Say Yes to Adventures

I had a 9-to-5 job, a home without rent, friends, nature—a good life. But something was missing...
After COVID hit, it became evident that traveling, as I knew it back then, would change. I felt trapped in my life, living the life of a grown-up, even though I was only 22. I no longer wanted that.
After some research, my attention turned to the ESC Project. Living abroad? Check! New adventures? Check! English in my daily life? Check! Not spending too much money? Check! Doing something ordinary? Hell no!
After being incredibly fortunate and being accepted into the first project I applied for, I packed my bags and moved to Denmark, Roskilde, for one year. There, I worked at Gimle, a cultural café where ESC volunteers could initiate their projects and also work behind the bar (which I was always passionate about). What I appreciated most about this project was the level of responsibility it offered. We were pretty much on our own, running the bar, clearing tables, and taking orders. We were essentially the bosses for the day. In addition to the typical café activities, we planned various fun events, basically whatever we felt like doing in our café-shaped living room. Dress-up parties, karaoke nights, Halloween parties, Language Café... The possibilities were endless, and we certainly took advantage of them.
My proudest achievement was starting up the karaoke night again after COVID. I learned the technical aspects, spread the word, and when the night came, I hosted it. It was a resounding success that continues to this day. It's incredibly satisfying to put effort into a project and see it turn out as expected. Of course, there were also projects that failed, where no one showed up or communication issues arose within the team. However, these experiences helped me in the long run with project management.
What I really appreciated about the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is how financially accessible it is. You receive some pocket money, don't need to pay rent, and even get some "points" at the café for meals and drinks (which was quite helpful in an expensive country like Denmark).
Aside from working at the café, we had plenty of free time. There were five ESC volunteers, including me, sharing an old farmhouse - a dream come true, right? It was close to the fjord, so we could swim every day in the summer, sit in our huge garden to play card games, and enjoy cozy evenings where we cooked together and watched movies. We became like a Danish family to each other.
In my opinion, a significant part of ESC is learning about and accepting new cultures and perspectives. When you live and work closely with people from all over Europe, you truly feel the differences, eventually overcoming them and learning to appreciate them.
I'm sure that if you're also considering going abroad, you'll encounter responses like "Don't you want to focus on your studies?" or "That's just a waste of time." But my advice is to let them talk. After spending time abroad, you'll be more educated and enriched than any job or study could ever make you.
In the grand scheme of our lives, what's six months, nine months, or even a year? Nothing. So, we should all strive to push out of our comfort zones and embrace new challenges while we're young!
With that being said, I wish you a fantastic time abroad! 😉

Updated on utorak, 26/11/2024