Blog

Meet Ryan

Why I chose to do EVS: To get a complete change of scene and do something different whilst gaining some experience in new fields.

From: Portsmouth, UK

Volunteering in: Baku, Azerbaijan

Age: 29

Why I chose to do EVS: To get a complete change of scene and do something different whilst gaining some experience in new fields.

About Placement: I am working with the ASU (Azerbaijan Students Union) planning projects centered around environmental issues.

About Baku: Something else! You arrive and feel like you’re in a totally different world, there’s a tremendous mix of buildings (both in design and states of disrepair!) this would probably be due to the various influences present in the country (Russian, Turkish etc). Drivers are maniacs and you really have to keep your eyes open when crossing, its the only place I’ve been to where a can of coke costs twice as much as a pack of cigarettes!

My accommodation: Better on the inside is all I can say, the common theme here seems to be “things work but not quite right” its comfortable and spacious with a good view of the city.

My social life: I go to tea houses, cafes, shisha bars and visit the sights in the city centre, we are planning a trip outside Baku which should be pretty cool.

Learning the language: Slowly but surely, working on the correct pronunciation is difficult.