It was more than 4 months ago when me and my suitcase full of the warmest cloth I could find in my closet, were ready to leave what had been my routine for a few years and started a new one in the cold of Sweden. After 9 hours of traveling, not because the location of the countries but the bad connection of both places, I finally arrived to Växjö. The city was covered with snow, there were barely any people in the streets and the temperature was -15 degrees, and at that time I thought this will not be easy for me.
After a few days without daring to leave the apartment, the introduction week began. There I first met with the other volunteers, 5 people of varying nationalities, lives and personalities, but here we were all in the same boat, starting from scratch in an unfamiliar place. Here we had the opportunity to talk about ourselves and I found it difficult to speak to still unknown people … what should I say about me ??
Then in front of those 5 strangers I began my presentation: “My name is Esther, I`m the new volunteer in Funkibator and TLC and I will be here until the end of this year. I`m from the east coast of Spain, Valencia and I`m 27 years old. I graduated as a social worker a few years ago but I have spent the last four years working for one of the largest Banks in Spain. I realized then It was time to make a change in my life so I could focus on things that I really like and makes me feel fulfilled. In this sense I thought the EVS was a good opportunity for it. I really love animals and the nature and I spent much of my free time in Spain with my dog Marley and in the local animal shelter. One of the things that I´m passionate about is dance and I started when I was 3 years old with Ballet, spanish dance, salsa and my favourites, bellydance and Bollywood. Dancing allows me to express emotions and to escape daily routine”.
After that week where we got to know each other, we would never again feel as strangers because a special connection was built and it became stronger with the passing of time and the experiences we are sharing together.
It was time then to get into the real job that would be my routine for the rest of the year. Fearful, Gabriella and me had to face one of the first challenges which was to introduce ourselves in front of our new colleagues and speak over and over about us. After this many other challenges came up and it made us feel like little things became big obstacles but with time it felt easier. Public speaking doesn’t seems so complicated anymore, I have overcome the difficulty of driving on unfamiliar roads and I even come to accept that 15 degrees is almost summer temperatures 
After this time here, I realize so far that this experiences is one of the best decision I have made in my life because, although we sometimes don’t find what we expected, always opportunities appear that help you grow in one way or another.
This experience is allowing me to meet people I would not have the opportunity to do it in other circumstances, discover a wonderful country with a lovely landscape, to be able to learn how to survive and even afford some treats with a very small budget and work with animals that I always wanted. I have also received many positive feedbacks about Spain and the spanish people that make me feel proud about where I come from and who I am.
Esther