It all started on 17.07.2018. I had known this date for 6 months, but even when the calendar showed this date, I still hadn't realized that the time had come.
I had already told many people that I was doing an IJFD, an international youth volunteer service, in New Zealand and that it would be for a year, but I didn't really understand what that meant.
There were different reactions, many thought I was brave and admitted that they wouldn't dare to do something like that, others couldn't imagine being away from Hamm, my hometown, for so long. I didn't waste a second searching for something negative in the unknown, instead I was just excited for my adventure!
With the start comes the farewell. In the last week, I said goodbye to everything and everyone and did many things for the last time. Of course, I'm only gone for a year, but no one can yet know what changes the year will bring.
We arrived at Düsseldorf airport 6 hours before departure. Just so that as a notorious latecomer I made it to my flight at 9:15 p.m. on time.
We used these 6 hours to go to Starbucks one last time together.
At 5 p.m., I met three more volunteers who I already knew from the two preparation seminars, and together with them I dropped off my luggage. The two preparation seminars were mandatory by our organization, Via e.V.
When it came to the security check, I had to finally say goodbye to my family. Although I had said goodbye so often lately, I only now realized the pain of parting, so I couldn't and didn't want to hold back the tears.
That we all cried briefly actually made it easier, because we were then freed and could start a new chapter.
When we passed the check, all the tears had already dried up and we almost went straight to the plane to Dubai.
We flew with Emirates in an A380, the largest passenger aircraft there is.
Judith, one of the volunteers, and I sat next to each other and with the movies and the food, the 6 hours flew by.
When we arrived in Dubai, it was already 18.07.2018.
In Dubai, all the German volunteers who were flying to New Zealand came together and we made the airport unsafe together. It didn't take long for word to spread that there was free ice cream and Greygoose also had a stand. To the regret of many, there was no vodka tasting, only a photo.
After the third security check at the airport, we were finally allowed on the plane and took off at 10:15 a.m.
The 14 hours from Dubai to Sydney didn't go by as quickly, but I took advantage of my strength to sleep on the plane.
Eating in the plane for two days wasn't much fun, but we volunteers visited each other in the plane to keep the mood up.
We arrived in Sydney in the morning of 19.07.2018 and had to fly another 3 hours to Christchurch.
Since the A380 was only filled to a fraction, we could all give ourselves a lot of space and were finally excited to arrive.
From the plane, we already saw our new home and then we were finally there!
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