MY EUG EXPERIENCE

I decided to apply for EUG because a friend of mine was part of the volunteer’s team last year on the European Football Championship in Porto. Once she applied for this one, she told us about her experience and how much she enjoyed it. So, I decided to do the same and apply!

I started to work on the fourth day of the event and the only person I knew was my coordinator. I spent the day with my shift partners. We had lunch and dinner together but we went our separate ways once it finished. So there I was: watching tv series in my room, trying to fall asleep when someone knocks on the door and it was my roommate, who arrived that day. We talked for a few minutes and then she asks if I was going out, which I replied in negative and said that I didn’t know anyone and had no friends. She immediately said “Ok, you’re coming out with us” and that was the beginning of one of the most random and surprising experiences I’ve had so far.

As the night was over I met multiple people, and so it went as the days passed by. It started to be a routine meeting people, sharing incredible stories and having fun every minute that is possible. I completely lost the shyness and literally meet new people every day. I love diversity and this experience gives me this every day.

This experience also provided me with the knowledge I didn’t have in sports. It shows how big this “world” is and gave me the opportunity to learn more about it, on a deeper level. It is incredible how all of these universities support such amount of sports and provide their students with the opportunity of having experiences like this.

Besides this, the environment is something that surprised me. I never thought I would get along with everyone so easily in such a short time. I have a different working partner or team almost every day and it has been fantastic. Besides this, the fact that I live with other volunteers it’s amazing. Just yesterday I found out one of the volunteers' studies in the same faculty as I do, which is mind-blowing.

It will be hard to say goodbye to this little family I got used to. This is experience is for sure one to remember and laugh about the good memories. I will definitely apply again and hopefully, have the best time as I’m having right now.

by Darcielle Costa, Volunteer Media Team EUG2018