with the Macedonian standard, but on the contrary, if you just take a look of the taxi tariffs, you would be blessing Deutsche Bahn. Starting from 5 euros till nobody knows, to use taxi is a luxury in Germany. Even the businesspeople prefer to travel with First class in Deutsche Bahn rather than to travel by taxi for longer destinations. Another problem is that you can not find a taxi wherever you want by just raising your hand, but you have to go to the specific locations where the taxies are. Of course, exceptions are possible, but anyhow, if you have chosen taxi as a mean of transport, be prepared to give more money out of your wallet.

No supermarkets available on foot

Ok, it is quite an exaggeration to claim that, but the whole idea is that most of the supermarkets are not located in the city centre, and the ones that are, are more expensive than the chain markets such as Lidl, Aldi, Penny and Plus. Another big problem in Germany is that there are no small supermarkets in the neighborhoods, as the ones in Macedonia, so it often happens to go back to the supermarket, which includes taking a public transport, or walking more than 20 minutes, just to buy simple bread. Here is a chance to use the knowledge you gathered about the German way of organized living and start organizing yourself. Make a list what you need to buy and even better plan a weekly “shopping”. Otherwise it might happen to you to buy all the ingredients for a salad and forget to buy salt.

No shops open 24 hours

This is a really important fact for the small cities. In cities such as Berlin or Cologne, you can always find some small tobacco shops or somewhere to eat Döner, but it might have been a problem if you are in a city with no more than 300.000 inhabitants. Another “irritating” fact is that the shops are closing around 7 or 8 pm and if your working time ends around 7 pm you might be not so lucky to go shopping during the week. If you choose to check what is new in the stores during a Saturday noon, be aware that there might be many people that have made the same decision as you: to go shopping during the weekend. And of course, forget Sunday if you want to buy anything from the city centre or the supermarkets because the Germans do really want to rest on that day.

Following the timetable

If you are going to study in Germany, you have to plan the whole stay to the smallest details. Start with the day of your arrival: if you are accommodated in a student dormitory, first check how you can get the key of your room. The procedure can be as following: you come at the airport in the city, then you buy a city map and you take the tram or the bus, you go to the Students body organization or the Students centre where you will have to sign the contract for renting the room and than you go to the dorm where your “Hausmeister” will give you the keys. Sounds not so complicated, but the real problem comes out when you will see that the institutions are opened for the students only few hours per day. That is how you can easily be forced to spend a night in a hostel or in the nearest park, just if you arrive later than the opening hours of the students centre. And you should also have luck with finding the “Hausmeister” because he is not working 24/7. And of course, Germany is not a town near your home town, so that you will have a connection each hour. The advice would be to make a good plan, and better arrive a day earlier and be ready for the adventure called “Facing with the German bureaucracy”.

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by Mariska Regtvoort
Photos: Mariska Regtvoort and Katarina Karcolova

In February 2010 I arrived from the Netherlands to Macedonia as an EVS volunteer. Before my arrival I didn’t know much about the country; in the meanwhile I realized I was not the only one, considering the fact that I met people who didn’t know that Macedonia is a country at all. Since I discovered how beautiful and pleasant this country is I decided that it deserves some more attention. I would like to recommend it to everyone: visit Macedonia! To ensure that you will have the best of experiences, here are some of my personal advises:

Don’t: Visit only Ohrid and Skopje

Macedonia is a beautiful country with a lot of culture and nature. Of course, you have to visit the capital Skopje and the famous city of Ohrid, located by the stunning Ohrid Lake. Yet, don’t stop there – there’s much more to see in this country.

A few recommendations:

• National park Mavrovo: Breath-taking landscapes, lake and forests. One of the best places for nature, hiking and winter sports.
• Bitola: This is the second largest city in Macedonia and it is a cultural and historical centre as well. It’s known for its unique and colorful historical architecture.
• Shutka: The Roma municipality within Skopje. It’s the biggest Roma community in Europe.
• Matka Canyon: Find striking nature on the outskirts of Skopje. You can go here to walk, to climb, to visit monasteries or to take a boat and explore the lake. It’s also an ideal place for a picnic.

Do: Visit a monastery

There are countless monasteries that are worth a visit. My favorite one is Treskavec. This monastery is located on a mountain 8 km from Prilep. The monastery is built during the 12th century on the foundations of an ancient temple. You can reach it by a beautiful two hours walk. There is one monk living in the monastery who can give you a tour. An overnight stay is possible for those who truly want to experience Treskavec – I truly recommend doing that.

Skopje

Don’t: Go to the city square

In most cities, the city square is a place to visit. It’s a focal point of the city, surrounded by some fine buildings, fancy bars and terraces.  There can be a fountain in the middle, a historical church or monument. Not in Skopje. What you’ll find there (at the moment) is nothing more than an empty space with a huge construction site in the middle.

Do: Go to Stara Carsija

One great thing about the square is that you’ll find the Stone Bridge, which is considered the symbol of the city, right there. The better news is that this bridge connects you with the other part of the city: Stara Carsija. This part is known as the old Turkish part of the city, and one of the few locations that survived the earthquake in 1963. It is definitely worth a visit. During the day you can wander through the authentic streets with charming little shops for jewelry and Turkish food. During the night you can enjoy the nightlife in cozy bars and clubs with live music.

Don’t: Visit Kale

I used to take visitors to this fortress in the city centre. After a while I started to ask myself: “Why?”, considering there’s nothing so special to see. It looks like a construction site and there is no explanation or whatsoever that could give you any idea of the importance of this place. In my opinion, you can skip this walk.

Do: Go to Sopotsko

Sopotsko is one of my favourite places in Skopje; the bar is located at the beginning of the city park. It might be difficult to find it because you will not find a single sign for it on the building. It is a very cozy bar with comfortable couches and easy-going music. They also have really delicious food, and it’s one of the rare places without a big TV screen staring at your face.

Food and drinks

Do: Drink homemade rakija

A lot of Macedonians make it themselves: rakija. Rakija is a brandy like drink that you can find all over the Balkan and it can be made from all kinds of fruit. In Macedonia you’ll mostly find rakija made from plums and grapes. You can get it everywhere. Don’t drink it as a shot, not only because it’s too strong, but also because you’ll already have another one coming as soon as you finish your first glass.

Don’t: Forget about the alcohol rule

In Macedonia there is one very strange law. It is not allowed to buy alcohol in shops after seven o’clock during the winter and nine during the summer. That sounds like no spontaneous parties in Macedonia! Yet, Macedonia wouldn’t be Macedonia if there was no way to bend this rule. So don’t worry, it can take you a bit more effort, and sometimes a bit more money, but you’ll get your drinks.

Do: Try Macedonian food

Popular and typical Macedonian dishes are: Ajvar (a spread made of roasted peppers), Tavche Gravche (bean dish), sirenje (white cheese) Sarma (cabbage with rice and minced meat) and Pastrmajlia (kind of oval pizza with pork or a dried sheep meat called pastrma). You can eat all these specialties in restaurants that serve traditional food, for example in Kapan An in Stara Ciarsija or Makedonska Kukja. Don’t forget to eat a Shopska salad, its available in almost every place that serves food.

Don’t: Eat fries

Don’t eat fries in Macedonia! Truly. They are almost always underdone. It’s very much like they put them in the frying pan and took them out after 1 minute! The funniest thing is that they put them in everything, like your hamburger or your toast and then they add loads and loads of ketchup and mayonnaise on top of it.

Do: Get fresh food from the pazar

I absolutely love the markets in Macedonia. There are so many fresh fruits and vegetables you can buy there. I love the atmosphere and the amazingly friendly people. The food is very cheap, but above all it is very tasty. They say that everything is organic. Don’t forget to go there!

For more information, here are some useful links:

• Visit Macedonia
• Travel 2 Macedonia
• Exploring Macedonia

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.

Author: Ana Alibegova

A lot of stories and a lot of stereotypes are connected with the German people. Still, if you want to experience their culture and discover the country, there are at least 10 things you should definitely do.

1.    Travel with Deusche Bahn

The German Railway is one of the national features of Germany. For many years Germans have invested in the railway, and nowadays they have one of the most developed railway networks. Travelling with Deutsche Bahn (DB) is easy, though not so cheap. The ticket prices vary from 6 to more than 100 Euros per route, depending on the type of train you are using and how far you are travelling. However, if you want to spare some money, but you have no other option but to use the railway, the best option would be to buy a monthly ticket. If you are working or studying and the only free days you have are the weekends, then you are one of lucky, because Deutsche Bahn has special weekend offers. ‘Happy weekend ticket’ is definitely one of them, when up to five people can travel one day during the weekend, using the regional trains for only 39 Euros! Cheap fast train tickets can be also found, but have to be booked in advance.

2.    Experience Mitfahren

We have already written a lot about this special service in Germany, also very popular in Europe as well. ‘Mitfahren’ is probably the best way to travel around the country; it is quite cheap, fast and available through the Mitfahrgelegenheit website. One concern though: how secure is it? No doubt, that coming in someone’s car and travelling with strangers is not the best way to do it, but you can look at it as an adventure, a way of having fun, a challenge…

3.    Visit a brewery

‘Beer and sausages’ is usually the first association of Germany as a country. Not far from the truth, Germans are proud of their beer and sometimes of their drinking habits. The Germans can drink for hours, in a train, on the street, everywhere. If you ask young people, they would tell you that they don’t even count beer as an alcoholic beverage. The brewery itself is part of the national culture, so you need to be very careful about the kind of beer you order. If you are in Cologne, try to choose “Koelsch”, but in Bremen, raise your hand for a “Beck’s”.

4.    Go to a football match

If beer and the sausages were the first association, then football is definitely the second association of Germany. The Germans are proud of their football and are among the most loyal fans. Watching a football match ‘live’ in Germany can be an experience of a lifetime! It is not only about the match itself, it is about the good atmosphere whole day long, starting from singing fan songs in the trains from the early morning to partying during the night.

5.    Go to a beach party

Beach parties are quite popular in Germany. Usually during the summer huge amounts of sand are placed along the rivers, palm trees are planted around, and an improvised beach is made. The Germans have a habit of lying on the grass by the river, and to lie in the sun, regardless of whether it is warm or not. So, if you are feeling depressed about the fact that you are ‘stuck’ in Germany during the summer, try to cheer up, some kind of beaches can be found in the ‘cold and rainy’ country as well.

6.    Visit Berlin

Not because Berlin is the capital of Germany, but because it has its own story. Berlin is multicultural, crazy, interesting; ‘die Berliner’ are unique, sometimes irritated, and not always polite as the Germans in the west are. In Berlin, there is no big city centre, no centralisation, and no places of interest only around the main square. It is a city with history, a city that connects the eastern and the western culture. ‘Poor, but sexy’ is how people describe the German capital.

7.    Eat Doenner Kebab

Maybe it’s not traditional food, but you can find it all around Germany. With the cost of around 2.5 Euros, Doenner Kebab is the cheapest meal that can be found in the city centres in Germany. International students love it, not only because it is cheap, but also because rather different than traditional food. Except for Doenner Kebab, in the Turkish restaurants you can try great boerek, baklava, etc.

8.    Visit a Chinese quart or a Turkish neighbourhood

Since I already mentioned Doenner Kebab, visiting a Turkish neighbourhood is a must. There you can find delicious food, but also cheap things in the numerous shops. In the Turkish-Arab neighbourhoods you will probably find the best ice-cream in town. If you want to buy some souvenirs, you are at the right place too, just don’t expect too much quality-wise.

9.    Try boat-ride sightseeing

Sightseeing by boat is definitely the best option to see as much as you can from the town in just one day. The sightseeing cruises are not so expensive, but sure are an unforgettable experience. Boat rides along the river Rheine in Bonn or Spree in Berlin, lying in the sun, drinking cold Nes-café and enjoying the breeze…there is no better way to spend a Sunday morning.

10.    Go shopping!

If you are that lucky enough to be in Germany during sales season, you can do incredible shopping, without paying a lot. The best time for shopping is definitely the end of August, where you can find things from the summer collection almost for free. Almost each town in Germany has a famous shopping street. Not to forget that when the sales season takes place, the shops are open during the weekend as well.

Please note that Mladiinfo does not give scholarships or any financial support, but only informs about different opportunities. Click on the direct link to the official page above to apply for the program.