Today we will hear more about impressions of volunteer from Russia, city of Tyumen in Siberia, who came to Tallinn for EVS in September 2016 for 12 months. Her name is Yulia Valiakhmetova and she’s happy to share her feelings after 3 months in Estonia 
-What was your motivation to do EVS in general?
They say that people go for EVS when they’re looking for something or when they’re running away from something. I think for me it was both and I don’t know which one was more. The most motivating factor was stories and blogs about EVS which I was reading online. I was at work and thought how boring my life is, was reading these blogs and thought that somebody actually has an interesting life, and then I realized that I can have the same life, there’s no one preventing me from doing this.
-So, now, after 3 months in Estonia, what similarities and differences do you see between Estonia and Russia?
People say that Estonians are cold and not open, but so far I’ve been lucky with open and kind people, I have very good relationship with my colleagues. Also many people told me before that here attitude to Russians is negative and I might have problems because of that but so far I haven’t faced such situations.
-Where do you work and what exactly are you doing there?
I’m working in children centre Lillekula Turvakodu with children without parental care. I’m doing their homework with them, help with explaining of hard school topics, sometimes help with organization of some events, like taking them to the theatre or accompanying them to aquapark, bring them from kindergarten, school, some other institutions. I enjoy what I’m doing because I have a lot of freedom, I can be creative, there’s a lot of communication with children and our learning goes both ways – I teach something to them and they teach me a lot.
-Do you agree with the statement that EVS is a life-changing experience?
I’ll be able to correctly answer this question in September 2017 
But for the moment I can say that I did have many doubts but once I came here I didn’t have a single doubt about what I did, because I think that in the last 3 months I smiled more than in the last 3 years – there were so many positive new things, I learnt so much for myself, got a lot of new experience, even though Estonia for a Russian person isn’t such a big challenge, it’s not Africa We’re very close to each other, have a lot in common, and even despite this fact many things changed for me.
-What makes you happy most here?
First and foremost, I’m happy with the city I chose, because it’s a mix of small calm city and capital. There’re as many events as in the capital, however there’s no traffic, a lot of industry, noise. At times it’s hard but I’m happy that I’m living with so many people from all over the world, because it helps to discipline yourself, develop tolerance and helps to understand that you’re not the only one and not everyone should be flexible in relation to you, but you should be flexible in relation to others. For me, as a person who never had to share living space, it’s a very new and useful experience! I’m happy that I communicate a lot with children and that I have a chance to communicate a lot with people from abroad, that I can learn English better now. All in all, I feel very very good here!
-As now you’re in the beginning of your project, maybe there’s some wish which you want to come true by the end of it?
I want to visit many interesting places, not only in Estonia, but in Europe as well, maybe more intensive work, to learn English properly, to get some connections and friendships which will last whole life!
Yulia Valiakhmetova is staying in Estonia within EVS project “Care to Make a Difference II” supported by Estonian National Agency of Erasmus+ programme.
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