EVS volunteer diary - RUSSIA

Tallinn training report

The training took place a month before my departure to Saint-Petersburg. Looking back, analyzing the experience, I understand that I didn’t have enough time to prepare for my service under EVS program, to use all the resources, to be precise.

The participants were soon-to-be volunteers just like me; everyone had their own expectations and ambitions. One of them was going to England for a month in the last day of the training. I was really surprised that he was absolutely uninformed about the place, the work he was to do and didn’t even know the receiving organization. Overall most of the volunteers were younger than me and from what they told me during a break while we were having a cup of tea I understood that most of them very interested in the country they were going to not the project itself. From the psychological point of view such attitude doesn’t suit me. I understand now that it is very important – to find a suitable project as you’d be working for it the whole year, what if you wouldn’t like it? Would you do the whole year something that doesn’t fit you?

At the training I mostly communicated with a Russian girl, the rest were all Estonians including trainers, and most of them didn’t speak Russian. It was quite a tough call for me because I don’t speak Estonian, but I guess I had to go through a linguistic stress even if I was going to a mother tongue speaking country. The first day was the hardest, but then again I realized that when the communication is carried out in a foreign language one should participate by whatever means necessary, body also can talk.   At the training we studied stressful situations and how to handle them. We also had a consultant from the bureau, in angel shape, explain the financial part. Why angel? Because after she came I relaxed and didn’t feel like a black sheep. She personally devoted some time to me and gave answers to my questions.

Also we played, communicated a lot, and made presentations of our projects at the end of the second day. Since the majority was going to work either with kinds or elderly people or with physically challenged people the trainers carried out an experiment. They took us all to a rehabilitation center for young people who are dealing with drug, alcohol or other toxic substances abuse. They are just like any other normal kids, just uncontrollable. But it was hard for me. We had to organize them in games, in communication, at this age kinds are cruel, but I tried to tame my emotions, tried to be firm. Two factors that could help in work with teens – loud voice and quick actions, so kids won’t have the time to think about fooling around. It was another confirmation that I’ve chosen the right project which works with the young, adequate people who generally know what they are doing, who are aware of what is going on. Also we had an opportunity to swim in a swimming pool. It really helped me relax in the evening. The general impression of the training is positive, I got what I wanted. In the very beginning we had to explain what we were expecting of these 3 days, my expectations were: to acquire information on the subsequent actions, test my motivation and meet other volunteers. It is safe to say that I have got answers for all 3, even more than that: I have obtained essential important life experience.  

Veronika Ignatuhhina