Memories in Pilsen and Prague

During the last weeks, I experienced something really special. First, my best friend came to visit me in Plzen for one week. I was very excited because I had not seen her for a long time, and I really wanted to show her my life here.

While she was here, we did many activities. One of the best days was when we went to Prague together. We walked around the city, visited the Old Town, crossed Charles Bridge, and enjoyed the beautiful views from the castle. She loved the city!

In Plzen, I showed her the places where I usually go. I took her to my favourite cafés, the park where I like to walk… We also visited the main square and the cathedral, and I explained to her how my daily life is here. I showed her my favourite supermarket, the places where I work, and the spots where I usually do sports. It felt very nice to share my routine with her and make her part of my experience here. For me, it was very meaningful because she could understand better how my life is in this new country.

After that week, I went to Prague again, but this time for a different reason. I spent four days there doing the mid-term training for the volunteering program. It was a very intense but enriching experience.

The best part was that we met again with the friends we had made during the on-arrival training in October. We shared our experiences, talked about the challenges we have faced, and laughed a lot remembering our first days in the program.

During those four days, we did many activities related to leadership, feelings, and our personal development. We also did exercises about emotions and how we feel in our projects. It was very helpful to express our feelings openly and to realise that many of us have similar doubts and struggles.

Another important part was working on a mini project. In groups, we had to create ideas that could improve our volunteering experience or help our local communities. It was interesting to work in a team with people from different countries and backgrounds. We learned how to cooperate, share responsibilities, and respect different opinions.

Overall, these weeks were full of emotions, learning, and beautiful moments. I feel very grateful for the visit of my best friend and for the opportunity to reconnect with my volunteering friends. It reminded me how much I am growing during this experience!