Welcome summer vibes!.
June began while I was in France. I had returned urgently for family reasons, and this stay did me a world of good. I needed to be with my loved ones to share our emotions and enjoy being together. I took the opportunity to stay with my sister and be close to her adorable little baby to recharge. There’s nothing like a cute little princess to fill you with love.
Back in Murter, island life resumed its course. Summer had already been here for a while. The agenda included swimming, reading on the beach, running at sunset, drinks on the terrace in good company, dancing at the top of Raduč, and nighttime swims during my free time, all while I was working on the education manual for the eco-Wednesdays this winter at Argonauta.
In mid-June, Romi and I went to Zadar for a few days for the mid-term evaluation training. It was nice to change our air and meet other volunteers. We were surrounded by really cool people, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. One memorable evening stays in my mind, we went out in downtown Zadar despite the rain forecast for a few hours later. We ended up with four of us under one umbrella, trying to coordinate our steps; Romi and I got soaked by a surprising wave caused by a careless driver; we took shelter under a large tree before ending up in an apartment building hallway to play charades of movie titles while waiting for the rain to pass. We laughed a lot; these are good memories.
Romi stayed in Zadar to fly to Spain the next day. I returned to Murter alone for ten days. I enjoyed my time alone, doing my activities quietly, and taking advantage of the sun, friends, and books. Murter is now fully packed with tourists, and all the shops, restaurants, bars, creperies, and ice cream parlors are open. It’s nice to be surrounded by so much life and to soak up this summer holiday atmosphere. It makes me want to eat crepes and ice cream every day. Romi and I love walking through the campsite between Slanica and Podvrške; it’s our little ritual. Watching the campers, vans, tents, their setups… Smelling the barbecues, the wafts of sunscreen… Watching camping life evolve with board games, aperitifs facing the sunset, hammocks… People are smiling on vacation, and their good mood is contagious!
When Romi returned, we crossed paths for one evening to debrief about our week, and the next day, I left for 10 days in France. The journey was an endless ordeal, but I finally arrived safely to enjoy the summer festivities at home! Music festivals, parties until early morning, cinema, long discussions and debates, restaurants, and drinks on terraces… I had a great time surrounded by my family and friends, whose invaluable worth I realize a little more each time. The emotions were high during this stay in France because the political situation is very tense with the extreme right on the brink of power. But love, solidarity, and the fight give hope. “Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights!”
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.
