Dear next intern,
Without a doubt, doing an internship at Vamvakou Revival is an entirely unique experience compared to any other internship. You leave behind the familiar scents of your home, the comforts of the city, and the fast-paced everyday life, and instead make the big decision to spend four months in a mountain village in Laconia. But why would a young person choose to embark on such an adventure? Let me give you a few reasons, based on my own experience, that will make this four-month period unforgettable.
First of all, you’ll forget the usual routine of work and daily life. Each day in Vamvakou is a new, small adventure. One day, you might wake up and head down to the kitchen of the Traditional Guesthouse to prepare your breakfast, where you’ll meet a retired couple of hikers from Corfu, that visit to explore the trails of Mount Parnon. The next day, you could be helping a primary school visiting the village from Monemvasia for an educational program.
Do not expect the typical village life where you wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread from a wood-fired oven—there’s neither a grocery store nor a bakery in the village. Instead, expect to enjoy meals from the Voureiko, the village’s café-restaurant. You’ll taste local dishes, lovingly prepared by the cooks, and I hope you try dishes you might never have considered before. Personally, before coming here, bean soup, beets, or pork tenderloin were never my best meal choices, but now, they’ve become a few of my favorite dishes on the menu!
My first walk in Vamvakou was to Kato Vrysi, and since I arrived in October, the road was filled with walnuts. And yes, the first skill I acquired as a “child of the village” was cracking walnuts with your bare hands—October is walnut season—while watching the sun setting over Mount Parnon.
When you arrive in Vamvakou, I would recommend exploring all the alleyways and spots in the village to find your “safe space.” For me, that was the playground. It’s the quietest spot where, until November, you can watch the sunset and release all your stress without anyone seeing you. However, as much as I’ve connected with the playground, my favorite spot in Vamvakou—one that always moves me when I pass by—is the “Station of Emotions”. Whenever friends or family visited, it was the first place I’d show them, and I’d often get a bit teary, imagining the story behind it.
Another experience that tied me to this place was being here when the school of Vamvakou started operating again. Although it’s not functioning as a traditional school but as a creative play center for activities, it’s incredibly touching to hear the sound of children’s voices and see that a new story is being written within these walls. On weekends, the school transforms into a gathering space for both visitors and locals, taking on a completely different atmosphere. But the strangest feeling is that of school trips. Just a few years ago, I was in the shoes of those children, and now, I was the “teacher” helping them complete their educational programs. At the school, you’ll definitely find a corner that suits you, whether you’re interested in traditional books, computers, or sports.
Winter internships also include the celebration of Christmas, which is yet another distinct experience. You’ve probably gotten used to Christmas in Athens or some other big city, but here, those days hold a different kind of magic. Within a week, the village is dressed in its holiday attire, and as night falls, you find yourself in a completely transformed place with thousands of lights, the scent of fireplaces in the air, and a crispy cold feeling. What makes these Christmases truly special is that you gain an entirely new experience, managing sound, lighting, logistics, customer service, catering, and everything else that comes with hosting a major event, since you’ll be involved in organizing the tree lighting up event,. Additionally, you will be helping to decorate several Christmas trees and contribute to the village’s overall festive decorations, so you will truly experience Christmas to the fullest. In fact, after spending the holidays here, you may not want to see another Christmas tree again when you return home.
Your evenings in Vamvakou will be peaceful, sometimes sociable, sometimes solitary. Board games, book reading, while sipping wine and ouzo by the guesthouse’s fireplace, and many conversations about the village and everyone’s lives will accompany you on many nights.
As for the work itself, you’ll find a space where you can freely brainstorm and develop your creativity. From day one, you will become part of the team. For me, what you will hone your to “expand” your way of thinking, to start thinking differently in order to understand the local mindset and culture, and to learn how an organization functions under the umbrella of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The office is the place where you’ll have the time and space to work on your ideas and connect with the place, envisioning a prosperous and revived Vamvakou.
Don’t be discouraged if, on some days, you feel lonely, if there are moments when you miss your daily life and your loved ones, or if there are weekends when you go up to Athens and then don’t want to return to the village. It’s only for four months, and I believe the experiences you’ll gain will stay with you forever. I hope that, if you end up coming for your internship at Vamvakou, you’ll fall in love with this place and care for it, and when you leave, you will consider it as your own village.
Perhaps one day we’ll meet in person and chat about your own experience in Vamvakou while sipping our coffee at the Voureiko,
Warmest wishes,
Theodora
