I know you`re wondering why I choose this title, but let me explain. I was riding to work on Sunday with public transport and even though Roma`s public transport is, let’s say interesting, I missed the voice which said – “prossima fermata”. Yes, no surprise, I miss Roma! But most important thing why I choose this title is, because of what it represents for me – what’s next? So let me tell you a story…
On June 5th six volunteers went to Rome on an EVS project and started to live together. Two were from Estonia, two from Latvia (one was me), one from Bulgaria and Spain. We were two girls and four boys, with two visually impaired people and also two dogs. At the start, everything went great as we were excited and full of joy. But in reality nothing was easy. In first weeks we tried activities with team bonding and teamwork in which I already saw it`s not going to work. Of course we tried, but six different people cannot work like a clock mechanism in two weeks, hell even two months or 6 months. Even this was a problem we tried to learn and accept each other. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not.
The same was in volunteer house where we all lived together. At start we made rules and everyone seemed to agree on them, but after a while it didn’t work. It wasn’t like we were living in garbage, but it wasn’t pretty. I`m not blaming anyone or saying to others, that you shouldn`t go to EVS project with other people, because despite all of our flaws we were a great group of people. And for me it was great experience to be responsible for a house full of people. I wouldn`t change any moment which we spent together, because I learned a lot.
After first few weeks we started to do real job, the meaning of project. If you don`t know – our project was about mobility. About mobility of people with different struggles and backgrounds. In every interview I did, I learned many new things, many ways to live your life, how to handle different situations, how to be happy at things which life throws to you. This was one of the situation – living with five different people and be able to handle their flaws. It was not easy, but nothing is easy. You have to overcome yourself in every step you take, that’s how you grow as a person. At least that is what I did in these two months.
I will not go into how beautiful Roma is, you can read it in one of our previous posts, but in Latvian language we have a saying: “All roads go to Roma”. I think it`s enough. It`s the city which is always alive and you should visit it if you can. I really enjoyed it and even more I loved the people there. Not people I worked with, but random citizens, who were very nice and helpful every time I asked them to help me.
Prossima fermata? Good question. What is next for me? I don`t know. In life everything can happen. I know I got a wonderful experience with great people and it changed me. I know I will try to find another EVS project and try to learn something new again. I will try to volunteer in my country and help make people’s life happier. I will try to smile everyday and enjoy everything life offers me. Nothing is impossible, you just need to do it (no reference to Nike).
This was a great opportunity of which I took everything I could. For future volunteers I would recommend not to be scared. Try to go alone or together with other people and learn all you can. It will help you in your life. And even though you cannot stand something in your project, don’t try to run away. Live it through, it will make you stronger and wiser.
At the end I want to thank all of my fellow volunteers, it was interesting two months. I want to thank organization “UILDM” and all of their volunteers who helped us and made our life in Roma much easier. Special thanks to Stefano and Barbara. Big thanks to funny (he thinks so) grandpa Massimo, you taught me a little Italian – grazie. Thanks to our mentor Eva, keep smiling and you`ll be fine. And the biggest thanks to Eda – with everything that happened, you kept being positive. I know it was hard, not all of us can do that.
Thank you Roma, one day I hope to see you again.
-Toms