March has been a very busy month full of trips and trainings. On the first week, the third volunteer and my new flat mate Berra arrived.
Then, on the 3rd day of March we had a trial version of our workshops in the office where we had to execute it from beginning to end so that Monika, Mirka, Barbara, and Jarka could give us feedback. I had a lot of things to change by the end. Barbara was especially helpful because she checked everything with me step by step before I facilitated in front of people that did not know me.
After that, right on the first weekend we had the opportunity to attend a Leadership Training that Monika with Mirka organized. We all traveled there together with the train. The village where the training was taking place was very quiet and small but it had a beautiful river and one single bar, which we hanged out at on our last night. The training offered me a lot of useful information on
how to be a leader in the upcoming workcamps and I felt like all the workshops were well executed. In that training, I also got the opportunity to do my workshop for the first time and I was really happy and relieved since it turned out great and all the feedback was positive.
I was a bit hesitant in the beginning because the training was taking place in a monastery where we were also sleeping. I am not religious at all, more spiritual I would say, so it did not sit well with me seeing pictures of Jesus everywhere but the place grew on me since the place has a massive garden and a billiard room.
We got 1 and a half days off from being in the office next week and then guess what? Another training was on its way. Right on the next week on Wednesday we were very excited to attend the on-arrival training organized by the National Agency of Slovakia. It is a mandatory training for every ESC volunteer and we will attend again in the future. I had so much fun in this training with the other participants because they were around my age and I also learned a lot about the youth pass, the history of Slovakia and I got inspired by the work the other 20 volunteers are doing around Slovakia. We stayed in Terchova in such a nice hotel and the food was delicious. I felt spoiled after this but I knew to not expect the same from the upcoming workcamps.
Anyway, I think my favorite part was spending time with the volunteers and playing billiard together, hiking together and doing an open space activity where we had to present to the others something we liked. E.g. I did a meditation practice where we meditated with the people that wanted to participate. We played cards, sang karaoke and stayed for hours talking around the bonfire at night during our free time. I became closer to 4 volunteers from there and I plan to visit them in the future. I also want to mention that the 2 woman trainers responsible for everything were amazing and really accommodating to our needs. A 10/10 experience for 5 days.
Then we got 2 days off again for the third week. On that week there was the Tea Meeting about Ecuador and Turkey. A lot of preparations were underway on that day and about 35 people attended. Berra and Peto with Katka together with Madelyn did a great job presenting to us and the food Berra and Madelyn cooked was yummy. It took way longer than the original time but that is understandable since there were a lot of people talking.
What’s more, each of us individually had to do the evaluation this month with Barbara where we had to answer questions about how we feel at INEX so far and the dynamics with the team.
Somewhere along in this month, we also celebrated in the office Majka’s and Jarka’s birthday with cake and presents. I always like it when we do these kind of celebrations because we sit all together laughing and discussing.
I did not chill at all this month on the weekends. Me and Madelyn arranged to visit Prague with some of our friends form Bratislava on the third weekend. We booked everything very last minute, 2 days before the trip, but it was cheap so we thought why not. Prague was actually the city that I wanted to visit the most in 2026 and I have to say I was not disappointed. I am someone that likes to walk a lot on trips in order to see as many attractions as possible and so together with Madelyn and another friend we kind of ‘rushed’ to see everything on the first day. I loved the city and its energy and I would definitely want to visit again.
Coming back to the office on the last week, I felt kind of tired from all the trips but at the same time I could not get enough and was anticipating the next one already. Mirka who is responsible for the social media had 3 important meetings with us in order to explain everything because we need to boost our image online. Moving on, we had only 2 Slovak lessons on the last week and I must say that it is progressing very slowly since this month I did not have any time to study with all of the travelling we were doing and it is in general a difficult language.
To close off the month, we participated in our first workcamp on the last weekend. Yay! It was taking place in Slatinka, a small area with a few houses where we had to walk there for 30 minutes from Zvolen. We were supposed to help the locals clean the river but we also ended up helping
some animals to survive on the last day. That was my favorite work day. So the thing is that I am not used to living in a place where there are chemical toilets and bucket shower. I got used to it a little bit but I felt very grateful to be back and have the basic comforts again. I did feel fulfilled after helping during the work days and I also discovered my limits. I felt very at peace at this place but I was also longing to go back to the city life as well. 
After the workcamp, there was a salsa/ Bachata class in the Centre of Bratislava and I loved learning how to dance!! Me and Madelyn joined with some other friends and it was one of my favorite evenings.
To close off this month’s blog, I have to mention that Madelyn and I have been by each other’s side through everything we went through this month, both at work and our personal lives and I could not be more grateful that she is part of it. It would not be possible to go through the workcamp without her as well. I enjoy being around her and I want to share everything with her. We have a great balance with each other and I am very glad that Barbara chose her specifically for this project.
It was a crazy and busy month with all of those trips but I want to keep this up during April as well.
