First days in Chios

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Category: Experiences

Published on Monday, 25 October 2021 16:58

A few days before leaving my home in Germany I was filled with excitement , but of course there was also a lot of uncertainty how it would feel like to live alone in a strange country. But I tried not to overthink and tried just to be open for new experiences. Time was flying by and soon I was on my way in the plane. Luckily my mentors came to pick me up from the airport and introduced me to the volunteers house, which is a renovated traditional stone house. As they are really experienced with volunteers but also have nice humour I felt comfortable from the very beginning.

During the first day I did some maintenance work at the organisations building. But of course there was some time left to play with Jose, the volunteers dog, and to explore the neighbourhood of Vrontados. From the volunteers house you have a wonderful view on the Aegean Sea and the mountains, that arise right behind the village. I really enjoy having two beaches in walking distance from my new home and being able to swim nearly everyday. I arrived in Chios during summer, which is why I needed some time to get used to the high temperatures. So the sea was always a nice refreshment after work! One day later than me Simon , another volunteer from Germany, arrived. I was happy to finally have some company and also wondered how we would get along with each other. After spending the first evening together I was sure that we would have a great time together. We already had some funny moments together and it is really helpful to have the option to solve problems (like ants in the toilet) together. I am already excited to get to know the other volunteers who will probably arrive later.

After a few days we first went to the primary school and met the head teacher Mrs. Mariana. Because the school year did not start so far, we helped preparing the school for the children. That included tasks such as cleaning the yard, watering the plants and putting school books into the correct order. Later on we also helped to clean the library. Even if the work was sometimes a bit monotonous, it was still a good feeling to contribute something to the school life and to support the community. Furthermore the head teacher was really friendly and tried to make sure we are comfortable. After work or during breaks we often had small conversations in English, which made me feel like a part of the community. In general the people in Vrontados are really friendly and always greet you back on the street. That was also a good opportunity to practice some basic Greek - “γεια σασ!” means hello and “τι κάνεις?” means: How are you.

One task that I really enjoyed was taking a view pictures of Vrontados to collect impressions of the beautiful area.

On the first weekend, which is free time for the volunteers, I visited Chios city together with the other volunteer. It is only about 10 minutes bus ride from the volunteers house, which is great because you can find a lot of different stores and interesting buildings there. After buying a few groceries we explored the city spontaneously and tried to find the port, but ended up outside of the city. However that was also nice, because we found a rocky beach and went swimming instead. After we finally found the port, we spent the evening in a Greek restaurant and tried pita. I can really recommend it and think that I will have a lot more pitas during my stay on Chios island. Also the atmosphere was great, as there were a lot of local people who enjoyed their weekend in one of the numerous bars and restaurants. The only problem is that the last bus to Vrontados leaves at 8 o'clock pm, so we walked home along the sea. Every Saturday the volunteers have to clean the entire house and garden. But I think that really helps not to forget this work and it is also done quickly when you work together. Especially since this is my first time living without parents, I think that by the end of the project I will be a lot more independent, because the volunteers take care of the house and cook for themselves everyday. Cooking is often a little experiment but in the end we were always satisfied with the result.

During my second week I started working at a different school that is called San Markos elementary school and met the head teacher Mr. Kostas. Luckily I had no big issues with communication because all of the teachers speak at least some English. Only when I was helping the cleaning staff, who speaks no English at all, the language seemed to be a problem. But in the end it was really not a big deal, because we found ways to communicate without words. I ended up learning 10 new Greek words in one morning and getting a piece of cake during the break. Soon a routine started to develop and time went by really quickly. It was always kind of a surprise what I would be doing today at school and the teachers already gave some hints about the start of the new school year. I am already excited to see the schools full of life and to get to know the children. In terms of the Coronavirus it is clear that we have to observe the hygiene rules at school by wearing masks and washing hands. Aside from that we are glad that we don't have many restrictions here at he moment. For example me and Simon always enjoy to visit one of the restaurants or bars in the area, which is possible without problems.

To anyone who maybe thinks about starting a voluntary service abroad I can only say: Just do it! Don't overthink because it will always be a little different than you imagined. Especially here in Chios you will not be left alone if you have a problem and you will make a lots of new experiences that you wouldn't have made at home. I am sure by the end of the project I will know a lots of sympathetic new people and might even be able to speak Greek!

06.09.2021

Article by K.S.