Volunteering is the brightest travel memories
In anticipation of our planned and highly anticipated trips to France I looked into my old photo albums, and I remembered my amazing adventures in France, while participating in volunteer projects. All over the world there are volunteer organizations that invite young people from different countries in the summer. Volunteering is free of charge, but in exchange for housing, food and interesting leisure (Life and leisure of volunteer teams). All you need is to choose a volunteer program abroad, get a visa yourself and find a way to get to the specified place at the specified time (Volunteer projects - what are they, countries and work).
Volunteer work. Far from home.
I will not describe all two trips to volunteer work, there is not enough space to tell everything in order. I will just share with you my most vivid memories. I apologize in advance for the terrible quality of the photos - at that time, unfortunately, I somehow did not think about the importance of this.
Going to my first trip abroad on volunteer programs, I collected various warm clothes and souvenirs, and somehow forgot to estimate the weight of the backpack. His brother helped me to carry me to the airport, but upon arrival, I could not put on a backpack with my height and everywhere, like an ant, I dragged him around. Can you imagine this picture!
Once on the plane, I decided out of fear that I would not talk to anyone. But fate decreed otherwise, planting a charming Frenchman with me as a neighbor, who did not speak a word either in Russian or in English. I had to literally save him from the annoying flight attendant, who persistently offered him to choose between chicken or fish. After my feat, the language barrier collapsed, and I got into a conversation, realizing that it was not so scary, and, lo and behold, they understand me, and I understand in return.!
I got to the place of meeting with the rest of the volunteer squad with several stops, each of which had its own adventures. In Toulouse, one nice teenager Arab, mistaking me for the same age, decided to flaunt in front of me and offered to feed me for free in one cool place. And I, a naive girl, having understood only half of what he was saying, decided to go with him. It turned out that he brought me to, so to speak, a canteen for the homeless and the unemployed. But I didn't understand it right away, after all, they «cream of society» look and smell completely different from ours.
Also, this young boyfriend persistently said something to me, sorry, about the toilet. I associated this word with the same thing with what you do. I just couldn't understand why he was talking to me about the toilet. Saved the dictionary, which suggested that in French the word sortir has completely different meanings - to leave, take out and go on dates. It's a good thing I had a train that same evening providing a good reason to refuse.
I was struck by the responsiveness of the French and how they react to the map in the hands of a tourist strolling through the city - like a bull to a red rag! Immediately they jump up with the question whether help is needed, whether to tell where, to go. Small thing, but so nice!
One of the funniest moments happened when our volunteer team first got together. When I arrived at the meeting place, out of habit I called myself Dasha, not even realizing that having added the newly arrived Dasha to the list, the curator of our volunteer work continued to wait for a certain Daria. Waited for about 20 minutes, probably. It's good that my curiosity made me, in the end, find out that we are waiting for me, only under the name Daria. So, even without actually being late, I still made everyone wait for me. Since then, I introduce myself to all foreigners as Daria.
Volunteer work. Our volunteer squad.
Volunteering - restoration and construction.
Volunteer work - cleaning and restoration.
Volunteering - rebuilding a trail in a local forest.
The first job as a volunteer was very successful in terms of housing, we were settled in a private house, which the mayor's office bought from the former owner. They wanted to demolish the house, but then they decided to place a volunteer group there. So we lived for 2-3 people in a room with its own toilet and shower! Heavenly life! In contrast, during my second volunteer job a year later, we were all housed in one large tent for 15 people, which started to leak when it rained heavily. But still there, and there it was great.
The common house we lived in the first year.
The shared tent we lived in in our second year.
Volunteer camp - everyday life.
Volunteer camp - working together.
Every day, the volunteer squad appoints two people on duty from different countries who prepare lunch and dinner for everyone. I was lucky once, and I was on duty in a pair with a cute Korean girl who barely spoke French, while not understanding a word of either French or English in return. It is unrealistic for one person to cook 18 volunteers for a horde of volunteers, so they still had to work together. But just imagine what it was like, agree on what kind of dish we will cook, and explain exactly how to cut carrots, onions, etc. Real pantomime theater, accompanied by laughter and words «no no no!»
Duty at the volunteer camp. Cooking dinner.
Volunteer camp. Dinner outside is a pleasant tradition.
Rest of volunteers after work.
Volunteer rest after work.
Volunteer squad, meeting of two camps.
The first job as a volunteer gave me an acquaintance with an amazing person who later became my very close friend, who opened real France to me. His name is Fred. I also have an amusing incident with him. As you all know, all foreigners think that Russia is a wild country, and we have bears walking the streets. One day, Fred and I went into a shopping center and he, taking a shower gel in his hands, began to diligently explain to me what it is, how and for what purpose this substance should be used. No matter how I tried to convince him that such blessings of civilization as shower gel had come to us for a long time, and I know what it is, he thought that I did not understand him, and further diligently explained, and then even wanted me buy it as an outlandish gift.
Leisure of volunteers - dancing at the folk festival.
Leisure of volunteers - preparation for the descent from the mountain.
Leisure of volunteers - holiday of the end of work together with local residents.
Leisure of volunteers - a trip to the theater festival in the city of Marcoles.
There is so much more I would like to tell about life in the volunteer camp, and how we communicated with each other, learning the peculiarities of the mentality of people from other countries, and how we spent our leisure time, attending music festivals, went on interesting excursions, rock climbed, rafting on rivers, went to visit to the local residents, participated in competitions for their national game Petanque. Volunteering has allowed me to try so much and learn so much that I can write about it forever. It is such an invaluable life experience and such an unforgettable adventure.!