My new adventure abroad has just begun and I will be describing it regularly (or I'll try to) on this blog. Today I want to say a few words about me and how it happened that I'm now in Vinnitsya (in Polish Winnica) in Ukraine. I could write it in Polish, but I thought that doing this in English can make it accessible and useful to more people. I will be writing about my EVS project and about my life in Ukraine as a whole.
So first, I should introduce myself - my name is Ula, I'm from Poland and i have recently graduated from university. I studied Russian philology for 5 years and now fed up with studies, I decided to be a volunteer instead of searching for a regular job.
How did it happen that I am an EVS volunteer now? I found out about this initiative few years ago when I met few EVS volunteers in Poland; I liked the idea and started getting more information about the possible projects. However, I thought it would be better to finish university first, as otherwise I would have lostmotivation to do it after so long break and I also wanted to be completely free from "education boundaries" ;) Some months ago I started to look for a project...Here one other question appears: why Ukraine? To answer this I should come back to the beginning, when I mentioned my studies. I'm fascinated by Slavic countries, especially Eastern and also all post-soviet countries. I always wanted to spend some time in one of them, travel, live, see it from a non-touristic point of view. When I decided definitely to do EVS I started searching for the project in Ukraine, Russia and countries of Caucasus. After many months of search and sending large number of motivation letters, and email exchanges, I found Nashe Podillia finally. I was lucky, they selected me. The project was approved and here I am on my way to Vinnitsya. Ah I forgot to mention, first I found my Sending organization in Poland – Dakato. I won’t write here about how to find a project and what are the procedures, you can easily find any information on the Internet, just google “Youth in Action” and EVS.
How do I feel about my EVS? Now with all excitement also fears and doubts appeared – if I have done well, if I manage, if if if… But this is a normal state in every long travel and moving abroad and it will disappear soon, as I’m also full of curiosity and hopes. For me EVS is a chance to do something for myself while doing something useful for others. Generally I think that I can benefit a lot from this experience. I have traveled quite a lot before and I had a chance to live longer abroad few times (but this will be the longest period far from home). Each travel can teach a lot and give much experience, unforgettable moments. The only advice before going abroad is to keep your mind open for anything and try to be a good observer. While being abroad we broaden out horizons - I don’t like this expression, but it’s so true and hard to find another one. I can learn not only about local communities, other nations (and by the way find so many similarities that any fear from “the others” disappear), but also about myself – what I can, am able to do, manage, what fears stop being frightening suddenly, and how little things can make us truly happy. Coming back to the main topic, EVS gives a chance to live abroad for some time and try a new life far from home and mummy's care;) for some people can be kind of shock in the beginning. Luckily I’m already used to getting on by myself. It lets gain some new experience and do something which we like (if project is chosen carefully). And what is important main costs are already paid, so volunteers don’t have to worry too much about money. That’s in short how it looks like more formal information can be found, as I said, on the Internet (for example http://www.mlodziez.org.pl/).
That’s all for today, in the next days I’ll write about my first impressions on people and the city.
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