Wolontariusz: Christian Olesch (Niemcy)
Nr projektu: 21-PL-45-2000-R4
Czas realizacji: 2001-04-01 - 2001-10-31
Kraj wysyłający: Niemcy
Nazwa projektu: Międzynarodowe Projekty Młodzieżowe - Camp Rodowo 2001 (00-PL-07)
Organizacja goszcząca: Międzynarodowe Centrum Wymiany Młodzieży "Camp Rodowo"
Adres: Rodowo 2, 11-731 Sorkwity
tel.: (0-89) 742 81 02
www: www.rodowo.pl
e-mail: rodowo@rodowo.pl
A half year at the countryside...
After two years living in Berlin I went for holidays to Poland, to a student-seminar about German-Polish Topics and Europe. A house somewhere in the north-eastern part of Poland in a region called Mazury. This way everything began. They were looking out for a volunteer for the next year, and they asked me, if I would like to do it. I haven't forget my mother's language, Polish, at all, and this would be helpful in a place where German-Polish Youth meetings take place all over the year.
After coming back to Berlin I was thinking about this offer, also about the difficulties, setting out of studies for a half year, what should I do with my flat, with my work and so on. But I decided, you always have some troubles but I will do it next year and I subscribed the agreement.
Next year at the first of April I went to Camp Rodowo, my hosting organisation. It was a big change, away from a big big town, from the university, from my technical work...to a countryside region, apart of cities, helping in a youth camp. What should it be ?
The travel from Germany to Poland goes through two seasons. I started in spring and arrived in ... winter. In western Germany the leaves were just coming out and In Mazury, there was laying snow and all the trees were quite naked. The spring starts one and a half months later here, just 800 km from Berlin.
Together with me arrived Carlos, another Volunteer from Portugal. Our work starts immediately, an intensive language course, working in the garden and preparing the house for the groups. From the middle of April there are coming all kinds of youth groups to us. German-Polish school exchanges, students, pathfinder, environment organisations. There are workshops and seminars about nature & ecology, theatre, history and politics, or simple holiday meetings.
‘Camp Rodowo’, that is an old Farmer’s house in the mazurian style, rebuilt to a kind of youth hostel. It lays in between of forests, fields and lakes, 15 km away from the next town.  Often you can see storks flying around or sitting in their nest. Maybe it’s difficult to describe, but simply the house and the environment have a relaxing effect on all inhabitants. Adam Halemba and his family has build up the house four years ago, but it’s still not ready, there is always something to do. My Job is... making activities with the groups, going for trips with the people, working in the office, making bread... in such a house everybody of our small team (Adam, Inga, Carlos and me) must think about all the things.
If I look back at the first half of my volunteer being, I must say it was a really nice time. I have known many people here and had much fun. But it’s not everytimes easy. Sometimes it’s difficult for me with all the guests in our house, cause every week there arrive new groups to us and the old groups are going home. Every week you build up contacts and you must say good bye. Slowly I also have learned to keep  distance to the people. Also sometimes I would like to have more knowledge and experience in pedagogical things, but I try to do my best.
At the end, I am not sure, if I want go home from here when my service is finished.
Christian Olesch |
