The Start of Something new
- 31. 10. 2025.
- 09:34
Hello Argonautas!!! First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Ona, I’m 23 years old, and I come from a beautiful town near Barcelona, Spain.
A year ago, I was stuck, heartbroken, insecure, and trapped in a monotonous life that didn’t allow me to grow. In December 2024, I decided to take a leap and follow a dream I had postponed for years: volunteering abroad. By July 2025, I had been accepted into Argonauta’s volunteer program on the idyllic Croatian island of Murter, and my life was about to change completely .
From the very first day, I was welcomed with open arms. Meeting Naelys, my housemate, was an instant relief; after months of chatting on WhatsApp, she became my safe place and a true companion. Adapting to island life was easier than I expected. I usually cry easily, but since arriving, I hadn’t shed a single tear, because deep down I knew I was in the right place at the right time.
One of the highlights early on was a dolphin-watching workshop. Sailing through the Adriatic islands near Murter, we saw dolphins in their natural habitat, one of my lifelong dreams realized just a week after arriving. The feeling of gratitude and wonder I experienced that morning is something I will never forget.
Soon after, Naelys and I joined the Green Motion Youth Exchange in Šibenik, just 30 kilometers away. In just ten days, strangers became like family: Jorge, Miro, Emirhan, Afra, Leticia, Marta, Alonso… We shared workshops, beach trips, dancing, sports, and late-night talks that made it feel like we had known each other forever. The greatest gift of this exchange wasn’t the activities or the places, but the people. People who left lasting marks on my heart. . And with Naelys, she became my safe place. I think without her, I wouldn’t have been able to get through this experience. We began to truly get to know each other and understand what the other needed. Green Motion was what brought us together.
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Life wasn’t without challenges. I had been feeling unwell for several days, and during our trip to Split to explore Croatia, my illness worsened. I was diagnosed with bronchitis and had to visit the hospital. Even with this setback, the trip became an adventure filled with laughter, new friends, and memorable experiences that I will always cherish. Like the focaccia. Oh God, that focaccia was everything. ;)
Returning to our island routine was like a breath of fresh air. Mornings were filled with work, and afternoons were slow, perfect for reading, studying, or taking walks whenever we wanted. Naelys and I celebrated our first month on the island with some imperfect supermarket croissants, promising ourselves to improve them with time. At the end of October, the sun began setting earlier, and evenings became peaceful moments to reflect on everything we had experienced.
This month felt like both a lifetime and a blink of an eye. We had experienced so much in such a short time that it was almost hard to process reality. But I wouldn’t change any of it. Coming to Croatia has been the best decision of my life. I am excited to see what the future holds, knowing that every challenge, every friendship, and every moment has prepared me for the adventures yet to come.
*The European Solidarity Corps (ESS) is a program of the European Union to strengthen solidarity in various areas: from helping disadvantaged people and providing humanitarian aid to engagement for health and the environment in the EU and beyond.
The program offers young people the opportunity to respond to the needs of the community, make a concrete contribution to society, and in the process gain invaluable experience and develop new skills. The program is also intended for organizations active in the field of solidarity that want to involve young people in their activities.
