Hi everyone! I am Olya. I have been living in Idrija for almost three months already, so definitely I do have something to share about my staying here! I am volunteering at the organization called ZPM Idrija and the duration of my project is 4 months in total. At first, I did not know what to expect from this country as it is not that popular among Ukrainians, especially this small town like Idrija. However, it definitely turned out to be much better than I could imagine!

I can´t say that for me it was extremely difficult to adapt and get used to this place since I have spent most of my life in my home town, Berdychiv, which is also not big in size. However, what I like about such places the most is that everything is accessible with a walking distance and there is no hustle and bustle most of densely populated places have. This is my first time of being abroad for so long, and, at first, I thought it would be nice to spend my first 4 months away from home in a town, which bears some similarities to my home in Ukraine. This is the primary reason why I chose exactly this place among others, and it seemed to be a perfect option.

Also, I chose to do an ESC project because this is a perfect way to expand my horizons and learn something new. I reckon it can definitely be a life-changing experience. Always when you visit a foreign country, especially for a long term, and become a part of it, you start see things differently. It broadens your mind since it is something different from your home country, people may have different views on life, for example, and you can learn from it. This experience is extremely valuable not only in terms of future career opportunities, but also for self-development, which helps you become a better version of yourself every day.

 However, what differentiates Idrija from Berdychiv is closeness to nature. My home town looks more like an industrial place while Idrija has lots to offer from an aesthetic point of view. I like that it is surrounded by hills and everything is green, which gives me a feeling of peace and coziness. Also, Wild Lake and Bela are the places I particularly enjoyed.

In addition, it also seems to be a place where people are happy to live and don’t rush things all the time. In Ukraine, for example, people often live like a hamster in a wheel most of the times, and therefore they simply forget to enjoy the joys of life. What I like as well is that people here are very friendly and always ready to help. In most cases, they show a willingness to help even more than you ask for! And this is what makes this place even more amazing.

I can say for sure that I am happy to be here and definitely will miss it when I am back home!