“You seem to be one of the most stable people here”, said my flatmate in the middle of our late evening kitchen talk. I smiled thinking that I might just as well be tired, old or even depressed.
Jokes aside, I believe I am just being me. I was and am still building a routine that helps me make it through the winter and this whole “being alone in a foreign land” situation. I read way more than I used to, enjoying the privilege of knowing enough German and not paying for the library card as a volunteer. I bake in my free time and leave those cakes in the kitchen for my flatmates to take a piece if they want. I am eager to keep it calm and comfortable despite being put into a situation that is the opposite of it.
Not that I wasn’t aware of the fact that adapting to a totally new environment is always hard. But I might have underestimated the effect of it on myself. I might have overseen the details, and the parts of my life that were viewed as the source of strength turned out to be my kryptonite. Which is why my biggest advice to those who decided to delve into long-lasting volunteering will be to search for the anchors that keep you present and build a connection between you and your new home. It doesn’t necessarily have to do something with other people, it may be finding your favorite spot in the town to go there regularly, or searching for snacks that don’t exist in your country every time you go grocery shopping, or visiting a new city every month. Think about things that theoretically could bring you joy and do them even if there is no emotional response. At least, at the end of this journey you will be able to say that you treated yourself with kindness.
I guess it’s pretty clear that I’m holding this speech for my own sanity as well. That’s my latest discovery and my goal for the upcoming months.
As for my experience from September to February, I would describe it as a curve, constantly going up- and downhill. I have already faced several challenges that were related either to my working or my personal life. Yet, I am overall satisfied with how things go.
People at Waldorf school are nice and professional, the educators I primarily work with are precious and genuinely care about volunteers’ wellbeing. One of them regularly invites us to dinner parties and some interesting places in Bremen so that we could socialize more and get to know each other better. The work itself might be exhausting or boring at times but I try to focus on moments when my interaction with kids results in the expression of happiness and excitement on their faces, when I find right words to calm them down or solve a conflict between them. Even on the most average days I try to remind myself that though some things don’t feel like exceptional growth, they might still be really important.
Like pretty much everyone I cannot predict the future. I just hope that the plans I have made will come true. That I’ll learn and experience more new things. And the elements I already enjoy will remain constant.
Anastasia was hosted by Waldorfschule Touler Straße on our project co-funded by the European Union.
If you want to experience something similar to what Anastasia did, check out our open calls here.