About my training...

I have done my training in "The day centre for children in Antakalnis". It was the first training which took so long (one month). Therefore, I waited it very impatiently. Unfortunately, it is over now, but I want to share about my experience with everybody.

The first days were quite nervous, because I was afraid that children wouldn't accept me, that I didn't enjoy children's confidence. But after the few days the fair disappeared, because children were very friendly. They were very happy that I and other students, who did training in the same place, came to this centre.

I spent about 3-4 hours a day in the centre. Homework was the first thing which children had to do , so I helped them to do it. After doing homework we played, children spent a lot of time playing with computers; sometimes we watched films, made handiworks and other activities. The last day was very sad. Children didn't want to break up. I and other students made a little party for children on the final day. We brougth a cake and some drink. They were very happy about the cake :) !

In conclusion, this training was very exiting and useful. I did all my purposes and missions. I improve my communication's and other skills. I learned how to behave in various situations. This training helped me to approved that I realy want to work with children in the future .

Self-assesment of online listening to podcast

Chronicle Radio: Gap in care for young stroke victims
http://www.sfgate.com/

Jack Johnson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/



This task was very interesting and important, because the aim of the task was to prepare for the listening exam. Podcasts were not very difficult, but one of theM I have listened two times for the complete understanding. There were no written texts so I had no opportunity to read them. The dictionary was quit understandable, but some unknown words I have checked in the dictionary.

I did this task at home, so it was easier to cope and understand. There were interferences in the listening of documentary of Jack Johnson. The music was playing all the time. Also, it took 25 minutes. But, despite that, this podcast was very interesting and easier than other one.

In my opinion, I managed to do this listening quite well, so I think, I am almost ready for my listening exam.

Health policy

There are many definitions of "health". They include:

• Cultural definition;
• Normative definition;
• Functional definitions.

Health depends on a number of factors, including biological factor, environmental factor, nutrition and standard of living. In other words health can be seen as a function of welfare. Unfortunately, there are inequalities in health care. It depends on a persons' social class or other personal or social things and situations. Health policy is very important in every country.

In both countries, Lithuania and United Kingdom, heath care can be divided into a number of different branches:

• Hospital care;
• Primary care;
• Public health.

The health policy is much expanded in UK. The vast majority of health care in UK is provided by NHS (National Health Service). It is the publicly funded health care system in UK. The NHS is held to protect all citizens and their rights to health care.

Despite being quite developed country, Lithuanian health policy is not as expanded as in UK. The process of formulating a national health policy in Lithuania has undergone several stages. Unfortunately, this process is still facing considerable difficulties.

Street children

"The term street children refer to children for whom the street more than their family has become their real home. It includes children who might not necessarily be homeless or without families, but who live in situations where there is no protection, supervision, or direction from responsible adults. " - Human Rights Watch

The number of children living independently in the streets totals between 100 million and 150 million worldwide, and it is forecasted that - by 2020 – the number will increase to 800 million. As we can see, the problem of growing number of street children is very important. Of course, there are a lot of organizations, charity funds or other institutions, which pay attention to this problem, but it is still hard to solve it. One of the biggest worldwide organization is UNICEF. The United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF - works for children's rights, their survival, development and protection.

UNICEF defines street children into two main categories:

1. Children on the street are those engaged in some kind of economic activity ranging from begging to vending. Because of the economic fragility of the family, these children may eventually opt for a permanent life on the streets.
   
2. Children of the street actually live on the street (or outside of a normal family environment). Family ties may exist but are tenuous and are maintained only casually or occasionally.

Also, UNICEF has defined three types of street children:

1. Street Living Children: children who ran away from their families and live alone on the streets.
2. Street Working Children: children who spend most of their time on the streets, fending for themselves, but returning home on a regular basis.
3. Children from Street Families: children who live on the streets with their families.

There are a lot of problems in the street. For example, poverty, lack of education, AIDS, prostitution, all kinds of abuse, drugs, alcohol and etc. About 50% of girls and 30% of boys tried to commit a suicide or 81 % of street children used any form of drugs , in Lithuania. It shows that street children are the weakest part of our society and we must do everything to make their life easier.

Choosing a Student Exchange Program to Come to the US (Online listening)

There are many advertisements in universities which suggest students to travel around the world with exchange programs. I listened a podcast about some of these programs. It was quite interesting and useful. Unfortunately, it was so noisy and lots of background noises, so it was quite difficult to hear everything. I have got to know that there are exchange programs not only for studying but also for working, for example, "Work and Travel USA".
In my opinion, all exchange programs are very useful and necessary for students and young people. I am always dreaming about living abroad, especially in Spain. So I think that these programs helps students their dreams come true. When I was younger I dreamed that one day I would live in USA, but my dream was broken after I had had vacation there. It was quite interesting and funny, but I realised that it is not my dream country anymore. I would like to visit it again but not to live. It is too far from home and culture is different than mine. Actually, I don't want to go to study, I want to work and live there.

Gun control and Virginia shooting

The gun has long been a symbol of power and courage. In most countries it is also frequently tied to independence, freedom, respect, and patriotism. Nowadays, guns control is one of the most important, controversial and intractable issue, especially in the USA. At the heart of this debate is the relationship between the rights of the citizen and the government's duty to provide for the common defense versus the government's authority to regulate firearms. The most debatable question over gun ownership is centered on the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which protects "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." Some people are against this amendment, but other agree with it and say that this amendment should be done more earlier.

The 16th of April was the sad day for the all world. There was lurid school shooting in Virginia which took lives from 32 people. There were two separate attacks about two hours apart on the campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg. Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and wounded many more before committing suicide. Cho used two firearms during the attacks. Several people tried to help others during the attack but it didn't help.

Cho was a South Korean who had moved to the U.S. at age eight. He was 23 years old. At the time of the shootings, he was a senior majoring in English at Virginia Tech. In 2005, he was declared mentally ill by a Virginia special justice. Nevertheless, no-one heeded to him and his behaviour. It had to be more attention from social workers or psychologists.

In the end, it is the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history, which shown that gun control issue is still most important issue in the world and there should be taking more responsibility of using and selling guns.