Exactly one year ago, I was standing at Lisbon airport — nervous, excited and overwhelmed by a million questions running through my head. I was saying goodbye to my family and stepping into the unknown. That “unknown” turned out to be Rzeszów — a city I knew very little about, except that it was somewhere in south-eastern Poland and that this was where my one-year European Solidarity Corps volunteering experience would begin.
When I left the airport and saw the nearly empty parking lot, I realised that a completely new chapter of my life had just started. A short bus ride later, I got off near Galeria Rzeszów and met Gaia — a Spanish-Mexican photographer who welcomed me with the first warm smile of that year. She took me to the apartment that would become my new “home” for the next twelve months.
I was the second long-term volunteer to arrive. That same day, Mariami from Georgia joined us — and at that time, I honestly knew very little about her country. But late-night conversations, shared meals and exchanging stories broke the distance faster than any official ice-breaker ever could. The next day, Erij and Mariem from Tunisia arrived, and the atmosphere in the apartment began to feel surprisingly natural — as if we had known each other much longer than just a few hours.
You might be wondering why I mentioned six volunteers but only named five. The last one — Adrian — was supposed to arrive three weeks later. And he did, walking into the apartment with a suitcase, a relaxed smile and the kind of energy that completed our group instantly. Soon after, we were already on a train to Kraków — our first trip together, first shared jokes, and first “Wait… pierogi with Oreo?” Yes, I tried them. And yes, that was a mistake. Stick to the classics.
As the months passed, our rhythm of life formed around our work at INPRO. Workshops, school visits, events for the local community, VET groups, seminars, trainings — there was always something happening. But each activity carried the feeling that we were doing something real and meaningful. Along the way, short-term volunteers joined us too, bringing new energy, new stories and new accents into the apartment.
Encouraged by INPRO, we started attending Polish language classes. I can honestly say that Polish is still not easy — but it taught me humility, patience and the beauty of trying. Some of the best moments happened when I struggled to say something and people responded with laughter, kindness and understanding. And unexpectedly, I also met other Portuguese people there — and hearing your own language after weeks of missing it? Priceless.
Toward the end of the year, we revived “Monday Stories,” a series of events where participants presented their countries — the beauty, the struggles, the small details you won’t find in guidebooks. Organising each event was a challenge, but also a life lesson: logistics, communication, improvisation. Eventually, we handed it over to the next group of volunteers, confident they would continue it in their own way.
“Open Cafe” became another weekly highlight. Every Wednesday, Urban Lab filled with a mix of languages and cultures. It was a space where relationships formed — relationships that lasted beyond a single meeting. That’s also where I realised how strong and welcoming the local community truly is.
There were spontaneous moments too — like a barbecue at a teacher’s house or reunions with former volunteers who had decided to stay in Rzeszów longer. At some point, I understood that this was what community really means. Not the one written in project documents, but the real, living, human one.
It’s impossible to describe everything I learned during this year. It’s nothing like a lesson in a classroom. You learn it differently — by living among people, by challenging your own limits, by discovering cultures you previously only knew from the internet. The year passed quickly, but it left something lasting: friendships, experiences and stories I carry back home.
And most importantly, the conviction that — as INPRO often says — openness to others truly helps us build a wiser community.
Written by Kiko, European Solidarity Corps volunteer at INPR