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*Zagreb City Centre
Plans don’t always unfold the way we imagine.
You apply, wait, and try again, but the answer is no.
Years pass, the world changes, and so do you.
What remains is experience, patience, and a quiet sense that something new is waiting somewhere unfamiliar, where you’re free to meet yourself.
The Email
“Dear Marika,
I’m writing to confirm that we would really love to have you join our organization…”
On October 29, 2025, after applying again, I received an email from Ocean Znanja confirming my selection for an ESC volunteering program.
I had been trying to volunteer in Europe long before the pandemic, but despite submitting dozens of applications, I had received no responses.
But that day, something shifted.
I realized that when a change is truly necessary, it always finds its way to you, not when you demand it, but when you are ready to receive it.
One-Way Ticket
Leaving my home country, familiar routines, and everyday comfort to fly to another country without a return ticket was unforgettable. Not because it felt dramatic but because it felt honest. Sometimes moving forward without a clear picture of the future is exactly what growth requires.
*Above Istanbul’s sky
Welcome to Zagreb
I landed in Zagreb on a snowy but sunny day and felt an unexpected sense of calm, as if nothing was truly foreign. Soon after, I met Zrinka, little Oliver, and Branimir, who shaped my first impression of this volunteering journey through their warmth, attention, and care.
The small details mattered most: genuine smiles, handwritten messages on the door, homemade cookies. They quietly said everything about the space I had entered.
I see that volunteering here isn’t only about contributing to a project. It’s about human connection, mutual support, and creating a safe environment for growth.
*New home
*Made by Branimir
No Perfect Time to Begin
I started volunteering at 30. For some people, that might seem late – an age when you’re expected to be settled. But I’ve realized there’s no perfect time to step out of your comfort zone. The life I’ve lived so far makes this journey uniquely meaningful, and I’m grateful I gave myself permission to grow, discover, and connect – right here, right now.
Meeting a New Version of Myself
Today is my tenth day in Zagreb.
Each day in an unfamiliar place brings small challenges, and I’m learning how these small moments slowly build something bigger: confidence, flexibility, and trust in myself.
In familiar environments, our roles are already defined. We know who we are to others and who we are expected to be. Sometimes, to change internally, we have to change everything externally – the streets we walk, the language, the rhythm of our days…
In a new place, no one knows who you are, and that creates space for new questions:
- What genuinely interests me?
- How do I make decisions independently?
- How do I respond to uncertainty?
- What am I brave enough to try for the first time?
- What do I discover about myself here?
These questions are a natural part of my ESC volunteering journey. I don’t have all the answers yet, and that feels exactly right.
*Grič Tunnel
Why ESC Volunteering Matters to Me
Even though it’s only been ten days, I’m already starting to notice what makes ESC volunteering so meaningful to me:
- Stepping out of my comfort zone and learning new things every day
- Becoming more independent and confident in unfamiliar situations
- Gaining a deeper appreciation for different cultures and perspectives
- Starting to pick up some of the local language
- Discovering new interests and sides of myself
- Connecting with new people
*TAMAM Burek (the best one in the city)
A City That Teaches You to Slow Down
During the walking tour, I already knew that I would fall in love with living here. Zagreb is filled with interesting legends, calmness, and a quiet sense of stability. It feels like a place where people appreciate what they have.
I noticed something else: no one seems to rush here. People sit for hours over a cup of coffee, talking, laughing, and being present. Coffee isn’t just a habit, it’s a culture of connection.
*Walking tour with the funniest guide
Getting Lost on Purpose
Wandering through new streets has become a symbol of my inner search. I’m not afraid of taking a wrong turn because when you don’t know exactly where you’re going, you start paying attention to your surroundings, to details, and to yourself.
An unfamiliar place allows a version of you to exist that often remains hidden in familiar spaces.
*Teslina street
Trusting the Unknown
“I’d like to try one of the best traditional dishes everyone should try”- I tell the waiter, without knowing its name or ingredients.
It’s a small moment, but it reflects something essential: trusting the process and allowing yourself to live without needing full control.
I think volunteering is the same kind of experiment. You don’t always know what you’ll do, who you’ll meet, or what you’ll learn, but you still show up. And sometimes, that’s enough for life to begin changing.
*Traditional dish at Ficlek
Exploring New Ground
Ten days in, I know these are just first impressions – there’s still so much to discover. Each day brings small lessons, whether it’s navigating the city or learning to ask for help. I’m curious how I’ll feel in another ten days, or a month from now. For now, I’m focusing on being present and letting the experience shape me. What matters most is holding onto how this beginning feels: calm, grounded, and open to the process without expectations.
Leaving your comfort zone isn’t always dramatic; sometimes, it’s quietly realizing you’re exactly where you need to be.
