Volunteering and Happiness

Be careful, reading this article could give you the desire to live the experience of being an international volunteer ! 

 

Why becoming a volunteer ? There are several reasons and motivations, then so much more to explore during your journey ; being involved in a local community, having the feeling to be useful in the society, giving the opportunity to others, building social responsibilities, or gaining first-hand work experience, in addition to self-exploring and personal development.

We can’t say anything else than pushing you to be involved within volunteering. 

However, becoming an international volunteer results in a different story and has different consequences than being a local volunteer.

 

The motivations are wider. Those can be the desire to leave your comfort zone, to learn a new language, to adapt to other cultures, to develop new skills, or even to take distance from your relatives, etc. 

Whatever your motivations, they are all worth it and this experience is a whole life souvenir !

 

Nevertheless, the more prepared you are, the more you will light it up and cut back the affection of homesickness. 

Without talking about the administration process, we recommend you some advice before pre-departure and during the project.

 

Pre-departure : 

• Inform yourself regarding the situation of the country you go to, while being careful about whichinformation you let affect you. The Media diffuses a lot of information but sometimes overstates the situation.
  

 

• Whether your project is through the Service Civique, consider taking your trip ticket in advance. Concerning the plane, check different flights on a free flight search engine on a private window (avoiding prices to burn) and focus on taking your ticket on Tuesday evening.

• Write a list concerning what to put in your luggage to be sure not to forget anything.
  

 

During your project, you will face different phases. Upon your arrival, you will be very excited about this new life, of discovering a new country. However, right after this enthusiasm, you will get used to the country and face homesickness, which can be more or less important depending on people.

• Be sociable 

When you arrive in a new country, you, most of the time, do not know anyone. Some people are introverted and don’t have any desire to meet new people. However, that is part of knowing a new culture. It is important having punctual and continual activities, for instance sport, music, to join a creativity club, etc, and getting to know people. 

There are also some expats Facebook groups where you can become part and share experiences with others.

Do not be shy to ask your colleagues to go out and take a drink. Your networking will start through your hosting organisation.

• Keep your routines

 

We noticed it is also important to keep some routines or activities you used to do in your pre-departure country. If you used to do some Yoga for example before going to bed, keep this habit. That helps to cut back the level of homesickness.

 

• Learn the language

Sometimes, the population of the country where you go do not speak good english. Learning a new language might be considered in that case to facilitate your integration. 

• Keep in touch with your relatives

The excitement of the new life may make you forget to get in touch with your relatives once in the country. It is normal for them to be worried about knowing you alone and abroad. For the first weeks, understand their concerns. Step by step they will be reassured and you will be more free-minded to fully enjoy your project.

• Build your own “home sweet home”

Either your parents’ place or your own place, you have probably left your “sweet home” behind you. This experience abroad will make you understand that YOUR place is the place you decide to create for yourself. Although the project is only for a few months, create your own bubble, even if it is in colocation. 

Indeed, most volunteering accommodations are in colocation. Whether it is the case, each renter has the same right to be equally included in the apartment life. Do not be afraid to communicate about your feelings with your flatmates. This place should be where you feel safe and homely.  

It can be by hanging a few pictures on the wall, having a bed mat, bringing your Italian coffee maker or buying pillows to have a cozy bed. 

Those few details allow you to feel at home !

 

Keep in mind that homesickness happens. You miss your relatives, your country, the culture is not yours, the language is too complicated, etc. What have you expected ? Of course you will go through bad times. 

But that is just a period, it will pass. Strong or light, the homesickness affects you. The desire and the facility to break the agreement and to go back to your country will probably cross your mind. Be objective and weigh the pros and the cons about what you have lived so far and what you have got left. 

 

Make this experience useful for yourself, go out of your safe zone and prosper your happiness !