so we’re actually doing this now.
Hey, I’m Theresa, 19 years old, and one of the new ESC volunteers at Argonauta. I can’t believe it’s already been a whole month since I left my hometown in Germany on the 23rd of September and arrived in Zadar, Croatia. Since this was my first time traveling alone, it was a completely different experience, and until the morning of the 24th, it felt like I had already stepped out of my comfort zone countless times. Ana and I will probably never forget our first meeting outside my hostel in Zadar. She later told me that she practiced shaking my hand instead of hugging because she thought Germans don’t usually hug when they first meet. As soon as we hugged each other (can you believe it?), we started our journey to Murter together.
Arriving in Murter, we were very fortunate to have one of the former volunteers, Juliette, in the apartment. She shared her experiences, inspiring thoughts, and all the places we would have probably taken much longer to find without her. The team at Argonauta immediately calmed my usual new-workplace anxiety and welcomed us warmly in the office. Even though Ana and I had known each other for barely 24 hours, we had to share a bed for the following weeks. Despite mildly traumatizing her with my German sleep-talking, we got along really well. We spent our time adjusting to the new workplace and discovering the beautiful island. I can’t count how many times we looked at each other, too stunned to believe that we were actually doing this now—spending a whole year in this paradise, abroad and away from our familiar environment. For me, it was a feeling of freedom and pride to actually follow through with my plan to do a volunteering year abroad after high school.
After more than a week in Murter, we packed our bags for our first Youth Exchange in Šibenik. Although it was a bit overwhelming to change our environment and routine again, it turned out to be an incredible experience. We met amazing young people from Spain, Greece, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Portugal, and we not only learned a lot about different cultures and music but also had a lot of fun together—except maybe for the times when we had to search for our lost room keys (sorry Lucija an der Stelle).
After returning to Murter, we had to say goodbye to our temporary roommate, Juliette. Watching her leave felt like getting a glimpse of our own future, which was both strange and enriching, reminding us of how precious our time here is. In the following weeks, we explored the island further, watched the sunset almost every day, helped pick olives—which felt like a Mediterranean dream come true—cuddled with Muki, and enjoyed movie nights together. Ana also discovered her immense love for different fish species (follow @_marine.life.adriatic_ on Instagram), and we took advantage of every warm day to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear sea.
Even though the island is becoming emptier and the days are getting shorter, I’m sure we will make the most of the upcoming winter months on Murter. Coming here was 100% the right decision, and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for me.
Theresa, volunteer from Germany
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.
