"Seven months went by…and here I am, almost saying goodbye to Altamura. And I can tell you that I’ve learned way more than what I imagined. 

First of all, I now speak Italian (not fluent yet but I am trying)! I came a long way from January and my duolingo knowledge… Thanks to my colleagues in Agorateca, learning was easier as they always talked to me in Italian, slowly at the beginning, then in dialect… 

Usually, I was in Agorateca, helping with sorting the books or preparing posters. I also took part in the animation of some activities for children, like in the project Una Matita in Natura, where we talked about books and nature via games and interviews.
But I also had many opportunities to do different things with kids and teenagers. One experience that I absolutely loved was going into middle and high schools, to speak French with students. As they were learning French for several years or just a few months, we had so many discussions on our cultures, the differences and the similarities. Those moments were inspiring as I got to hear from their point of views. I usually prepared those times with a theme and games that we could do together. We talked about sports, events, monuments and more. The most spirited debates were usually on food, obviously!
I also took part in some European projects, such as youth exchanges that Link can host near Altamura. During those projects, I could help in the kitchen, cooking for 30 people during a week, but also help in the animation of some activities, such as energizers or team-building activities. It was also interesting to exchange with people from all around Europe, learning on how they arrived into the Erasmus+ projects for example.

But most of all, this experience helped me learn a lot of things about myself. It helped me think about my future and what I want to do next. Being surrounded by the Link team was really amazing as they also helped me to adapt in different situations and answer all my questions.

In my free time, I also had the opportunity to travel for a bit in the South of Puglia, going as far as Otranto, but also seeing beautiful cities like Lecce or Alberobello. I also went to the cities next to Altamura, such as Gravina in Puglia and Matera, which I absolutely loved. As I participated in trainings with the Agency, I also went to Roma, where I met a lot of volunteers just like me from all around Italy. It gave me the opportunity to know more about the ESC programs, but also about other regions of Italy through stories from the volunteers. Finally, before going back home, I will visit the beautiful Napoli and I just can’t wait!

Grazie Link, grazie Agorateca, mi mancherete ❤️. I am very grateful for this opportunity that succeeded my expectations as I got to do so many different things and learn about myself along the way. And the food was AMAZING! Panzerotto, gelato and focaccia almost every week… I will also miss it..."

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