I was nervously waiting for my suitcase at the airport on the Greek island of ‘Chios’. At that moment, I didn’t really know exactly what I was nervous about. Was I worried whether my suitcase would arrive, or was I more busy with looking for the person to pick me up from the airport. I knew that I was the second volunteer to arrive but what if the first volunteer isn’t nice at all or it just gets really awkward. And what if I’ll be really homesick after only one week? That’s just a nutshell of the things I was worried or nervous about. Finally, there’s my suitcase. Luckily, I don’t have to worry about that any more. Me and my luggage arrived safely in Chios and that was step one. I walked out and there I saw my mentor who was coming to pick me up, and that was step two. He helped me with my suitcase and we walked together to his car. At the same time he told me what the planning was for today and tomorrow. He loaded my luggage and we left for the accommodation. That’s how my volunteering adventure on Chios started!
As I’m writing this, I’m wondering why I was actually so worried and so nervous. Everything went as planned. But even if that hadn’t been the case, everything would have turned out good in the end. Even if my suitcase had arrived a few days later or if it had been a little awkward, it would have turned out alright in the end. Of course I had to get used to all the new things (I still have to). New house, new people, different culture, different language and perhaps most of all the new environment. The first few days I was very tired because of all the new impressions and changes. In addition, when I arrived at the accommodation it felt very strange to know that this was my house and housemate for the next eleven months. You also have to find your own way of living here in Vrontados (Chios) and you have to discover which routine fits the best for your new lifestyle, and this is different for everyone.
My housemate and I were lucky enough to have volunteers from a few years ago visiting. We went with them to a very nice beach and Chios-city. They gave us some tips for restaurants, activities and public transport. It was very nice to see and learn more of the area, where I am living now, on my real first day here. This would of course also have turned out well if they had not been there, because we actually live here now and you will automatically learn and discover new things. After some days, you slowly start to learn how the culture in Chios is and how the people in your area behave. You just have to gradually adapt to them. After some days, the neighbours are starting to recognize you and you start to greet everyone that come across. Especially, when the working days started. During the ‘experimental technology education sports’ project, the two most important activities for me are that I help as a teaching assistant in the morning at the primary school ‘Agiou Markou’ in first grade and the computer work in the evenings. I have computer work for two hours. I work on different websites, write articles about different topics, share my experiences and make recordings for a website.
Working at a primary school in the village, where you just moved in, is a very special way to get acquainted with the culture. You will also quickly learn more about the Greek language. On the first day of school, the principal told me more about the school and what he expects of me as a teaching assistant. It is very nice to know exactly what is expected of you, because that way you can help the best where it is needed. The first day of school was actually not really a school day because there was a ceremony. During this ceremony, two priests prayed and the teachers and children were poured with some holy water to wish them a good school year. The first day of school, and I’ve already experienced something I’ve never heard of before. It is very special and unique to experience something that is completely new for you, but is the most normal thing in the world for the people here. Even if they are just small things, such as a taxi driver who gives you grapes from his own garden at the end of the ride.
But sometimes it can also be difficult to work at a primary school in a country of which you do not know the language (yet). The kids have to get to know you and get used to you before they trust you, but that is normal. As much as you want to help the children sometimes, it can often be very difficult to give them the right help without actually being able to talk to them. After a few days, I started to understand them better and they me better, with body language. During the break it is a good time to bond with them, because then you can play with them. Of course, you also have to find your own way through the language barrier, I certainly didn’t manage this the first few days.
But now that I’ve arrived here, everyday-life has started a bit and I’m discovering my own routines and ways of living here, I have to remind myself sometimes how special it really is to experience all this. Only a few weeks ago, I was still at home, in the Netherlands, and now I live for eleven months on a beautiful island in the Mediterranean.
From the accommodation you have a view over the sea on one side where you can see Turkey in the distance and on the other side a view over the mountains. There are several beaches, churches, terraces and shops within walking distance. It’s fun discovering things like that with your fellow volunteers. After the third volunteer arrived, the three of us went to the beach in the evening to eat our home-made dinner. We enjoyed the beautiful view and the breathtaking starry sky once it was dark. It was very special to experience such a beautiful moment together, and then you wonder what else you’re going to experience after you’ve done so many things in the first two weeks.
This project naturally entails something beautiful and special and you can learn a lot from it, it just depends on what suits you. You will experience so many things that you will remember for the rest of your life. You will discover new places, get to know new people, strengthen different skills, come into contact with new cultures, make new friends, experience new things, develop new qualities and gain more experience in life. In the future, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. I am looking forward to all the things that will cross my path here on Chios.
My adventure has only just begun, but I have this feeling this is going to go by really fast.
