The year that has changed me Blog

There’s a lot I could say about this ending, but above all I want to say that this experience has changed me a lot in a positive way, I would say.
Firstly, I’ve become more independent and learned how to manage on my own and live differently than I did in Belgium at my parents’ house. I’ve learned a lot about myself, especially during the difficult moments that helped me discover more about who I am and grow, both inside and out. A huge change for me in these 10 months in Italy.

I’ve started to know how to solve problems by myself, and I’ve come out of it having learned so much more.
This ESC for me has meant personal growth, but also so many new encounters in my life, which will allow me to travel across Europe in the years to come.
I really recommend this experience, because for me, out of these 10 months, 8 were the best thanks to the people in my project who suited me well, but also the other volunteers who became new friendships. Being in Italy for 10 months was an amazing opportunity: I travelled alone or with other volunteers and discovered a new culture, a new language, and so many beautiful new cities that I hope to see again one day.
And after all, it’s volunteering. You are free to leave if it’s not working out, or to stay and talk about it so that the situation can improve. But despite the difficult moments, this experience is truly worth living.
For me, my new friends here helped me through the hard times, helped me feel good in this experience, and gave me so many fun memories that I will never forget.

To conclude, this experience was magical for me. It was really worth it and, above all, I learned so much about myself. These 10 months here have changed me enormously and will stay in my memory forever. Even if the end was tough, I am super happy to have had this opportunity here in Italy. And finally, thank you to all the people with whom I shared this wonderful year outside of my project.

Naomé