Hvala lepa Slovenija... Adijo :) (Aurélie, France)

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​There it is. I’ve spent nearly three full seasons away from my home country -away from what I usually know and take for granted. Learning every day about life, relationships, living in a 'community', understanding how my body works and working with and caring for the soil and countless organisms (fauna: micro and macro; and fruits and vegetables). All in all, it has been an incredible journey.

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​Writing posts usually comes naturally to me, which explains why I’ve written two or three each month -I just love it 😋. Sharing, putting memories into words and capturing what we did so I can look back and relive those moments later brings me so much joy. ​I don’t keep a diary -I’m not great at sitting down and writing on paper about what has happened. But digitally? It’s so much easier. You start with notes, random thoughts and pictures, and the text just grows and grows until, before you know it, you’re adding the final point without realizing you’ve written way too much ​😇.
Yet, writing this closing chapter wasn't as simple as the others

Anyway, I should stop blabla-ing, that's not the topic here. 

​So yeah, it's been 9 months. Wow... I feel like I’ve grown so much during this time and learned so much about, well, everything. I feel like I can achieve almost anything now if I set goals and truly commit on them 🐾. Of course, challenges will always be there, but honestly, I’ve realized we often expect barriers to block or slow us down. Sometimes, though, it’s not as hard as we make it out to be -we’re just the ones overcomplicating it. At least, that’s how I am (was?) and spending time with some amazing people here made me see things differently. So, Thank You ​🫶🏼

I will definitely miss this view...

©Julia :3

​I can’t thank enough the people I spent these  months with (whether physically or online 💕). Each of them had something to share with me -whether it was good or bad- and it helped me realize that life is never a straight line. Unexpected or not, curves will appear and you learn from them. Everyone is different, with their own backgrounds and ways of dealing with things. Spending this time in another country also made me aware of the many cultural differences, which only reinforced how important it is to keep an open mind. In the end, it’s our unique cultures that allow us to learn so much from one another in countless ways. But once again, I’m rambling...

So a BIG thank you to the multiple persons I had the chance to spend time with: The Turinek Family (I wish you all the best, thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity to learn in an environment so different from what I know); The Gaube Family (Cvetka, Vili, Tamara, Aleksander, Nasko & Miloš: you made my living experience here unforgettable, the BBQs and night talks will always be missed), Evelyn (you’re such a strong woman and truly the best, wishing you all the happiness you deserve!), Ana (thank you for always being there, wishing you all the best -I already miss your mini donkeys!) and of course, the volunteers with whom I shared every good moments of this journey: 🫶🏼 Cristina, Julia, and Helenka 🫶🏼. Thank you from the bottom of my heart 🩵. It was magical... I don’t even know what to say. More Adventure, more Energy, more Power, right?! ✨​​

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It’s time to look forward to a new adventure and a new goal to define! I know that after volunteering on an organic farm for a while, it will be difficult and somewhat painful to let go of the good habits I’ve gotten used to 😶‍🌫️. Waking up in the morning to the sound of birds, having breakfast with Cristina & Helenka, feeling my body move throughout the day (sometimes painful, I’ll admit), eating mostly organic products (I’ll miss your apples so much, especially Natura 😞) and living a 'simple' life, away from the fast pace of the (big) cities. I’m not sure where I stand or what I want just yet, but one thing is certain: I’m not suited for the chaos of urban life... Which is why I feel like my 'organic farming adventure' isn’t finished yet! Maybe next year will bring a months-long trip to Ireland and the UK, who knows... ​🧭

Ok... I don't know how to close this post so I'll make it short *cough cough*:

​Adijo everyone! Now it’s time to start a new chapter...
...​and fill the blank pages with new adventures 🚀✨​

Thanks girls, wishing you nothing but the best!!