After coming back from Barcelona, it was already time for St. Nicholas Day celebrations. INEX organised a bunch of different creative activities for children. There was everything from candle making, to découpage, angel making, painting and drawing, but the highlight of the day happened when St Nicholas appeared accompanied by a devil and an angel, and the kids got a load of candy. The snacks on this activity were beyond believe, especially the “grilážky”.
That same day Foix arrived in Vienna, where we spend the night and the next day. There were many crowded markets and nice aroma of trdelník blended with the repressively strong smell punč to create a Christmas scent that was complete with the cold. Back in Slovakia we took a trip to the High Tatras where we went to Štrbské Pleso and to Popradské Pleso. The snowy and icy trails led to some slips and slides, but it was worth it as we both saw a frozen lake for the first time.
And the next week, it was time for my second favourite activity ever just behind cooking: being sick at home. I missed a couple activities at INEX like the Christmas partner at INTEGRA, but I was still able to join Barbi in helping Sarah with her workshop at ZŠ Vazovova, where I even got to give an autograph session. Meanwhile, in the office I could finally see through the Youthpass writing process – that had started back in September – and join our INEX Christmas postcard photoshoot!
As usual, I’m procrastinating. I haven’t started packing and it’s only two days to my trip back home. I guess I still haven’t realised that I’m leaving Slovakia in less than 48 hours. The truth is, I had, without a doubt, the most amazing year of my life. Everyone taught me about Slovakia and its people as much as possible, the volunteers in the workcamps taught me about themselves and their countries. During the project, my mentor Peťo, the training team (Peťo, Katka, Romi, and Zuzka), and everyone in the office, Braňo, Majka, Jarka, Mirka and Monika, but especially my coordinator Barbi, taught me a lot about practical life in Slovakia, hard and soft skills, and probably unbeknownst to them about myself.
I’m grateful to everyone that I met along the way here in Slovakia, and it really was a lot of amazing people to be grateful to, for being part of my special 2025.
