Toruń is a small city, but it doesn’t lose any of its charm; it is a beautiful place. I arrived by train and reached the city center by bus in about 10 minutes. I planned to take another bus to the hotel, but since it was located right in the center, I decided to walk. The walk also took only 10 minutes. The hotel was nice, and the reception was very welcoming. I was the first to arrive, so I chose the bed I wanted.

While I was settling into my room, someone opened the door—it was Carlos! I knew him from the previous training in Warsaw. He is a Spanish volunteer, a very relaxed and funny person, and I was glad to have him as my roommate. It already felt familiar and comfortable. When we went downstairs to participate in the first session, I also saw Martha, who was the trainer. I was glad because I knew that the training would be lively thanks to her positive energy.

I really liked the group; there were also French speakers so I could practice my French every day. I made many new friends and realized how many similarities there are between our cultures, especially with Greece. We had nice Polish meals every day, visited almost all the museums in Toruń during a city game, and even went to a karaoke bar.

At the Ethnographic Museum, the ladies prepared workshops for us, and it was an amazing opportunity to experience the depth of Polish culture. Had I visited alone, I would not have noticed most of the details they explained and showed us.

I suggested that my friends take advantage of the hotel’s common space since it was a rainy day and we had to stay inside; so, we watched a nice movie together. When Friday came, it was sad to attend the last session, but I learned many things during this training and discovered aspects of myself that I was not aware of. Almost every aspect of this trip was positive, and I am grateful for that.

Article by Berat,

European Solidarity Corps volunteer.

Mid-term training by European Solidarity Corps volunteer from 19/04/2025.