The keyhole

The most popular questions what I have to answer every day- where are you from and why did you choose germany. With the first one there cannot be many difficulties. Sometimes it might be a little bit tiring, as my friend in the second half of Evs chose another country and name to introduce herself, but it is a good place to start a conversation. The other question more complex. I could talk about it for hours. So i could start with the fact that Germans are so cute and lovely people and tell them stories of my friends, tell about the way to get to know myself better in an environment, where my siblings as well live. And yet they wait to hear a short answer. The best answer I have heard to this question was given by the spanish volunteer Rafael here who said he would like to learn how to be practical, organised and make plans like the germans. I do not have such a good answer yet figured out- i have to work on it more. One of the trains of thought is visible here.

The Evs is for me something very clear as in Estonia my relations with the volunteers were quite close. Or should I say has been? With every experience there is a big difference between practical and theoretical. Until I came here EVS remained only a word for me, one of these tousands of terms I am familiar to. I must say that I think I have not understood it yet that I am not here for the summer only, there will come the autumn and winter, finally spring.

As I am here experiencing this year, the project, then the words that were to define Evs are probably changing. At the moment I would say that EVs is "looking through the keyhole from the other side".These rather distant words must become more clear, but that in the future, but now on this milestone i have recorded them. To explain a bit more why the activity with the keyhole, I will spend a couple of lines. It cannot be the key, it might have referred to it like that, but no trip cannot bring automatically the solutions. The project is rather connected with viewing and concentrated looks(besides asking questions) what is the premise for learning, understanding and adjusting.

I cannot say that every person needs to go through this amasing experience like Evs (although every second should do that ;), this is said little overexaggeratedly to stress how much I value it). Evs quite often means just being ready to adjust to a new environment and being ready to go through with your dreams, the changes that are vital. This is the thing I have believed for two years and I am witnessing it at the moment. I cannot deny that it is possible to achieve such attitude and energy, environment and changes in every place.

As I have thought quite a lot about the meaning of Evs, for me til now the most important factor is time. Time makes evs so magical time. The fact that the volunteers are not rushing through life, gives them moments with themselves, opportunity to analyse the development process and help others, to be creative . These different aspects can be summed up with the skill that is needed- noticing. And again, to see and understand your own character, others around you, cultural differences you need to take time.