Volunteers' stories
"Siberian Adventure"Iwona Frydryzhak, Poland
I was trying very hard to find an opportunity to live for a while in Russia, the country which a long long time ago, quite accidentally I guess, I decided to tie with my life. I was studying Russian language and culture for two years at the university and I did not have any idea about this biggest, strange and amazing country. And finally I found out about EVS - the great opportunity to grow up in the place you always dream to be. I did not really think about an exact place in Russia, so I just opened a map and shyly looked at it more and more on the east. And I spotted this small point- Baikal Lake, about which I knew only that it is the deepest lake in the world. The temptation to live very close to this clearfull water which I thought could rob from me all the rubbish and put on the depth of 1600 meters, was too big not to start working on coming the dream true. So I started. But quite accidentally I guess, it's occurred that I didn’t' t have to work on it alone. During the holiday I met my friend from studies - Nastka. We went for a beer and I said I was going to go to Siberia. She asked if she could go with me. And together, with the great help of Semper Avanti and Wave, especially Agnieszka and Natasha, we reached it. On the 8th of May we were standing on the Baikal shore looking into its deepness. The ice was still on, the old small houses around, the smell of smoked fish... It was perfect. Then I started to be addicted to it because I discovered the paradise in the world. Russia is strange. For the first month it was very difficult for me to find friends here and have a nice social life. Although I saw the most beautiful places in my life - Olhon Island, Sayan Mountains, Mongolia I missed people so much. I wanted to get to know with Russian mentality...But Russia is really the strangest place I have ever been to. Once for example, we had a Russian young guest, who came to our flat through the balcony at 3 am. We were surrounded by men all the time who we weren't really interested in. We met them everywhere, in buses, in clubs, on our balcony, on the streets. One of them even followed us to Mongolia... And you have to be really short with them. It took me some time to get used to it and to be impolite. But without it you won't survive in Russia. Russia is very strange. It is full of witches who look like very common housewives and suddenly they start to tell you your future, read from stones which you accidentally pick up from Baikal shore, cure you in banya with honey, with sand from lake's beaches, herbs, with touch and word. They are amazing... Russia is so strange... You can see heaps of shooting stars not only on Baikal but in Irkutsk as well, you can hear a thunder which sounds for half an hour, you will hear an hour lasting toast for love, friendship and everything you want. You won't be left alone even if you really desire solitude. When they find out you are foreigner they will start to talk with you everywhere - in buses, in banyas, in the swimming pool... Russia is unique. I don't understand Russia even it is Slavic country and it from time to time seems to be similar to Poland. But it is so strange, you can hear pop music everywhere, the fascination in western culture is so big. But that is still Russia which I adore. And in the end - what is my project about? We are strange for Russians as well. So thank you Natasha for trust and freedom. We made up our project and contacted street theatre with ecological organisation. We tried to rescue Baikal clearness from rubbish, oil people who don't really care about it, with fire. We worked with street kids what gave me the great opportunity to see the sad and tragic side of Irkutsk and feeling that I left something in their small hearts. I'm leaving Irkutsk in few days, looking forward to see myself at home and notice how much this amazing stay changed me and gave me strength and passion. And I'm leaving here great Russian friends. Yesterday, when I spoke with polish priest and told that I was missing Poland so much because it had been half a year they started smiling. They are here probably more than a few years. However, even I know where my home is, I built my reality here and it wasn't only the adventure. It was, it's still, my life on Russian soil. How pathetic :) Thanks everyone. On Friday last vodka with you so I will thank you all so not here. Anastazja Golaj, Poland
Coming to Siberia I had a picture of the end of the world. A place where my grandmother was sent during the 2nd World War and a place where the devil says goodnight. But now, after spending here 6 months, and after starting to call Irkutsk my home I understand that for me this end of the world became the beginning. I met heaps of beautiful people and thanks to the idea of voluntary work I could leave here something more than only a nice memory. It was very important for me to meet Russia from inside and I reckon working with Russian youth gave me this opportunity. I didn’t want to see Russians only prepared for the hospitality of the foreign guest. I wanted to see how the people actually live. What are their daily routines, and who are they when they are tired. And I learned a lot working with them, discussing different ideas and sharing our creativity. On the next day, after I came to Irkutsk we went to Baikal lake. A week before my return to Wroclaw I went there for the last time. It’s an amazing place. So powerful, I think even healing… It gathers people of different nations, religions, and languages. And it makes them stand in silence and look at its huge clear waters. Baikal lake changed my life in its desecrate quiet way. What else can I say. Well, I could go for ages and never say all. Thank you for the possibility of seeing an incredible nature, meeting people so strongly connected to it, so strongly grounded, but who still remember to look at the stars from time to time. Also thank you for helping me to realize how easy it is to change the paradise in to a big mountain of rubbish, and how hard for people to patiently and regularly live in peace with the world. For shure by reminding people about the ecological style of life I started to live more ecologically. And that’s always a success! Many people helped me to organize this trip. And many made it important. I could fill up a lot of pages just by writing their names. Especially I should give my thanks to Agnieszka Pawlik and Semper Avanti, for their openness, and a nice smile when we came to them with Iwona and asked if it’s possible to go to Siberia. And then for a huge work they did to send us here. And now I have to give huge thanks to my colleagues who are also my friends who kept giving me tons of energy and didn’t let me believe that Siberian youth is not interested in anything. And who went with me on a journey of finding the techniques of juggling the flame of life.. ? Sasza
Musicians, kids, and ……… many many more. Huge thanks to Wave because they all helped not only in the project itself but also kept us alive by showing great places, people, asking caring questions and by doing everything to make us feel at home. Thank you to Luda for beautiful talks being a close soul, and helping to understand what’s going on around. And, oh!!! Thank you Natasza!!!! For your huge heart, beautiful smile, openness, and that I could always count on your honesty. I wish to be able to take care of someone as great as you did. Thanks to Tatiana, who kept giving us hopes and dreams, usually not to be realized, but it were moments that it didn’t count, and dreams were enough. Thanks to Alex, Alicia’s mother, old man who always set in front of our house, Kazah guy who always gave us fruit for free, and to everybody who showed us heart and made this journey unforgettable. And final thanks to the person who went through all this by my side. To Iwona. Thank you that you were so patient, always ready to go forward, that you knew when to say shut up, and when to ignore me. That you made it possible for me to feel alone, and to grow alone, and you grew also. Thanks for being. For letting me know you. God! That was an adventure! |
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