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When I decided, I will participate in the project and will live in Romania as a volunteer, I said to myself – Mariam, you should see the world, you can travel.
When you are going to go so far from your home and family, the first thought is not about many new things in the new environment, not about new friends, but the first thought in your mind is about this way, flight, which you should made firs (or not the first) time in your life to reach the destination, - all this way from Georgia to Romania was a journey for me.
I will never forget the first way from Georgia to Romania. I clearly remembered those feelings, when I looked from the cockpit of the plane and saw how clouds stat to be transparent and beyond of those clouds I saw the new space, the big city, where I have to find myself, where I have to care myself in the new streets with a help of GPS or without it. There I should adapt with a new money, new food, talk to locals on their mother language and be one of them all the time.
Since being here, in Romania, I visited many beautiful Romanian cities, traveled in Hungary and Poland, discovered such and amazing streets, buildings, rivers or sculptures full with history and culture of their people.
After my first trip I have changed so much that I can say that traveling helped me to grow up as a person. The volunteer work has given me the opportunity to make with small money a big adventure, live in cheap or very comfortable hotels, enjoy the local cuisine or walk the whole day with the apples in the bag. Planned in the right way, travelling can be about so much more than just crossing places off your bucket list. There is lots to learn when visiting other countries. Open yourself up to new experiences – stay in a local home stay, volunteer with a community charity, get to know the people and the culture of each new place you visit – and you’ll find that you return home, not only with lots of great memories but a lot of new skills too.
Sitting at home in the familiar surroundings you grew up in, your perspective on life is unlikely to be challenged all that often. Travelling, you get to see how people around the world choose (or are compelled) to live their lives. You see where their priorities lie – how they view work, family, education, the environment – and how this compares to your experiences at home. Understanding that there isn’t just one way to do things opens your mind to a whole host of possibilities.
When I was sitting home surrounded by lovely people, Erasmus + gave me this opportunity to sand up and start a journey as a volunteer. I am grateful for this chance.
