My EVS Diary

by Petya Stoyanova

Dear not so secret diary,

I have been in Kalamata for nearly two weeks now. For sure it has been an adventure like no other! Time has passed by so fast, it still feels like it was only yesterday that I took the bus, dragging my huge suitcase around. But here I am now having discovered a new home, new family and a new passion.

Ahh, Aristomenus… It is said that there is no other place like home and I couldn’t agree more! Still, what is home? Is it the location, the house, the furniture? To me it is the people! And in a daze I found myself sharing my new home with a Nomad 5-stars chaff, Tea loving technician, Nerd fashionista, Extremely stubborn video making virtuoso, Book loving French, Funny socks lover and a Liverpool and piroshky’s fan. I will tell you that, there is no dull moment with my flatmates around!

Petya's first day at the dog shelter

Shortly after I arrived I went to visit the local dog shelter, where I will be volunteering during my EVS program. Never, NEVER have I ever had such a warm welcome before!!! Six hundred dogs all happy to see you and eager to play as well as kind and sweet volunteers waiting on the doorstep to greet you! Now that I have worked there for a week I can tell you it is one of the more rewarding thing I have ever done in my life! I am glad I had the opportunity to become part of the DASH family!

And here comes the crown jewel… Salsa, bachata and  so much more you can do right here in the youth center in Kalamata! Monday and Thursday started to become two of my favorite days in the week because I have the classes to look forward to. And that is the story of how this trip uncovered the hidden Latino passion I had in me!

Holidays - EVS way

It’s a bit hard to go back to work after holidays, all of the amazing food and relaxed moments with friends and family. Especially if you are an EVS volunteer living far away from home.

So, the holidays for us were everything but usual. We decided to throw a little celebration in the Youth Center as a reward of the successful period behind us. We had a Christmas dinner, spent some time together with nice music and good food (that we prepared by ourselves ^^), received nice presents from our Secret Santas.

We also had to say some goodbyes to friends who finished their EVS projects, but with a promise to meet again soon.

Thessaloniki coastline through the eye of an EVS

Then, all of us haven’t seen each other for a while.

Some went back home for holidays, some were exploring northern parts of Greece, and some stayed to experience the way Kalamata people celebrate holidays.

Traditional French cake through the belly :) of an EVS

All of us were full of stories to tell when we got together in January. 

And of course, full of inspiration New Year resolutions. Classical ones – eating healthier, spending less money, getting more sleep, reading more books. A bit unusual ones – creating medicines by ourselves, learning how to make natural toothpaste etc, but with a common goal of making our lives more enjoyable.

We have even dedicated a whole issue of the next LINK magazine to resolutions. So in case you got hooked to the resolution examples you just red, you’ll love it.