I wanted to be thrown in cold water—but the sea was rather warm.

Up until the age of 18 years old I grew up in a sheltered home in a small village near the Dutch border. Striving for new experiences, to learn and grow, and to find a place in the world, I left for Italy expecting to encounter numerous challenges. I wanted to be thrown in cold water to understand the self-sufficient “adult life”. But to my surprise, I embarked on an intense self-development journey.

The staff of the InCo-office (my workplace), the many different volunteers, the vibrant Puglian culture, the international community, the beautiful cities all around, and, of course, the sea. The warm—sometimes even hot-atmosphere encouraged me to get up again, walk on, and demonstrate my identity along the way.
Especially my personal project “L’Angolo Della Poesia” allowed me to impact the local society and teach creativity as a form of emotional expression.

One year is a lot of months, yet the time passed fast. I leave this place as a self-determined, self-confident, and self-loving woman. I guess that is the magic of ESC in Italy.

~Judith