Chapter four: JOMO (the joy of missing out on what’s not meant for us)
Ciao bellissimi!
It’s already been a month since we arrived, and we decided to start this week’s report with a slow, mindful reflection. We asked the team a couple of questions:
What are you bringing home from this experience?
When we asked the team what they were bringing home from this experience, the answers were full of heart and personality. Manti mentioned “saudade (if ‘missing you’ was a noun) and a steering wheel,” while Marian spoke of “memories, olive oil, chili pepper, and new friends.” Oceane reflected on taking home “experiences, not just photos,” and Miguel shared the feeling of “being able to be carefree, to step down and stop worrying sometimes.” Xi Yue brought back “souvenirs, pictures, and different cultures,” and Emj described “balance…
and strong connections with people from all around the world.” Arda talked about gaining experiences, learning to be polite and helpful, and discovering how to share with friends, while Clem focused on “souvenirs, good moments, and memories.” Ana thought of “friends I would like to meet again,” Emily took home “new life perspectives,” and Gabbo emphasized the knowledge gained about the environment and a stronger awareness of respecting nature. Together, their answers show that this experience is leaving us with much more than objects or memories, it’s shaping how we see the world, ourselves, and the people around us.
What does ‘home’ mean to you?
Manti “place where I feel comfortable, where I can be myself”
Marian: “place where I feel comfortable, where I can relax”
Oceane: “place that feels really comfortable to be in, where I feel like I can do anything.. not the place where I was born”
Miguel: “home is the people who is kind to you”
Xi Yue: “where I feel at ease and where I can be myself”
Emj: “feeling loved, heard and seen the way you are”
Arda: “my family”
Clem: “when are you feeling at your place”
Ana: “something where I feel comfortable and where I am myself”
Emily: “place where I feel peaceful silence”
Gabbo: “it’s not a place, it depends on the people I’m with, if I feel comfortable with the people, I’m at home”
This week had both quiet moments and exciting ones!
We finished the mural for the Festa del Vino with Arman’s help, an ex long term volunteer of ACARBIO . To make work smoother, we split into two shifts, and despite some creative differences, we completed it in three days. While working, we met Carlo, one of the kindest locals here. He lives in front of the mural and offered us a ladder and some coffee. His invitation led to visiting his home, meeting his family, trying homemade limoncello, and some of us even tried horse riding with him!
The next days featured two cultural nights: Xi Yue taught us to make jiaozi (dumplings) for the Chinese night, and Manti and Manu shared Portuguese traditional dishes and fun facts about their home country.
We also prepared for the Festa del Vino: hundreds of wine glasses needed to be packed! We collaborated with the neighbors of associazione Gete, who later invited us to a pizza party.
During free time, everyone explored a little differently: some went to hidden beaches near Maiori, some visited Tramonti with Vesuvio views, and others went to the Castello di San Nicola de Thoro-Plano, welcomed by Alfredo, a local man who, in exchange for some singing, gifted homemade limoncello and postcards to share with family back home.
We also connected with the Make It Blue project: one volunteer joined for a day, learning how to monitor boats, exploring hidden local spots, and discovering the underwater world.
This week reminded us that you can’t experience everything at once, and that’s okay. You’ll always miss some fun things while doing others, but you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
We have two weeks left, and we plan to make the most of them!
With a smile almost as big as Gabbo’s,
Your Make It Green volunteers