Settling in, in a foreign country
Free Time as a Volunteer at the Excellence Center- Oskar Holinka-USA “Having been in Halle for around two months now, I feel as though I can officially say I’ve settled in and found a good routine. At the Excellence Center, volunteers have a very relaxed schedule, only having 4 days of class per week, as well as lots of freedom to schedule lessons according to the needs of student and teacher alike. This relaxed environment is very beneficial as it allows volunteers, especially those coming from far away places, to soak up their surroundings, settle in, and explore.
There are lots of things with which to fill free time, ranging from the mundane to the exciting, which makes the typical experience at the Center much more enriching and interesting as a whole. A typical week includes four days “on,” and three days “off,” with Monday-Thursday being “on” days and Friday-Sundays being the opposite. On Mondays-Thursdays, we have a communal breakfast where you can enjoy some great food and spend some time chatting with fellow volunteers. After breakfast, the day is free for you to schedule according to what works best for you and your students.
Days at the Center
Outside of volunteering, there are many ways to fill your time on days that you have classes. There are lots of amazing cafes within a short walk of the Center, or maybe you’d like to see the central square. This time of year the Christmas market is in full swing, and I often swing by to see what’s what. If you’d prefer something a little more relaxing, a walk along the Saale is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the central city and is close no matter where you find yourself in Halle. When I first arrived in October, the fall colors were absolutely astounding.
For most volunteers, lessons typically begin in the afternoon and finish in the evening, so you might be done for the day by 17:00, giving lots of time for chores or errands, or anything else that might suit your fancy. Occasionally during the week volunteers will get together, but most weeknights are fairly calm without much happening.
Days off
Fridays-Sundays are usually a lot more exciting than Mondays-Thursdays. As these are the days off from the center, a lot more is generally happening in the evenings. There are quite a few good places to hang out, and a favorite among volunteers is a riverside bar known as Docks. We will often spend the evening laughing and talking, and all have a good time. Other times, we’ve gone to the neighboring city of Leipzig for a few hours, and spent time just taking in the sights. Overall, everything is very relaxing and fun, and we all enjoy each other’s company.
If you’d like to see more than Halle, that’s very easy as well. Having 3 days off as opposed to 2 means one can travel and have a good amount of time to see a place before having to leave again. I personally have visited 3 different countries, with plans to see at least 3 more before my time is up, and it’s very easy to do when volunteering. After all, you get to make your own schedule the entire time you’re at the Center.
Wrapping up
So to sum up, there are about a million different ways you can spend your free time as a volunteer at the Excellence Center. You can enjoy some peace with nature, you can immerse yourself in city life. You can spend time at home, or you can go out with friends. You can explore your surroundings, from Halle itself to other countries. There’s really no limit to what you can do, as long as you’re taking care of everything regarding volunteering, which is incredibly rewarding in its own way, although that’s not the topic of this article.
I wholeheartedly recommend this program for anyone who wants to explore and see the world, meet new people, try new things, or just wants a change from what they’ve been doing. I came here as a part of my gap year between high school and college, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Working with students and getting to know fellow volunteers has been incredible, and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. Everyone I’ve met has been kind, welcoming, and supportive, and any anxieties I felt coming in were very quickly resolved. In other words, if you’re on the fence, just do it! We look forward to meeting you!
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