Pink elephant

Like an author once said “I don’t want to be a writer just to write about my life, but to escape from it”, I believe I have followed his advice and become a European volunteer who would not go on with previous daily routine, but rather escape and enjoy Europe, people, diversity.
Theoretically, a successful EVS internship has many sides one of them would be location, location, location… meaning the choice of the country or city that better fits your needs; then also the program you sign in for, give it a thought before, try to picture yourself in that position and finally it’s always the surprise element: your work colleagues, tutors, roommates…and sometimes, perhaps, a completely random EVS choice may turn into a wonderful experience.
No matter how old you are or how sometimes your work gets to you and maybe does not fulfils you, as volunteer, every now and I found it relieving just to go back being a teenager, when life was much simple, and all you needed was to hang out with friends and some 90’s pop songs.
During EVS one should not settle just for what one gets, but rather be curious and explore so that this experience enlarges. Collect memories and emotions and don’t store them like old pictures inside a dusty album so that they don’t get crests, but share them as often as possible. One can share he’s stories not only with “outsiders”, but also during Seminars meant to connect volunteers, compare, complain and advice each other.
In the end nothing lasts forever, volunteers come and go, internships end, dreams change but friendships never go out of style. And even if my pessimistic and sarcastic side would say that life gives you many chances to screw up, I was lucky enough to meet people who thought me that, it also gives you as many chances to make it right. And maybe, for some, this experience was not a novel, it was just short story, but that does not make it any less full of life.
When you are young all your life is about the pursuit of fun, then you grow up and learn how to be cautious, you could break a bone, or a heart, you look before you leap and sometimes you don’t leap at all because it is too scary. Nine months ago I decided it was time to leave fear behind and look for some fun. And besides, mistakes are the tools that shape our lives, maybe if we had never made a mistake we wouldn’t be who we are…
After all, things change, places change, people come into your life and they go. But it’s comfortable to know that the ones we love will always be in our hearts and if you are very lucky, just a plane ride away.