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French writer Frederic  Beigbeder believes love can exist just for three years. After such period of time feelings disappear.  I guess something similar I experienced with my beloved job which I adored. Suddenly, I was feeling hunger to explore new things, learn more and I wanted some changes come into my life. There were two options: apply for PhD or became an EVS volunteer. Unexpectedly for my friends and relatives but so obviously for myself I chose second variant – informal kind of education, cold Baltic Sea and a small town on the North of Poland.

There are 22 volunteers besides me in Gdynia which are working in different organizations such as kinder gardens, centers for people with physical and mental disability, libraries, museums etc. I’m working in Social Welfare House with elderly people. The atmosphere here makes you feel calm, warm like at home.  When I have visited that place for the first time I was so inspired which a great work people are doing. The feeling of importance hasn’t leave me so far. I teach inhabitants to dance, lead English and Ukrainian class and conduct reading club.

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Honesty saying living in Poland I have never faced any «cultural shock». Everything is like in Ukraine but some features convince me of the opposite.  For instance, public transport always move according to the schedule, great cycling infrastructure.  If you download application you probably will never lost in the town.  Regarding weather, sunny days here are indeed rarity.

Before coming here I have never learned Polish language, but now, after almost three month I understand around 80% and able to speak basic Polish.

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Apart from main project there are a lot of opportunities to try something completely new for yourself. We organize multicultural workshops for pupils in local schools, spread ideas of tolerance, traveling, etc.

EVS is a great chance to explore yourself so don’t loose it.

Text and photos: Nataliia Kaliuzhna

 

 

 

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Від olesus

European Solidarity Corps    Eastern Europe & Caucasus Resource Centre    Громадські ініціативи України