It is surprising how much your first impression of new people and places can be influenced by your feelings.
In November, when I first saw the call for a volunteering position at a middle school in Bremen, I told myself: “Why not? It is perfect for you; you wanted to do something totally different during your gap year!” So, without overthinking the challenges of living abroad or working in a field that wasn’t mine, I applied with a lot of enthusiasm—and surprisingly, I got it! I arrived in a completely white, snowy Germany in the middle of winter, filled with excitement.
The first few weeks were full of curiosity. I had to face life in a city I’d never visited, meet new people, and start a new routine, all in a language that was not my mother tongue. My positive energy made me feel like I was in an enchanted world: everyone seemed welcoming, Bremen looked like a fairytale village, and the landscape felt frozen in time. I even remember being genuinely surprised to see the sun for just a few minutes after two weeks! (I wasn’t expecting it anymore at that point).
With this mindset, I began my work with the kids at school. I had the opportunity to try various roles to find the best fit for me: I helped teachers during lessons, provided tutoring to small groups, or simply played with the kids during breaks. The best part, right from the beginning, was their openness and hilarious spirit. I can still recall the first thing they asked me on my first day: “Are you really at school as a volunteer? We are only here because we have to be; are you maybe a little bit crazy?” Indeed, I was a volunteer, and their question really made me reflect on my choice to come here.
Now, three months after my arrival, routine has slowly taken over, but the experience remains very positive. I have met many people and shared so much with them. I’ve traveled around Germany and realized that, even if Germans think Northerners and Bavarians are worlds apart, to the eyes of a foreigner, they are quite similar (and much nicer than people lead you to believe!).
As I began to travel less, there were fewer new things to discover, and I realized that this was now my life for the coming months. Once the initial excitement faded, these discoveries became the parts of my life that shaped my stay here. New acquaintances became the men, women, and children I saw every day—my real social connection. My working hours determined my daily rhythm, and I had to figure out how to adjust to be truly satisfied with my choice. Furthermore, I noticed the significant effect, which I had previously underestimated, that the people around you have on your life. I realized what a big change it was to leave my home, not only for me but also for my people back in Italy.
Despite these reflections, I still believed my choice was a good one. With this spirit, I tried to find what really suited me and what didn’t. That is how I started caring about what I truly want in my daily life and what I can give up. My daily life at school is now well-established. I feel I have found my place, whether I’m running after the little ones or trying to understand the needs of the teenagers. I’ve found a great balance between volunteering and my social life.
A quick aside: my German, work in progress. When I arrived, I felt confident after three years of study. Spoiler alert: I was wrong. I quickly became a mime. Every time I entered a shop, I’d manage a few sentences, but then the “Ja” or “Nein” guessing game would start, accompanied by wild gestures. Now, thanks to spending seven hours a day immersed in German at school, I’ve improved fast. I rarely have to “mime” anymore, though idiomatic expressions still trip me up (and the mime days are always just around the corner).
To summarize my impressions now, I would say: ich bin echt angekommen . I have a place here that I like, and with spring coming, I look forward to spending more time outside. Who knows what new impressions await?
Hoping everything continues this well, or even better.
Tschüssi,
Giuseppe
Giuseppe is hosted by Oberschule im Park, part of the on our project co-funded by the European Union.
If you want to experience something similar to what Giuseppe did, check out our open calls here.
