41 - Much ado about nothing.
I worry too much.
I mean, I knew that already, but Iāve had such a good first impression of Vilnius and Lithuania (and Lithuanians!)Ā in general that I feel so stupid thinking about how worried I was before my arrival, three weeks ago! Perfection doesnāt exists but, really, at least for now everything is going incredibly, surprisingly, unbelievably well! š And thereās so much to say about these first 21 days in Lithuania! First impression was good, sure, but that doesnāt mean that there was no culture shockĀ š
This has actually nothing to do with Lithuania itself but my blog, my rules still, after 10+ times that Iāve taken a plane, this time I actually managed to eat while at 35,000 feet š in the past I had always feared I would throw up, but this time I was literally starving so I had no choice but give it a try. A small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind (cit.) š
I didnāt expect the airport to be so small šĀ I mean, itās an European capital city after all! Not that itās important, but I guess that was the first thing Iāve noticed once arrived.
And of course, the snow! So much snow āļøĀ Iām starting not to mind it too much (but letās talk about it again in a few months šĀ here they say itās gonna melt soon, but weāll see), though the thing I really hate is the ice. With good shoes you can easily walk on snow, but I seem to understand that thereās not solution for slippery pavements! Good thing volunteers have private insurance then, you never know š but the weather in general is not so bad, I guess Londonās grey sky prepared me well for these days ā¤ļø Iām adjusting good to the new climate⦠and you know, what? I think Iām actually going to miss the snow once it melts! It really gives this city aĀ āWinter in Wonderlandā vibe and itās really, really pretty! (Pics coming in the next post š)
Vilnius is a very peculiar city. There are modern houses, roads and buses, but in some places it feels like we still live in Soviet Union⦠if you know what I mean. Very tall and old buildings, very old buses⦠not that Iām complaining, of course! To me itās interesting to see how things have evolved or not since that time, I was actually looking forward to this!
Buildings may be old, but theĀ apartmentsĀ and places in general I went to till now look very cozy⦠and hot! I understand that considering how cold it is outside (though I have to say, -15 °C doesnāt feel much different from -2 °C⦠actually, the only thing that really makes a difference is the moist) you want to feel good at home, but I didnāt bring so much winter clothing to feel hotĀ š
Did you know that in Eastern Europe, the toilet and the sink (and bathtube) used to be in two different rooms? I mean⦠why. Very unpractical. Luckily for me, my host familyās house is a modern one š
Lithuanian peopleĀ are much more welcoming than what I had imagined before coming here! Sure I was lucky, but both the people I interact with at work and my host parents and kids are very nice, welcoming and open-minded people! Cashiers at shops and restaurants may not be as smiley (with very welcomed exceptions), but overall I really canāt complain!
And to be a bit more specific, my host kids and parents really are the nicest people Iāve ever met. Sure, weāre still in theĀ āhoneymoon phaseā, but for now they are waaaaaaaay more welcoming than my English host family in London! They prepare traditional food for me to try, they sit to talk to me, they show me pictures and videos of their vacations (and if itās not pictures, itās films! We can stay up just chilling till past midnight... I mean, WHAT?! Nicest people ever), theyāre already inviting me to spend some time off with them⦠and actually already brought me with them for a small trip to TrakaiĀ on my first weekend here! And weāre going to the theatreĀ on Wednesday, than the Observatory at the end of the month, and so on! Again, things may change anytime, and sure there are times when the situation does feel awkward⦠but I feel so lucky and blessed right now! The kids seem to like to have me around, itās great! Even the shyest ones are already starting to open up despite the language barrier, right now I really couldnāt ask for anything better!Ā š
Being around so many nice people really helps with homesickness! In London Iāve cried a few times during the first days, while here the bad days have yet to come! The second night I had more trouble sleeping, and during my first week here, every time I was on the bus to go back āhomeā, it would really hit me that this is my life right now, that the bus wonāt ever stop in front of my actual home⦠but again, things could be waaaaaay worse. Maybe itās because itās not my first time living abroad⦠or who knows, maybe Iām really, really liking it here! Whatever the reason, I feel fine. Really.Ā š
And the kids at school are amazing too! Again, thereās some exceptions (especially between teenagers, but you know how teenagers are), but most of them are very helpful and interested in learning more about Italy and myself in general, very curious kids, open-minded, kind⦠and they speak such a good English, itās impressive! Sure, the school is brand new, everything is big and modern, and most teachers are young (and very nice to me as well!) but still, the schools I went to in Italy were nothing like this one, and Italians take themselves too seriously even at a young age, so this also was a very nice surprise!
School keeps me very busy. It may also be because last week there was one teacher missing and I was covering for her, but everyday thereās actually so, so much to do! And I havenāt even started my club, my personal project yet! Iām not complaining at all, being busy helps with homesickness, and I hear too many complaints from other volunteers about how little they do at their hosting organizations to mind the job I do at mine! Itās tiring, but for now the work Iāve done in the school has been just as rewarding. š
But why is there a 10ā²/15ā²/20ā² break after every lesson, I donāt understand! I could go back home HOURS before I actually do without them! For now I find this way of organizing the day very annoying.
Lithuanians donāt do meals, they at eat any time of the day. Thereās no breakfast, no lunch, no midday or afternoon snack, no supper⦠thereās justĀ āI was feeling hungry and so Iāve eaten something/a whole meal I could have actually split in threeāĀ š
Lithuanians are (understandably) very patriotic. You can see the national flag or coat of arms waving outside houses and buildings, or inside cars or halls⦠you can see it literally everywhere!
Someone finally explained to me the reason why Eastern Europeans (okay, Lithuania is now officially a Northern European country but still, they were part of the URSS and thatās whatās important now to prove my point) like old Italian singers so much! Apparently they could listen to Italian music back in the days of the Cold War, and that used to give them a sense of freedom⦠while now, itās all about nostalgia! Iāve always wondered about this, and finally now Iāve found my answer! #themoreyouknow
Iāve met some pretty amazing people during the past weeks and as Iāve already said, the large majority were very welcoming⦠but still thereās also people who happens to see me every day at school and just stare at me. No smiles, no āHello!ā, not even a distracted āLabas.ā, nothing. I guess they do are Northern people after allĀ š
Last but not least, meeting people from all over the world (especially other volunteers, who can understand better than everyone else what Iām going through) is still one of the things I prefer about living abroad! To hear their stories, about themselves and the things they have left home and found abroad, really is something enriching and priceless for me! Sure Iām missing something by living in a family and not in an apartment with the other guys, but every situation has its perks⦠and maybe this topic deserves a post on its ownĀ š
And now a short list of things that #mademyday during the past three weeks:
I was on the bus two weeks ago and we were in the middle of nowhere an old man sits near me and asks me something. I immediatly assume heās speaking Lithuanian, so I tell him that I donāt understand him... and he answers me in English! Long story short, he is Lithuanian but has Italian roots, speaks so many languages #goals and at some point he tells me that I haveĀ āan interesting life!ā, and I think thatās the best compliment Iāll ever get EVER from anyone in my life!
To the Ukranian kid whose face LIT UP when I thanked him in Ukranian (probably the only thing I can say in that language, but still š) - Iāll always remember that smile, thanks. Totally made my day.
You know sincere smiles? The ones you make without even noticing youāre smiling so kindly, with mouth AND eyes? The ones you make when the other person is not even looking at you? Well, Iām so glad I was able to catch those smiles, they felt so niceĀ š
Viso gero, Valeria

















