When I decided to come and do this volunteering experience, I was very excited, but it wasn’t just excitement. There was also a lot of fear: fear of what might happen back home while I was away, fear of not fitting in with the other volunteers or at work, fear of feeling alone in a completely new country. It was a constant mix of wanting to live something meaningful and not knowing if I would be able to handle it.
But when I arrived, everything changed.
I was lucky enough to share this experience with my lifelong friend, which made all thosefears much easier to deal with.

In the first few days, I found myself surrounded by people from different countries, each withtheir own story, culture, and way of seeing the world. My fellow volunteers quickly became an essential part of this experience. We shared so many beautiful moments together, many of them thanks to our coordinators, who were always there behind everything, taking care of us and guiding us every step of the way. They made everything feel much easier than I had imagined.

I especially remember those first days in our apartment, talking about our traditions, celebrations, food, and families; each of us bringing a piece of our own country. We spent hours on the balcony, losing track of time, laughing, sharing, and slowly building something that, without realizing it, was already starting to feel like home. And even though at the beginning we worried about whether our English was good enough, now I can say that it was, and that the improvement has been huge, something I’m really proud of.
Living in another country has been, without a doubt, a gift. In my case, Poland was full of surprises: I got to experience the end of summer, a beautiful autumn, and most of all, winter. That winter I was so afraid of as a Spanish girl… and that I ended up falling in love with. Walking outside and seeing everything covered in snow, feeling the cold on my face, and still enjoying it like a child it’s something I will never forget.
I also had the chance to travel to places like Zakopane and Toruń, and although Kraków will always be my favorite place, this country is full of incredible cities. On top of that, I took advantage of how close everything is to explore more of the world, traveling to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria. This made me realize how much I love traveling, even though it can be physically and financially demanding, and how much I want to keep doing it when I go back, because before this experience, I wasn’t used to it.

As for the work, starting at the kindergarten was much more special than I expected. From the very first moment, they made me feel like I truly belonged. They welcomed me with so much kindness that all my fears slowly disappeared.
Time would fly by, which is always a sign that you feel good. I was happy, enjoying every moment with the children, no matter what we were doing. Seeing how little by little they grow attached to you, how they look for you, how they trust you… it’s something truly special. It has been a job full of love, surrounded by wonderful people I will never forget. Saying goodbye was harder than I expected, but also beautiful, because I could feel that everything we shared was mutual.
Beyond the work, this experience has given me something just as important: the people I take with me. I’ve met incredible people, both from Spain and from all around the world, during trainings, everyday life, and spontaneous moments. People who went from being strangers to becoming friends I know I’ll carry with me forever, even from a distance. Even my mentor, who started as a guide, ended up becoming a true friend.
I truly hope we can all take care of these connections, even from afar, so we never forget everything we’ve lived together.

And if there’s one thing I really take with me, it’s my personal growth. I’ve grown in ways I never expected. I’ve done things on my own that I never thought I would be capable of, especially in another country. I’ve learned how to be with myself, to listen to myself, to not run away from my own thoughts. I’ve learned to face my fears, trust myself, and recognize my own worth.
Because yes, there were hard days. But now I’m grateful for those days too, because they are the reason for this growth. As I always say, the bad days are necessary to truly appreciate the good ones.
For me, this volunteering experience has been much more than just time abroad. It has been a turning point. It has taught me to see life differently, to value time, to make the most of every moment, and to not take the people I love for granted, even when they are far away.
But above all, it has taught me to value myself and to believe in my ability to achieve my dreams, even when fear is still there.

I had never been so far from home, and at the same time, so close to myself.
Thank you, Kraków and thank you to everyone who made this journey possible. I take with me memories, lessons, and a version of myself I never want to forget.

Article by Maria P.,
European Solidarity Corps volunteer.
Goodbye article by European Solidarity Corps volunteer from 04/06/2026