At the beginning of 2026, while my friends were applying for Master’s degrees, I decided to take a different path. Though I still wish to pursue my education, I knew that I was destined to experience more of the world before continuing my studies. That is how I ended up in Rzeszów, Poland, volunteering for INPRO under the European Solidarity Corps.
I will not pretend that it was an easy decision: leaving my family and friends, sharing an apartment with people I didn’t know, and getting accustomed to a whole new culture. I still remember the long day I had traveling to Poland, I felt a mix of emotions, on one hand I was thrilled to experience a new country and having something different to add to my CV, but on the other hand, I was upset about leaving my younger sister behind, especially since she was starting university soon and I wanted to support her.
But I can confidently say that all my fears disappeared as soon as I met the other volunteers. I first met Luca and Emma in Krakow, and the three of us embarked on a journey to Rzeszów. It was fantastic, as I wasn't going to arrive alone anymore and I got to know them a bit better. At the house I met the rest of the volunteers, Lucie, Vasia and Hannes, and it became clear that we were going to have an amazing time.
Now, after almost three months living here, I can say that I was right - there was nothing to be scared of. I currently share a room with Emma, and after getting to know her better there is one thing that I love telling her: “you are so French”. I can describe her as the funny one in the group, she has a sarcastic sense of humor that not everyone gets, she has the French mentality of loving to strike, and truly cares about the other volunteers (though she won’t admit it). We have fallen into a routine of doing school visits and talking about our countries, doing office work and hosting exchange programs.
It is an amazing opportunity for me, as I can experience up close what the EU has to offer, from volunteering opportunities to short-stay Erasmus exchanges, adding to my field of study of International Relations and Political Science.
We will be here until December and there is still so much more to learn. It can be hard sometimes, sharing a flat with 6 people, but because we all get along, we make the best of it. Sometimes work can be demanding, but we have each other's backs, and push each other to be the best version of ourselves.
I hope to leave with a sense of fulfilment, knowing that my time here wasn’t for nothing, but to make me grow as a person. I have met incredible people, and I cannot wait to see what the future will bring. I know I will carry these moments with me for a long time, from our first night out all together, to our first time preparing a workshop for young people.
Bibi