Marie

Seeing the world – but please, not as a tourist

Hello everyone!

I’m really pleased that you’ve found your way to this blog, whatever the circumstances. In case you don’t know me, let me introduce myself:

I’m Marie, I’m 18 years old, and I’m from Warendorf in North Rhine-Westphalia. It isn’t actually that small, and I’ve spent most of my life there so far.

I love playing the piano, painting, acting, spending time with friends, gazing at the night sky, laughing at inappropriate moments and staying in on evenings to immerse myself in my favourite books or board games (living up to my ‘granny’ reputation).

My A-levels stressed me out a lot (probably more than necessary), but that isn’t the only reason I don’t want to go straight back to studying after school. In Year 8, I spent two months with a host family in Bordeaux. That exchange showed me how great it is to get to know countries other than Germany and how boring it is to simply tick off the ‘sights’ as a tourist. What sort of word is that anyway? Surely there aren’t just five places per country that are ‘worth seeing’!

Since then, I have tried to take every opportunity to travel that has come my way. After my A-levels, I knew I wanted to go abroad first.

I stumbled across EMS more or less by chance, and I’m really looking forward to spending the next six months in Mamasa on Sulawesi. I’m excited to meet the locals and grow through the odd challenge.

In particular, I’m looking forward to finding out how faith is practised there, and perhaps bringing back a few songs or ideas to share with the congregation back home. Perhaps reading my blog will inspire you to visit Sulawesi too.