Case studies: International volunteer, Concordia: Chloe

Chloe graduated from Brighton University and did an international volunteer project with Concordia, helping restore a UNESCO cultural heritage site in Germany

As I prepared for my first project abroad I excitedly told everyone I knew about my upcoming venture. I received lots of comments, the most memorable being from a colleague at my workplace who said with a puzzled look, 'What! You are taking time off work to work for free…?' 'Yes' I replied. People became even more astounded when I told them I would be re-building a Roman wall.

Yes, I chose to volunteer through Concordia in an isolated area of south west Germany and did indeed re-build a Roman wall. But it is important to look beyond the surface and realise just how much this work meant to the local community. The wall had sadly been destroyed by local youths with stolen machinery. When we arrived it was a mass of rubble and moss. But seeing the smiles on our hosts faces - as they shook our hands looking at the completed wall - was worth all the many hours of moving heavy stones, mixing cement and patching it all together.

Volunteering overseas is much more than just a work project. People every year choose to sign up to volunteer projects for the adventure ahead. They return year after year because they love the unique experience so much. This is exactly how I feel as my experience enabled me to meet people from Germany, Japan, Korea, Serbia and the USA. I would never have met these wonderful people if it hadn’t been for this project through Concordia. By mixing with different cultures I learned how we have many differences but also a lot of similarities.

Tasting each other's traditional food was a lot of fun. I made an English breakfast and discovered that baked beans don't seem to exist in Germany (they are in Lidl though…) so anyway I had to substitute them with kidney beans and mix with pasta sauce. Umm very strange, but surprisingly nice and it ironically ended up being the favourite part of the meal.

The ten days quickly came to an end and the six of us had not only completed our wall re-building but also managed to experience many German train trips to nearby towns including Buchen, Heidelberg and Würzberg. My trip ended with a trip to Baden-Baden where I stayed with a German girl I met on my last project in Scotland. She is a volunteer junkie - who I aspire to be like - she has participated and co-ordinated a total of five projects. Long may the journeying go on…

Every time I look at my photos I remember the fun times we had and look forward to next year when I hope to reconnect with the amazing friends I have made. Until then I am still dreaming up where my next project will take me.