My experience in Mrachenik
It has been almost a month since I left Mrachenik and it still feels strange to think about those
three months spent in a remote and rural village.
When I arrived, I knew I wanted to take a break from my usual life, spend some time away from
the city and try something different. I think Mrachenik gave me exactly that.
One of the things that impressed me the most was the simple way of living. For three months, I
spent most of my time outside, working, eating, walking and spending time with other
volunteers. Life was quite simple and sometimes also a little uncomfortable, but I slowly got
used to it. Living in this way made me appreciate small things that I usually don’t notice in
everyday life.
The nature around the village was a big part of the experience. I really enjoyed walking around
Mrachenik and discovering the area. We collected wild herbs and mushrooms, spent time in the
forest and learned more about the plants and nature around us. One of the activities I
particularly remember was making rose syrup. It was a simple thing, but it was also a nice way
to discover something connected to the local environment and traditions.
Another important part of the project was helping the people living in the village. We worked on
different tasks, cleaned public spaces and roads, helped with the community centre and
supported the foundation whenever needed. Sometimes the work was tiring or repetitive, but
seeing the results and knowing that we were doing something useful for the village made it
meaningful.
Outside the working days, I also enjoyed exploring Bulgaria. During the weekends, we
sometime organised trips outside the village, discovering different places and spending time
together. These trips gave us the opportunity to see a different side of the country and, at the
same time, create memories outside the project.
During the last three weeks, I also had the opportunity to be responsible for the kitchen.
Cooking for a group of 30 people was enjoyed because cooking is already familiar to me. It also
gave me the opportunity to take more responsibility and work together with the other volunteers
in a multicultural context.
Of course, the experience was not perfect every day. There were tiring moments, repetitive
tasks, difficult days and moments when I simply wanted to rest. But I think these moments were
also part of the experience. Living and working together for three months teaches you how to
adapt, communicate, be patient and find your own space while being part of a group.
I came to Mrachenik looking for something different from my normal routine, and I found a very
simple way of living that allowed me to slow down and pay more attention to what was around
me.
If you have the opportunity to take part in a project like this, I really recommend trying it. You
don’t need to know exactly what you are looking for before leaving. Sometimes you just need to
step away from your usual life, live something different for a while, and see what you discover
along the way.
Ciao!
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This program is co-funded by the European Solidarity Corps program of the European Union.
Финансирано от Европейския съюз. Изразените възгледи и мнения обаче принадлежат изцяло на техния(ите) автор(и) и не отразяват непременно възгледите и мненията на Европейския съюз или на Европейската изпълнителна агенция за образование и култура (EACEA). За тях не носи отговорност нито Европейският съюз, нито EACEA.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
