Month: September 2015

Let’s start!

Posted on by alifeafterevs

After coming back, everything seems to be a bit chaotic and future looks hazy. You might have some ideas but not a clue about how to start.

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Photo by Kenny Louie.

Travelling. One of the ideas can be to keep travelling and discovering new places as you did during your EVS. That wanderlust spirit is more awaken than ever. That period abroad made you an expert backpacker and map reader. Take that train!

Studying. You can also have plans to continue your studies. You have enough energy to face university days. Go for it!

The volunteering spirit. Whether you were involved before or not, you might want to belong to an association, fund your own one or attend to trainings to improve your skills. Start applying or getting info now!

We will go through this ideas in the next posts. But, what if you have no idea? You had such a good experience that you do not know what is next. You probably have already heard about SALTO-YOUTH, a network of resource centres that will help you, through non-formal learning tools, to get to know more about the Erasmus+ program. This can be useful to find tips, ideas and resources about life after EVS. One of them is the MOOC on Erasmus+ Funding Opportunities.

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Photo by Steve Johnson.

Get ready for a world full of possibilities!

What is in your suitcase after EVS?

Posted on by alifeafterevs

I am sure you already know you have learned a lot and have gained a bunch of good friends. It is time to go back home and you probably have a huge suitcase full of memories and souvenirs from your EVS. What are the most important things you can put inside?

  • Forget about clothes, memories are more valuable. You probably have to get rid of some clothing ir order to make space for all those little treasures you have collected. Never get rid of them! Those are the ones which conect you to this experience, not the clothes.

186H (1)Photo by Ryan McGuire.

  • Friends. Why not take them with you? Now it is your opportunity to show them your home country, and although the experience it is going to be different, you will be the perfect host. The EVS have given you the opportunity of meeting people from all over the world, so use it! Travel, travel and travel. Now you have great friends waiting for you in every corner.
  • New skills. Remember that power failure day? Or how difficult was to communicate with local community? You are ready for everything now. You may not know about those new skills yet, but take your time to think and use them back home. Now you are more adaptable, curious and creative so don’t be afraid of what is coming.
  • Nostalgia. Why not? It is ok to feel it for some time. But move on quickly or you will force yourself to go back to your host country. But what the heck! Go back!

What else would you put in your suitcase?

Main photo by piervix on imcreator.

How EVS changed my life.

Posted on by alifeafterevs

I guess there are hundred of ways to start a blog. By explaining the objectives. Or from the beginning of the idea. But this one is going to start from the end. The end of my EVS. But what is EVS?

To answer that we have to go back in time, around october 2013. By that time, I was about to start one of the best experiences I have ever had: the European Voluntary Service. I spent 9 months in Serbia and I wrote about them in other blog called Un pedazo de Serbia. During this period, I volunteered in the small town of Vranje where I met amazing people. I also travelled all around the Balkans with other volunteers while I got to know the culture I was living in.

But, what happened after? How this months living abroad, volunteering, sharing, learning and travelling changed my life?

Usually EVS volunteers are not aware about the learning process. But when we faced the end of this life, everything we have learnt comes to our mind. All the moments, activities, places and people define a new self. This new person is full of energy, highly-motivated, confident, resourceful, adventurous and flexible. And even if we can not see it, this is just the beginning. And suddenly, we want to start or keep being involved in volunteer activities, attend to trainings, fund our own organizations or become a trainer. We are more motivated than ever but, at the same time, nostalgic for the life we leave behind.

This blog is about that. About life after EVS.

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Main photo by Ryan McGuire.