It's really going to start now!!!

Hey guys,
today was the day! My internship has started!
At seven a.m. my family brought me to the airport in Hamburg. I was wearing my green "internship"-Shirt which all the persons, attending at the internship, had got for the flight and the first day. When we arrived at the airport I was really excited. I would get to meet the other teenagers for the first time. My parents and I walked through the entrance hall and I noticed a few teenager in green shirts and began to smile. All members of the group were very friendly to me. Especially a girl called Maja. We are such a good match. Than I had to say goodbye to my parents. I hate to say goodbye so it was a very hard situation for me. But a few minutes later I just concentrated on the group and forgot my parents for a while.
After we checked in we had to wait a long time for our flight. We used this time for some group-games to get to know each other. At nine a.m. our team leader walked with us to the gate an a few minutes later we sat in the plane. Maja sat next to me and both of us were so excited. But the flight wasn't really exciting. 12 hours on the same seat in the same room...
A large part of the flight both of us were sleeping or were watching movies. And than ten minutes befor the plane was landing a queasy sensation developed in my stomach. During the time on the airport and on the way to the children's home this sensation became bigger and bigger. There were so many impressions and my aexpectation was growing higher and higher.
After 30 minutes driving we arrived at the children's home. The head of the home and all employees greeted us very friendly and showed us our home for the next 14 days. Also the boss introduced us to the children. I was so impressed by all of them. Some of them beamed all over their faces and some other were bored or sad. Especially the young children from three to five were so interested and wanted to play with us.

https://www.multikultur.info/freiwilligenarbeit-suedafrika-projekte.html

But before we could do this we needed a briefing. We learned how to deal with the children (especially by disputes),what we are allowed to do and what not, which tasks we had to do, how we have to react in a case of emergency and how important a loving interaction is. Puh... so many rules and limits. It was a lot of information and my head was spinning of.
After this briefing it was time for dinner. Some of us cooked with Bijan, a really friendly guy and a good cook and the other members of the group had to wash the dishes. The dinner was wonderful. All 170 children and the team were sitting and eating together. There was a lot of singing and laughing and the food tasted really great (even if it's very different to German food).
At seven p.m. we were allowed to put the young kids to bed. Ashanti a 70-years-old lady and a volunteer employee sang a old african lullaby for the children. This was a very touching moment.

And now I'm sitting on my bed in our girls dormitory. Next to me Maja and a few other girls. We are reflecting this day and talking about our impressions. What a day! I'm so excited what is going to happen the next day. Don't worry! I'll report all details for you!

Until next time.
-Alicia

Source:

https://www.multikultur.info/freiwilligenarbeit-suedafrika-projekte.html
(25.05.17)