Poland as a country has always caught my interest. After applying and waiting for my volunteering to start, I felt curious and anxious at the same time. I had never been to Poland before, and when I first came here, I stayed.

How do I feel? I think it is hard to find a short answer for such an experience. These three months were not just my first time living abroad but also my first time living alone. From living in my childhood home and still feeling like a teenager, I grew up within three months.

In the office, I became more independent day by day. At the beginning, we were a bit aimless and needed to ask for tasks. Maria and I gradually became more and more of a well-coordinated team and started taking initiatives, like finding our own ideas for blog articles or improving the newsletter. Even though I struggled a lot at the beginning, teaching German made me feel useful.

I also started to understand Polish culture and life, such as the language, which is still a struggle for me to learn. But I learned how to handle those difficulties.

I got used to taking care of myself and being responsible. Looking back at the time when I didn’t know anyone, and comparing it to now—having built friendships and a daily routine—everything feels different.

Article by  Paula,

European Solidarity Corps volunteer

Point of view of European Solidarity Corps volunteers from 22/12/2025