Part 2- A talk on doing a Voluntary Service in Ecuador with Hannes

Hey everyone!

Here is part two of our amazing interview with Hannes, where we he is going to share more about his experiences outside of Ecuador - his most unforgettable experiences and travels. 

Here is the official instagram account ,webisteof the voluntary service and Hannes’s personal instagram account. If you have any more questions, which were not covered throughout the interview.

Voluntary service (website)-https://www.weltwaerts.de/de/startseite.html

Voluntary Service (instagram)-https://www.instagram.com/opendoorinternational?igsh=eGxrYmVqb2trMWdq or https://www.instagram.com/fiides_ecuador?igsh=MXE2dTJ1ZmIwdTEyNA==

Hannes-https://www.instagram.com/hqnnes_?igsh=MWsyb2J1ZmM3cXlj

Enjoy the episode!

-Your host 

Transcript

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 0:12

Hey everyone. And welcome back to another interview with the gap year podcast by Kaleena Alkin. With my guest host harness. Hannah's took the initiative and sign up for a year long adventure to Ecuador, to volunteer and an amazing organization that focuses on environmental awareness and recycling. During this interview, we will talk more about some of his own travels around south America, which is very exciting. Hope you enjoy this wonderful interview and let's get started. Back to the voluntary service. Could you tell us a little bit more about how your typical week looks like?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 0:57

As I mentioned, I'm, I'm in two projects. So, two days I'm in Sinamuna, the project with people with disabilities and the other, three days I'm in the recycling lab. yeah, where I'm usually. From the morning until afternoon working and then I have free time. I go home, eat something and yeah, what I also started to do, so two days I'm also dancing because I started to learn salsa y bachata, which are typical dances here in, in Ecuador. So, after work, you have time for your hobbies. You can find new hobbies. It was really like a search for me. I, like, okay, what do you want to do, you know, because, yeah, you, it's kind of starting a new life. So you search for new hobbies to also get to know new people especially like Ecuadorians. So I, decided to take dancing lessons, in my free time and at the weekend, yeah, you meet, or during the week you can do it as well, meet with friends, or if there are special family events, those typical Ecuadorian, family parties, you could say, where you spend your weekend, so you can travel a lot, especially if you have a holiday. so yeah, I usually did that like once a month because you also have to look at your budget. I mean. Depending how much money you have and want to spend But that's why I Traveled more or less once once in a month. And here are so many things To explore, as I just mentioned, in the coast, in the Sierra, so, it definitely does not get, boring, I can assure you.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 2:48

Oh, and I remember you also had the opportunity to invite your family in Ecuador as well.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 2:54

Yeah, that's true, I had the luck that my, my mother and godmother, visited me here in Ecuador. And, of course, we traveled, together. for example to the Galapagos Islands, which was just, yeah, incredible. so I really recommend you to go to the Galapagos Islands, even though I just heard that they have set the prices to, the entrance prices, a bit up. So it got more expensive, but luckily we went there before so, it wasn't, that expensive and because I've got visa, I hardly needed to, to pay something for entrance because I'm like, an Ecuadorian,

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 3:31

Whoa. Yeah.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 3:32

a permanent, not, not, you know, Temporal, Ecuadorian, because of that visa. yeah, and it was just great also like to, to, present my wheel family to my host family and, the house family was super sweet. They showed them so many things, which you can do here in Ecuador and Quito. like the central, so the, historical center, the center of the earth, because here we are at, latitude Zero. So yeah, it's also crazy to, to do some experiments and to see, okay, how, how, is water flowing on the, on the north side of the world and how is it on the, south side of the world and just. At one place. So yeah, it was really great because yeah my host family was very committed to show them the country, the culture and it was a really cool experience. Yeah, and it was great because I mean 10 months, not being home. Is a long time so I also was yeah, really glad to see my mom my godmother and yeah You Especially which I found very, hard was that I didn't go back for, for Christmas to Germany, of course, you know, I mean, I had a great Christmas celebration here in Ecuador, but normally you're with your family, so that was,

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 4:58

hard. Mm-Hmm.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 4:59

different and, yeah, to be honest, a bit hard,

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 5:02

But they enjoyed Ecuador. And seeing that you're safe. Probably

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 5:07

Yeah. so they were, they were pretty scared, with regard to the security situation and we're like, okay, no, I can't, I can't, I can't take my phone right now and I was like no we are in a safe area Okay, you can you can use your phone. That's no problem.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 5:23

Yeah. Mm-Hmm.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 5:24

of course if you don't know like how how does it work? It's better to be scared, but, yeah, you're scared, of course, because, you know, you see those, those news on the media, which were pretty recent, when they visited me, and, yeah, that's not pretty

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 5:40

Yeah. I, I remember actually reading the news and seeing everything in my parents, telling me, oh, CLE, didn't you have a friend in Ecuador? did he return to Germany or is he still there? And I was, I thought that maybe you went back to Germany, but yeah.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 6:00

thought okay, will we go? Do we have to go to germany? Do we have to return because yeah, it was at that week pretty pretty intense and yeah, nobody knew what would happen what would happen Yeah, and how how the security situation, will develop but luckily, But I also know some volunteers who actually returned to Germany because of that. Yeah, of that, of this, difficult time of this escalation of violence, but I stayed.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 6:36

You're like, they're, you're, with the voluntary service, whatever happens,

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 6:41

sure, definitely.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 6:43

And another question I skipped, but what do you like most about volunteering in such a place? In this voluntary service in particular?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 6:52

So, first of all, I really like, to help people. I think this, like this feeling and this intention also grow during my voluntary self service because I saw, okay, how important it is to be, employed or to help in a social institution. and that there are people who are committed to do this. And, yeah, I've, I find it very, very fulfilling. And, of course, and combined with being abroad, in a totally new culture environment, to live a completely different life. I think that's just amazing. Just great. and I think it's very important also to realize. Okay, how are people living here and how are we living because that's pretty difficult and different and to see okay, but you can also be very happy here, even though you don't have All the luxury which is like normal usual in in europe And by the way, you're learning a new language. So it's very good It's just also a lot of personal growth, you, you combine with this volunteering, and, I really enjoy it. I, I think it's really important and also to make this, make this experience to, to help people, to give something back, to people. And, yeah, I think because in the end, life is. All about, connections, about relations, about people, about living together and, share. And, and exactly that's what, volunteering is about. So, I think it's very, worth the experience.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 8:36

The gap year is all about personal growth and that's what I really like about a gap years when it comes to doing a voluntary service I think it's amazing what you did going to Ecuador and connecting to the culture there to the people in your voluntary service. And I think it's very life changing. I think I'm going to ask you later on how. But. I think I can ask you even now, how do you think this whole voluntary service impacted, this whole experience really impacted your life?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 9:09

So as you as you just mentioned, this voluntary service had a great impact on me. especially, with regard to personal growth, because, I needed to be so independent to, overcome so many challenges. Because Living in a new country with a completely new language is pretty challenging and, scary. And,, of course, that helped me a lot to grow in my personality, in my character, and to gain competences, to gain skills. And also, with regard to social competences, how to interact with people, because a voluntary service is, Much about interacting with people, living in a completely new family. Those are all experiences which made me more, more tolerant, more empathetic. And also take more responsibility for my own life because I wasn't in the school environment, at home, where everything is more or less, fixed and planned, you know? And of course, I think it's Which was very important for me and interesting to gain new perspective on life. Because you get an insight, into a completely different cultural life, country, reality, political situation. And so you, yeah, of course that makes something with your, with your, perspective on life. And edit with my perspective on life. So,, it has a great impact on me and I'm very, very glad that I, made this decision to say, okay, stop. I don't, rush to university. I take this gap here. I do this voluntary service and, yeah, explore the world and myself.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 10:56

As a friend of mine says, university won't run away, so it's okay to take a gap year

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 11:02

Exactly.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 11:03

I could only imagine that sometimes it's hard to come face to face with some of the different situations you have seen during your voluntary services, different situations, which might be. a little bit hard on your mental health. And that's why I really wanted to ask, what do you think about the connection between mental health and doing a gap year, which focuses on voluntary service? Was it a lot to take in in some cases?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 11:34

I mean, because we were like how will it be to see so much poverty, in this, in this process. I mean, I started to prepare with my, organization, back in Germany. We all were pretty, prepared, to this different life and reality, that's why it didn't have such an impact on my mental health to be honest, but of course it's like, okay. Very heartbreaking to see like so much poverty, especially Kids on the street and to know okay. There's nothing I really can can do. Yeah, of course my project there was those people there I can help them but outside I don't have the resources the possibilities to to help them all of course And yeah, that's that's a sad thought but You To be honest you you get used to it even though it's Not nice, but yeah, Yeah, that's also a way To value your own life more because you see okay. I I have a home I don't I don't need to say they're on the street. Yeah, and just be grateful for that and Yeah, be aware that there are other people who have a different life. And I mean, thanks to our projects, we actually can help to improve at least some lives.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 13:02

I understand. You just want to help everyone and to help everyone you see in a bad situation. And I really get it because I also have this feeling but really, it's good that you kind of take this step by step with your voluntary service. Like you help this group, we have to help the other group. And you're helping so many people. And I'm sure that so many people are thankful for this whole organization and voluntary service. I think it's amazing. And how they thought about everything, like with the music classes and with the recycling,

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 13:37

Yeah, it's, it's really great.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 13:40

Foreigner.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 13:41

That's true. And in the end, I mean, I'm a foreigner in a foreign country. I also have to take that into consideration It's very obvious that I'm a foreigner and a ginger. Like, these, some people stare at me or some people touch my hair. Sometimes, the buzz, like, from the back, I'm like, okay. So, um, I would say it's not that common. Even my host brother asked me. Oh, did you color your hair? And he's like fine I was like no, that's that's natural. That's my hair

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 14:13

You every day in the bathroom just like coloring your roots.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 14:17

Exactly. So, I would say it isn't very common. So I I Haven't seen any ginger like who is from Ecuador here or in Peru or Colombia

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 14:30

Now that you have mentioned Peru and Colombia, I can maybe jump right to the next part of this episode which concentrates on your travels whenever you had time throughout your organization. So, how about traveling? I remember that there was kind of a limit with how many days you can take or where you can go. As you said, of course, no danger zones in Ecuador. But how about traveling to totally different countries in South America and how far can you go?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 15:04

So With regards to the limits, first of all, yeah, you have a limit of days of vacation. So You have to manage that When you want to travel, and take into considerate, take into consideration, when you think about where do I want to go? So I think I had, I have 17 days, vacation, which is not much, but that's, I mean, we are used to have like two weeks, autumn holidays and many other holidays. But of course, that's pretty limiting, when it comes to traveling. On the other hand, I, I don't, I'm not sure if there's an official limit, where you can go and where not. Of course, like, those dangerous zones, Which are forbidden for your, for your own sake, but I think I could also go on a vacation to Germany for example, but I mean that's, that's not the, the point of being in South America and have this possibility, you know, so of course you are traveling more like around South America, because it's closer, and yeah, I mean, to Germany I can go. When I go back, yeah, and go to Bavaria, or I don't know, and do vacations there. so, I went to Colombia and Peru, yeah, just the past month. for a few days, a week. Yeah, which was really

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 16:37

Mm-Hmm. Mm-Hmm. Do you, could you tell us a little bit more about the places you visited, some of the things you really liked about this traveling experience?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 16:48

So first of all, it's also, again, personal growth, because for me, at least, it was like the first time I'm organizing, like, because, going to a foreign country in South America, even though you are like living in Ecuador right now, is new and, exciting. I went to Columbia to Medellin, which was, the most dangerous city in the past. So it's also very interesting to experience and to get, you know, this change from such a, such a dangerous city to such a sustainable and developed city right now. So, my other travel, led me to Peru by the way, where I, met our dear friend,

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 17:31

I saw the story.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 17:34

uh, exactly, uh, and Lima and Koco. So there I went to two cities, so the capital Lima, which is a nice city which doesn't have many sites. But, which is a great city, and to Cusco, where I did an abundance of things, So, first of all, I also traveled a bit, in Peru, and I went to a desert, Desert Huacachina, which was amazing, because it was my first time in a desert, and, well, Wow, it's just just incredible even though I have to admit I had a bit or it was very exciting for me especially because you know when you're in yeah, we did like a tour more or less in the desert and then you go By sand

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 18:20

Yeah, yeah,

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 18:20

those cars And everything was great. I did sand boarding and saw the sunset in in the desert, which is incredible, but At the end, our driver asked us, Okay, do you want like, Really, Drive, last drive, full of adrenaline And, of course, everybody said Yes, yes! And so, well, the drive started But after a few minutes my belt opened and I was like flying around in that car

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 18:54

You know,

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 18:55

and was like holding me on On on some seats and we're like, oh, no, please please god. Don't let me die

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 19:04

stay in the car.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 19:06

Fortunately, that's why i'm here uh, I survived and

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 19:10

glad to be doing this interview today.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 19:14

I was so glad, when the drive was over, but yeah, it was definitely really much adrenaline for me. So yeah, more or less what the driver just wanted, you know? But of course, we saw so many things, but it was really amazing. a great travel destination as well. Especially Cusco. I, we went to the Rainbow Mountain, of course to the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu, and yeah, many other tours, to Inca ruins and, other great adventures. So it was really cool. And of course, I just want to mention that you can also travel a lot and find amazing destinations in Ecuador. so they also traveled a lot more because, of course, it's all closer, as I mentioned, the Galapagos Island, just paradise, and, yeah, the jungle, where, by the way, I found the jungle. Yeah, we were like, searching for gold in the river

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 20:20

Did you take it?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 20:21

had like gold on my fingers. No, we, did that, with an indigent, uh, guy. And

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 20:30

Hopefully legal.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 20:31

Yeah, of course, totally. I'm mature. I think so. Yeah. and, we gave him all the gold because, I mean, it was like thin gold. So it was not like. A, a gulch stone or something like that. And

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 20:47

That's fascinating.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 20:49

what to do with that. And, he, I mean, it was obvious that he could use it or needed more than us and have a use for it. So we, we gave it to him. We didn't take it, but we saw it and I got it on my

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 21:05

Oh, wow. That's that's something again. Yes. And on to my next question. So we are three questions away from the end. I hope you have some time. So what is the most unforgettable moment from your gap year? You can say a couple if you cannot choose.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 21:26

So as I just mentioned, like this experience to find gold, in a river. Like, for real, it was, it was amazing, in general, to be, like, in the jungle, to see, wild animals, and to walk there, during the night, it's just incredible. And, of course, all those, meetings with new peoples, with new people I had, yeah. There's an abundance of unforgettable moments, but one moment in particular, as we already talked a bit about like the security situation here in Ecuador, I have an experience which was very unforgettable and very emotional for me. with regards to this, escalation of violence which happened in January, at the beginning of this year. And, like, Two days before, the president declared the state of emergency, because, one leader of a criminal group escaped from prison. yeah, he declared this state of emergency, but I felt like, okay, it's normal. We're in South America, we're in Ecuador, that's kind of normal that such things happen, you know? but that escalated further, and I can remember I was I was in the bus, on the 9th of January, and, a friend of mine was calling me like, oh, kind of panically, and I was like, oh, where are you, you're in Quito right now, in the city center. I said, yes. how is it? Does it, does everything work? I said, yes. So, like, everything normal, I'm in a bus, everything's fine. Going, you know, and she's like no, something Something really bad happened. I don't know what but all the people Hiding their cars and and like getting back home and i'm like no Everything is normal, you

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 23:22

You are so chill.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 23:23

know that the president. Yeah that the president had the state of emergency But you know, that's that's normal, you know, and because we wanted to go together to a dancing class so I Mentioned I started to learn bachata that was like, when I want when I started yeah I want we wanted to go to our first dancing class and was like and she was like I'm, not sure if I can come, you know, I I don't think so. And I was like why I will definitely go I mean

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 23:52

Oh my God.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 23:53

you know. It's not THAT dangerous. And she was like, Okay, yeah, we will talk later. And I was like okay. And I was just sitting in the bus, you know, waiting until I arrived at my destination. However, at some point I felt like, Okay, somehow it's so silent in that bus. What's, what's going on? Because normally it's Very loud all the time, you know, and everything was everybody was looking at their Phones and they were like chattering something and everybody will really like shocked and I was like what's going on? and then The bus driver said, okay, something that he will change where we go and I was like, oh, I don't know that street. Where are we going? What's going on? You know and Because you have to you have to I have to say sometimes these street names are very Interesting here. Yeah, for example, they're just like cold like dates. For example, say august the 6th, you know, and i'm like who came up with that with that idea, you know And there are several streets, you know, and I was like, I don't know where it is, you know, and then my organization, well text me like, okay, everybody go home quickly as soon as you can. I was like, a bus right now in the city center and one of the most important streets of Quito. And I was like, okay. And then I saw like, okay, the bus was turning and it was like speaking with the head of my organization and told like, No, I'm in the bus, but I'm not sure where he's going and, yeah, I don't know. And I, I looked, out of the window and saw, like, the people running on the street, yeah? Masses of people, like, running on the street, like, screaming. you know, and I didn't know, should I stay in the bus, should I leave? What should I do, you know? Ah! And, then I thought, okay, I need to stay because I need to go back home. And likely the, the bus turned. So he just, returned and I could, like leave the bus at my station where I got in. but this drive was so emotional for me. And so scary because I didn't know what was actually happening. And, yeah, that was, and I was like, will I Get home, you know, because I was okay, well some guys stand in front of the bus with pistols and Will shoot, you know, you you don't know. I mean, that's not that unusual and I was like, what? Yeah, but luckily I got home and then I stayed at home the next days and Yeah

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 26:46

Oh, wow.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 26:47

Yeah, and I and I I got to know what really happened like that They were I see that they wouldn't that there were an abundance of different crimes. I mean this storm in live broadcasted, tv show and everything. Yeah

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 27:04

Oh, wow.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 27:05

that was a pretty emotional. Um Day for me. It was like, okay And I got to know okay. That's life You so that's definitely a moment I won't forget.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 27:17

Oh my God. Oh, I am getting, like shivers. Like, you know, in that, like, oh my God. It's good that you like kept your calm and in a sense and that you like got past the situation because maybe I would have been the panicked person in the bus that starts to run around and like scream probably and later faint. Oh, there we

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 27:45

Yeah, yeah, I totally understand. That was yeah An experience

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 27:50

Oh, my God. Okay. But most of the things are quite positive. Yeah. Yeah,

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 27:57

yeah, And my next, my final question, actually, would you recommend for someone to take such a gap year? Maybe after they read the news a little bit. I know the situation is, less, scary. Mhm. Mhm. right now Ecuador is more or less safe, and as I just mentioned before, it really depends where are you going and when are you going. Um, yeah, and if you like take that into consideration, you're normally safe. I definitely recommend to do a volunteer service here, in particular in Ecuador or in general, because it's such a great experience and you learn a lot even though you're not at school or university, experience a lot, and I think it's really life changing because you get a totally new perspective on life, on, yeah, on global relations and. How things work in the world and you also start to To think critically about okay about the presence and I think it's Yeah, really great. And especially if you're from Germany because you have this possibility to go Abroad and do this voluntary service supported by the German ministry That's just great and so it's possible for everybody, no matter what are your financial resources or, I think that's very important and, it's definitely something. I mean, I just, I could repeat everything I just said in this podcast, but, yeah, I definitely recommend it. I would suggest you to really check the organizations with which organization will you go and where, because there are always different organizations that you should bear in mind, but in general, I It's an adventure, which you can't miss. Um,

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 30:10

for me to ask one more question. How much more are you going to stay in Ecuador and what are your plans for the rest of the gap year?

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 30:20

actually my last month has started here in Ecuador, so on the 1st of July I will, fly back home, Germany.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 30:29

Long flight, probably. Yes.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 30:35

Um, but i'm already excited, of course see everybody, again to to eat german food bread. Oh my god, because he has the bread is completely different

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 30:47

Yeah.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 30:48

and but of course I want to To to use this last month to this last month to travel A bit again, to some destinations I haven't seen before but I need to visit before I leave and Yeah, enjoy Ecuadorian life here in Quito

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 31:10

Oh, wow. Oh, Hannes, I really admire your initiative and this whole project. And I know that you have a kind of like an Instagram page, probably for this whole organization. So maybe I can, if it's comfortable, could I put the link below the podcast so people can. Like, check it out and see. I know that you're very present in the social media page as well. Yeah.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 31:41

I have to say, I did some detox, you could say, um, but I just recently got more present. But, most of the time I'm voluntary service. I thought, okay, I want to focus on the real life. But now I, I, Thought, okay, I want to share all those experiences as well. Of course, and feel free to contact me as well, if you like. So you can also put my Instagram

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 32:07

Of course. Of course.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 32:09

and yeah.

kalina--host-_1_06-03-2024_191900 32:10

you so much for this wonderful interview and really for telling us all about this voluntary service, both of them and life in Ecuador, as well as bumpy as it seems from time to time, but really can't wait to see you also in Germany. And thank you so much for being here.

hannes_1_06-03-2024_111900 32:33

Thank you very much for having me. It was such a great experience as well