My first month of volunteering

My name is Lea, and I am a new ESC volunteer. I arrived in the middle of May in Miercurea Ciuc, Romania. During my first weeks, I mainly took the time to settle in and discover my new surroundings. I got to know the other volunteers, explored the city, and became familiar with the Care2Travel organisation.

The first weeks were filled with an online on-arrival training together with other ESC volunteers from all over Romania, office tasks, activities at the Care2Travel office, and a city scavenger hunt. However, my personal highlight was the cultural week organised by Care2Travel. Together with the other volunteers, I visited the Red Lake, the surrounding mountains, and Sighișoara, a beautiful medieval town in the heart of Transylvania. It was a great opportunity to discover more of Romania while getting to know the other volunteers much better.

After those first weeks, I took a few days off because some of my friends came to visit me. Together, we travelled to Brașov and Bucharest. I was very happy to see them, and I really enjoyed both cities.

Brașov is one of the best-known Transylvanian Saxon cities in Romania. It has a beautiful old town and is located only a short distance from Miercurea Ciuc. We visited many of its most famous sights, including the Black Church, the city towers, and Council Square. Unfortunately, one afternoon we experienced a severe rainstorm, but it certainly did not spoil our trip.

Bucharest is a little further away, so we stayed there for five days. We were lucky to have wonderful sunny weather and plenty of time to explore the city. I especially liked the contrast between the impressive historic buildings and the communist-era architecture, which gives Bucharest its unique character. The Old Town is full of life, with countless cafés, restaurants, and bars. During our stay, we visited the Palace of the Parliament, the Museum of Communism, the famous Cărturești Carusel bookstore, a beautiful park, several different neighbourhoods, and the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum. I also had the opportunity to try some traditional Romanian dishes, including stuffed cabbage rolls, papanași, and polenta. I loved every single one of them.

After returning from my trips, we started preparing our ESC summer project in more detail. The summer camps take place in the backyard of the volunteer accommodation. Every day from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., we organise activities for children while teaching them English in a fun and interactive way.

As part of the preparation, we became familiar with our responsibilities, planned the first day of camp, and created a detailed daily schedule. Soon afterwards, the summer camps began. During the first week, we welcomed 15 children between the ages of five and thirteen. Our main responsibility was to organise creative activities and games while encouraging the children to use English throughout the day.

At first, it took us some time to find a routine and become confident in our new roles. However, after just a few days everything became much easier. I really enjoyed working with the children and gained valuable practical experience. We played many active games, made origami, and on particularly hot days we organised water games, which quickly became everyone’s favourite.

During the second week, even more children joined the camp. By then, I already felt much more confident, and the daily routine came naturally. We introduced new games while also repeating some of the children’s favourites from the previous week. In addition, we made bracelets and learned a song together. It has been wonderful to see how much they enjoy spending time at the camp.

I am very excited about the coming weeks and look forward to creating many more unforgettable memories during my volunteering experience.

Yours, Lea

Six Weeks of Volunteering – time flies

Sziastok and welcome to my very first blogpost, a small selection of events and impressions that shaped my stay here in Romania so far. Let‘s begin…

Six weeks ago, I woke up disoriented after my first night in the accommodation, thinking I was in my bed at home in Germany, only to open my eyes and realize that my volunteering experience was about to start. The realization didn’t feel bad in any way, not overwhelming, not fearful, not too nervous. I was looking forward and being open to everything that might happen along the way.

Before that day, I had spent about 30 hours traveling, train by train, until I arrived here in Miercurea Ciuc. With all that worrying about the next transfer, having enough food for the 15 hour night train ride and the storm that seemed to follow me through half of Europe, I managed to successfully delay getting nervous about my final destination and what would await me there. Meeting my roommate, my colleagues and everyone else that I would live with in one big house. Even finally sitting out the last 2-hour ride, knowing that I would arrive on time, my brain couldn’t fully comprehend that I would actually be starting that new chapter. So, when I arrived at the train station and looked for Rita, who was supposed to pick me up, I was still working out how anxious I should be. But I soon realized that every other person I met is -who would‘ve thought- just another human being with similar worries and insecurities than mine.

me arriving at the accomodation

In the beginning, everything seemed exciting, new faces, new cultures, new experiences. We were told it‘s called the “honeymoon phase” and soon after, we would get used to everything and it would become normal, maybe even mundane. For me, it changed slowly from being obsessed with everything to a more calm and content feeling. I seldom feel homesick or sad, because I know that the four months will be over in the blink of an eye and when I was still home, I had more of a Fernweh, which is a German word that means having a longing for distant places.

Despite the honeymoon phase, I realized on my journey coming here and while arriving, that this place is an ordinary town, a normal house and filled with very real people, because before I came here, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like. It seemed like an unreal, far away experience that will never occur. But through these things happening that I could never dream of, I learn and grow, seeing that I am capable of leading conversations, making new friends and fulfilling the work requirements.

Looking back now and thinking of my first encounters with all of the others, I can’t believe that I have only known these people for such a short period of time. Living together, sharing the same spaces and new experiences, as well as spending free time with each other, draws one closer more quickly than many other things. Of course it also brings its challenges: meeting someone every time you leave your room, even after just waking up and barely being able to keep your eyes open; dirty dishes lying around for three days; or the washing machine being already in use every time you want to finally get your laundry done. Still, I am more thankful than anything else to always having someone around just to sit with or to do activities together, if long-planned or on a last-minute impulse.

Also, I have been hiking, bathing in the ice-cold water of the mineral water pool, witnessing the yearly Pentecost Pilgrimage, trying Lángos and Chimney Cake, preparing and starting the Summer Camps and much more, which were all great fun and will remain unforgettable memories.

So let‘s see what else awaits me, if it is things that will challenge or fulfill me, I am ready for it!

Yours, Bella 🍃☀️💕

FIRST MONTH OF ESC VOLUNTEERING

When I first heard about ESC volunteering, working at summer camps the only thing I imagined – helping others. The main thing I saw was the word “VOLUNTEERING”, I kind of had a hero mindset in my head. What I didn’t see were all the other fields of work that ESC volunteering combines. I saw this as escape from my daily life in Poland, but got much more than I could’ve imagined.

When Different Visions Meet

Working in an intercultural team can be both inspiring and challenging. We all have our own unique perspectives. Working as a team means not just sharing each other’s thoughts – it’s learning on how to create one common vision from all of ours.

I’ll say that this is the hardest part for me – sharing my ideas and trusting others other’s to make them a reality. When I have a perfect vision in my head, I often ask myself, “Why can’t the others see it?”. The funny part is that everybody has the same question.

Teamwork means understanding and accepting that now you are part of the team. I felt relieved when I realized that. At first I was really confused that we all share completely different approaches and ideas. I was frustrated that they didn’t think the same way I did. Now I see that as an opportunity to expand my way of thinking.

The truth is that every person brings their own experience, ideas and skills. The different types of strengths and values we bring – that’s what makes the projects unique.

Besides the creativity, communication is key. I learned how to present my own ideas and trust them to be combined with other people’s perspectives. A good idea only becomes a team idea when everyone understands it and has the opportunity to contribute.

Self-Improvement Is Also Part of the Job

One thing that surprised me about ESC volunteering is how much of the experience focuses on personal development.

Writing an essay on how to motivate ourselves, team reflections sessions and sharing our fears, country presentation and experiencing homesickness –things I didn’t expect when I first heard the word “volunteering”.

Apparently that is also part of the job. I didn’t know how important it is to understand what motivates you on low days or what fears the others experience, working on our project.

In many ways, volunteering is not only about helping others. It is also about learning more about yourself.

Our reflection games helped me understand not only how my teammates work, but also my own feelings. And those are the skills that will remain with me long after the project ends.

Finding Motivation

Not every day is exciting. Some days are tiring. Sometimes I feel like it’s too much work or even too little responsibility. Living in a different country doesn’t help the situation.

In those moments motivation becomes a personal responsibility.

For me it helps to understand that all of these feelings are only temporary, the same as the project. I try to focus on the reason I chose this experience. Sometimes all I need is some fresh air, chocolate and quiet space.

I learned that motivation comes from action. To feel the energy you need to start spinning the wheel.

Looking Toward the Future

The most important what this first month of ESC volunteering has given me – the opportunity to pause and reflect.

I consider this a life break and the chance to discover where I want to live, what to do and how to become the person I want to be.

Meeting people from different countries, with different backgrounds and experiences have given me the motivation to see my life differently. It helped me understand who I am, who I want to be and how to do it.

After the sunset comes a new day, bringing better opportunities.

ESC volunteering is much more than helping others. It is a combination of practical work, teamwork, personal growth, and self-discovery.

It teaches us how to work with people who think differently, how to communicate our ideas effectively, be brave, and how to keep learning about ourselves.

Most importantly, it reminds us that growth happens not only when we help others, but also when we allow ourselves to be challenged, reflected, and transformed by the experience.

Your Medeia🦋,

all the best!

The week of the trips

This week was one of the most exciting and memorable weeks of our ESC volunteering journey. We had the opportunity to discover some of Romania’s most beautiful places, learn more about its history and culture, and create unforgettable memories together.

Our first trip took us to the breathtaking Red Lake, a unique natural wonder surrounded by mountains and forests. The peaceful atmosphere and stunning scenery made it the perfect place to relax, take photos, and enjoy nature.

Before visiting the lake, we started our journey at Lázár Castle, an impressive historical monument that offered us a glimpse into Transylvania’s rich past. Walking through the castle and learning about its history was a fascinating experience.

Another highlight of the week was our visit to Sighișoara, one of the best-preserved medieval citadels in Europe. Wandering through its colorful streets, climbing the Clock Tower, and admiring the old buildings felt like stepping back in time. The city’s charm and unique atmosphere made it one of the most memorable destinations of the week.

While the group continued exploring, I unfortunately couldn’t join one of the trips because I had my university graduation and academic commitments. However, the other volunteers had an amazing time visiting several interesting places. They explored Korond, known for its traditional crafts and pottery, and visited the famous Upside Down House, where everything is literally turned upside down,being a fun and unusual experience.

Their adventure also included a visit to the impressive Jesus Statue, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, and the Butterfly House, where they could admire colorful butterflies from different parts of the world in a beautiful tropical environment.

Although I missed part of the adventure, I was happy to hear all the stories and see the photos shared in the groupchat. This week reminded us how important it is to explore new places, experience different cultures, and create connections with the people around us.

The Week of the Trips was full of discoveries, laughter, and unforgettable moments. These experiences are one of the reasons why being an ESC volunteer is so special, and I am looking forward to many more adventures in the future.

Four volunteers, one graduation and many missed butterflies later, 

Szidi

Leaving with a full heart

Eight and a half months.

It sounds like a long time until it becomes a collection of memories, inside jokes, spontaneous adventures, late-night conversations, and people who somehow become family. It’s amazing how sometimes a group of strangers become some of the most important people in your life. In this case, during the months we slowly became a big family and I would like to thank to everyone for this amazing experience, I loved living and speding time with you guys! I will quote my disseminaton video here:

„Your second family.

You have no idea that a group of strangers will become some of the most important people in your life.

Daniela, who will support every crazy idea you have.

Joel, whose conversations somehow always end in laughter.

Yann, with whom you’ll share deep talks, ridiculous moments, and future music careers that may or may not happen.

 Jasper, who will always be there when needed, never say no to the bird, and sing “Poate, poate” with you.

 Berta, who will encourage you even during the stressful process of parking.

Amaiur, who will always know how to make you feel confortable.  

Mattea, who will join you for countless walks, talks, and adventures.

 Leonie, who you will share endless deeptalks with.

 Aimee, with whom you’ll discuss books and share countless laughs.

And Frida, who will patiently answer “no” every single time you ask, “Am I annoying you?” even after hearing the question a hundred times.

These people will become your home away from home.”

When I started my ESC volunteering project, I knew I would be working with children in foster care homes. I knew I would organize activities, teach English through non-formal methods, and spend my days volunteering.

What I didn’t know was how much this experience would change me.

Because this experience allowed me to discover everything from a completely different perspective. Through the children, the community, local events, volunteering activities, and the people I met along the way, even familiar places gained completely new meanings.

Somewhere between the morning drives, the activity preparations, the intercultural nights, the endless walks, the coffee breaks, the laughter, the stress, the hugs, the goodbyes, and the ordinary days that didn’t seem important at the time, this place became home.

Not the kind of home you grow up in.

The kind of home you find.

The children taught me lessons that cannot be found in any university course or training. They taught me that progress is not always visible immediately. They taught me patience on days when I had very little of it left. They taught me that sometimes simply showing up matters more than having the perfect activity prepared.

And without realizing it, they found a permanent place in my heart.

What I will miss the most are not necessarily the big moments.

I will miss the little things:

The familiar faces walking into the office every morning.

The random conversations that somehow lasted for hours.

The moments when everyone was laughing so hard that nobody could finish a sentence.

The walks that started without a destination.

The feeling that no matter how difficult the day had been, there was always someone to sit next to at the end of it.

This experience gave me memories.

But more importantly, it gave me people.

People who became part of my story.

People who made me laugh when I wanted to cry.

People who supported my ideas, listened to my endless stories, and made even ordinary days feel special.

As I am writing this, I know that this chapter is ending.

And I hate that.

Because no matter how ready you think you are for a goodbye, there is always a part of you that wishes for just one more walk, one more conversation, one more shared meal, one more memory.

But maybe that is the price of having something beautiful.

You have to leave it eventually.

And when you do, you carry it with you.

So I am leaving with a full heart.

Full of gratitude.

Full of memories.

Full of lessons.

Full of people I never expected to love this much.

Thank you for being my home away from home.

Thank you for making these eight and a half months one of the most beautiful chapters of my life.

And thank you for the ESC and Care2Travel for making all these possible, I will forever be grateful.

With lots of love, Alexandra.

(I decided to include only one picture in this blog post. Not because I don’t have more photos, but because no picture could truly capture everything this journey meant to me. I chose a sunset because there is a quote by Beau Taplin that says, “Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too.” And I think this ending is beautiful. I am leaving with countless memories, friendships, lessons, and experiences that I will carry with me for a lifetime. This chapter is ending, but it will always be beautiful to look back on.)

Before leaving

I am writing this blog post before leaving. I am happy to go home, really excited to see my family and friends. They supported me in so many ways while I was here, and it will be amazing to return to such a supportive, loving environment. But there is one thing I will definitely miss.

Two weeks ago, we said goodbye to the kids. It feels crazy, after spending 8 months working with them, my heart feels broken. Seeing them go through so many things, watching them open up and grow in so many ways, has been one of the most valuable and enriching experiences of my life. I grew very close to them and came to love them deeply, and now it has ended. I don’t know what life will bring, but I probably won’t see them again. Since then, we’ve run into them on the street a few times, and it’s been a heartwarming, bittersweet experience. It feels like ripping off a Band-Aid: I still see them, but I’m no longer part of their everyday life. And although I am so happy to go home, my heart is breaking at the thought of not seeing them or working with them anymore.

If there is one thing I feel without any mixed emotions, it is my relationship with Amaiur. I love her so much, and I am going home with a sister.

Thanks for reading.

Berta

LAST BLOGPOST.

Today we share Amaiur’s final blog post as part of the Activities with Children in Foster Care Homes 4.0 project.

Hello, readers.

Honestly, I don’t quite know where to begin. Just realizing that this is the last blog I’ll write makes me feel a little emotional; it means my adventure is coming to an end. In just a few days, I’ll be back in my country, in my hometown, with my family and friends. And I truly look forward to it, because there are people I haven’t seen since last summer, and I can’t wait to hug them again.

But the emotional weight isn’t really in that return, it’s in what comes next. The goodbye. Saying farewell to this chapter of my life is what truly moves me. I still remember the first day, the first weeks, the first visits to the homes with the children as if it were yesterday. It’s incredible how vivid those memories still feel, even after all this time.

I have to admit, these past nine months haven’t been easy. I’ve had very tough moments: I’ve cried many times, felt frustrated countless others, and endured so much cold during the winter months. But at the same time, I’ve also had thousands of moments filled with laughter, smiles, and pride in myself for facing and overcoming my own challenges.

It’s hard to put into words everything I’m feeling right now. I know there’s still a knot of emotions inside me that I haven’t fully untangled yet.

If I’m honest, one of the hardest things will be not waking up and seeing my roommate Bertus. Not having breakfast together, not chatting endlessly, not reflecting on everything together 24/7… I don’t even know if I fully realize how much of a positive impact she has had on me.

I will also miss working so much with her and with Alexa. The dynamic we’ve built over these months has been incredible, we’ve laughed, supported each other, and overcome so many challenges together as a team. I’m sure I’ll never forget our inside jokes.

Not seeing the children and teenagers every week will also be really hard. They’ve been such an important part of our motivation, inspiring us to create meaningful, fun, and effective activities.

It’s clear that all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way are what made this experience so unique, so special, and truly unforgettable. The four of us who stayed until the end have also had to say goodbye to many others over the past months, and that hasn’t been easy either. If you’re reading this, I want to say something to you: I truly believe we’ll meet again someday. But knowing we won’t relive this exact experience together, I want you to know that you were an essential part of it. It wouldn’t have been the same without you. Thank you for sharing those months, for bringing light into difficult moments, even if you didn’t realize it.

I don’t know exactly what awaits me back home, but what I do know is that I’m returning with countless stories, memories, lessons, personal growth, and new professional skills. And that makes me feel empowered, truly lucky.

I think this is as far as I can go. My tears won’t let me keep writing or reflecting.

A very big goodbye to all of you.

AMAIUR.

ON-ARRIVAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Hello, everyone! Let us take you on a journey through our on-arrival training.

Lea:

During our first week of the ESC project, all the European volunteers in Romania participated in an online on-arrival training. It was a great opportunity to meet the other volunteers who are doing projects in different cities across Romania.

The first day of the training started with an introduction from the two trainers, Sorina and Florin. Both of them had been volunteers themselves many years ago. Today, Sorina works as a psychologist, while Florin works with Erasmus+ organisations.

Together, they formed a great team. Sorina often added a psychological perspective to different topics, which made the discussions even more interesting and meaningful.
Both trainers were very experienced in working with volunteers and had already organised many on-arrival trainings in the past. After introducing themselves, all the volunteers also had the chance to present themselves to the group. At first, speaking in front of the camera and so many new people felt a little challenging, but the welcoming atmosphere created by Sorina and Florin quickly helped everyone feel more relaxed.
Later, the trainers divided the large group of ESC volunteers into smaller breakout rooms with four people in each group. There, we talked about our motivations for volunteering and shared our expectations for the project. This activity was especially nice because talking to other volunteers with similar motivations made everyone feel more connected and less nervous.

Szidi:

The second day of our On-Arrival Training focused on learning more about Romania, especially topics such as stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, and cultural adaptation. Through different activities and discussions, we reflected on how easy it is to judge people or cultures based on assumptions instead of real experiences.

One of the most interesting parts was talking about stereotypes related to Romania and comparing them with stereotypes from other countries. It helped us understand how prejudices can influence the way we see others and why open-mindedness and communication are so important in an international environment like ESC.

We also had a fun and interactive quiz about Romania, where we learned more about the country’s history, culture, traditions, famous places, and national dishes. It was a great way to discover new facts while working together and sharing knowledge with the other volunteers.

We also learned about the cultural adaptation curve and the different emotional stages volunteers may experience while living abroad. From the excitement of the “honeymoon phase” to possible culture shock and eventually adaptation, it was reassuring to realize that these feelings are normal and shared by many people.

Overall, the day was both educational and personal. It encouraged us to reflect on our attitudes, become more aware of cultural differences, and prepare ourselves better for the experience ahead in Romania.

Medeia:

On our third day we talked about challenges that we can face during our ESC project. One of each was the topic “Conflict”. Do we need conflicts in our life? Based on the volunteers’ answers – YES.

A lot of us associate it with the argument, anger, fear, fight, but most of the time it’s about seeing another point of view, better understanding each other feeling. Conflicts also make us grow.
It was really useful for me to hear different perspectives from other volunteers. To see not only the passive aggressiveness and shouting in conflicts, but from the positive side. That really changed my view of misunderstandings and made me self-reflect on Why I thought about the conflicts in such a way.

With the right communication after the argument both parts feel more connected and understood, their relationships become stronger. They come to the compromise while staying calm and understandable.
In the ESC projects experience conflict should be seen as a “normal” part of the volunteer’s integration process into the living and working environment.

On our on-arrival training we discussed 3 types of conflicts: interpersonal (due to different personalities and needs), intercultural (cultural values) and contractual disputes ( due to violation of the rights and agreements). We got to know most common sources of conflicts such as routine work, lack of communication or not enough privacy in the shared accommodation.

We also often split into breakout rooms and were discussing our personal opinion about that topic, which I liked the most. Sharing my opinion about my point of view made me feel seen and connected to other volunteers, who also are living through the same experience.

I had a chance to know my conflict management style, which was shamelesly avoiding and accommodating 😅. But beside that I found a way on how to expand the range of possible options and also achieve win/win outcomes.

At the end of the day I had a lot of things to reflect about. Thanks to the 3rd day of on-arrival training I became more prepared and aware of how to deal with the conflicts in my ESC project.

Bella:

Thursday included a talk about setting ourselves smart goals. That part really interested me, because we learned a strategy to think about our goals in a new and maybe more efficient way. You do that through defining the specific thing you want to practice or improve, for example: Learn the basics of the Hungarian Language. To achieve it, there are a few things to consider. Think about these aspects: SMART (goal): S-specific, M-measurable, A-attainable, R-relevant and T-time-bound.
In the end, all of us had thought of something and got a bit of input from Sorina about how to specify our goals even more.

On the fifths day of the week, among some other things, we had a conversation about our mentors, who we unfortunately haven’t met yet, because our volunteering project, the Summer Camps, only start in June. A mentor is a local person who supports one volunteer throughout their project by giving them suggestions, inside information about the town and an outside perspective about the work in the project. Still, it was really interesting talking to other volunteers about their mentors, mostly connected to a positive experience and maybe even a friendship. I’m looking forward to meeting mine!

As a finish, we wrote a letter, or rather an email, to our future self. We could write about our experience with the volunteering so far, about our expectations and hopes, and maybe even direct some encouraging words to ourselves that we will read again when we are back in our home countries.

Overall, the five days of the On-Arrival Training were an unforgettable experience. Besides learning useful information about volunteering, communication, cultural differences, and life in Romania, we also had the chance to meet amazing people from different countries, share experiences, and create new friendships. The training helped us feel more prepared, confident, and motivated for our ESC journey, and it gave us many memories that we will carry with us throughout our volunteering experience.

And some behind the scenes😁:

By Medeia, Lea, Bella, Szidi, mic drop🎤

Thank You and See You Later <3

Well, it’s time. Time to say goodbye. After all, all good things need to have an end. But now that the end is coming, I feel like I’m not ready. I’m not ready to say goodbye to my life here. I lived so many amazing things in Romania. I met friends that will most probably stay in my life forever, and my whole experience will always stay with me. I guess that the sad part about ESC is that it has to end. But this is what makes it so Well, it’s time. Time to say goodbye. After all, all good things need to have an end. But now that the end is coming, I feel like I’m not ready. I’m not ready to say goodbye to my life here. I lived so many amazing things in Romania. I met friends that will most probably stay in my life forever, and my whole experience will always stay with me. I guess that the sad part about ESC is that it has to end. But this is what makes it so unique. 

So I want to say thank you.

Thank you to the Care2Travel staff that works so hard to make these projects possible and give this amazing opportunity to volunteers.

Thank you to the kids that always brought a smile to my face.

Thank you to Csikszereda, which welcomed me warmly and let me connect with all of these amazing people.

Thank you to Berta and Amaiur, who were always there to talk when I needed it.

Thank you to Alexa, who made me discover this city a bit more and with whom I had so many laughs.

Thank you to Mattea and Leonie, who never stopped laughing.

Thank you to Frida and Aimée for always being the backbone of the team and all the work they did here.

Thank you to Joel, with whom I had great adventures, and he taught me a lot about life here.

Thank you to Daniela, who did so much work for the team. We went through a lot together, and I will always remember that.

Thank you to Jasper; he was my roommate, and he became my brother. We had so much fun together, but we were also always there for each other when times were hard. 

So thank you to every single one for everything, for every smile I shared with you, for every laugh, and even for some tears.

I love you all, and I hope we will see each other again soon.

Take care

Yann ❤

The End of a Chapter I’ll Never Forget

Hi guys, it’s me again — Jasper, one last dramatic time.

So… what can I say? Am I ready to go? No. Do I want to leave this town and this time behind? Also no. Will I miss this time? Yes. Will I miss writing these blog posts? Definitely not. But am I happy that I was here? Hell yeah.

That’s what keeps me going through this goodbye — the end of a chapter I’ll never forget.

First of all, I want to say thank you to a few people.

To you guys, for reading my blog posts (and hopefully enjoying them). To the Care2Travel team, for making this absolutely unforgettable volunteering experience possible. To my legendary After School Club team — Yann, Joel, and Daniela — thank you for dealing with me these past months and for all the laughs, the talks, and the football or hockey matches we watched together. I genuinely couldn’t have wished for a better team.

A big thank you also to Joel’s mum, Franzi — I really appreciated all the lunches, all the food, and those little German conversations when you all still lived in the house.

Next, a huge thank you to all the schools and especially all the amazing kids I met. It was an honor to meet you and spend time with you.

I also want to thank the animals in the house — Lizzy, Margit, Nadia, Jenny, and my boy Sanyi. All the cats and dogs who gave me mental support whenever I needed it. Thank you for always being there.

And of course, thank you to the whole local community. I appreciate every friendship we created. It’s one of my biggest honors to know that I will always have friends here, no matter where I go. Köszönöm szépen!

Now, a special thank you to András, my mentor. Honestly, this never felt like a forced mentorship — it felt like a real friendship. All those moments, memories, meetings, teas at Parkhotel, bike rides, and little adventures… I hope neither of us will forget them. Thank you so much.

And now, to the people who made this time truly special — the volunteers. You guys became a new family for me. Thank you for accepting me for who I am, for showing me that I matter, and for being there for me. It’s crazy that I already have to leave. I will miss all of you so much. I’m incredibly grateful I got to meet you. Please stay exactly the way you are. Thank you all.

And finally… the one and only. My roomie. My boy. My little princess. Yann.

I can’t express how thankful I am that I met you. You’re like a brother to me, and I love you, man. Thank you for everything you did for me — even the things you didn’t realize you were doing. You helped me more than you know, and I’ll always be grateful. Thank you, bro.

So yeah… I guess this is it. Thank you to everyone who was part of this amazing journey and this beautiful experience. I want you all to know that I will never forget it.

See you soon. Stay healthy. Your Jasper.