Life as a Volunteer in Croatia: My First Impressions - Adam Linander

Hello! / Hej! / Bok! It has been one and a half weeks since I arrived in Vrginmost, an idyllic little village in the heart of Croatia's countryside. However, in this short amount of time, I have experienced so much that it feels like I have been here for far longer. When I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by two other volunteers, an Italian girl and a French guy, who had already been there for two weeks. I was a bit nervous at first since I did not know what to expect, but they made me feel at home, and we hit it off straight away. I arrived in the late afternoon, and the morning after, we went to work with the kids at the local kindergarten. It was a wonderful experience, and the kids are so sweet and energetic. Other work-related activities include gardening in our eco-garden located on the property, fundraising activities, and organizing games at the local retirement home. The work has been fun and rewarding, and I have never felt stressed or overwhelmed. More volunteers are arriving every few days, and we have just welcomed three more, bringing the total to eight kind, open, and social people I can now call friends. We have shared many laughs and beautiful moments, and I am looking forward to many more. Together, we have gone swimming in the lake just five minutes from the house, played volleyball and football with the local youth, and organized a delicious BBQ where everyone came together and helped out. We have also been following the FIFA World Cup in the local pubs. With so many nationalities in the house, there is always a team you can cheer for, with Croatia, of course, being the common link for everyone. I cannot wait to see what the coming weeks have in store. Until then, thank you for reading, and I hope to share more stories and experiences soon. Best regards, Adam L.