Why choose to do an ECS in Bremen? First, to improve my German skills. (You’d think after spending so many years studying it, I’d be able to speak it somewhat fluently… well, the joke’s on me!) Secondly, I wanted to devote a year to social work – do something good. After six years of working from home, I was starting to feel a bit removed from society. (Also, as I was approaching my thirties, I felt like I needed to experience life abroad now or I would forever regret it later when it could very well become impossible.)
Working at the leisure centre (our beloved “Freizi”) of Stiftung Friedehorst in Bremen Lesum was exactly what I was looking for. I am forever grateful that they accepted my application. Having no experience with people who have a mental and/or physical disability, I expected to learn and grow a lot.
I couldn’t have found a better place to volunteer in.
I met amazing people – lovely and helpful colleagues, sweet residents, kind and patient in the face of my many shortcomings. I am learning valuable things from people whose life is not always the easiest and yet who welcome me in their little corner of heaven. I feel the love in Freizi. I feel actually useful for once. Every week, I have fun and learn new things. Random things too. I fought with about a million different wheelchairs. (I did not win many of those fights.)
However overwhelming it was to meet so many people and learn so many names (SO. SO. MANY NAMES), it is now very rewarding to carry out activities by myself. So very satisfying to communicate better. To understand someone’s way of communicating. To learn bits and pieces of the residents’ lives. Discover what makes them happy, smile or laugh. Explore the dynamics and technicalities of this entirely new world – the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. Appreciate the small things – they make up most of our lives, don’t they?
I feel proud of what I have achieved in only three months. Getting some of the residents to like or trust me is the best reward I could ever get. I have even more determination to keep growing. I now focus on improving my German – language being my major challenge so far.
What about life outside of work?
I was excited to experience living in the north of Germany/Europe. So far, I’m having a great time. I enjoy visiting new cities – how nice it is to travel with a pass that my work pays for me! I haven’t fully explored Bremen so far, as I arrived at the start of the gloomy winter season. I am looking forward to discovering the many parks and beautiful spots around the city in spring/summer.
Going back to having roommates – four of them, and constantly changing – was stressful. Yet I am finding myself again very grateful for the girls put on my path. Despite our sometimes less than optimal living conditions, we manage to live together respectfully, peacefully – and we already made nice memories of cooking or travelling. As we will move to another flat in a few weeks, my only wish is that the people to come will be just as sweet as the one who (sadly) already left.
Meeting the many other volunteers was a tad overwhelming – but most of all exciting and fun. I did not feel lonely at all. I now hope to get to know many people better. I’m excited for the adventures that await us. I know I will make good friends and memories along the way.
Overall, as – reasonably – stressful as the 180° turn of my routine was, and despite my worries regarding my abilities at work or the complications of our living situation, I feel myself enjoying my new life and learning a lot. From the people I met, coming from different countries and cultures. From my volunteering activity. From the German way of life and the very busy streets of our multicultural neighbourhood. I’m just hoping I’ll be able to make the best of my short stay here. Times does fly.
(On a side note: what the hell is wrong with German trains????)
Marine is hosted by Friedehorst Teilhabe Leben gGmbH on our project co-funded by the European Union.