Alekssandra Nartonowicz

Three months have passed since I arrived in Dilla. Time flies very fast and now it is time to

 

go back home. The sisters, volunteers, and the local people made me feel very welcomed. We have a multicultural community. We eat every meal together, which is a great opportunity to learn different languages: Amharic, Polish, Spanish, English, and Korean. As volunteers, we are very happy to help in every possible way. We do minor renovation work, office work.  We also teach English, mathematics and help at summer oratory for the girls from our neighborhood.

Kids always give us a big smile, they run up to us for a hug or a kiss. Every day they teach me the values of life and show me the importance of human relationships. We learn from one another. Also, the kids have a lot of patience when they listen to my Amharic and watch dancing skills. Still, I am very glad to learn new Amharic words, as well as new dance steps. The oratory leaders also have given me a new Ethiopian name. From this day on I am called Aberash. In the oratory, I experience a lot of love, for which I am very grateful. Every day I look through all the drawings that I have received from the kids. Moreover, Ethiopia also has taught me about how beautiful faith is. In Europe we often chase after our career, money, and material goods, forgetting what the most important value in life is. Here, in the country where some people live for less than a dollar per day, people are grateful to God for everything they have. There is a lot to learn from Ethiopians. I am sure that a piece of my heart will remain here. That is why I am not saying goodbye but see you soon.