In the last week of August, I participated in the E+COOKBOOK= Equality exchange. The theme of the project was dietary restrictions.
I’m allergic myself, so this problem isn’t foreign to me – it was actually the reason why I decided to apply. I had some doubts before leaving, but the project exceeded all my expectations.
I learned a lot about different diets, restrictions, and dietary substitutions, and I am sure I will use this knowledge over the next few years.
I’ve definitely improved my teamwork and conflict resolution skills. Sometimes it wasn’t easy – when strong characters clashed with stubbornness, it was hard to come to any sort of agreement. Especially on the last day while cooking dishes from our cookbook. Everyone had their own ideas about execution and organization in the kitchen, but in the end, it all ended up successfully.
My English skills went up a level, and I began to communicate in that language more easily. I understand more and speak more fluently, I got used to English and to different accents.
I’m very happy that as many as six countries participated in the project, since the exchange was even more interesting because of this diversity. I learned about many new customs and dances from the participating countries. It was also interesting to compare each other’s beliefs, which depended on one’s place of birth.
I really took away and learned a lot from the whole exchange, but probably the best and most important part was the people I met there.
I think that the whole international group got along really well. I met wonderful, unique people with whom I still keep in touch, and I hope it will stay that way for years to come. Participating in activities with them was nothing but delightful. Throughout the whole exchange, we tried to spend as much time together as possible – saying goodbye on the last day was very difficult.
This was my first time in Serbia and I was very surprised by its landscape and the citizens. Looking back, I can say that I used to have a very stereotypical mindset about the country. Now I know what reality is like. I remember that I was very positively surprised by the small village where we lived. I’ll never forget our mile-long trips to the store across the fields. One day, we went on a daylong trip to Novi Sad. I really liked the organization because we had a lot of time to ourselves. We started with a visit to a vegan restaurant, and then each group had a few hours to visit the places they wanted. This way, everyone was satisfied at the end of the day. I was very surprised by the look of the city, especially the architecture.
I am very thankful that I went on this exchange specifically with LEVEL UP. Everything regarding documents, transportation, and the course of the exchange was very clear. I didn’t have any problems, and if I had any questions, I could turn to someone from the organization without any issues.
I’m very grateful to the organization from Serbia for how the meals were. Despite my food restrictions, I didn’t have to worry or forgo any meals. I always received meals that were specifically tailored to my needs. This was the first time in my life that I participated in a trip where this wasn’t a problem.
Summing up, I formed a ton of wonderful memories during the exchange. This was my first exchange abroad, but definitely not my last.
I gained a lot of knowledge about diets, I developed both my soft skills, and my language skills. It was a wonderful experience that taught me a lot about myself. I can’t wait for future ones. :))
I highly recommend such youth exchanges. Everyone can find themselves there, the atmosphere is wonderful. There is so much to be gained in such a short period of time. From brand new knowledge and skills to friendships lasting for years to come. Only positives!
Ula, 17, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
From August 22nd, through August 31st, I had the opportunity to participate in the E+COOKBOOK=Equality exchange, the main topics of which were food, diets, and not excluding others.
The exchange took place in Serbia, in the small village of Mali Idos. Thanks to the exchange, we had the opportunity to get to know the place and the people living there a little bit. We conducted a survey on the basic knowledge of healthy eating habits and different diets among the locals.
Every day, there were various activities combining theoretical knowledge
with practical application. We worked in various groups, so we were able to meet new people from the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland. We shared thoughts together, created recipes, and cooked. The classes were built around the knowledge of the project organizer, but we also had the opportunity to meet and talk with a nutritionist. Cultural evenings were organized at the end of each day, where we had the opportunity to learn about traditional dances, trivia, and typical dishes of the country. In addition, a trip was organized to the city of Novi Sad, where we ate a meal at a vegan restaurant and then had free time to explore the city.
I would like to thank LEVEL UP for making it possible for me to participate in this exchange. During the trip, I had unforgettable experiences, made new friendships, and also learned a lot. It was also a brilliant opportunity to sharpen my English skills. Above all, however, it was great fun!
I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to participate in youth exchanges, because they’re a great way of learning English, but not only that. Participation in mobilities lets us learn about new cultures, obtain knowledge on a variety of topics, and meet great people with whom we can form real friendships.
Antonia, 17, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
The E+COOKBOOK=Equality project was my first ERASMUS+ trip, and despite many stories I had heard before, I had no idea what to expect. I had heard that everything depends on the other exchange participants.
They were better than I could have imagined; there was time to have fun or to have deep, intriguing conversations with them. They’ll definitely be etched on my memory for a long time. The project itself, despite being brilliantly fun, allowed me to better understand people with other dietary needs than mine. I felt that before the trip I approached this topic from an ignorant perspective, which completely changed after the exchange. I definitely gained a lot of knowledge from the trip about different dietary needs and, at the same time, ways of preparing meals mindfully. When I arrived in Serbia, I had minimal knowledge of the Balkan countries. What surprised me most is the popularity of the Hungarian language and the high percentage of the Hungarian minority in that area. I was so intrigued by this topic that I started asking people from Balkan countries about it, who satisfied my curiosity.
For me, the organization was very good, despite the fact that I have no point of reference when it comes to trips of this type. The food was tasty and there were no issues with getting seconds. 🙂 Despite the fact that this was my first trip, I felt very comfortable, be it English or self-confidence; none were an issue for me before the project, and nothing changed during it. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to learn and to explore the world, and LEVEL UP itself rose to the occasion. I didn’t have any problems with the application or any further steps until the end of the exchange.
I would like to thank LEVEL UP for making this eye-opening trip a possibility and my sister, who told me about it. 😉
I would gladly recommend this type of trip to my peers as it is a great opportunity to learn about yourself and the world, improve your language skills, and meet unforgettable people.
Piotrek, 16, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
The last week and a half of my 2023 summer vacation was spent on a youth exchange in Serbia. This was my first trip with the Erasmus+ programme and I hope I’ll remember it for a long time.
I’m glad I finally decided to go on this type of trip. The only thing that held me back was the fear of speaking a foreign language. When I found the E+COOKBOOK project, however, I decided to apply. I had long been interested in cooking, especially vegan diets (due to the fact that I am a vegetarian myself). And it was a brilliant decision! I met a lot of people from other countries, including the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland. Thanks to them, I learned new interesting facts about these countries, and during cultural evenings, I learned traditional dances and ate lots of popular dishes. Besides the participants, I managed to talk to the locals. Of course, not all of them were willing to answer questions about their diet, but they were a minority.
I’m grateful to LEVEL UP for the opportunity to participate in this project. I learned a lot about food and preparing meals for people with particular dietary needs. Every day we had theoretical classes with a nutritionist, for example, but most importantly, the whole project relied on group work. Every day I worked with different people, so I learned both about their habits and themselves. We created our own recipes and nutrition plans and held discussions. Everyone was eager to share experiences connected with their diets. In addition, we visited the second largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad. We had lunch at a vegan restaurant, and then we had time for sightseeing. Novi Sad surprised me with its interesting architecture and many unconventional architectural styles.
Since the entire project was aimed at people with special diets, each meal was personalized. As a vegetarian, I’ve always had something to eat, and that’s a rarity for me on holiday. Every day I was introduced to typical Serbian or Hungarian dishes, and they turned out to be really tasty.
As far as my concerns about English go, of course it wasn’t easy, but that’s what these projects are for – to learn. I recommend this form of practice to everyone!
During the project I formed unforgettable memories that will definitely stay with me for a long time.
I encourage you to take part in non-formal education mobilities because they’re the best way of learning a language. Before my first trip, I was very worried that I wouldn’t be able to hold conversations with others. It turned out I had underestimated myself. It certainly wasn’t perfect (it never is), but I was able to communicate with everyone and understand all of the lectures. Aside from learning the language, you get to meet a lot of people of other nationalities. With some, you can form lifelong friendships.
Oliwia, 18, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
From August 22, through August 31, I participated in a youth exchange in Mali Idos, a small village in Serbia.
We stayed on a farm with no tourists and often no internet. The charming surroundings, silence, tranquility, and minimal contact with the rest of the world made our stay there feel like an idyll. This was conducive to working on the equally pleasant theme of the project, which was – to put it simply – food, and in between activities – long conversations and games – making new friends. We all very quickly formed a tightly-knit group, a kind of family consisting of citizens of Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Macedonia, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Our shared passion for food certainly helped. 🙂 The activities mainly consisted of discussions and mini-projects on different diets and eating habits. We mainly focused on the needs of people with special diets, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, low glycemic index, etc. We shared our own experiences, which gave me a better understanding of the dangers of ignorance or discrimination by parts of society against people with special diets. The organized activities were varied and very interesting: we described and compared the traditional dishes of the participating countries, created our own recipes and menus, talked to the people of Mali Idos about their eating habits and knowledge of different diets, and visited the second largest city in Serbia, Novi Sad, where we were invited to a vegan lunch, after which we had free time to explore. The culmination of the project was the creation of our little cookbook – the creation of recipes, a full day of cooking dishes to suit different diets, and finally a photoshoot of the beautifully decorated plates. Of course, we also had time for other activities: horseback riding, playing volleyball, a water fight (the weather was all too sunny!), movie night, board games, dancing together… To me, a dream holiday.
I encourage you to take part in non-formal education mobilities because…
this was my fourth Erasmus trip and each one was unique. I still can’t believe how many unforgettable memories can be made in just a few days, and with strangers! The activities are geared towards integration and group work, so those strangers often become friends for years to come after a week. Youth exchanges are an ideal opportunity not only to meet new people but also to learn about their traditions and customs. And you can’t forget the sped-up English course, which you end up having to use in everyday conversations, not just in your school books.
Nadia, 19, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
When traveling far away from home, it’s not always possible to predict whether the destination will meet our expectations or whether something unexpected will happen.
I’ve been on more than one exchange, but this one will definitely be etched on my memory for a long time, because what matters most of all are the people you stay with. Six partner countries took part in the exchange, and each one of them took a piece of their world with them so that they could share it with others. Six groups of wonderful people with whom every moment was priceless. The theme of the project was food, especially the diets of people with specialized nutritional needs. Although I was familiar with the topic, I acquired new knowledge that I hope I can carry further into the world. Another important element of a good exchange is where you stay. The project was carried out in the charming village of Mali Idos in Serbia, at the “Katai Farm” ranch. The expansive area as well as lots of greenery and animals definitely had a positive effect on my mood. The food at the farm was also incredible, the ladies working in the kitchen did their best to make sure that no one was walking around hungry, despite the very specialized diets of the participants at times. I would like to thank LEVEL UP for the support I received during, before, and after the project; the organization perfectly fulfilled its responsibilities. I hope we’ll be able to work together again in the future.
I encourage you to take part in non-formal education mobilities because these projects develop a person on various levels, even those you don’t notice. Spending time with ambitious people in a safe environment provides amazing opportunities for self-discovery.
Leon, 20, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
The last days of my 2023 summer holidays were spent on a youth exchange in Serbia.
Obviously, before the trip, I had concerns about my foreign language communication skills and cultural differences, but that didn’t stop me from applying. I had long been interested in cooking and trying out new flavors, but due to my gluten intolerance and vegan diet, I was very limited in my meals. Fortunately, I decided to take part in this exchange and everything changed. I met a lot of people from countries such as the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Romania, and Poland. Thanks to them, I learned new interesting facts about their countries, and during cultural evenings, I learned traditional dances and ate lots of popular dishes. I’m grateful to LEVEL UP for the opportunity to participate in this project. I gained a lot of valuable information about food and preparing meals for people with particular dietary needs. Every day we had activities where I worked with different people, so I learned about their culture, interests, and habits. We created our own recipes and nutrition plans and held discussions. During a meeting with a nutritionist, everyone was willing to share their experiences, and I had the opportunity to consult on my diet and eating habits. Since the entire project was aimed at people with special diets, each meal was personalized. Thanks to a trip to Novi Sad, I had the opportunity to dine at a vegan restaurant. The traditional delicacies at cultural evenings were always labeled so that everyone knew whether a food item was suitable for them. As a vegetarian and a person with gluten intolerance, I’ve always had something to eat, and that’s a rarity for me outside of my house. As far as my concerns about English go, I was positively surprised. Over time, I gained more confidence and broke the language barrier. My new skills and unforgettable moments will stay with me forever!!!
I encourage you to take part in non-formal education mobilities because they’re the best way of learning a language and learning about the culture of other countries. It blends fun and education. Before the trip, I was very worried that I wouldn’t be able to communicate with others in a foreign language. It turned out I had underestimated myself. Every participant was very open, and nobody judged me on my language skills. After a few days, not only did I have no problem communicating, but I also began to think in English. We formed unforgettable memories and indestructible friendships among the participants.
Alicja, 16, E+COOKBOOK=Equality, Youth Exchange, Mali Idos, Serbia
