Imagine packing your bags, landing in a new country, and realising that for the next 12 months, this will be your new home and… life. That was me — participating in a European Solidarity Corps project in German organisation called “Internationale Jugendbauhütte Gartendenkmalpflege”. It turned out to be the most exciting, transformative year I’ve ever had.
Restoring History With My Own Hands
My main project was restoring a historic cultural landscape park. In short — I became a gardener. But not the “watering flowers every day” kind. Our tasks were wildly diverse: planting and replanting trees, maintaining a fruit orchard, watering, repairing wooden bridges and benches, restoring old park trails, and even working with tools and machinery I’d never touched before.
That was one of the best parts — no two weeks were ever the same. I wasn’t just “helping out”; I was learning skills that felt both practical and meaningful, while literally bringing history back to life.
From Awkward Silence to Real Conversations
When I first arrived, my German was pretty much at “hello-how-are-you” level (A1–A2). The first three months? Brutal. I couldn’t keep up with conversations, and my best friends were Google Translate and some very creative hand gestures.
But here’s the crazy part — just a couple of months in, I understood more than I ever did after half a year of studying back home. Living in the language changes everything.
Cultural Shocks: The Good Kind
My biggest cultural shock? How multicultural Germany really is — especially Berlin. People from all over the world live there. Most probably you’ll bump into someone speaking your language within a few days.
In contrast, our small village felt like the exact opposite — quiet, local, and very German. And yet the locals were some of the most welcoming people I’ve ever met. They even had a tradition of building the Christmas market together with volunteers and neighbours, which we got to be a part of. Those moments made me feel less like a foreigner and more like a part of the community.
Other volunteers were just as open and supportive. We organised dinners, game nights, road trips, and parties together. Having that small international “family” made every challenge easier and every celebration twice as fun.
Traveling Like a Local (For Free!)
Here’s a perk I didn’t expect: my organisation gave me a travel pass. That means free rides across the country — and even into some border towns in neighbouring countries. Over the year, I explored more than half of Germany.
Some highlights? Dresden — the most beautiful city centre I’ve ever seen. Hamburg — with its harbour energy and city vibes. Munich, which became my frequent weekend base. From there, the Alps were only a short train ride away — 1.5 to 2 hours, and suddenly you’re standing in front of breathtaking alpine landscapes.
Support & Seminars: Learning + Friends + Adventure
I had 7 seminars throughout the year, each a week long and in a different city. Each one was packed with insights, from integration tips to cultural workshops. And the best part? Meeting people from all over the world, each with their own story. Every seminar felt like a mini-adventure inside the bigger adventure.
I had a mentor in Germany, also a sending organisation in Belarus, and even a supervising body that visited us during seminars to make sure we were doing okay. Whether it was a problem with work, housing, or just adjusting, there was always someone ready to help. That support system made a huge difference.
If you’re hesitating about the European Solidarity Corps, here’s my advice: just go for it. You’ll learn a language, meet incredible people, travel more than you ever dreamed of, and grow in ways you can’t imagine.
| If you’re curious, here’s the contact of my Belarusian sending organization — Telegram bot @grodnoevent_contactbot |
