Volunteer Spotlight
Our volunteers are a diverse bunch. They come to us from the four corners of the globe, different ethnicities, ages, genders, religions, but the one thing they all share is a desire to help. They are the beating heart of Serve the City. They are dedicated individuals, role models to young people and future leaders. But who are they really?
In our volunteer spotlight we introduce you to one of our volunteers and find out some unusual and interesting facts about them. Let me introduce you to Laura…
Where were you born?
In Timisoara, in Western Romania – a region that isn’t home to Dracula’s castles but to generations of people from different ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds living alongside one another.
What language(s) do you speak?
I use three languages daily (French, English, and Romanian) but my curiosity about other cultures has made me explore various other modern and ancient languages, such as Spanish, Tamil, Portuguese, Japanese, Latin, Ancient Greek, and Sanskrit.
What does STCP mean to you?
I’m mostly involved in the language exchange program. STCP has given me the opportunity to draw upon my own journey of learning French and finding my place in Paris to hopefully encourage others who are new to this experience or at least offer them an enjoyable moment when working together. Being part of STCP has also allowed me to discover new cultures and languages and, above all, to learn new ways of embracing resilience and cultivating gratitude for the present moment.
When you’re not volunteering, how do you spend your time?
I lead a fairly active lifestyle, studying the South Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam and taking ballet classes, alongside swimming, jogging, and practising yoga and Pilates at home. I also write fiction, notably an adaptation for the stage of an English gothic novel, and learn 3D modeling (Blender).
What is your favorite hobby?
Learning and teaching languages, exercising, creative writing, 3D modeling.
What is your favorite meal?
Idli sambar. A simple yet tasty South Indian dish that I first discovered in Pondicherry and later stumbled upon again at Gare du Nord in Paris. Idlis are soft, steamed rice cakes that melt in your mouth. Served with sambar, a spicy lentil-based vegetable stew, they make for a comforting meal. Give them a go if you haven’t already.
With which person living or deceased would you like to eat that meal?
My maternal grandmother. Whenever she came across a new recipe, she’d always try it out at home. Although we never made idlis together, we did make gulab jamun and carrot halwa, accompanied by masala chai to wash down all that sweetness.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Having enough time and energy at the end of the workday to exercise, read a good book, or dedicate myself to a project close to my heart.
Which living person do you most admire?
No one in particular. Every person I’ve met and exchanged ideas with has offered an opportunity to learn something new, question my own assumptions, and broaden my knowledge and understanding of others.
Which talent would you most like to have?
This might sound a little sci-fi, but I’d love to be able to travel through time. It would be the perfect way to practise and deepen my knowledge of the ancient languages I’ve studied.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Enrolling in a Bharatanatyam class during a particularly challenging period in my life.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
Perhaps a river. Rivers have a way of finding their path towards the sea, navigating whatever obstacles lie along the way. And even when they eventually run dry, they leave traces of their passage behind.
