[..] my land is my only home.

Remember when I told you about Festival of Songs and Dances? Well, this year it is going to be the "smaller" one - only the pupils are taking part in it. But still - there will be 8000 pupils! Wow.
Here you can watch the video from Pupils' Festival of Songs and Dances 2009 - beautiful song and lovely lyrics.
Tonight I'm going to this concert, so I promise to share some photos or videos afterwards. I can't wait, I'm so excited! It's something indescribable to see thousands of people sing the same song as one.. Every face is so happy, so joyful. It's just magical.
Have a lovely weekend, dears!
xoxo
Ak.

I will never forget your pain

But you have to know how soon the trees will be blooming again

Someday I will turn into the tree myself

My land will call me home..

Only she is the true meaning

Nothing will  ever change her

Only for her you sacrifice everything

She's your beginning and your end.

first summer weekend.

After my semester exams it was the first summer weekend that I could have. So me and my family went to see the aurochs (more info in lithuanian here) kept in captivity near my hometown and to roast some shashlik in the fireplace somewhere in the nature. Later I joked with my friends that guess, which kind of meat did we eat, haha. Just joking, really. Actually there are only 30 aurochs left in Lithuania and 20 more are kept in this park - aurochs are included in the international Red book as a threatened species. They are the most bulky wild animals in Europe! Look at them:

autumn memories: Trakai.

As I didn't make some photos from our trip last weekend, I've searched my computer for some old ones and I have to say - I have tons of photos I haven't shared yet. 

Here's what I've found - some beautiful photos from the trip to one of the most wonderful towns in Lithuania, Trakai. I was there with my parents and my sister last September celebrating her birthday.

Take a tour!

singing language.

photo via Archyvai

Did you know that Lithuanians are slow speakers?
We say only 120 words per minute!
What is more, our sentences are very potholed: there are many ways how the sound will go in a sentence. For instance, for Germans the beginning of the sentence is sharply high and then it goes down sharply as well at the end. Or for French is usually the end of the sentence that is higher. So that is why other nations say they hear like we were singing while talking because of the unstable high and low tones in the sentence.
Isn't it interesting? We are singing nation:).
P. S. Remember that Lithuanian has the largest number of words for expressing tenderness, endearment and affection?
xoxo
Ak.

Inspiration Monday.

photo via We love Lithuania

I'm home I'm home I'm home!!!!!!!
I'm sooooooooooo happy, you can not imagine!!!!!!!!!
Although it's absolutely freezing outside, now I love to freeze, as long as I'm freezing in my lovely Lithuania, it's where my heart belongs and that's that:)

So today for Monday inspiration I want to share something really Lithuanian to celebrate my return. 

The first thing that comes into my mind is a poem by one of my favorite Lithuanian writers, Paulius Širvys.

Of course it's Lithuanian, but I will try to translate it for you, I'm not really good at translating, so I have to say sorry in advance, because it's not my job, but it's so beautiful that I can not resist to share with you:)

goodbye Germany, high five!

And the day came to come back.
Goodbye Germany, high five!
You know, yesterday when we were in Munich (I promise to share the photos next week!) I understood how much I love doing stupid things (when I saw most of my photos), because I always laugh from stupid jokes (for example, this picture always makes me laugh:), I always tell stupid jokes mostly from movies or tv shows and if that wasn't enough, I'm the first to laugh at it.
But I can not change it, I'm too much enjoying it:) It's too deep in me (that's what she said, hahaha:).
Anyway, once again, one more goodbye, like the last time, remember?
Only now the goodbye is for coming back.
If it's possible to return. Is it? I don't know. But I'm going to find out.
I can't wait to go home!

P. S. hahaha:).

Have a fun weekend and see you in Lithuania,
xoxo
Ak.

Vilnius Temperature.

photo via Facebook

Have you heard about Vilnius Temperature? It is an amazing project for which I waited many many years! 

It's an acoustic music video blog which unites city sounds and represents up and coming artists in Vilnius as a cinematographic background. 

More information you can find on this TED video - the guy explains his idea and at the end there's a lovely song, I recommend you watching it!
Finally finally finally Lithuanian musicians are ready to get the attention of the world!
And what is more, with such a wonderful idea to combine the music, the weather and the city - how cool is that, ha?!
I'm really happy:)

P. S. you can become a fan on facebook to get all the news!

xoxo

Ak.

what I learned about Lithuania while staying in Germany.

You know, strange thing happened here, while staying in Germany. It may sound funny, but I learned a lot about Lithuania here. The thing is that being from a country, that nobody actually knows, where exactly that is, makes you feel like you are talking about the movie, that no one else has seen. You all should agree with me that it's way more easier for people, who are from well-known countries: you can say one word (that you won't be asked to repeat!), France, and that's it. The response, like Oh, Paris is so beautiful! or I love omelette du fromage! is guaranteed. But when you say Lithuania, it's like abracadabra - and everyone stops talking and stares at you with this poker face, when they pretend that they know, where that is, but at the same time they are scared, that you can ask them something about it. 

For you to image it better, this is how the statistics would look like:

**** yeaaaaah.

I finally got my ticket back to Lithuania!!!! I'm so happy I can not tell!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a f*ck yeah kind of weekend, haha!!!
xoxo
Ak.

[..] let me come home.

As I was writing the post about Salzburg, I understood that I never really did posted some photos from Lithuania.
And now as I miss it so much, I have to share something I found on my computer.
This was the summer in 2010 when I went with my parents and my grandmother to the castles of Panemunė (for lithuanian readers some more information here or here).
It is a road by the major river in Lithuania Nemunas and there are some ruins of the castles and mounds you can visit on this route.
Actually, in these photos you can see no ruins, because, well, I was too busy admiring the nature :).
But the truth is, the nature there is just breath-taking! This is the real beauty of Lithuania, the greeness and the sky all around you!
This is my Lithuania, which I carry on with me in my heart :).

[..] flooded with blood redness our hollow homes..

As today is a very important date for every Lithuanian, I want to share this wonderful Lithuanian song by Ieva Norkutė.
I found an English translation, the lyrics are just breathtaking, so I recommend you to get into them deeply. This melody somehow plays with our hearts and the only thing that is on my mind at that moment is my loveliest homeland.
I won't post any of historical facts - I think you will find it yourself if you are interested.
P. S. I'm really sorry of being lost this week, I promise next week I will catch up with you!
xoxo
Ak.

linksmų Kalėdų!

photo  via Pinterest

photo via Pinterest

It is the first time in my life, when I'm so far away from the ones  I love at Christmas. Skype video call is the best and the worst thing to do for tonight, because, on one hand, it is still kind of the same thing - to sit around the table and talk, but, on the other hand, when the call is ended and I sit in a complete silence in my room alone, my heart becomes so heavy. This sudden moment of silence is something I can not bear everytime it happens.
But like woderful friend of mine said to me - every year is always something different in the family at Christmas and maybe this year it is me, that is the difference.
One thing I definately learned while being here for Christmas - to bake lithuanian cookies we eat for Christmas! I will share the recipe at my friend's blog next week!
And now for you all, I wish a very merry Christmas and never forget to be kind and good to each other everyday of the year.
And more important:
I hope things are beautiful. And if they're not, then I hope you remember this moment right now when they are. Because you've got to hold up each and every other moment to the moment when things are beautiful and say "Look. I told you. Remember this."
Merry Christmas! Linksmų Kalėdų! Schöne Weihnachten! Glædelig jul!
xoxo,
Ak.

let it snow,..

print via Kitten Sneezes

photo via Pinterest

While staying here in Germany, I miss snow soooooo much!
I really enjoy the warm weather here and it's so nice, that it's not rainy and cold (ok, now it's a bit cold, but still not as cold as in Lithuania), but snow - s n o w - is something I can't live without in winter and especially Christmas.
Each year I write in my diary the date I first see snow in that year. I think this year is going to take a while.. 

So the least I could do is to have some snow in my blog :).
xoxo,
Ak.

[..] aš ant blakstienų išsitatuiruosiu tavo vardą.

 photo via Cityout

photo via Londoniete

photo via Facebook

While staying here, in Germany, somebody asked me, what kind of lithuanian music I would recommend to listen, so now I've decided to make a list. Here it is:

•  Pieno Lazeriai - Aš tavo kūnas. More..
• Happyendless - Power Forever. More..
• Old one - Antis - Zombiai. More..
• Alina Orlova - Mėnulyje. More..
• Lithuanian DJ - Jovani - Hold On. More..
• Freaks On Floor. More..
• Saulius Mykolaitis - Matrica. More..
• Golden Parazyth - Regatta Of Happyness. More..
• One more oldie - Foje - Vaikystės stogas. More.. 
• And here's the most lithuanian song I know: Ieva - Raudoni Vakarai. (there is also a wonderful dance with Agnė Ditkovskytė (adorable lithuanian actress, who lives in Moscow) and Povilas Vanagas (profesional dancer)! Moreover, this song is the soundtrack of a great lithuanian movie "Tadas Blinda"!)

It was really really hard to find which songs to share and there are lots of others left - I definately have to share it someday! And I will.

Enjoy these ones!
xoxo,

Ak.

P. S. This song is one of my favorite and the video is so amazing, it is the captures of "Unseen Lithuania" series.

language of Lithuania.

print via Eurobaltic focus

New info-virus spreading up on Facebook about lithuanian language, have you read it? It's a nice one!

The largest number of words for expressing tenderness, endearment and affection - like I always say - lithuanian is too beautiful for the ugly words :).
Gražios dienos, my darlings!
xoxo,
Ak.

yeaaaaaah!!

photo via Pinterest

photo via Balsas.lt

Today I have read that great great lithuanian tennis player, Ričardas Berankis, has made it to the final quarter on the Open d‘Orleans tournament in France!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!
I'm a fan of tennis - one summer me and my friend both insisted on playing tennis all summer.
And we did! We even bought good rackets. And we promised ourselves to do the same the next summer. But...
...we never did :).
I'd really love to try it out again and I hope I will! Of course, I will.
Good luck, Ričardai!!!
xoxo,
Ak.
P. S. how lovely are these, ha :)?

congrats to our national basketball team!!!!

Euro-basket 2011 came to an end last night - congratulations to the winners, viva España!!!! I'm a fan of this great team, so I am very happy for them!
Lithuanian national team won the 5th place!! And although it was kind of sad to watch the game with Macedonia, when we were winning all the match, but on the last second the luck turned off from us and we didn't get the chance to fight for the medals, I'm still very happy for our team! And I must say a big thank you for the guys, who played as hard as they could! You were great :)!
Although this kind of victories usually has some bitterness in it, that's how it always is. Sometimes you win the battle, but you loose the war.
Someone once said on the television that every real fan will be happy for every real victory of their team. And that is true. Congrats, my lovelies!

P. S. I adore this picture - it's traditional Mantas Kalnietis (my absolutely favorite player) and Rimantas Kaukėnas victory dance :)!
xoxo,
Ak.