EVS- Breaking down Barriers

EVS was a year when I put my life on hold to have the time of my life and inadvertently gained a great deal of common sense along the way. I learnt to curse Deutsche Bahn like a true local, that bikes and Glatteis don’t mix but snow and Gluhwein certainly do and that the spirit of kindness from strangers is a booming phenomenon. I was helped, aided, encouraged and supported by the sheer generosity and goodwill of so many people during my year. I made and learnt from mistakes, got in and out of more scrapes than I care to remember and above all, had a fantastic time doing it.
I killed pot plants, slaughtered the German language and did away with any preexisting stereotypes that I held, but I did not ‘kill’ time. There were many ups, downs and long-way rounds, but the only thing I regret from this experience is that I cannot possibly thank the amazing people who helped me through this experience enough.
One of the most important lessons I learnt during my EVS experience was to be prepared to listen and learn from others. If it seems like there should be an easier or better way, there probably is. Just ask anyone and everyone you see until you figure how to do it. People I that came across were only too happy to help out when asked. If they weren’t, they hid it well. People are genuinely willing to help and often the answers are already there, if we're just willing to listen. Life is too short to have to figure out the mundane things in life twice.
Every time I try to explain just how fabulous EVS was, I end up jabbering away like a gibbering git. Fortunately, all the people I’ve been trying to explain to up to this point have either been fellow volunteers (who consequently understand my predicament) or family (who have to love me). However, as I once again settle back into the 'real world', I am confronted with the importance of putting all those ideas we talked about during EVS into motion. If we truly want to see change, then we have to act and we have to act now. Flowery words and noble intentions are all very well and good, but we cannot and certainly should not wait around for somebody to change things for us. Gandhi had it right: You must be the change you want to see in the world.

I met people from all over Europe and discovered that we may have different languages, we may have different customs and we may call very different things breakfast, but we are all disturbingly similar. I would never have known that my Doppelganger was living in Sweden or have had such a fantastic opportunity to discuss, reflect and learn from such a diverse group of individuals had I not done EVS. I encountered and embraced so many new ideas throughout my time in Germany, from culinary experiences to refugee policy to budget nitty-gritty.
I loved the idea of adopting a European identity and the fact that this did not necessarily call for assimilation, but was merely another one of the hats we wear as we go about our daily lives. Inclusion is a far healthier policy than exclusion and I look forward to seeing this concept grow and foster closer ties between the many nation states of Europe. However, I am a staunch advocate of Europe remaining open and receptive, as there is a whole world out there! It is not just Europeans who are not so different from one another, but indeed all humans. Besides, If Azerbaijan can join the EU, why not Australia next!!?? I believe that we need to take this concept one step further and not just promote the idea that all human beings are equal regardless of their state of birth, but to embrace it as well. We are a constantly expanding global community and if the EVS program is in any way responsible for fostering closer ties between nations, comrades and friends, then I am a staunch and unwavering advocate for it.