February, 2011

Organizers

Sponsors Partner

If you want to become a sponsor of the event,contact Charlotte.Klinting@afs.org

The VSS Herald 2nd Edition Volunteer Summer Summit 2011, Portugal, July, 20-25

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Deadlines

Application in process

After a few days in Turkey I started comparing the animals that walked around the

hotel with the people an the summit. I looked a bit like a cartoon movie, with the action

set around a lake (the hotel's swimming pool) in an exotic country, which had a large

population of ducks always moving around in groups (the VSS participants), while

some very active rabbits were jumping from one place to the other (the Prep and

Support teams), along with some quite noisy chickens (the trainers) and the two

llamas (the VIPs). Later in Hungary I was told the story of how the VSS had ended up

being hosted at that venue - it really sounds like a movie.

Overall, it was challenging and a bit of a tease. Everyone was a bit like a fish out of

water and trying how to breathe, only to find out that it might be easier than they

expected. Unlike Hungary last year during the VSS10. Looking backwards, I wasn't

prepared for that summit. I went as a participant and had too many expectations on

my part and a lot of things that weren't planned by anyone. Some were fulfilled, like

wanting to learn more about how the Support Team is functioning (we had been

informed beforehand that AFS Portugal would be hosting this year's summit), others

were more rough to handle but also revealing.

During the closing ceremony at Zanka, Roberto Ruffino said that the venue

wouldn't be famous because of its food. I commented to someone on my side that it

would be infamous because of it. But I also got admired of how Hungarians are (and

how brave exchange students are) on growing up with that kind of cantine food (ah...

the pasta with yogurt and sugar for dinner). Some tastes take longer to be acquired,

I guess. What more have I got from attending all VSS so far? Well, my local chapter is

about to participate on its 3rd chapter exchange, which is something I first heard about

on Vigy and had our first face to face meeting on Turkey. Essentially that the VSS can

be full of opportunities and surprises, and that something changes inside of you from

attending it, despite your expectations and the differences that naturally appear.

So now we are hosting it next year in Portugal, which will make it my 4th VSS and

I've been already a trainee, trainer and participant. Now I'll be responsible for the

Support Team and for all of us who have attended them or will be on Zmar next July, it

will be something different from all others. You might get married. Or survive a horde

of zombie volunteers. Or be bitching the whole time. Or kissing a lot of people. Or not

getting any sleep at all. Or speak a lot of different languages. Or discover that one of

your roommates likes to sleep naked. Or have a lot of coffee/chocolate. Or to feel

yourself abducted to a whole new culture and experience.