ESC long term volunteering project in the Orthodox Academy of Crete
My name is Elina, and I am currently working at the Orthodox Academy of Crete. The Academy is located in the western part of Crete, Greece. I have been here for 9 months. Most of the time, I work at the reception where my tasks include checking guests in and out, assisting with any issues they may have, and being the friendly face of the academy. During conferences, I often take pictures of the seminars, and sometimes I have the opportunity to join the conferences during their excursions. This has allowed me to explore and get to know the island better. Occasionally, I assist in the kitchen or with cleaning the rooms. Four months ago, another volunteer joined me at the academy, and during the summer months, we are expecting more volunteers and interns.
The academy is a wonderful place to meet people from all over the world with diverse backgrounds. I have learned so much about a wide range of topics through the conferences. At the end of each conference, we have a Cretan evening with live music and a traditional dance group.
During the winter season, Crete becomes much quieter, including the academy. As a result, my tasks during this time are a bit different. I primarily work in the library, cataloguing and organizing books. We also had school classes visiting, so I took pictures of them as well.
For six months, I attended Greek lessons twice a week in Chania, the nearest town. Two other volunteers in Chania also joined these Greek lessons. During our free time, we often explore the island together, go to the beach, or enjoy the delicious Greek cuisine. Recently, the other volunteer and I started taking traditional Cretan dancing lessons.
I live on my own in a flat on the academy campus. My neighbours include my mentor, the conference leader, our janitor, an icon painter, and their families. Additionally, our alumni secretary also resides on the campus. I frequently visit her to chat in a mixture of Greek and German, while we enjoy biscuits and coffee. My flat consists of two rooms, a small kitchen, and a balcony with a sea view.
Coordinated by FILOXENIA, Intercultural-Environmental Organisation
Written by the volunteer Elina Pannier from Germany.
This project was supported by the European Solidarity Corps of the European Union through the Greek National Agency “INEDIVIM”
