Hello everyone!
Today I’ll share my experience of our mid-term training that we had at the end of June.
For me, the hiking edition of our midterm training was an excellent combination of physical activity and reflection. I really enjoyed being part of a smaller group and staying in cozy hostels on our way to the Slovenian seaside.
We started our journey approximately 40 kilometers from Ankaran. We spent our first two nights in one location, hiking the surrounding areas and beginning the reflection process on our ESC experiences under the guidance of our mentors.
On Monday our main activity was workshop with wild horses and it set a great tone for the rest of the week. For me personally, it encouraged deep introspection about the last ten months of my life. The grounding vibe of the meditation and the presence of the horses helped me disconnect from daily distractions and focus entirely on the present moment.
On Tuesday, we hiked around the hostel and participated in group activities along the route. A particularly impactful moment was receiving the letters we had written to ourselves eight months ago. Most of us had completely forgotten about them, so it was fascinating to see how our perspectives had changed since the start of our volunteering. That evening, we cooked dinner together with our mentors and rested ahead of the more demanding hike scheduled for the next day.
On Wednesday morning, we packed up and left early with all of our belongings—making the advice to “travel light” highly relevant. On our way to the next destination, we visited Park Istra. Since this project hosts short-term volunteers for up to two months, it was interesting to learn about a different model of volunteering and share experiences with them.
After recharging at our next accommodation, we started early the following morning to beat the heat. This was the most challenging part of the hike, but the reward was reaching the Slovenian coast. We spent the evening on the beach, completing the final informal segment of our midterm.
The next day, we held our final evaluation and said our goodbyes. Having reached the sea, I decided to extend my trip over the weekend to walk the entirety of the Slovenian coastline.
Ondřej
