Last Times, New Beginnings

These days, I can’t help thinking about the last times. Those moments that, while we are living them, seem like just another ordinary day, but when we look back, we realise how special they actually were. For example, this will be the last time I write on this blog.

The truth is, I’m still struggling to realise that this chapter is coming to an end. These eight months have been incredible, full of lessons, unforgettable moments, and people who have left their mark on me in one way or another.

When I arrived in Jesi, I could never have imagined how much this place would eventually mean to me. I feel like, from the very beginning, life was on my side. I’ve been lucky enough to be part of a project that has allowed me to grow, discover new perspectives, and learn far more than I could have ever imagined. But above all, I’ve been lucky enough to meet wonderful people who have made this experience truly unique.

Over time, I’ve realised that sometimes we don’t fully appreciate how lucky we are while we’re living through certain experiences. We get used to places, routines, people, and the little moments that make up our everyday lives. It’s only when the time comes to say goodbye that we begin to understand just how much they have meant to us.

Throughout these eight months, Jesi has been much more than the place where I’ve lived. It has become my home. And the Caritas family has been an essential part of that home. I couldn’t feel luckier, happier, or more grateful for everything they have given me, for the way they welcomed me, and for making me feel part of something so beautiful.

Now I understand that leaving doesn’t mean leaving everything behind. It means taking a part of it with me. Because some places stop being just places, and some people stop being just people you’ve met. They become memories, lessons, and part of who you are.

So, even though it makes me a little sad to think that this chapter is coming to an end, I prefer to focus on the gratitude I feel for having lived it. I feel lucky to have arrived in Jesi, to have been part of this project, and to have shared eight months of my life with people who will forever be part of my story.

And if there’s one thing I’m taking away from this experience, it’s that sometimes you don’t need to know exactly where the road will lead you. You just need to dare to take the first step, trust life a little, and be willing to let yourself be surprised.

Grazie,
Vi voglio bene a tutti.

Júlia

Casa Erasmus, 2026
( My favorite spot in the house)
<3

Comments

Arrivederci, Jesi!

I can’t believe time has passed so quickly. It feels like yesterday that I arrived in Jesi and got a tour though the whole Caritas facility. But since then, six months have passed. This experience has been valuable to me in more than just one way and I will never forget the precious time that I spent here. It’s hard to put into words how much this project helped me grow personally and how much I learned while volunteering here. I’m so grateful for all of the people I got to meet during my stay in Jesi. My ESC project here gave me the opportunity to make friends from all over the world who shared a lot about their countries and cultures with me. Therefore, they made it possible for me to widen my horizons and it’s their fault that so many places got added to my travel list 😆 Of course, I also found a lot of new friends from this area who introduced me to Italian dinners (something I’ll certainly continue after coming back to Austria!) and who often planned trips to show me around the a...

Arrivederci, Louise!

After nine months of volunteering here at Caritas Jesi, Louise's project has come to an end. However, she wanted to say goodbye to you: It's strange to think that it's already over. As I write these lines, I'm already on the Flixbus, but I find it hard to believe that in a few hours I'll be in France! If I had to sum up my experience here in one word, I would say: encounters. I've learned a lot in 9 months: speaking a new language, opening up more to others, learning how to cook pasta properly 😅...but none of this would have been possible without the people I've met. Whether it was the other volunteers, the beneficiaries of Caritas, the people who follow us on our ESC journey, and above all the friendships I made along the way! Thanks to you, I decided to extend my experience, I gained confidence in myself and, sitting on this bus, I'm already thinking about when I'll come back to see you! So thank you very much, everyone, for everything, and welcom...

Cristina

Hi, my name is Cristina I'm 21 years old, I'm come from Spain and I am a recent graduate of social work. A few months ago, when I graduated, I was very happy but then I realized that I didn't know what to do with my life now, If I should continue studying or working. Then one day I saw a video of a girl who did the ESC volunteer program, and my eyes lit up. I already knew what I wanted to do this year! The next step was to choose what I wanted to volunteer about and in which country. I was clear that I wanted to do it focused on social work. And since I was little I had in mind going to live in Italy for a while, so this was the time to fulfill that dream. So it wasn't difficult for me to choose volunteering. I am very excited about this experience!

From Europe to Jesi

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