I now know how to plan trains, book accommodations, and manage a budget…
The Discover EU project with LEVEL UP was a great adventure for me. Thanks to it, I was able to fulfil my dream of travelling, and at the same time, I acquired new skills – I learned how to work in a group, make collective decisions, resolve conflicts and reach a compromise. I also now know how to plan trains, book accommodation and manage a budget. During my trip, I also met many wonderful, kind and warm people who brought something special to our trip. The biggest surprise for me was the diversity of Europe – in just a few hours by train, you can find yourself in a completely different world. I was incredibly moved by places like the Sagrada Familia and the Notre Dame Cathedral, and I will equally remember discovering local flavours – from French snails to spicy dishes in Budapest. The biggest barrier was sometimes communicating in a foreign language, but thanks to mutual support, everything worked out. I am very grateful to LEVEL UP and the European Union for providing resources, care and support – both before, during and after the project. Finally, I would like to thank my chicas (Girls from the end of the world) for the time spent together, conversations, photo sessions, and support. I think we made a great group. Thank you for letting me share this experience with you. 😊 Travelling in a group is easier to organise and safer. We learn from each other and create this project together. I recommend this type of travelling because it allows you to develop many interpersonal and organisational skills. I stepped out of my comfort zone in a very comfortable way.
Ola, 18 lata, Europe Express, Discover EU
A very intense experience – both mentally and physically…
The project turned out to be a very intense experience for me – both mentally and physically. We visited so many countries in a short time, which was amazing on the one hand, but on the other, it made me feel like I couldn’t get to know even one place better. However, this mode of travel allowed me to quickly determine my feelings about individual countries, which will certainly be a guide when planning my future trips or even a possible move. The project taught me a lot, from organisational and communication issues, through coping with crises, to openness to people and culture. The girls from our team were a huge support for me – their presence and positive attitude gave me strength, especially in difficult moments. The biggest barrier for me was the energy, which was often lacking with such a tight travel schedule. I was also very surprised by the attitude of local people in different countries and the huge social differences that could be noticed. I particularly remember the sight of poverty in many cities – people sleeping on the sidewalks or setting up tents in the streets was completely normal there. It gave me a lot to think about and showed me how different life is in different parts of Europe. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in this project and for being able to see and experience so much in such a short time. It was a journey full of contrasts, challenges and new discoveries, which will certainly stay with me for a long time. I definitely recommend participating in international projects to everyone. The benefits that probably come to mind first are, of course, the opportunity to meet new people, culture, cuisine and customs. However, what was much more important to me was the opportunity to test my skills in difficult situations, to see if I could keep my cool in a crisis, and to build self-confidence in completely new environments – an experience that cannot be priced.
Laura, 18 years old, Europe Express, Discover EU
I learned many valuable life lessons from this trip…
Participating in this project was not my first intensive journey, but it was my first experience as a group leader. I learned many valuable life lessons from this trip. Above all, I learned to be patient and stay sober, even in stressful situations made even more difficult by fatigue. I believe that this trip, apart from sightseeing and getting to know new places, is above all a great lesson in maturity and independence. During the trip, we met many people who were very positive towards us and willing to help, for example, during a seat confusion on the train or during an unexpected visit to the doctor. I also have fond memories of our cultural discovery – both by participating in events in city squares and by trying local delicacies. I especially remember the Spanish paella, full of seafood, which I’m not usually fond of 🙂 The biggest barrier was the quickly running out of energy, with such intense travelling, each of us needed a moment to rest sometimes. It was also difficult to find the golden mean when making even simple decisions, especially at the beginning of the journey. We didn’t know each other before the trip, so we had to learn many things about ourselves “along the way.” The memory of this trip will certainly stay with me for a long time, and I am extremely grateful that I was able to do it with such positive people. I definitely recommend that all young people participate in such projects. This is not only a great opportunity to learn about other countries, people and their cultures, but above all, a great way to learn about ourselves.
Natalia, 21 lat, Europe Express, Discover EU
Europe has always seemed extraordinary and fascinating to me…
This project was a completely new experience for me. Europe has always seemed extraordinary and fascinating to me, but very distant. The Europe Express project changed that – I owe it to the opportunity to discover new, breathtaking places, develop my passion for travelling, and prove to myself that what seems impossible is possible. I was most stressed about the trip itself. Two weeks spent away from home with three strangers, not to mention the distance that separated me from home, filled me with anxiety as well as excitement. It was the first adventure of this kind in my life, but fortunately, I had no reason to worry. On the contrary, I will certainly remember it positively for the rest of my life. The strangers with whom I had the opportunity to participate in the project turned out to be great travel companions. I even managed to establish such a strong bond with some of them that even a month after the project was completed, we are still in good contact. The people we met along the way taught us many things – both bad and good. I have particularly fond memories of the elderly gentleman on the train next to whom I happened to sit during the journey from Verona to Vienna. Although at first I couldn’t imagine that I would have any common topics to talk about with this passenger, it turned out completely different. Mr January (that was his surname – like the month of my birth!), a retired geography teacher from a Middle Eastern country, told me about his travels around the world with his late spouse. It was his last trip to Europe when my first one was there, and together we shared our impressions of the cities we both visited, our dream destinations and many different memories, not necessarily related to travelling. I am grateful that I was able to experience all this. Thanks to the Europe Express program, I made friends that (I hope) will last for years, gained various experiences and learned stories that will stay in my memory forever. I definitely recommend taking part in this type of trip! It is not only an opportunity to see places that until now were only legends, but also to meet new people, discover different cultures and customs, and expand your own boundaries, leaving your comfort zone. International trips are not just about sightseeing; they are about experiencing a completely different world than the one we live in, which offers us a wealth of opportunities, such as increased sensitivity to reality and the people around us.
Wiktoria, 18, Europe Express, Discover EU
