Of course during the time spent abroad and the time at home preparing to leave everyone of us has encountered one problem or another, sometimes big, sometimes not so big. Some of the problems are given below...They are not meant to put you off, but maybe to help you on your way with a few tips for things to watch out for...
1. Bad information and bad comunication.
- No information about the project (what sort of work they will do).
2. Dificulties to leave the country.
- Many difficulties in finding a project. The sending association works very slowly and not very seriously and it has very limited comunication conditions. For example, Damien from France said that it was big mistake to trust the sending organisation and that he had to find the project himself.
- Many people have to wait a long of time to be sure that they could go to Germany. For example Elena and Clara from Spain had to wait 2 months, Medde from Denmark 8 months and Raul from Spain 15 months.
3. "I feel I am useless in my project"
Medde from Denmark did not know what she really was supposed to do. Anne from France has nothing to do. Abel from Spain has nothing to do, he says that the people are neither interested in his abilities nor in him. Sophie from France feels that the team of her project do not really need her help.
4. The work is not very interesting.
- Irmgard from Austria takes letters to the post.
5. Lodging conditions
- Very bad conditions for Abel from Spain who lives with a lot of young people in a house. He says: "Nobody cleans, nobody does the washing-up and nobody does anything, it is very difficult to leave here. The association does not want to help me."
- Mette from Denmark shares a flat with other volunteers.
- Raul from Spain lives in a private house. He has problems with people who live with him. He wants to leave the house and his association will help him.
- Dessi from Bulgaria lives with other volunteers. In her house there are different flats.
- Gerald from France lives in a seminar-centre.
- Anne from France lives with two German boys.
- Agnès from France lives in a family. It is sometimes difficult because she does not have a private life, she has to do a lot of things with the family.
6. Problems with insurance.
- Abel from Spain has to pay his own insurance and he thinks that it is not normal. (Abel is right...volunteers should NEVER pay for their own insurance...)
- Daniela from Austria had problems with her medical insurance.
7. Problems with language courses.
- Gerald from France has problems finding German courses becuase he is isolated in a mountain area.
8. Problems with visas.
- Dessi from Bulgary had difficulties to get a visa. She had to ask for an extention for one year.
9. Problems with the language.
- Myriam from France does not understand German, it is very difficult for her.
10. Integration problems.
-Mar from Spain had problems to adapt to her life in the field. She works on a farm and there is not cultural oportunities.
11. Homesickness
- Robin from England sometimes misses his friends but not especially his country!
The most important thing is to communicate with your project before leaving your home country. Make sure you know what your tasks will be, where you will be located and that you have a contact person within your hosting organisation abroad. If you're not satisfied, you can always look elsewhere before making a firm commitment.
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