Unforgettable

I volunteered at the refugee project in Italy for my school's practicum for 4 weeks and it was one of the best things I've ever done in my life. I went into the program not really having much of an idea of what would be expected of me or what my jobs would entail. I quickly found myself doing things I had no idea I could do, such as teach english and fitness classes (thank god for Google!) The project coordinators are really accommodating to make sure that you only have an amount of work that you are comfortable with and try to help you with any extra travel plans you may wish to do on the weekends. Many of these travel abroad projects you live with a host family, however in Camini you live in a communal house with other volunteers and all eat together in the dining hall at the office. Cosimina, my new Italian Nonna, cooked for us breakfast, lunch and dinner and never disappointed! The food was always amazing and she is very accommodating if you have food allergies/dislikes. My first week in Italy I got my bearings around town and my duties. The second week I began to make connections with the refugees and the locals alike. My third week I really deepened those connections, and my fourth week I began to see all my hard work come together as I saw some of the changes I had made in Camini and the people in it. Overall, the experience was an emotional rollercoaster with many highs and lows. But I'm so glad for the lows because the highs wouldn't have been as high. I made connections with people I never would have had an opportunity to make otherwise, not only with the refugees but with the locals and the other volunteers as well. Camini truly stole a place in my heart and I hope to go back one day.