Hi, it’s Alex again, reporting from the land where the sun is still a rare guest and rain is a loyal companion. I can’t believe how quickly time is flying by—sometimes I wish I could press pause, just to enjoy a little longer everything that’s happening around me.
At work, everything is still fantastic. I genuinely love what I do and feel more comfortable every day. The kids are so kind and affectionate that it’s impossible not to feel at home. Honestly, their warmth makes me wonder if I’ll ever be able to say goodbye without getting emotional. Time is running way too fast, and I’m already dreading the day I have to leave.
Home life, on the other hand, has been… let’s say, “character-building.” I’ve discovered a new level of patience I didn’t know I had. For two months, I’ve had a leak in my room and for several months in the bathroom, not to mention the dishwasher in the kitchen that’s just there for decoration. Living with constant water around and seeing how nothing ever gets fixed has been, well, quite the adventure. At this point, I’m considering adding “amateur plumber” to my CV.
One of my biggest achievements has been with the language. Even though there haven’t been any German classes available, I’ve learned a lot of German thanks to my teacher at school and, of course, the kids. They make an effort to help me understand and are always explaining what everything means. I’m pretty sure my German now goes beyond “Hallo” and “Danke”—so that’s progress!
These months have also been full of travel and new experiences. I’ve visited cities like Hamburg, Berlin, Hannover, and Leipzig. My midterm was in Hamburg, and I had an amazing time. I met some really interesting people, and even though we live in different cities, we’ve managed to keep in touch and meet up whenever we can. It’s nice to know that, even in a country where the weather is a bit moody, you can always find sunshine in the people you meet.
So, as I look back on these past three months, I feel grateful for every challenge, every laugh, and every new word I’ve learned (even the ones I can’t quite pronounce yet). With a bit of sarcasm and a lot of optimism, I’m ready for whatever comes next. See you in three months—with or without an umbrella!
Alex is hosted by Tobiasschule und Kindergarten e.V. on our project co-funded by the European Union.
If you want to experience something similar to what Alex did, check out our open calls here.
