My Barcelona adventure is coming to an end. Six months have flown by in the blink of an eye. I know I’ll be returning to Poland soon, but it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. I think it won’t truly hit me until I step onto the plane.
Now comes the time for goodbyes—to the friends I’ve made here and to my favorite places. I’m a bit sentimental, so I’m sure there will be some emotional moments. This whole situation naturally leads me to reflect: What have I learned here? What does spending six months in a foreign country give you? Did this experience truly impact me and how I see the world?
It turns out the impact was far greater than I initially expected when I decided to take part in ESC. Above all, I’m proud of myself for having the courage to do something that most of my friends wouldn’t dare—stepping out of my comfort zone and heading into the unknown. 2,300 km from home, far from family and friends, adjusting to new routines, lowering my standard of living, and sharing an apartment with three strangers. It felt a bit like going back to my student days, even though I had spent years working in a corporation and living alone. I think this experience is different for someone closer to their twenties than to their thirties. Younger people are more adaptable, have a different mindset, and find it easier to adjust—especially when they’re simply swapping a dorm room for a room in a shared apartment.
It wasn’t an easy decision, but I believed from the start that the positives would far outweigh the negatives. And you know what? I was right. ☺
I still remember sitting on the couch after an 11-hour workday in the corporate world, wondering: Is this really what my life is going to look like forever? Chasing KPIs, meeting deadlines, always having my phone on in case something went wrong and production was at risk. Work, home, work, home… weekend—repeat. I often felt that adulthood was overwhelming. I regretted not going on Erasmus when I was a student, not taking part in Work and Travel. I had the feeling that I had missed my chance because I was too scared.
I was on the verge of burnout when I decided to make a change. I handed in my resignation, and that’s when it happened—a friend told me about ESC. That’s when I realized it wasn’t too late to chase my dreams, to prove to myself that exciting things were still ahead.
This experience showed me that we truly have the power to shape our lives, that we can make changes, and that we don’t have to settle for a reality that doesn’t make us happy. We can take control and turn our lives upside down in an instant. Now, I understand my own agency and courage. I know I can create the life I want. I can have adventures and make everyday life a little more colorful.
And me? I’ve changed. For the first time in my life, I had the chance to live in a city other than the one where I was born and raised. I explored without FOMO, without the feeling that the vacation was about to end and there was still so much left to see. I got to know Barcelona slowly, day by day. I met new people, took part in exciting events, and broadened my perspective.
I think I also tamed my shopaholism—not only because my suitcase space is limited and my wardrobe here is tiny. ☺ But in reality, I simply feel that I no longer need as many things as before, when I used shopping to compensate for stress and a lack of free time.
I know it’s time to return to the adult life I left behind, but I’m certain it will take on a slightly different shape—something like a Polish-Spanish hybrid. I’ve learned to appreciate how beautiful life is when you’re not constantly thinking about work, how nice it is to walk down the street with a clear mind, and how great it feels to go to the office with a smile and genuine motivation. My goals and plans have shifted. I’ve slowed down, taken the time to look around, and I think I’m happier now. And funny enough, despite earning a volunteer’s stipend—I feel richer than ever.
