16/03/23 📆
Hello, it’s Tim and I take control of the Vitality blog this week!
Last week, a ghost from the past popped up: our favorite ex-coordinator Flavio! For those who don’t know Flavio (shame on you!), he was our first coordinator with Silvia from March to June 2022. We missed all the positive vibes that he spread around him and we were happy to see him after so much time.
A ghost from the past that appeared at the right time for Mia and Raul's last week of volunteering. They arrived together with me on the 28th of February to begin the Vitality 2022 adventure. One year has already passed and it’s time for us to leave Bergolo (I took one extra week, but this is also the end for me). As this was the last week of volunteering for two of us, we dedicated this week to properly closing Vitality 2022 together. So let’s get back to the event of this special week chronologically.
Tuesday Flavio appeared and we ate a good lunch all together on the second floor, like the old time! We had a lot of precious time during all these lunch/dinner and it was great to gather one more time with the family in this context!
Then Silvia organized, with the help of Mili, a beautiful night around the fire to close together Vitality 2022. I will pass on the details and keep these precious moments for us. What I can tell you is that it was a beautiful collective moment, and we needed it. A moment of gratefulness toward each other and the experience we created altogether. It was also Tony’s birthday and we ended this night with a celebration around the fire.
Wednesday, we organized one last dinner with the extended family in the office. Flavio took the guitar to sing like the ancient time again and the food was delicious, as always!
Thursday was the time to conclude with Vitality 2022 work with a last feedback time. We celebrated our success. With Raul and Mia, we took one last look at our learning goals and reflected on our personal journey. We also had an emotional circle that was appropriately named.
Finally, we also decided to go on a road trip to Alba to accompany Raul and Mia to the station. Before that, we ate in a delicious sushi restaurant, made one last photo shoot, and walked until the train station.
So, Raul and Mia finished their experiences and it will be my turn after this week. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all the people who have surrounded me this year.
First, obviously, thank you to my co-volunteers Raul, Mia, Mili, Angie, Sefa and Sophie❤️. I had a special and unique connection with everyone of you. You became my family this year and I have good hope to cross your path again in the future.
Thank you also to our great coordinators Flavio, Silvia and Adele. I appreciated your devotion to support us but, above all, you are beautiful people with whom I spent many good moments. I also include Bruno here, a beautiful soul that I was glad to meet.
Thank you also to Vagamondo and New Wellness Education, their two presidents Fabiano and Antonio, and their vice-president Fabrizio. You offered me a lot of opportunities and the confidence to grow up personally and professionally.
I was also grateful to meet Szofi, a wonderful person and the best coach that I could have for this year.
E anche un grande ringraziamento a Mario!
This round of gratefulness may seem too long for you but I could spend hours mentioning all the people that impacted my volunteering: I still didn’t mention Janis, Damiano, Livia, Bryan, Burak, Bertan, Syla, Davide, Michal, and the hundreds of people that we hosted in Bergolo.
This year was dense, full of experiences and connections. A roller coaster of emotions that I still need to process. But this experience was for sure a positive game changer for me and I’m grateful for that. I would advise all young people to try this type of program at least once in their lives, at least one short-term project like youth exchanges. It brings me new life perspectives, and gives me the opportunity to connect with cultures and people that I would never meet without Erasmus +.
This Monday we already welcomed two new volunteers that will initiate Vitality 2023. There will be a transition period in which we will pass the baton. I wish them good luck and I hope they will enjoy Bergolo and its many challenges!
Thank you Vitality 2022, I wish you all the best and hope that we will stay in touch.