From the Museum to the Snow: December as a Volunteer
December was a month, balancing museum work in Spain with significant personal milestones and travels across Europe. It served as a bridge between my professional responsibilities in Valencia and a return to my roots for the holiday season.
The month began with a focus on paleontological research. I was tasked with conducting iconographic research on marine species found in the Mediterranean Sea for an upcoming educational program at the Paleontological Museum. This work required high precision; I had to ensure that each visual representation accurately matched the specific marine animal described. Furthermore, a significant part of the task involved linguistic verification. I cross-referenced the Latin names of the species with their equivalents in both Castilian and Valencian to ensure the scientific and regional accuracy of the museum’s future pedagogical materials.
In addition to this specialized research, I contributed to finalizing the Christmas educational offerings for the various museums managed by the Ayuntamiento. The end-of-year period is a busy time for cultural institutions, and we implemented a wide range of guided tours and workshops designed for the festive season. One of the highlights was the organization of musical tours at the Museo de Historia de Valencia, which focused on traditional Christmas music, offering visitors a unique sensory way to engage with local history.
As the holidays approached, I traveled back to France to spend Christmas with my family. This trip was particularly meaningful as it marked my first time returning home after eleven months of living and working in Spain. It was a joyful period of reconnection, allowing me to spend quality time with my relatives and friends, and to finally see my cat again. This homecoming was also the occasion to celebrate a major personal milestone: my 30th birthday. Reaching this new decade surrounded by loved ones provided a wonderful sense of closure to the year.
Immediately after Christmas, the pace changed again as I traveled to Denmark to visit my boyfriend for a week-long stay. Discovering Danish New Year’s traditions was a fascinating experience. I learned about the importance of the King’s speech and participated in the local custom of literally jumping into the New Year at midnight—a physical leap from a chair or sofa meant to bring good luck. However, the Scandinavian winter provided a sharp contrast to the climate I had grown used to in Spain. With consistent snow and freezing temperatures, I found myself missing the Spanish warmth more than once.
Now that I am back, I am looking forward to the weeks ahead. January will be my final month of volunteering, marking the end of a long and enriching journey. I intend to make the most of these last few weeks, finalizing my current projects at the museum and enjoying the final moments of this professional experience in Valencia before moving on to the next chapter.
