Take the plunge.
I arrived on this island on Friday November 10. I chose not to take the plane to join Murter, I came with the aim of contributing more deeply to the protection of the environment, and I think that starts by questioning our own habits. So, after two days of traveling by train and bus, with numb legs, I set foot on Croatian soil for the first time. Two days of travel weren’t too much. I was a little afraid of the pain in my legs and buttocks, the boredom or the tears realizing I was leaving. With surprise, it offered me a nice transition. Sitting comfortably, headphones screwed into my ears, I had time to think about my choice for this crazy adventure. I was overcome by different emotions, I felt strong and proud to have taken the plunge, it’s the biggest thing to do. When we’re on the road, it’s already started, we’re there. These two days allowed me to curl up in a little bubble outside of time, a time of introspection to fully open up myself to the new life that was coming.
The landscapes passed through the window, eastern France, the German countryside, a little piece of Austria, the discovery of the Slovenian landscapes, then finally Croatia. I was dazzled by the show. The dark earth of the mountains that pass by, with the clear water that suddenly appears, with the sea and the lakes… The beauty of nature was powerful. Dizzying. I felt like I was in the right place.
Crossing the Murter bridge, this sensation was increased tenfold. My breath was taken away. It was as I had imagined. A small island where nature reigns supreme. I was surrounded by such pure blue water. We drove on these hilly roads among the olive trees. The hills in the distance. Surrounded by mountainous and green islands. A big breath of fresh air.
The meeting with the one who would become my teammate, Romina, was joyful. She welcomed me gently, aware of the emotion that might be going through me at that moment. She gave me a feminist book, I was really touched. I already knew we were going to get along well (and I wasn’t wrong). The house seemed welcoming to me, I felt good there. After a few arrangements we went out to Murter, I loved the feeling of discovering a village full of charm, unknown at that moment but which would become within a few months, for sure, a known and familiar land. I was under the spell.
Meeting the Argonauta team only reinforced this pleasant feeling. A team of warm, open, strong and determined women. The first moments were an opportunity to play games to get to know each other. I was surprised to see that we gave ourselves up deeply, we accept ourselves as we were, in kindness and sisterhood. I felt welcome and comfortable there.
The first week went by very quickly. I was feeling my way, getting my bearings. I was slowly discovering the NGO’s scope of action. We planted trees with the children, visited Tisno and its historic villas, and I immersed myself in the archaeological world of Ivinj. I knew I was going to learn a lot.
From the second week, Romina and I left for 6 days to Orahovica in the mountains in the north of the country for an On Arrival week with 16 other volunteers. It was about meeting other young people from all over Europe in Croatia and discovering in more depth the framework provided by the ESC. This week was very intense, full of emotions. The meetings were memorable, diverse and very powerful. This is the game of travel, when we are far from home, we become more attached to those who surround us and touch us. We made great friendships in just 6 days. We left with a lot of information in mind, everything was clearer, the support was great, and we were full of projects with the other volunteers that we will see again the following weekend in Zagreb at the flea market. A great moment.
The return to calm in Murter was a little strange after a week in a group laughing, dancing, walking, swimming…, but the peaceful atmosphere of this island is captivating. It feels like we’re on a break in a little corner of paradise. This encourages introspection and refocusing on oneself. Summer may be totally different, so we take advantage of the calming silence. Christmas workshops have started in Jedro. The children are cute and happy. We hope to soon be able to communicate with them in Croatian, to share more with them.
Since we came back from Orahovica, I have been walking every day. I’m discovering the island. I welcome with joy what it has to offer me to help me evolve. I’m sure it’s full of surprises. Like this beautiful welcome ceremony that the girls reserved for us to thank us for being here, one sunny morning in a wood facing the sea. Magical. Today, I’m going to visit Zadar, I can’t wait to discover even new Croatian horizons.
As you can see, this first month has already been very rich, I am happy to have made this choice, everything here tells me that it was the right one.
Juliette, volunteer from France
About the ESC : The European Solidarity Corps is a program of the European Union to strengthen solidarity in various areas: from helping the disadvantaged 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.
