To be honest, I set off feeling a bit down at first. Not because I didn’t feel like it, but more because that mix of
social anxiety, meeting lots of new people and the language barrier felt overwhelming. I was worried I wouldn’t fit in and would feel out of place all week. Today, that seems almost absurd; my feelings changed quickly, for the better.
When I arrived in Velletri, the surroundings were immediately different from what I’d expected. We were staying in a monastery – quiet, simple, almost a bit isolated from the rest of the town. At first, that’s exactly what made me feel uneasy, but looking back, it was perfect, cosy and simply lovely. Just like the people there. Everyone was open, respectful and easy-going. There was no questioning whether you ‘belonged’. It simply turned out that we became a really lovely group. That initial anxiety faded quite quickly because I realised that here I wasn’t being judged, but simply accepted.
The theme of the week was Green Travel. We worked in teams, developed tasks and gave regular presentations. It wasn’t just
theory – it was very much about how travel can be approached more sustainably and how to understand responsibility in a different way. One task, for example, was the Climate Fresk Project; it was quite theoretical, but very informative and interesting.
The days were quite structured: Projects, discussions, presentations, but in between there was always time for lovely breaks where we could enjoy a coffee, get to know people – we played volleyball, played cards or just chatted. Outside of our tasks, we did other enjoyable activities to get to know each other better. We cooked together, ate together and played games in the evenings. It was precisely these moments that were often more important than the official programme items, because that’s where the real connection was formed.
With each passing day, my uncertainty diminished. I realised that my initial thoughts had actually held me back more than reality itself. The language barrier was there, but it wasn’t a real obstacle. Somehow, communication worked out anyway – sometimes in English, sometimes with gestures, sometimes simply with laughter. On the last day, we planted two more trees and said our goodbyes. The farewell was quite emotional too. It was sad, but at the same time lovely, because we’d become such a close-knit group.

I’m really glad I had the chance to take part in the project. My fears didn’t come true; I met some brilliant new people, had lots of wonderful moments and learnt new things about sustainable living.

Mila, June 2026