Getting a new home - the World

Got off. Sitting in the plane to the land of new life. I am ready.

Now let’s have a look at the prehistory.

THE FIRST BOARDER: SOCIAL STEREOTYPES

No-no, it is not about gender or racial discrimination or any other fashionable “social diseases”. Although they exist in Russia, the most influential phenomenon is the lack of stability which narrows individual horizons. We cannot rely on the poor welfare system, so young people try to get a good job as soon as possible. They are afraid of gaps in their CVs. So, after school they immediately go to university or a vocational school. By the way, did you know what profession you could have the whole life at the age of 17? They don’t either. So, mostly school leavers choose a profession which will bring more money. But it is possible to study what you are interested in, and even free of charge! That was my first step to climb over limits, finally that brought me to a European volunteer service – studying foreign languages just because I liked them.

The next step was waiting for me at university. We had to study a whole lot! But I believe we are the masters of our time, so I found some hours to help volunteers from Europe to learn Russian and adapt here. This is how I discovered pleasure in social work: in motivating others to make progress, in supporting them when they need someone. Indeed, that was fascinating – because the volunteers always inspired me. They were so enthusiastic about working with children and elderly people, who had terrible physical or mental diseases.

However, the most important lesson that I learnt from my students was openness. To any adventures, any ideas, any situations that life brings. How come that being a young student I was already stuck in routine, must-do-lists and “necessity” to find a good job? I am happy I was shown a way to cross the boarders of expectations in Russian society.

GETTING FREE

So you’ve understood what I should have done after graduating from the university, haven’t you? Sure, find a stable job and a reliable husband. Instead I spent a year doing part-time jobs here and there - to discover my motherland and fall in love in an ever-traveler. And that was beautiful.

How could I get back to a settled life after going under the heating sun in the Kalmikian steppe, walking on the frozen Baikal, helping babushkas to bring water from the lake and make fire on the oven because there is no water, nor heating in the house?.. I couldn’t help following my dreams: breathe in European air and be closer to Him. That’s what brought me to EVS.

CLIMB OVER PERSONAL FEARS

I love my project! I adore my team!! The crazy Bionda, the warm-hearted Petra, the always-find-a-solution Anna, the there-is-a-step-from-hatred-to-love Mateusz… They filled me with enthusiasm and confidence, opened my eyes on loads of things and shared my joys and sorrows. Together we sang round the fire, skied in the mountains, shocked passers-by with strange clothes, danced in the forest, spoke with spirits…

Ha, nationality was the easiest boarder to cross: I felt at home with these Germans, Italians, Hungarians, Polish, Czech. To overwhelm my fears took more time. So what was I, a pedagogue, afraid of? Paradoxically - of children. I imagined myself standing opposite a crowd of shouting uncontrollable beasts who tease and beat each other, ruin my activities and laugh at my German… Well, in reality some participants behaved so and my main task was to calm myself down not to kick their asses. But then a miracle happened! I couldn’t properly explain to them what to do, couldn’t show them the way in the forest because of my poor orientation skills, couldn’t use any equipment – and the kids turned into my teachers. The children taught me German, found paths, showed me how to use lifts at a ski resort – they felt so important, they were adults, responsible for an inexperienced person. By chance I found my way to manage kids and build up a mutual trust. After this discovery of children’s kindness my “phobia” escaped :)

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11 months have passed. I have packed my belongings: now all these experiences, skills and ideas belong to me. And I will bring them to my home land – to Russia and any other country. With this backpack of openness, self-confidence and happiness I feel at home on any land.