Volunteering painted my life with rainbow colors

Before starting my first deployment I had some expectations in mind of what it would have been. I was mainly focusing on the job aspect, I was excited about the new tasks, how the work would have been. The rest was a bit in the background, I didn't think about it much.

But the deployment is a full immersion into a new life, and what I didn't realize was that the job is just half of it. Part of the day is spent in the office, but there is a big part outside of it. And that's part of the deployment too. Understanding where the closest supermarkets are, getting to know your neighbor, getting lost while trying to reach home, trying to make new friends, putting yourself out there, and building a new life day by day. It's a jump into the unknown, a very exciting jump. It is a bit intimidating at the beginning, but that's where the gain lays, stepping out of your comfort zone and being transformed by the experience without even realizing it. 

I didn't have a full grasp of what I would have found by moving to Istanbul. 

I found a job where I never stop learning. I found a city that gets under your skin, a mix of contradictions that together somehow make sense. I found a family, friends that will be there even when our roads will separate, a community so warm and welcoming that made me feel at home from the first moment. 

A couple of weeks ago it happened to be my birthday. When I stepped into the office all the team was there ready to surprise me with an amazing birthday party. They went above and beyond and it was the perfect way to celebrate: all my team around and a table full of croissants. 

And while I was sitting there I realized that the jump was so worth it, and it enriched my life in a way I could have never anticipated.

And that's what volunteering has always meant for me, a gift of opportunities and challenges that make life fuller and more colorful.