''It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'' Volunteers say
Writing this blog was one of the hardest tasks I had to do for two main reasons:
The first question was: how to describe a one-year experience on one page, but that I feel like it's at least 5?
And then, how to write without repeating the words of others saying that European volunteering makes you grow, gives you the opportunity to get to know the culture of the country in a unique way, which allows you to make friends with absolutely wonderful people? Which I agree with anyway.
Since I have already lived abroad and have done several volunteer projects and programs, exchanges, etc., I thought that my expectations were right and that I was ready to overcome all the unforeseen events that could have happened when you go away from your land. But, of course, I was wrong.
My story begins on July 30, 2019, when I arrived in Molfetta, the city of green Persians. The city of so good food that it's worth getting fat for. The city of the friendliest people I've ever seen. The pearl of Puglia, still hidden from many tourists (fortunately). From the early days I had fallen in love with the Southern way of life, traditions, dialects, Checco Zalone's films, parties, thanks above all to my mentor, his family and all the people I met around. For the first time it was so easy (for a foreigner with a low level of Italian) to get close to the local people and feel truly at home.
On the other hand, life in the InCo association went equally well. I had the opportunity to carry out many different and interesting activities, to explore the world of youth work, radio, European planning, management of social channels, etc., and thus obtain skills and an idea for my future career.
And just when I thought I was lucky enough and that life was beautiful, I suddenly found myself in the middle of a pandemic, in the hotbed of Europe. Although some volunteers decided to leave, my decision was: #iorestoacasa (and at that moment my home was in Molfetta) and to live this new reality (even if it seemed surreal!) Like all Italians: watching every episode of the series ''Il decreto'', singing ''azzurro'' on the balcony, learning to cook... In these difficult times, I discovered true solidarity among people.
Trying to be brief, let me finish here. This was my one year volunteer experience in Italy (now I also understand why the term is used as a synonym for Italy). Although each experience is unique to each of us, the thing in common for all of us is that it really changes you, in an unimaginable way. In the end, I hope that I too changed the lives of the people I met in some way, or at least left a good memory.
