Questo post è disponibile anche in: Italian
3 October 2016 I started my European Volunteer Service in Kaunas, Lithuania. Before departure I was full of different expectations, fears and anxiety. I was asked: “Are you sure you want to do it?” And now I am asking myself why I did not think about it before. Nowadays a lot of people ask me where Lithuania is and if it really exists.
Yes, Lithuania exists and this country is rich with its traditions, landscapes and wonderful people. I have stayed here almost 3 months and now I am in the middle of my project and I do not regret at all my decision of doing EVS. And for that I would like to thank Youmore Morcelli Giovani, and first of all Justina Krauledaitė.
I am a volunteer in one elementary school “Kauno Vyturio gimnazija”. I teach English for kids from 7 to 10 years and 3 times per week and I organize Italian lessons for students. During all afternoons I help children with their homework or we just play different games.
From the first day I was absolutely surprised by children: how much love they have and how much cheerful they are. Since I do not speak Lithuanian, they are very happy to meet me in the hall and they always greet me “Ciao Martina!” (Yes, in Italian!), they hug me, and they always have some small presents for me. The most of them can speak and understand English to build communication even they are just in elementary school. When I am trying to speak Lithuanian, they always laugh about that.
Two times per week I am learning Lithuanian. This language is really difficult and complicated but now I am able to understand something. The children’s smiles when I speak Lithuanian are priceless.
Lithuania is a country with its own traditions, wonderful lakes and lovely forests. The winter has come and now everything is under the snow. The Sun rises at 8.00 and goes down at 15.30 and it becomes really cold. Terribly cold. During the day the temperature is not higher than 2 C, but often we have around -7/ -8 C. Lithuanians don’t feel cold, might be they just do not show it. When they ask me: “Are you cold?” I answer “Who? Me? Nooo”. I just wear a winter jacket from the middle of October and I do not leave the house without a scarf, a hat, a pair of gloves and two levels of clothes. That’s actually nothing. There will be -25 C and after that we will see. Actually, I am looking like a small pinguin.
Yes, exactly, like a small one. People easily understand that I am not Lithuanian from the first look at me. Here everybody is tall, blonde and blue-eyed. Once one child asked me which class I am in. But when they discover that I am Italian and I was born in Sicily, they say “Now everything is clear”.
My answer is always a smile and a laugh.
These first two months helped me to become stronger. Living alone abroad without family. The first weeks were not so easy; I went through the phase “cultural shock”. In the beginning everything was amazing, fascinating, a lot of people to know, a lot of places to discover. But later I realized that I was not in vacation. And I would stay here 6 months. And I realized from that moment I must do everything by myself: controlling money, checking my free time, staying at work and prepare to lessons. That was the first time when I lived alone. There was no one who cooked breakfast, cleaned the house and washed my clothes. From that moment I had to do it. But I was not alone. Here in Kaunas there are 25 volunteers from all Europe, and that is a great pleasure to meet other young people who experience the same things as you do. We are always ready to help each other
So what are you waiting for? Just contact Youmore Morcelli Giovani and participate! This experience will be with you all your life and you will never regret it!
I am very happy to say to everybody Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Laimingų Kalėdų!
Martina Mezzasalma
