Between Butterflies and Culture Shock: Ketija Discovers the Charm of Italy Through Her ESC Project

Warm greetings from Italy, from our volunteer Ketija! 🦋

Ketija is currently participating in a long-term European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering project, where she spends her daily life in a rather unusual environment – a butterfly house, taking care of reptiles!

After her first few months in the project, in collaboration with the organization Xena centro scambi e dinamiche interculturali, Ketija shares her experiences and feelings: “When I decided to join ESC, I was driven by the desire to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and do something meaningful outside my own country. I’ve always been fascinated by different cultures, and the opportunity to live and work abroad seemed like a great way to grow both personally and professionally.

I chose this particular project in Padua because it combines three things I love – working with people, animals, and experiencing culture. When I read the description, I was immediately drawn to the chance to work with animals while also learning the Italian language and getting to know the culture. Upon arriving in Italy, my first impression was… warm. And not just weather-wise! People were open, smiling, and helpful, which really helped me overcome my initial confusion. Of course, the language barrier was a small challenge during the first days, since most people here don’t speak English – or only know a few words – but that just motivated me to learn faster.

Culture shock? A little – for example, Italians have a much more relaxed relationship with time than I’m used to. But at the same time, it teaches you to be more flexible and to live at a slower pace. My typical day starts with coffee (how else in Italy!), then work with other volunteers and animal care. Evenings are free – a time for rest or walks around the city. Quite often, we attend various events with other volunteers. Funny and unexpected moments happen almost every week – whether it’s a misunderstanding due to language or trying to decipher the Italian language of gestures, which I’m still learning! My favorite moment of the day is evening walks through the historic center of Padua – the city feels especially lively and magical then.

I can say that I’m slowly starting to feel at home here. I’ve met amazing people, gotten used to a new routine, and become more confident – both in the language and in expressing myself. Life in Italy surprises me every day – in the best way!”