The on arrival training experience

Before going I did some research about what the on arrival training actually was? What happens? How do people treat it as? And from what I read it sounded really fun from what it is, especially the part when the learning hours are past and everyone goes out drinking and dancing which was really fun and we most of us went to sleep after two o’clock in the morning and sooner nights it got later and later and more and more fun so it got the point where the last day some of us went to sleep past six in the morning. So it lasted about seven days and seven nights.

But that's not really the point of the on arrival training. The point of those days with other volunteers and trainers is informal learning, to do activities and listen to the vital information the trainers give out about your rights and responsibilities as a volunteer. We shared information about our own organization that we were working for as well as how our accommodation situation was like and what work we were actually doing. But not in a boring way where we just explain but we had to decorate a paper board and present it. The first two days we spent most of our time getting to know each other, so the trainers made up fun games. For example we all picked an m&m candy and depending on the color we had to do or say or sing. I got a red m&m, actually I first picked a pink one but my friend next to me had a pink shirt so we switched. And because mine was red I had to sing my favourite song, I couldn't think for ages so I just picked the first song that came to mind which was Mr tambourine man by Bob Dylan. Went well I guess. I’m not big on singing acapella in front of an audience.

And remember my friend that I switched m&m with, well we were sharing a hotel room in the hotel we were staying in. And it was really fun because we clicked well and went out every night. Because the whole on arrival training takes about 20 volunteers all around Greece and puts them in a hotel. The hotel I stayed in was a pretty nice hotel with a rooftop pool, 4 or 5 stars I believe. And of course all the food was paid for. And the other volunteers from across Greece got their plane, bus or train tickets paid for if they stayed further from the city where the training took place. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you want to look at it. This training took place here in Thessaloniki, I don’t get to go to another city which would have been fun, but then I don’t have to go far to get to the hotel. 

Even though knowing your rights and responsibilities while volunteering abroad and comparing each other project is good, I think the most important thing about these on arrival trainings is the people you meet there and hear their stories and learn their experiences and maybe they will tell you something you will want to try. Some hidden gems. There is a sort of connection you can bond with these people that you can’t find anywhere else. And that is special.