I can confirm: time does fly. It’s hard to believe but as I’m writing this there is less than a week ‘till the end of my project and in the next couple of days I need to start packing my things.
When my report reaches the audience, I will most likely already be back to my hometown. Unlike most of the volunteers I made a decision not to stay in Germany. For sure I will miss Sunday services at Bremer Dom, stargazing from our terrace, co-studying at the library with my bestie, conversations with my flatmates, laughing with my colleagues, separating waste so easily and eating immense amounts of stracciatella yogurt. Yet, there are things and plans that are so precious to me that I don’t want to have them on hold any longer. And all of them belong to my life before the ESC project.
It would be fair to admit that for me this journey didn’t start a year ago. I was chosen for my volunteering program in 2023 but it took me two years to finally get my German visa done. Although being in waiting mode for so long felt really discouraging, I know now that it was a blessing. A team of professionals and volunteers that I joined at Waldorf School last September was great. I felt integrated and cared about, there was a clear routine I could stick to. My level of German was my key strength. My previous experience with children was quite helpful, but I needed time to adjust to the context of this specific place. From my perspective, I did everything I could. I was flexible enough and at the same time set clear boundaries, I carried out my tasks and duties with responsibility and was open to informal communication with my colleagues. I was attentive to the children’s needs but did not hesitate to remind them about rules that exist for everyone. I know I made mistakes as well, but that’s how any occupation (especially in education) is. You fail, and you learn from it. And then you repeat this cycle.
Starting spring, I finally was able to experience life at a comfortable pace. And enjoy longer and sunnier days. I grew closer with some people, accepted incompatibility with the others, welcomed new flatmates and travelled a bit more often. I managed to watch Eurovision semi-finals live in Vienna (one of my huge dreams has come true), borrowed books in the library and really read them, went to the theatre, museums and cinema (German dub can’t scare me). I found a gym buddy and was quite motivated to do sports on my own as well, went for walks in numerous parks, enjoyed a couple of Bremen festivals and from time to time went all the way down the rabbit hole of German Reels.
All in all, I feel grateful for having this experience. It was no bed of roses, there were countless times when I felt angry or upset, but it was real. And everything that I’ve learned will stay with me, one way or another.
Anastasia has done her voluntary service at Waldorfschule ; her project was co-financed under the European Solidarity Corps program.
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