My volunteering year is now finished. I’m not even writing this in Bremen, but in Paris. It feels a bit weird. I’m going to live a new life, far from German and English, far from the kids from school and the other volunteers. I will miss them all.
This year brought me so much, new skills, new knowledge, new points of views, new friends.I had my first working experience in an amazing environment, where my colleagues wanted me to feel welcome and happy at work and in Breme. For the children at the afterschool care I slowly became a person that they would come to and ask for help and support like any other member of the team. I learned a lot on how to handle children. How can you get the group moving or listening to you, how can you solve a conflict between two children, how to deal with a child experiencing a strong negative emotion. I also learned how to play and have a nice time with kids. At the end of the school year, I had to say goodbye to all these little adorable humans I took care of for one year. It wasn’t easy and I wish I had more time with them. I will visit Bremen again and will without a doubt go to the school to say “Hi” to everyone.
This year I also lived in a multicultural environment, with lots of other volunteers. This community we had was amazing. We were all far from home, with people form different countries, and we had to figure out how life in Germany was working. We were sharing knowledge and helping each other out from basic administrative work for the bank, to weird and complicated medical and insurance system. We were there for one another when we went through difficult time at work, with our health, or with our family. The bonds that we created during this year are long lasting ones and I know we made lifelong friendships. These people broadened my view of the world, and I discovered through them lots of new cultures, music, historic facts, and much more. Leaving Bremen and being parted from them is difficult, but I know we will see each other again.
I want to thank specifically Sanja, Eli, Walaa, Efim and Tania for having made my year in Bremen unforgettable. I love you all and cannot wait to see you guys again!
Marie
Marie is hosted by Freie Waldorfschule Bremen on our project financed by the European Solidarity Corps and Jugend für Europa.
