If someone had told me last year this time that I would be in Berlin, doing a volunteering service in a Refugee Centre and in the meantime, travel around Europe, I would have laughed and brushed the thought aside. Like they say, Life has its own plans. Exactly one year ago I was upset about being rejected by one of India’s largest social work programs. Little did I know, the silver lining of that was an opportunity to be a part of the Weltwärts program 2018/2019 at Berlin.

The program began in the late summer month of September, with 1 week of Seminar, where we met the other volunteers who were a part of this volunteering service. The volunteers came from Asia, Africa and Latin America, forming the team of Global South. During the course of the seminar, we visited several museums and important places, which played an integral part in the history of this glorious city. Places such as the Tempelhof Airport which was the air base of the Nazi regime during World War II.

I work in a Refugee Centre called the Unionhilfswerk Fluchtlingsunterkunft. The refugees mainly come from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Working here is fun, exciting and at the same time, very challenging. My work here usually involves working with the housekeepers and helping the kindergarten team. Additionally, I also assist the children with their English homework.

The first months included us exploring the city and doing a lot of touristy things. Berlin Wall and the Holocaust is something which we have only read about in the pages of our history textbooks and watched in movies and documentaries, but I must say, visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial and walking through grave-like concrete structures of the Holocaust Memorial with a heavy heart and an eerie feeling, was a surreal experience.

Berlin is one of the major party and concert capitals of the world. The number of parties which take place is immeasurable, and similarly, the biggest performers and artists pay Berlin a visit. While exploring the city, I got the chance to witness some of the big parties here and got a chance to go for a concert of one of my favourite bands called “Kodaline”.

Growing up, I always loved watching travel shows and was so inspired by the idea of traveling alone and dreamed of walking the narrow cobbled streets of Prague, trek in the Dolomites, visit the Alps and go road tripping in Spain.

I travelled to the Czech Republic and Slovenia in the months of November and December.

Walking down the Charles Bridge towards the Castle in Prague is a memory that I will always cherish.

The architecture, serenity and beauty of the place still astounds me, and treading the narrow cobbled streets of Prague was certainly a dream come true.

Another tick off my bucket list was visiting the Julian Alps in Slovenia, the mighty Alps in my dream only looked mightier in real life. 

It has been a thoroughly different experience so far, I’ve found comfort in being out of my comfort zone and I feel that is the only way you learn new things. I am looking forward the rest of time here with challenges ahead and myriad memories to be made. Thank you, FSL-India for giving me this wonderful, life-changing opportunity.