My name is Robert and for the three months from 2016-11-01 to 2017-02-01 i was a volunteer in an Association called Žmergo, based in Opatija, Croatia.
How I decided to do an EVS? A few years ago before coming to Opatija, I participated in a Youth Exchange project in Limassol, Cyprus. That was the first time i have ever heard about Erasmus+ programs and EVS especially. The team there introduced me to the concept and from that very moment i knew that eventually i would apply and participate in such project. And that day came three years later, when i was working as a salesman in a top3 radio in Lithuania. I saw the possibility that they are inviting a person with some graphic and video experience, which i had, and i applied. The rest is history.
Opatija greeted me very well from the very beginning. They say, that his was one of the warmest winters recently. And from someone who is used to have -25 degrees celsius in January, +8 degrees was a pleasant addition to the whole experience here.
Right after arriving here, the first week was a casual one, with just meeting the team we would work with, and walking around Opatija. And during the next week me and my colleague Noelia went to he on-arrival EVS training in Orahovica. This was a truly interesting and memorable experience since we met so many interesting people from all around Europe there who did their EVS in different cities around Croatia. We learned quite a lot about how to use our EVS experience to the greatest and i truly appreciate that. Thank you Domagoj and Sunčana (our trainers there) and also Iva and Martina (our hosts).
This training gave a huge start for our EVS plans here and as soon as we came back we already started to work on different projects. We spent quite a lot of time planning how we see the organization’s communication for the next few months. Naturally we split our responsibilities amongst three of us volunteers. And the tempo picked up and almost never got slower. We created, talked, filmed, edited, published and the circle went on and on! Such a productive team.
So for every work day we were busy, but we all know that this type of experience would never be complete without traveling. And we really traveled. Almost every weekend out of the three months we used to go somewhere. Even if it’s just a few kilometers away, but we knew that our time here is very limited, so every moment was for us to use to the maximum. From visiting other EVS friends in other cities, to going hiking and traveling to other countries, these trips were simple but super memorable.
Now, after almost three months I am writing this letter to all the future and past EVS. But also to all the rest living creatures on planet earth. We all learn different lessons from the same teachers, we all see the world through our own eyes and i am very very glad that this time here was so rich with memories, amazing and positive people, laughter, dancing, help to others, improvements, learning and quality time with yourself. Hope that the huge impact this experience has left on me is something you already have felt at least once in your life, or you are going to feel it soon. But whatever happens, remember that to achieve the amazing, amazing sacrifices have to be made. Be brave, dream and say “YES” to whatever your heart desires.
