Hello everybody! ❤️

My name is Aziz, from Georgia and 19 years old. Currently, I am volunteering in Bulgaria for the organization Active Bulgarian Society. I am long term volunteer and will be here for 7 months. I would like to share with you my experience that I am having here now.

(This is me)

(Yeah! This is me)

I remember the day it all started. I received mail from the European Solidarity Corps about ESC program in Bulgaria and I just applied. Then they approved my request and wanted to interview me. I remember I was so unlucky this day because at the time of the interview the electricity went out in our house. After 4 hours finally, we did the interview. I was so excited because it was my first interview in ESC programs. After some days they texted me for the second part of the interview and during this interview, they told me that I am selected one and I will go to Bulgaria to join them. I can not explain how happy I was.

Then I started collecting all the necessary documents for my visa. As soon as my visa was ready, I bought my ticket, packed my bags and left. First I flew to Istanbul from Tbilisi. I had some time there and I just walked around Istanbul. It is a really beautiful city. Then I got my bus ticket, but it was the wrong one. I accidentally bought a ticket to Plovdiv, not to Blagoevgrad! So I had to spend a day in Plovdiv and I tried to enjoy it, but one day wasn’t enough to see the beauty of that city, so I had to go again.

Old Plovdiv, Love It!!

(Old Plovdiv, love it!!!)

After all, finally, I arrived in Blagoevgrad. I met the team and felt in love with them. Literally, everyone was cool and from all around the world, from Portugal, France, Denmark, Macedonia, Bulgaria but I felt connected and part of the group very easily.

(First event in Blago)

I slept about 15 hours on the first day in Blago because my journey was very long and tiring. But the second day was incredible. I met Natalia, Ange and Jovana. I will never forget this energetic day. And then, of course, other volunteers Mathias, Sofie and Marta. And then a new volunteer joined us, Veronica, from Ukraine. She is also so cool like all of us.

(Ange, Natalia <3))

(Jovana <3))

(Others <3)

I got acquainted with the office on Monday and started working. I have been enjoying my job here since the first day I volunteered.

(Time To Move Event)

Here we work, study and have fun together with other volunteers. We have various events, activities, such as game days, dance days, music days, etc. I and other volunteers organize different activities to entertain. We enjoy what we do in the true sense of the word. It's great to be able to communicate with people, to entertain them, have good networking. We also have 2 extra days (Saturday and Sunday) to travel in the country and learn more by going wherever we want.

(On the way to The Cross)

I encourage young people who have not yet tried ESC programs and try to apply for such opportunities. In the early days of my volunteering life, I was very excited, but later when I came here I forgot everything and began to enjoy every moment of my volunteer life. Bye-bye and see you soon (next month for sure!). ❤

This article is created by Aziz Ganiev as part of his personal project. He is a participant of the "ESC: European Skills and Competences" project, co-funded by the Bulgarian National Agency of Erasmus+ Program Human Resource Development Center.

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