Villa Blogpost July 2024

July was a month that pushed my limits, both physically and creatively. It was packed with new experiences that had me stepping out of my comfort zone in the best ways possible. 

The month kicked off with a new venture—bouldering. My friends and I had been talking about trying it for a while. Bouldering is such a unique and challenging sport. It’s not just about strength but also problem-solving, as you figure out the best way to navigate the routes. The first few sessions were tough—my arms and fingers were sore in places I didn’t even know could get sore! But with each climb, I felt myself improving, not just physically but mentally as well. The satisfaction of reaching the top of a particularly tricky route was incredible. Plus, it’s been a fantastic way to bond with my friends, cheering each other on and sharing tips. We’ve already started setting goals for ourselves, and I’m excited to see how far we can go with this new hobby.

Mid-July brought a totally different kind of energy with a park rave that I attended with friends. It was one of those spontaneous events where everything just came together perfectly. The park was transformed into an open-air dance floor, with lights strung up in the trees and DJs spinning tracks that kept everyone moving all night long. There’s something magical about dancing outside, under the stars, surrounded by people who are all just there to enjoy the music and have a good time. The vibe was incredibly positive, and I loved the sense of freedom that came with it. The funniest thing was, that the mom of my friend was also dancing with us.

The month ended on a high note with a youth exchange program that the Medienwerkstatt and I were part of. This was a mix of adrenaline-pumping adventure and creative collaboration. One of the highlights was trying whitewater rafting for the first time. It was a rush like no other—paddling through the rapids, working together with the team to navigate the twists and turns of the river. There were definitely a few moments where I was sure we were going to tip over, but that was all part of the fun!

On the creative side, the exchange also gave us the chance to test out some board games that we had developed together for Edugames. It was a blast seeing our ideas come to life and watching how others interacted with the games we created. It was also my first experience being a trainer and assisting people with how to play the game, but I feel that it went really well. 

July was a whirlwind of activity, each week bringing something new and exciting. As I move into August, I feel ready to depart from this volunteering experience and face the new challenges of finding a new apartment, new job and new purpose in Germany.