After US, some time in Serbia and Italy it was time for good
old volunteering again. I found a project to go to England for 8 months and be
an outdoor instructor. I will not advertise the organization since I was not
happy with management and how they work with internationals but this is
irrelevant for this story.
Being an outdoor instructor is amazing opportunity to travel
the world and do nice work, and everyone can do it, you just need enthusiasm and
basic English! Activities can be different, paddle sports, high ropes, survival
activities, simple games and it is usually with kids, young people but also
families and adults. There is many centers all around the world and some are
not asking for any experience and will give you all the training, once you are trained
in paddle sports (kayaking, canoeing, sealing…) and high ropes ( Rock climbing,
abseiling, zip wire …) depends what they have on site you can find amazing opportunities.
This is seasonal job so you can go every season in another country. The biggest
organization is Outward bound (but they
will ask for experience) and there is many smaller ones all over the world, on
all continents, everywhere! You can try it and if you will like it and wanted
to do it for some time it won’t feel like a job and some will pay you fair
money. Advice from my experience and stories from other people that did this
kind of projects is that every center is different so before you go you need do
good check, ask them everything, find someone who was there and ask for their experience,
since usually the organization will provide you with accommodation and food
this will be important, also working hours and what is their plan for you (what
training you will get). And if you will
love it and find yourself to want to do this for many years with time you will
get promotions and grow!
During my stay in UK being an instructor I enjoyed doing
activities and I met some wonderful people. Also I traveled around a lot and
spent time in nature and that will be the next story. What was new for me in
this experience is living on site; yes I lived with many people before,
different cultures and everything. But this was different, we were in the middle
of nowhere, good 20min walk to the train station or store and pub (and that is
all that this small village have). I’m not saying it’s bad thing to be out of civilization
for some time, but it can be difficult, living in I can say community, every
day with the same people, same routine, eating a lot of potatoes. Even If I had
experience in similar projects I was struggling, this was different, when you
do activities all day you get tired and you are not in the mood to go somewhere
if you need to walk, take a train and do the same back. So, I spent a lot of
time on site, but used every single day off to go somewhere! Also the English
weather didn’t help with melancholic mood spreading on site. But as always,
there are good days and bad days!
What I learned during this time is that happiness is inside
us. If we are truly happy we will find happiness anywhere but if we are not
happy with our self we can go to the end of the world and we will still not
find it.
“Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until
you choose to be happy. No person will make you happy unless you decide to be
happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you” Ralph
Marston
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