Gyöngyvér in the Czech Republic

During my six-month volunteering stint in Malesov, a charming little village in the Czech Republic, I worked at Divocina, an eco-center and community garden. This place, aptly named "wildlife," pushed me out of my comfort zone, which I had left somewhere between Budapest and Prague. Coming from a city background, the closeness to nature, the compost toilet, and the limited public transport options were pretty challenging. But that’s exactly why I came here—to try things I hadn’t experienced before, like cooking vegetarian meals, doing physical labor, speaking a different language all the time, and being away from my loved ones.

My tasks varied widely and included developing and running eco-programs for kids and adults, as well as taking care of the community garden. We spent our days weeding, planting, and cooking together, which was a lot of fun. I also taught English to local students in a playful way and introduced my culture in different schools. Every day was different, which kept things interesting. One week, we organized a children’s camp, and the next, I joined a permaculture course that opened my eyes to sustainable farming techniques. It was fascinating to learn how everything in nature is connected.

Living this rural lifestyle helped me connect more with myself and nature. The simplicity of village life, away from the chaos of the city, gave me space to reflect and gain clarity on what I really want. I realized how essential it is to live in harmony with nature and to build a sense of community.

At first, I faced many new experiences that were tough but ultimately gave me the best chances for growth. One of the biggest challenges has been the language barrier when talking to the kids. The best way to overcome this? Just play—after all, play doesn’t need a language! My English improved a lot, as did my cooking skills, and I felt my passion for teaching grow stronger. Taking a step back to look at my life from a distance allowed me to reassess my family, culture, and city.