Boodaville Volunteers 2021 – Maria and Gloria
Gloria
I wanted to live a different experience this summer, to be in contact with nature, not be so connected with the computer and mobile and work on something more physical and manual. I have lived just what I wanted and I have learned a lot. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. I was unaware of many things about nature despite being born surrounded by it but, when you live such an experience, you realize that how the land is normally cultivated is not the best way to do it using pesticides and creating monocultures.
Participating in a project like this changes your mentality and you become much more aware of what you consume and how you do it. In addition, I have acquired many other values of coexistence and care for people such as working in community and always being a team.
In my experience the feeling of self-improvement has increased a lot.
You don’t feel capable of picking up a drill until you pick it up and it starts to break the ground. You will not know if you will be able to transplant plants until you prepare everything and do it. Until you do, you don’t believe it.
For me, the biggest lesson has been learning the natural processes of the planet. We live in a society that goes too fast and does not give room for anything.
Living in a town of 200 inhabitants and working in a place like Boodaville, you learn to be more patient with all the cycles of nature, to work on empathy and to focus much more on the moment.
It has been a pride to work the land and take care of the animals together with other women and share our energy.
Maria
After a little more than 4 months in Boodaville I think I can already say that it is part of me. I started this experience without any kind of expectation or prejudice. I wanted to go with an open mind and receive all the information without having any prior idea.
That has been the key. The wide variety of tasks, activities and excursions that we have done have allowed me to learn things that I never thought I would learn. From chopping wood to planting tomatoes or taking care of 4 chickens, 1 rooster and 3 chicks.
On a practical level, each day has been different. And, on a personal level, the development has been unpredictable. An experience like this allows you to get to know yourself better and even find your goal in life.
I also appreciate the company, the conversations and the laughs with Gloria. Having been 2 volunteers this year, the relationship is close and communication has been essential. We have worked as a team and we have supported each other.
I recommend that anyone take a few months of their life, leave everything behind and get involved in a project or community. I feel stronger, more capable, freer and happier.
