Being a young European, there are many opportunities that sometimes remain hidden for many. Personally, I am more than honoured to be a part of the European Solidarity Corps. More than a simple learning experience, ALA is in itself an adventure as well as a self-discovery journey. It is certainly not an easy task to describe these initiatives, as they incorporate so many variables and steps that make it hard to translate into a single sentence or text. However, I will attempt to transmit what it is like to be a volunteer within the European Solidarity Corps. Joining a volunteering experience is integrating something larger than yourself. It is seeing real consequences and impacts of your actions and, hopefully, bearing positive end-results to the community you will be a part of, even though temporarily. Furthermore, it is gaining a new family from all over the world with whom you can share your culture and experiences and simultaneosly learn from theirs. It cannot be denied that all these experiences incorporate are positive aspects. Some days can prove harder than others, especially considering the fact that we are all away from home: both physical and psychological tiredness are common symptoms after a couple of weeks in a project, as well as an increasing lack of patience. These are examples of things I personally struggle with. However, moving away from your comfort zone, living with strangers that become family in a matter of days and sharing day-to-day routines and circumstances in a foreign country creates a special bond that you will miss dearly upon returning home. In fact, each day will be different, a new bundle of learning opportunities will be waiting for you and standing still will prove to be something foreign to you. Besides language skills, meaning that of the hosting country as well as English, you will encounter a new obstacle, a new challenge that, when overcome, will have helped to build a more resilient you at every corner. Whether this is manual work, time management skills, cooking for larger groups, developing a new activity/program or simply learning a new card game, you will master a new skill(s) or perfect a previous one(s). Either way, you will be required to step out of your comfort zone, the only place to trully grow and develop yourself both as individual as well as an individual within a community or group. Overall, you will experience a turmoil of emotions on a daily basis! But I am sure you will miss it, once the project finishes. To sum up, to become a volunteer is an opportunity every person should profit from, given that its uniqueness, lessons, experiences and travels are fundamental pieces that, when combined, create someone’s path in life. Sara Amorim, 22 years old, from Portugal
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I am one of the people who were always better at Maths in school than in the language lessons, but I will just start writing whatever comes into my mind. So, I am Kerstin (aka Kristin for the Italian inhabitants – Kerstin seems to be impossible to memorize), I am from Austria, 19 years old and I just graduated from school. Even though I am rather a numbers person, it was my childhood dream to go abroad and experience something I will remember for a lifetime. Perhaps I can find a new passion and perspective in life. Kerstin KreuzroitherI am Nika from Georgia, 18 years old, an undergraduate student at Duke Kunshan University. You can learn more about who I am and what my expectations were about volunteering in Italy in my previous article (https://bitisi.org/2021/05/18/you-will-never-know-what-you-might-miss-just-because-you-are-afraid-of-the-failure-nika-tatoshvili/ )
The day of my departure from Georgia to Italy was terrifying. I was feeling excitement, fear, stress, and joy all at the same time. Because of the complicated flight schedule, I did not sleep at all. On my way to Rome, I was reminding myself that volunteering was the choice that I made, and I would not let anything screw it up. I will not lie, not everything turned out as I had imagined. The first day was rough. I arrived in Roccantica by train. I realized that my life had just taken a turn that completely put my comfort zone upside down. I was the first volunteer to arrive. The house was perfect, the landscape - breathtaking. It was way prettier than I thought it would be. Despite such environment, I felt very insecure. I was super tired because of the long flight and sleepless night. Even though I was exhausted, I could not go to sleep. I realized that I was very vulnerable and weak at that moment. I felt disappointed by myself. The next day was different. Other volunteers arrived and we connected to each other very easily. It made a huge difference. Step by step, I was feeling more comfortable. In the next few days, I got introduced to the hosting organization, the work that they do for the community and local youth. By getting to know the “ALA,” I was figuring out what my role could have been within the project as well. It has already been a couple of weeks that I am here. I got to know so many amazing people, taste Italian cuisine, see different places around Sabina region and discover so many opportunities that I have within “ALA.” I know that there will be some challenges on this 8-month journey, but I also know that I have to face them with an open-mind and a bit of patience. Now, as I got introduced to the local community, the organization and the culture, I feel more confident in my choice to come here. I have a freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. I have a freedom to try out different roles and explore what I really want. With ALA, I have a freedom to be myself. Honestly, I haven’t written any articles in English even though I graduated journalism and social communication. That’s why I feel quite insecure about this, but hey! I came here to cross my own boundaries, extend my comfort zone, so writing an article in foreign language – it’s a good start for the new beginning and to try new things. This article is going to be just about me, a weird person, who tries to find his own path through the strangest journey called life.
I was born 28 years ago and since then the party started. Growing up in Poland was quite a strong experience, because not everyone could understand how I want to express myself. You know, playing with dolls or My Little Ponies was something weird back then. But fortunately, my family always supports me and lets me be whoever I want. First dance classes, efforts to find my passions let me focus at school and that is why I am grateful until now. So yeah, as you noticed, I was a dancer for 10 years and I was dancing to almost everything, starting from jazz, contemporary to ballroom and hip-hop. I even tried pole dance once but that was a very, very short story. This is how I defined myself as a dancer and even though I don’t dance anymore this part of my life has taught me how to be strong, to never give up and don't take care what people think and say about me. Dancing isn’t the only thing which I’m passionate about. I love fashion and fashion photography. And no, because I love fashion doesn’t mean I will go with someone to the shopping mall and act like a personal stylist. For me fashion is more about culture, about people and how they try to express through the clothes and what those clothes mean for them. Of course, I follow the newest collections and Fashion Weeks, but I try to see something more, not only the garments and beautiful gowns, I’m looking for concept and context, because for me clothes and fashion in general are a reflection of our times. The reason why I see fashion this specific way it’s because I graduated cultural studies which taught me to see something more about the people, society and the world in general. Uff, I have just finished my first article in foreign language, if there are any mistakes - I am just a person who makes them which only helps me to develop myself as a person. So yeah, that’s me. Misza - a weird guy from Poland who is full of passions, desires and tries to figure it out how to live my best life, making mistakes, making the right decisions but the most important - being true with myself. What happen when you have so many dreams about the future but everyday life stands in front blocking the way? Just tackle it! It is easy and refreshing indeed! I am Maria, 25 years old from Greece. I study Geology in University of Patras but for many reasons- financial included- I had to work the same time in different kind of jobs. That made a bit harder to catch up with the expectations I had and the dream of traveling before actually start living on my own home. I was talking with a friend of mine that actually made the step to join a voluntary program. I had already experiences of voluntarism through the Scouts of Greece and I took the chance actually to check available programs for the proximate months, but not literally thinking of applying. I couldn’t imagine that my new experiences, opportunities and future was just a click away. I almost immediately applied for the 8 months voluntary program the moment I read the opportunities and activities here, in Roccantica of Italy, only 50 Km away from Rome. I found the United Society of Balkan (USB)organization in Greece that coordinated - in cooperation with ALA - my new beginning. The first one step out of the airplane in Fiumicino airport was the first one for an experience I just started and can’t wait to fully enjoy. I am less than 10 days here and I have already made a lot of friends with which I explore day after day the joy of cohabitation and learn at least a couple of new things everyday. The language barrier does not exist even considering that the residents of Roccantica do not always know how to talk in English. The body language, gestures and the voice fluctuation are already enough to have a normal conversation or help any time. The feeling when someone pass near me- and despite the fact we don’t know each other- we say ‘’Ciao!’’ or ‘’Buongiorno’’ is the warmth needed to feel like at home and important to a community that needs more volunteers to break the monotony of everyday life in this village and enhance the standard of living or the knowledge for specific subjects. From eating to a new friend’s house as a welcome dinner, to meals with the volunteers that have been here the previous months and were packing to leave (the first goodbyes to friends that really made our first days memorable), then pick-nick near by the house to a magnificent view of mountains and then gardening, I already feel full of images, knowledge and experiences making my hesitating step worth it!
I am looking forward for the next months, the next step, the next opportunity to learn, to help and contribute to ALA’s work and get out of my comfort zone. And all of this, just because of a ‘’click’’! I strongly recommend you to dare this click, this step. Dare to gain something while offering the same time. One time experience with many opportunities for much more in the future... Maria Papavasileiou, Greece Greece, my home (or in a more official manner, Hellenic Republic aka Hellas) is a Southeast European country, situated on the tip of the balkans. Surrounded by the sea, it has a population of, around, 10.7 million and is mostly known for its beautiful landscapes, mythology, philosophers, and its contribution to the foundations of science. Some of you, or most, must have seen pictures of Santorini and Mykonos or visited the places yourselves. You might have heard or read about Greek mythology. Zeus and his love for women, Athena and her wisdom, the legendary Odyddeus and his journey. However, Greece is so much more. And that is what we are finding out today. What is Greece? To begin with, Greece is hospitality (“philoxenía”), Greece is tradition (“parádosi”), and fun (“diaskédasi”). The country is one of the sunniest places in the world with almost 250-300 sunny days each year (about 3.000 hours of sun!). It is a home to over 6.000 islands and islets (out of which 170 are inhabited!). Wherever in Greece you are, you won’t be further than 137 kilometres away from the sea. And that is around only 2 hours!
During summer the number of tourists is twice its population. Meanwhile, if you travel to Greece you’ll have an opportunity to visit more than 110 archeological museums (more than any other country). Last but not least, you can encounter more than 4.000 traditional dances while travelling along Greece (with one of the most famous to tourists being, “Zorba the Greek”). For this and more Greece is a spectacular place With love Selina |