Fundamental experiences

To me, meeting other EVS volunteers is always more than a pleasure. Sharing stories, comparing experiences, complaining about the same annoying things, ... Last night, Léo, Marta, Kristiāna and me went to Florence to meet with a group of EVSs that live and work in Florence. Since we have never gone out in Florence, we decided to meet them there despite a train strike began at 9 p.m., just a bit before our train was supposed to leave. However, we got to Florence nicely, met with the EVSs and spend some great time in two pubs. The second pub where we went was an Irish pub and was full of American students. Kristiāna, Marta and me were having a great time, dancing and singing (I actually have a sore throat today due to all the singing or better said shouting) till 3 a.m. Then, however, the adventure started. We still had an hour and a half till our train, so first we had kebab and then coffee at McDonald's (yes, of course it was disgusting). A bit before our train we sadly discovered that due to the train strike the 4.35 a.m. train was cancelled and with it also more or less or other regional trains to Prato. People waiting at the station were pretty furious, even shouting at the train conductor even though he had nothing to do with the trains being cancelled or not knowing which trains will go and which not. It was actually funny looking at the people running to the trains every time there was a train-is-departing announcement since no one actually knew that these announcement are automatic and not up-to-date. We slept a bit on one of the trains that were open, then we waited outside a bit, we had a breakfast, then we waited a bit more and had another breakfast. I was so tired and cold, all I could see in front of my eyes was a cup of hot tea (real tea, not the tea-bag one) and my bed. Finally, at 8.35 a.m. there was an inter-city train leaving for Milano and, luckily, stopping in Prato. Having come back home, we treated ourselves with another breakfast (and a cup of hot tea) and went to bed. I was so happy to have come back home and when I crawled into bed ... oh dear, all the waiting in the cold was forgotten. All in all, it still was a great night, no regrets, despite all the train chaos. I guess experiencing a train strike in Italy in this way is one of the fundamental experiences of living in Italy. 


There's some great news that made my week, actually. Two important parts of an EVS are also the on-arrival training (at the beginning of an EVS project) and mid-term evaluation (sometime in the middle of an EVS project). With everything being organized very well in Italy (not), we of course haven't had none of those trainings yet and all up till last Monday (or was it Tuesday) we were absolutely sure we'll never be invited. However, we have been called to attend the on-arrival training. In December. Two weeks before our project ends, we're going to attend an on-arrival training. Even though I strongly doubt how I'll benefit from an on-arrival training now, I'm still very very excited about it. I'll be able to share my experiences, meet new people and there'll also be an Italian language course, so I'm sure it's going to be far from a waste of time. So, on December 12th, Marta, Burcu and me are going to Rimini for eight days and we'll be staying in a four-star hotel (I'm sooooo looking forward to the hotel breakfast). Instead of the training giving me a smoother start of the project, it's going to be a lovely end of the project. Some kind of our last adventure together. I guess it is fundamental to attend an on-arrival training at the end of your project. I do live in Italy, after all.