The End of the Beginning

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Category: Experiences

Published on Monday, 25 October 2021 16:46

-living on chios-

How is it to wake up in the morning in your own bed, the bed you have slept in for over 18 years and to get to sleep in a new bed , a new place, a new life. We all reach this point in our life, where we leave the shelter of our own little world, the things we know and the things that are easy for us. It can be hard but also so exciting. I guess this is just a part of growing up, like a odyssee everyone needs to take to become a new and stronger self just like Odysseus did in his journey. This is the story about my little own odyssee, venturing out to become a new me. This is supposed to be a story about my first days living on Chios but I think we need to start a little bit earlier.

 The moment the plane passed over the island to make a big curve and circle back to the airport. The moment when my window was at the perfect spot where I could see the dying red sun drown into the ocean. It was like the ending and the beginning of a part in my live. Don't take me for to cold but usually I am not the guy for sobbing goodbyes but that day I cried a little bit. Cried for the part of my life that was ending now and the sober truth that there is no way back, just the way forward. Forward to Greek,to Chios and to the place that will be my home for the next 9 months. The first night on Chios was very windy, kind of romantic, if you think of the sea, the southern-style village and the mountains, lingering right behind our house. Right now we are just two volunteers living in that house that could host about 6 people, not to mention the internationals house, to which we have no access to. It's like a two man living community and it is great in how we can decide what to cook, when to cook and what to do. But we are both really looking forward to the time when more volunteers will be with us. 

The first day in school started and we were driven through this beautiful village to see the place where we will be working as assistant teachers for the next months. It is a beautiful building about one hundred years old. But because of an earthquake that happened years ago it can only be used by the teachers and the headmaster, because it is to dangerous to have actual lessons in there. The about 80 children will be have their lessons in a separate building and in containers right behind the school building. It will be my task to aid the teachers in what ever task they might have for me. And to play with the children of course. I am really looking forward to the time when the children arrive at school. To talk and to play with them and to be taught the Greek language by them. A little role swap to teach the “assistant” teacher. I bet they will find that quite amusing. I have met with the teachers and it is really nice to work with them, cause they are all very nice and supportive. One time I was quite surprised when they introduced themselves they did so with there forename to which I was not used to cause I just finished my own school where I knew the teachers only by their last name.

After this first week of work and the weekend arriving there arouse this one question in our minds. What to do with our two days off? We could have a nice time at the beach like we had during the week after work. Just going to the beach and cool the hot sun with the water of the sea. The water there is just perfect. There are no sea weeds ore little animals or jellyfishes, just clear water and a stony beach. Ok, the stones might not be so comfortable as we tried out my second day on the Island, but that is what beach loungers are for. We decided to visit the capital of Chios “Chios” for the first time and because it is a walk for about 1 hour we dared the adventure of taking a bus drive on Chios. You will read in most of the trip advisers that it is not easy nor wise to rely on the bus, because it might not come at the set time or the bus stops might be a little bit hard to find. Though we had a little hard time to figure out when and where the bus is driving, when it arrived we just needed to make a sign to the driver, he stopped and let us in. These drivers must be real beasts behind the wheel because in my opinion it must be very hard to steer such a big vehicle through the neat street and sharp curves of Chios Island. Nevertheless we arrived safe and sound at Chios and went for the port where we visited a nice restaurant and had a very nice evening.

 All in all the first days on Chios were exciting, frightening but not less beautiful. What might frighten newcomers and also did frighten me was the whole new language that is everywhere. No way to understand it or to deduce the words from English or Latin. What you cannot read you cannot understand or deduce. But like Homer said, a poet that is said to be born and to have taught on Chios: “Even a fool learns something once it hits him.” So even I eventually will learn Greek and then everything will be fine.

Even though it is hard to start a new part of life it naturally comes with all its little adventures and wonders, what makes it really worth it. When I was in England on a other little adventure I have made the mistake to focus too much on getting back to Germany than to live the new life. Give it a try and let go of your former life just a little so you can make room for new opportunities and experiences.

Article by S.W.

06.09.2021