What inspired you to travel abroad?
I always dreamt of traveling! I wanted to find out about other cultures and types of living, and about different perspectives on life. I think traveling abroad is an enriching experience and an opportunity for growth that everyone should pursue. It makes you feel more connected to the world while also appreciating your own place of origin.
Why did you choose your specific program/organization?
I was looking for a volunteering possibility within a big city that would allow me to both experience community life and spend time in the international, dynamic environment of a metropolis. EnriquezArte offered exactly that, a good mix of almost farm-like life and the feeling of participation in city life.
What was your favorite part about Barcelona?
My favorite part about Barcelona was the endless possibilities. Besides the immediate surroundings of EnriquezArte, which are a friendly community of families and immigrants, the center of the city offers countless attractions in museums, beaches, restaurants, cafés, and rich nightlife.
This is the EnriquezArte team together in July 2023! We had a blast volunteering together.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The possibility to actually make a positive impact on the community by offering help and aliment to locals, visiting seniors in the local residence, and taking care of disadvantaged children living in Barcelona. The immediate visibility of our actions made the stay very rewarding and a good break from the typical corporate approach to work.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
I was offered all the help necessary to find my way around Barcelona, as well as within the EnriquezArte walls. I was given directions and instructions for things to do in my time off too, and I was offered help in every possible way when I got sick.
The tasks given to me were explained clearly before I was left to them by myself. People here couldn't be more helpful!
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I have little regrets, but maybe one would be not seeing more places outside of Barcelona itself. The connections to other towns in Catalonia by trains or buses are easy and not expensive. So, it's a shame not to use them.
The team and I celebrating the Sant Joan together festivities in Barcelona, Spain!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Typically I would get up around 9 a.m. and head directly to EnriquezArte where I had something to eat. Then I participated in our daily ritual of Morning Glory, a combination of exercise, meditation, and self-reflection.
Afterward, we had a briefing, and I attended to the given task of the day, which could be working with kids, preparing equipment or rooms for various classes or activities, going to the elderly residence, preparing the food bank, or others. At 1 p.m. we had lunch together and then I would continue with the mentioned tasks or move to something else. Finishing at 6 p.m. I would often spend time in EnriquezArte talking to people, playing guitar, or having something to eat.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
In my time off I visited the famous sites of Barcelona, went hiking, and enjoyed local cuisine. Numerous Barcelonian bars were great places to spend time with friends, meet new people, or watch a football game. The easily accessible beach was a great spot to relax and spend the days either playing volleyball or just enjoying the sun and sea.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was accommodated in an apartment that I shared with one or two other people. It was rather small but completely served its purpose. The A/C was a lifesaver in the Spanish summer and something that not everyone has here, so I appreciated it.
The path from the house to work was 25 minutes, but you could take a bus instead. It was good to have some privacy in this community life.
This is the EnriquezArte voluntraineers on their way to the elderly residence.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
You will live in a community. That means sharing a lot of things, time, and space. For some that can be new and demanding, but if you approach it as a challenge and something that is worth learning, you will have a great experience.
I learned that I can trust people with my things more than I thought and that I don't have to hide away in some situations. If you do happen to want to be alone, everyone will of course understand that you are not obligated to spend time together out of the work hours.
Would you recommend Worldpackers to others? Why?
Absolutely, all the conditions and expectations we talked about before the trip were fulfilled by the organizers. I got all I expected and more. I don't think anyone could feel disappointed with EnriquezArte, provided they go with an open enough mindset, because I learned so much and made wonderful new contacts.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I would say the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the contacts you make. I enjoyed meeting the people I spent time with daily. You get to find out how they think, joke and feel. Basically, I think human connection is the biggest benefit.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
It made me realize how different life can be and that you don't have to wait for it to change or in fact, you don't have to travel to make it different. The source of good change is within you and you can recreate any kind of environment and mindset regardless of where you are. I feel more open-minded and less condemned to any type of life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Some people travel just to take Instagram photos, have drinks, and brag about the places they've been to. I would say meaningful travel is the opposite of that.
Traveling for the experience, putting down your phone, opening yourself to people you meet, and being present in the moment. EnriuezArte suited that idea perfectly.