I have friends and acquaintances who did some crazy volunteering projects in the most obscure places on this Earth you can even think of. They usually come back to Croatia with a new tan and a new brain. Even the Club-Sluts you used to see downtown every weekend puking on their own dresses out of the sudden act extremely chill, speak gently and roll their eyes to our first world problems. They also repeat the same lines all over again: „Just because something is done differently there, doesn’t mean it’s wrong, you know?“ or „I thought I was the one saving those little sick children lives, but then I realized that all along, they were the ones who were saving me.“ or „I'm just doing what any hero would do, if that makes any sense?“ My volunteering experience isn't THAT life-changing since I stayed on the same continent and moved around 500 km away. Plus, I do a regular office job. Plus plus, I didn't exactly move to a country in a need for help, I went to fricking Italy. Either way, I want to share with you some things I realized while volunteering abroad, so if you're intrigued – stay tuned!
1. The world is A LOT bigger than it seems
When you live in a small and homogeneous country where everybody is white and Catholic, you kinda tend to lose touch with the real world out there. I know it's something hard to comprehend to people who live in countries like the US, Canada, UK or Germany, but that's just how we roll in Croatia. We don't have a snowball's chance in hell of seeing a person of different race walking around. Either way, here in Italy, and in my little town as well, there are as many immigrants as your heart wants, and frankly, it's kinda nice. I learned incredibly much about different countries, cultures, and customs and became more aware of the differences as well as more sensitive to them. My white Balkan heart is full.
2. Inspiration
We’re all hustling. And frankly, I never met more hustlers in my life until I started participating in different youth exchanges, counting this one as well. There is so much moving, changing, and go-getting taking place out there and it’s awesome. I’m able to clash ideas, share thoughts, brainstorm about the future, and all of that with completely different people, with completely different backgrounds. This volunteering experience thought me that possibilities are endless, you just need to grab them by the balls. Everybody here has these amazing dreams, ideas, and goals that they want to achieve, and it’s pretty damn inspiring. (and yes, this is me one the GIF)
3. Self-awareness
It's always good to be aware of yourself and there is no better way to do so than completely kick your sweet ass out of your comfort zone. If you're anything like me, then you spend your whole life in the same city, same neighborhood, same flat, with same friends, same shop clerks, same grannies spying on people from their windows, same everything. Then when suddenly someone cuts you out of your environment and glues you somewhere completely different - of course it'll make you more aware of yourself and your borders. That shit is kinda terrifying. And really, I'm sincerely happy for being able to say that now I know myself much better. All this time I thought I was the one helping, but the reality is, I was the one looking for help, if that makes sense?
YUCK, I need to wash my mouth, where did this come from?
Jesus, I have a tan too!
Yours truly,
Magda