{"id":3328,"date":"2024-10-30T15:39:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T14:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/?p=3328"},"modified":"2024-10-30T15:55:56","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T14:55:56","slug":"my-italian-adventure-with-acarbio-volunteering-culture-and-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/?p=3328","title":{"rendered":"My Italian Adventure with Acarbio: Volunteering, Culture and Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Max, our volunteer from Germany, thanks to the collaboration
\nwith “Progetto Zattera Blu”, talks about his ESC experience in ACARBIO<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I decided to take a gap year, I knew I wanted something special\u2014an experience that would<\/p>\n

\"\"challenge me, help me grow, and allow me to explore a different part of the world. After scouringcountless projects, Acarbio caught my eye, and after the interview, I had the feeling this was theplace for me. Looking back now, after spending several months volunteering in Italy, I canconfidently say I made the right choice.<\/p>\n

A Year of Constant Change and Diverse Tasks<\/strong>
\nI volunteered at Acarbio for 6 months, coming all the way from Germany. From the very beginning, I realized how diverse my experience would be. The tasks were always changing, which kept things exciting and fresh.
\nSome days, I was out in the garden, preparing the soil, planting, taking care of the plants and harvesting vegetables, or simply cutting grass. I found it peaceful and grounding\u2014working with nature, getting my hands dirty, and working actively. Other days, I\u2019d dive into renovation projects, helping to repair an info point, or supporting the \u201eMake it Blue\u201c project in Maiori. But also bigger projects like building a roof in the “Roots and Roofs” project. I also had the chance to help out at community events like a local bicycle race, supporting an organization for adults with mental disabilities, and even editing interviews for Acarbio\u2019s social media channels was part of my tasks. But the actual pleasure of the work was the variety in tasks which made every day a new adventure.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Embracing the Local Culture<\/strong>
\nOne of the most interesting parts of my time in Italy was immersing myself in the local culture. Acarbio and the local community made me feel like I was part of the village, not just a volunteer passing through. Isidoro, one of the friends of Acarbio, often invited us to dance and celebrate in his cantina, which became the setting for some of my most memorable moments. Especially in winter, when we didn\u2019t have the many places to go out, this was one of the weekly highlights.
\nI also got to experience cultural festivities, such as Easter. The traditions, the food, and the collective spirit during these celebrations gave me a deep appreciation for Italian culture. And it wasn\u2019t just about Acarbio\u2014we often helped local farmers, reinforcing the strong sense of community in the area. It wasn\u2019t unusual for neighbors to share food with us, creating a warm, supportive environment that made me feel right at home. Probably that\u2019s also something special
\nabout the village: In between such a touristic region, Tramonti is one of the few parts of the Amalfi Coast where you can still find the true and pure lifestyle of the region.
\nOne of the best parts of my time with Acarbio was meeting people from all over the world. The volunteers who came to Italy were from a mix of countries and backgrounds, which made for some amazing and hilarious moments. I quickly formed friendships with people who were incredibly different from me, yet we shared the same sense of adventure and passion for making a difference. In our apartment, often we were cooking and sharing some special food and recipes from our countries. Also we organized cultural evenings in the office of Acarbio, where each country was cooking traditional food, doing quizzes about the country, teaching traditional dances etc.<\/p>\n

Highlights of My Time at Acarbio\"\"<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s hard to choose just one highlight because my time in Italy was filled with so many unforgettable experiences.
\nThe hikes through the mountains and along the rugged coastline were equally breathtaking, offering moments of peace and connection to the stunning nature around me. Processing tomatoes for the winter food stock was another memorable moment. There was something fulfilling about working alongside locals, knowing that what we were doing would benefit the community. And, of course, the pizza parties, cultural evenings, and festivities were highlights\u2014each one offering a chance to bond with friends and locals alike.<\/p>\n

The Changing Seasons: Winter vs. Summer<\/strong>
\nOne of the things that surprised me the most about my time in Tramonti was how different life was
\nbetween the seasons.
\nThe winter was quiet, calm, cold and sometimes almost boring. We spent more time indoors,<\/p>\n

sharing meals, eating a lot of fresh oranges, warming up in the kitchen and when we wanted to go
\nout we always had to plan it. Also the tasks we had to do in the office were little.
\nOn the other side, in summer, everything was lively, vibrant, and full of activity. Always something
\nwas happening, often we went to the seaside, going for a swim or just to the different small cities
\nat the Amalfi Coast, even if getting around on the local buses could sometimes be a challenge!
\nBut both seasons had their own charm, and I appreciated the contrast\u2014it gave me a chance to
\nexperience both the lively and peaceful sides of Italy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Conclusion: Why Acarbio Made My Gap Year Unforgettable<\/strong><\/p>\n

Volunteering with Acarbio during my gap year was more than just an opportunity to help out\u2014it was a life-changing experience. I got to work on diverse projects, immersed myself in Italian culture, and formed lasting friendships with people from all over the world. Whether I was dancing in the cantina of Isidoro, hiking along the stunning coast, or participating in traditional festivals, I felt like I was truly part of the community. If you\u2019re looking for a volunteer experience that offers adventure, connection, and a deep dive into local culture, Acarbio is the perfect place. My time in Italy will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I\u2019m grateful for every moment\u2014funny, challenging, and heartwarming\u2014that made it unforgettable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Max, our volunteer from Germany, thanks to the collaboration with “Progetto Zattera Blu”, talks about his ESC experience in ACARBIO   When I decided to take a gap year, I knew I wanted something […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[401],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-esc"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/massimo-pietradiforesta-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3328"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3340,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3328\/revisions\/3340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.blogcielomareterra.it\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}