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The truth is that I’ve always considered that it’s complicated to be born and live in a village like the one I have lived in. Since I was a child I have been surrounded by nature: the birds are my alarm clock and the rooster never fails. Everyone told me that I was lucky to grow up in a place like this, but I only saw problems. My friends have always lived far away from me, there is no public transport and I depend on my parents for everything. It is hard for them to keep an eye on me all the time and for everyone’s schedule to fit in. That is why I had to spend most of my childhood and adolescence alone at home. However, I am a lucky person, since I have a big garden and I have always been able to play with my games there, as well as ride my bike or be with my dog around. When you are younger it is difficult to grow up and see that all your friends stay in the afternoons and you can’t because you live far away. For that part, it has been complicated to live in a village. Wanting to go to the cinema and not being able to, to the bowling alley to play, to go shopping... all those things have always been something exceptional in my life because I have it far away from my village. That is why I always told my parents that I would like to live in a big city, that I could do everything there and that everything would be much easier. When I grew up I realized that my parents had great reasons for living in a village and that not everything is as negative as I thought. The freedom I’ve had to play in the street and explore is not available in the city. My parents have always let me play with the neighbors, I’ve been able to explore the surrounding woods and do many things on my own. Besides having a lot of space to play. Spending a lot of time alone has made me independent, active and creative. But most of all, the direct contact with nature and the closeness of the neighbors is appreciated; living in a village is like living in a big family. When you are younger, it is difficult to perceive this; but as you grow up, you realise that the peace and tranquility that living in a village brings is priceless, and even less so when you consider the pace of life today. #perspectives #experiencing #growing

When you live in the countryside, and in particular when you grow in it, you somehow feel the world growing and distancing itself from where you are, and it is, I believe, a really unique experience. You notice that the older you get, the farther life tries to throw you. You notice that your kindergarten is likely close, your elementary school in the nearest small town, and your future high school in the nearest city. You then find out that the university that will probably give you the best forthcoming opportunities is even in a farther city, far away from your original warm nest, and all of this usually come with whirling speed and demand for important decisions. And it’s usually a matter of time and of trades, welcoming the new and saying goodbye to the old, adopting new lifestyles and choices. You slowly start noticing that there are less stars at night and that everybody seems going at a faster speed, paying less attention to what is around, to nearby life, both human and not. That cars are noisier than they seemed, and that sometimes the air is not as good. That jogging at sunset will never have the same genuine and unpretentious taste it once had. On the other hand, when you finally move, you get to experience what living “near” actually means. You get the comfort of readily reaching most of the places you need to get to without long and often stressful commutes, the relief of being able to wake up 1 or 2 hours later than usual, without the lurking fear of losing your train or bus. You get to meet both the city natives and the people that just as you did, moved from small towns and countrysides to run towards their dreams. You also get a fast internet connection! Usually much faster than the almost null one you had back in the days. You surely feel more connected to your environment, to your job and university, but what about the real people around you? Sometimes, it easily comes to one’s mind, as it once did to mine, that the connection you may develop in a context that stresses so much interconnection but is excessively hectic would naturally be flawed or not as strong as one that blossoms in a rural setting. But I would like to say that the mere fact that cities are a more fertile context for milder connections doesn’t necessarily mean that they would need to be like that. In my point of view then, is that our mission as conscious young people of a world that quickly grew distant of our original roots is to fight for sincerity and simplicity where it wouldn’t naturally grow. To be, maybe, individual voices in a silent sea, but that would, at the end, add up to a significant alternative zephyr in today’s cities status quo. #steps #process #reflecting

It’s the summer of 2017. I am 17 years old living in my beloved now, but most-hated back then, village, somewhere in the Greek coastline. This summer, I knew wouldn’t be like the ones before. Sunbathing on the peaceful beach all day long, staying out late with friends while drinking beer and observing the bright moon, or just chilling at home reading a romantic novel, like the ones I am often too embarrassed to admit I obsess over. No! This summer would be different in a way I wished I could just escape from. Or at least, that’s what I thought before everything happened… But let me provide a little bit of context there! As a high school student who would soon start my final and therefore most crucial year of secondary education, I had to not only put in the work needed so as to get the grade results that would secure my place at a prestigious university within thin 12-month period, but also to decide what was my passion that would determine the course of my entire professional future. And the latter, let me tell you, was not an easy decision! I oftentimes found myself in situations where my dreams and aspirations would strongly contradict the path I was expected to follow. This trodden path which was primary associated with financial success and independence. Well for me, it was a bit more complicated than that. I so desperately wanted to travel, explore the world and its unique people. The different cultures, beliefs and languages. My eyes would be filled with enthusiasm every time I made that thought. And yet, here I was lying on the floor of my small, noisy room looking from my window, analysing every single alternative and detail. I needed to escape from everything. I needed to find myself first. So that’s what I did. I grabbed my phone boldly, opened a browser and started searching. Volunteer opportunities, youth projects, student exchanges. Literally anything that could allow a broke 17-year-old, like myself, to travel and ‘live the dream’. It sounded quite tricky at first, I know! But then… YES! I came across these short-term Erasmus opportunities. I did some more research on social media and I immediately started writing my first application. Then my second, then my third… A few days had passed, when I finally got this highly anticipated confirmation email. “Dear Konstantina, Congratulations! You have been accepted to participate in this 9-day Youth Exchange in Naples, Italy taking place in September.” I felt thrilled! This was everything I wanted, until cruel reality hit me. I was about to travel abroad to go somewhere I had never heard before, with people I had never met, to participate on a project I didn’t know existed a few days ago. My initial excitement was now converted into fear, doubt, uncertainty. From that day forward, everything happened so fast. We formed a Greek-team Facebook group where I got to meet my soon-to-be fellow travellers. I also met this girl with who I would travel with, so as not to be alone. Iphigenie, as she is called, had participated in multiple similar projects before, so she answered every question, eliminated every hesitation and most importantly, she reassured me that these 9 days would change my life forever. So I spontaneously neglected every negative thought and put my trust on her. I was going to Italy and nothing or no one would stop me! I now find myself in Roma Termini station after a short flight and a quick bus ride. It’s early in the afternoon and the busy streets of Rome are lighten up by the bright sunbeams. The discomfort of my big, heavy backpack is stressing my shoulders which adds to my confusion. “What am I doing here?”. I can’t help but ask myself the same question over and over in my head. “This is not where I’m supposed to be, I need to go home”. But then, I briefly look at Iphigenie. These sparkling eyes and big smile of hers leave me speechless. She seems happy! So I act cool and I follow her, unable to say a word. It was shortly after my arrival and a few days before my departure that I actually managed to answer the question above . We, along with my newly found European friends, spent one of the last days of the project hiking the worldwide known Mount Vesuvius. I reached the top a few steps in front of the others. The gentle breeze was softly touching my skin while my eyes were striving to memorize every little detail. The irregular shape and size of the various clouds made the sky appear rough, yet the calmness of the tiny well-shaped recurrent waves made the sea look pure. An illusion of great contradiction, yet a reality of perfect harmony. “I feel alive” I though to myself. “I am home”. And just like that, everything I though I knew changed forever… As youngsters, we often have all these unique opportunities which have the potential to bring great joy and fulfilment in our lives. They might seem small at times, but their impact is always inversely proportional to their seemingly insignificant size. Those are the times when we must have confidence. Confidence in ourselves, our mental and physical abilities. Confidence in others. The ones who will trust and selflessly show us the right path. And more significantly, confidence in life itself. That everything and everyone will, sooner or later, be exactly where they’re supposed to be. And the word ‘everyone’, includes YOU too! #lifesurprises #incrediblefeelings #wowfeeling

For most Greeks, myself included, summer plays an important role in our lives. Every summer, there is always a new destination to be discovered and cherished. This past summer that destination for me was an island in the northeastern Aegean Sea called Ikaria. My best friend has roots from this island so it was part of the reason we visited it. This place is actually known as “the island where people forget to die”. Another strange characteristic of the island is that no one uses watches, because they simply don’t care about time. As a girl born and raised in a city it was very difficult for me to picture something like that in real life and it was until I stepped my foot on the island that it truly hit me. I felt the energy of the island and its people right away. Everyone is so happy and enjoying life carefree, with minimum stress. Since I grew up in Athens where everyone runs like crazy with a watch in their hand, and stress about all the things they have to do in one day, it took me a while to get used to the daily rhythms of Ikaria. Another big contradiction from my city life, was the fact that there was almost no public transportation and that most roads were usually steep and next to cliffs making them very dangerous. We actually barely made it to the only one bus that took us from the boat to my friend’s village on the mountain. All my life I had been in and out of subways and buses, and in Ikaria my only two options were either walking or hitchhiking. Turns out that hitchhiking is actually one of the most common forms of transportation in Ikaria for tourists and especially younger people, like college students. Hitchhiking our way around the island of Ikaria was definitely one of the highlights of that trip. We met so many interesting people through that and became friends with some of them. This whole situation actually felt familiar to me after having taken place in the Utopia project last year. Another very important observation worth mentioning is the social life and “nightlife” of the island. For most young people in Athens nightlife means clubs. There are no such places in Ikaria. Instead they have what is called “Panigiria” which are traditional feast days that celebrate the Saint’s name days and other religious holidays. People of all ages get together and celebrate like there is no tomorrow. There is live traditional music, plenty of Ikarian wine and food and of course dancing. Unlike in clubs where there is usually a dress code and if you are not meeting the standards you can’t go in, in the Panigiria you can wear anything your soul desires as long as you bring a good mood and a lot of appetite for dancing. When I say a lot, I mean you will definitely see the sunrise. It is considered very normal for a festival to end at 10 in the morning. By the last week of my stay in Ikaria I had fully immersed in the Ikarian living and I was so excited and hopeful about changing my habits once I was back in Athens. So much, that in my head it became the new normal and I believed that once I returned, I would be able to live even a little bit like the Ikarians. However, when I was back to reality it hit me pretty hard that it doesn’t work like that with city life… #surprises #newhorizons #novelties

If I had to define my life with one word, it would be 'Change’. Every single aspect of it has changed from the beginning. And it keeps on going: the place I call home, the number of people in my life, my memories and myself. I have learnt that change is inevitable and priceless. Without it, there wouldn't be evolution and we would keep on being the ones we are now. But we are pushed to face new situations, live through them and learn. We have to do it even if we are alone or if our legs are shaking. Because everything that happens comes to teach us something, to make us wiser and give us more stories to tell. Every single challenge makes us richer on the inside. As for me, I spent most of my childhood in a small village in the middle of some cereal fields. Back then, that was my whole world. It was a really small reality to live in. Sometimes even too small and crushing. Even the most amazing beauty can become monotonous. Then Erasmus opened my horizons and prospectives as never before. As I am writing, I am in Milan. I have been living here for less than two weeks. It’s completely different parallel reality, here everything is controlled by time. Everyone is running from a place to another. This city is a peaceful chaos. Always awake and moving. But thinking back to my childhood years, I realize how they shaped me: they taught me to enjoy every single new experience to the fullest, travelling and human being I met and lived. It was peaceful and relaxing living immersed in nature but I had the feeling of missing out something. This is why I feel gratefulness and freedom every time I take off. Because I know it’s the beginning of a new chapter I write. Every travel allow me to live and not just survive. At the beginning of any trip, I am extremely content because I know I could still be there in the middle of nothing. I am not blaming that reality. At all. But I wasn't born for it. Everyone has a place where he feels to belong to. Simply that one wasn’t mine. Since I was really young, I craved to explore and cross as many other people's paths as possible. It was a deep willing inside me. Some people are focused on Gucci website other on Skyscanner. I belong to the second one. I want to create an amazing picture of my life as a great painter. I want to have endless fascinating stories to tell my grandchildren one day. And every time I experience an Erasmus project this goal is accomplished fully. Every project gifted me with amazing people who inspired me and widened my perspectives and thoughts. They contributed to my growth as no one else. I have learn more abroad than at home and school. By exploring I realized how small and insignificant we actually are in front of the magnificence of this world. Travelling makes you more humble and appreciate more and more even the smallest things. As the umbrella when you are under the rain. Through leaving you experience the joy to go into the unknown but also the happiness to come back at home. Whatever home is to you. For me home is that comfortable and warm place where I don’t need to wear flip-flops while showering. Even if after the first travelling, you will never be back home completely, because a part of you will always still be in that special place with those amazing people. This is the enriching price of travelling. Because travelling is the only thing you buy which makes you richer. Ester Caffa (Italy) #change #growing #development

My name is Federico, I’m 18 years old and live in Rome. Rome is a city of culture, architecture, sculpture, art, Italian history, and the place where the Pope resides. It is not a simple city but an Italian capital and in my point of view, other European capitals are incomparable to it. Who lives in the city never gets bored, every day there are chances to do different things: going to parties, pubs, discos, bowling, movie theatre, gym, going for shopping like crazy…. because you can find anything, and you can do anything at any time. You can go by car, train, bus or metro, you can visit and admire the monuments like Piazza di Spagna, Fontana di Trevi, Coliseum or Piazza San Pietro. The streets are always crowded with tourists in every season of the year. Since it is a very busy and chaotic city, with a lot of traffic jams, I use my motorbike to transit passing the cars by kilometric lines, managing to park in those few free parking spots, in fact sometimes you might park in a Limited Traffic Zone, in which you may drive or park just in possession of an Ecopass, and then you can get a really expensive ticket. Due to the high amount of smog concentration, the government prohibits the use of cars in some times of the year, which leads to an overcrowding of public transportation, which is clearly not enough for everyone in the city. Which is why again I ride on my motorbike trying to compensate, using an anti-smog masker which is not always efficient, unfortunately. Pollution is a big issue in my city, in my opinion it is actually the only disadvantage of living in a city. Acoustic pollution and olfactive pollution are heavily felt in Rome and it has a big impact on its citizen’s health, even if Rome has public health system and several hospitals, they are always full. In the matter of friendships, you can make a lot in a city, every day you can make new friends. However, the old ones always remain. The ones from childhood, with whom you used to play soccer in the courtyard, or in the field behind the house (the only place left free where nothing is built on like parking lots or buildings); those with whom you went out on Saturday afternoons to make shopping or to take an ice cream, well, also those with whom you made some crazy things for which was better if our mother didn’t see us or they would get us! Many believe that a city makes people stressed, but I am not, maybe due to my young age, in which I do not have problems to think about, differently than those of my friends who live in a village (the village to where I go in summer), who get easily bored the whole year long until those from the city come visit them, also to get some fresh, clean air, and to regenerate in every point of view. Well yeah, boredom… I go happily and willingly to my village also because there is where my ninety years grand grandmother lives. There is not much to do but you can have fun with small things, like for example like playing soccer, or playing with cards, making jokes, enjoying the local events, spending the evenings outside eating and singing, everything goes well for a month but then I miss the city again. I really enjoy my grand grandmother’s food, I can even recognise the perfumes of the food without seeing them, for so pure and genuine they are. The meat is delicious there, it is bought at local butchers who take their herds to graze in the fields or in the mountains; the chicken and the rabbit meat are very tender; fruits are seasonal, and I say seasonal because else you don’t find anything else. The perfume of these fruits fills up the whole house, which often blends with the smell of jams which my grandmother makes every summer; I can eat fresh eggs every morning, the home-made bread prepared in the wood oven stays longer preserved, and even when it finally becomes hard and old it is never thrown away, rather it is fed to the animals like pigs or chickens. But yeah, you don’t eat canned food there! Beyond the culinary aspect, the other advantage is that the air is clean, not polluted, but in any way, for me, living in a village is a bit too tight. It’s ok for a month, but not to live as a fixed place. Let’s also not talk about the aggressive summer storms which make the electricity go away and you have no clue when it will return, so you turn on the candles and wait until electricity comes back; maybe you were watching a nice soccer match game from your favourite team and now you cannot watch it anymore… no no, the life of a village is not for me! Now I think like that, when I will be older I don’t know if I will still want to live in a city or not. There might be a reason for older people to move to villages if they have the opportunity to do so? Maybe because then they wish a calmer lifestyle and a purer air? I don’t know. And I don’t know if in a future I would like to keep farm animals and walk in the forests perhaps finding a nice mushroom to cook. Or preparing nice meals to my grandchildren the same delicacies that my mother passed on to me… I really don’t know. For now I love my city, my Rome, with all its pros and cons. Long live the city! #citylife #opportunities #options #choices

My name is Marzia, I am 15 years and live in Rome. I have the luck to be able to see advantages and disadvantages of living in a village or in a city large as Rome because my parents have a house located in Poggio Cinolfo (approximately 480 inhabitants, at Abruzzo, Aquila) near one of the most beautiful mountain chains of Gran Sasso. The first advantage is clean air and tranquility, the absence of traffic, the absence of stress and acoustic chaos. Breathing fresh air, smelling all the perfumes that nature in spring gives us or in winter that characteristic perfume of the fireplaces turned on; of chestnuts on the fire; of that odor of the fermenting grapes after the harvest during autumn. In summer, the village is in holidays and it becomes a large family, and with the rich harvesting, preserves are preserved for the long winter, like tomatoes, vegetables in oil or pickled, and much more delicacies. It's beautiful to open the window and to greet the passers in pajamas, we know everyone, we help each other, we exchange harvested products and homemade desserts. Of course, living in a village has its sacrifices because you must always cultivate the ground and feed animals such as pigs, hens, calves, rabbits and sheep, both in winter and in the summer, but it is done with pleasure and everyone in the family helps, even if a little bit. In the villages you mainly purchase small things like detergents, you eat what you have and what you produce. The clean roads, green areas, invite you to make long walks, being immersed in the deepest thoughts. From spring until the arrival of winter we organize many folkloristic and typical parties, all prepared by a group of volunteers who do it all with lots of passion, while the inhabitants of the village decorate streets and houses for the party. During Christmas it seems to be in of Saint Nichola’s village. It is so beautiful during events (even like weddings, religious happenings or funerals), because the streets become crowded, we all reunite, it almost looks like Rome. We always say that the only regret could be the sea (is far away from Poggio). We youngsters have a lot to do, we organize our activities the whole day long therefore our friendship becomes very strong, it is one for all and all for one. I do have to admit that going to school (like high school) is a bit complicated. My friends need to take public transport; therefore, they need to wake up at dawn and during winter, with ice and snow, is not very inviting to go out. Their parents work in Rome (the capital), because around here there are not many working opportunities, also because houses here in Poggio are much cheaper compared to a decent apartment in the city. This going up and down between village and city can be very stressful and requires sacrifices, for example most of the times only the father works, while the mother stays home taking care of the children and of the house. In my village, the local dialect is spoken, even amongst us youngsters, it is just fun to speak like that and we all have a good laugh. There is no crime around there, which is so good. One protects the other, defending each other like one big family against the “foreigners” (people who don’t live in the village). Foreigners always arouse suspicion and curiosity. Elderly people want to go to bed early, waking up at dawn, but all the others meet each other in their own houses spending the evening together, sharing homemade food, singing local songs, or meeting at a local pub or venue. In Rome, despite its beauty, history and splendorous architecture, people do not know each other, is always rushing, is always using their cars, don’t enjoy walks or staying with the family. Everything becomes almost mechanic and very much based on a fixed routine. Of course, when speaking about opportunities and leisure there are countless options, however, when coming down to affectivity or relationships, it is almost non-existent. If I would have to choose, I would live in a village, in my village. #ilovemyvillage #magicalplace #anotherworld

Hi everyone, I would like to talk a little about my life as a citizen of a small village. I have lived since I was a child in this village which is located on the sea, is called Santa Marinella. It is a very nice village that comes alive only in summer. It is more a village made for holidays than for living and for this reason I would like to tell you about my life experience. The first years were carefree, I grew up without having any problems, certainly the city is well organized and nothing functional is missing but the most disadvantageous part has come out since I was 16 years old.  It is in this period that you start to need a social life, to start going out and doing activities with your friends and it is from this moment that you start to realize that living in this small city would have penalized me with its disadvantages . In the summer, after all, you can find something to do because of the increase in activities that the city offers, but in winter it becomes a desert and after a while the days become monotonous and you start to get bored. There are no activities for young people, there is nothing to do but only the same things like go to the bar for have the usual chat, the job opportunities are missing but also the possibilities to choose different Type of schools and to is difficult too find new friends because the people are always the same. All of this can make you feel depressed, lonely, bored and it seems to you that your life goes by without something that can make it better. In reality, however, it is up to us to find the way to change it and for this reason I believe that living with these difficulties allows you to grow stronger, allows you to make more intense friendships and allows you to give more attention to the small things that can be discounted for who already has it all. What I would like to tell to all of you who will read this article of mine is: "do not rush, do not demoralise yourself because life is also this and the difficulties allow you to grow in a better way". Trust yourself and you will find the right path to happiness! Greetings to all young people of today. #gabrielefromitaly #emptylandsstory #cherrygroup

When I was little I thought my neighborhood was my whole world. After that my town, and then Hungary. Soon I started to realize there were other countries, nationalities and languages and when that happened I knew instantly I wanted to experience it all. I learned to read at a very young age and I was always bored in school until I started learning English in first grade. I loved it. It was something new, a change from my every day routine. Geography was my other favorite subject, because I could learn about other countries. I remember when I first went abroad, to Croatia I think, I didn’t even want to come home, it was so exciting. Whenever my parents would ask me where I wanted to go for the summer I always told them: I don’t really care as long as we leave Hungary. I’m really grateful to my parents for taking me to such nice countries as Spain or Italy or just paying for school trips to England or France. Both of my parents use other languages on a daily basis at work, so they have always been supportive of my constant need a travel and learn. That’s how I got into participating in youth exchanges. One day my mum sent me an infopack to a youth exchange in the Netherlands called Back 2 Basics because she thought it would be interesting for me and that changed my life. I didn’t know that it would have such an impact, but I applied because I thought it was a great opportunity and I’ve never been to the Netherlands anyway. I was really excited when I got accepted, and I didn’t even know what was coming for me. It was so much more than I expected and one of the best experiences of my life. And from that on, I was on a roll and no one could stop me. I applied to all the exchanges I could an all were something new, something totally different but they all had one thing in common. They changed my life. They changed me. I got experinces I never even dreamt of having and made friendships for life and learnt things I’ll never forget. My advice to everyone is, that if there is something, anything that you want to do, or change just go for it. If you really feel it in your guts, that you need to do that then, just do it. And make sure you’re having fun while doing it. #change #makingchoices #directions

Living in a small town doesn’t make you conscious at all of other realities. You only know what surrounds you: same people, same places and same activities. Nothing new never happens in small towns. You are stuck in the same boring routine but probably you don’t even realize it until you find out other realities. Everyone knows each other and no one is ever doing their own business. People in small towns aren’t used to changes: even dyed hair and different clothes may take time to be usual in this kind of environment. Small towns are also a “safe place” for the same reasons that make them boring and I’ve always felt safe here until I became 12 years old when I realised that I was “different” than the other girls because I didn’t like boys at all. In a first moment it was a shock: I didn’t want to tell anybody and I was so scared about what other people would think and say. Since that moment the castle where I was living was falling into pieces and I had to get out of it. At 13 years old I joined my first Erasmus+ family exchange in the Netherlands. It was a shock but I was finally living something different. I was living a completely new reality: different weather, culture, food and a completely different mindset. I had to live with another family and in another house. I had to go to a different school and I also had to learn how to be in time! I’ve learned a lot and also for the first time I was living without caring what other people would think about me. In just one week I became more confident about my behaviour. For the first time I was proud of who I am. This first experience was life-changing at all. Since that moment I’ve started travelling around Italy and Europe, meeting people and visiting places trying to bring with me every positive aspect of any person and any place. Every time I learn something new about myself that probably I would never know if wouldn’t take this opportunities. I always try to take this changes in my small reality and to tell everyone about the opportunities that they have. Living in a small town may stop you but you must be able to leave and come back so your town can grow up with you. #routines #opportunities #Travelling

Every little step you take is great opportunity to experience how the world is breathing. So, I decided to walk around the world. My first stop was the great city of Munich. This huge city is setteld in Bavaria, Germany. My connection to this city is my aunt, so she invited my family to visit her and her daughter. But, this trip was really much more then just a visit. When I was little I heard about the most interesting festival in Bavaria- the Oktoberfest. I had a wish once in my life visit this great festival. This festival is not only interesting for adults, also there is a lot fun for kids. So, we all together started from the morning to discover the new city. When we were close to the centre, I felt surprised turning around like a little bird took from the birdcage. It was little big shock for me. I liked the Munich city because the buildings were so huge and powerful. I felt like an little ant infront of this beautiful architecture. Accept the buildings there were also a lot of people. In one city so much different culture- just amazing! And the most greatest thing I discovered in the City of Munich was the English garden, the huge park in the middle of the city. I was so happy that you can also find the nature between buildings. In the English garden you can walk, sit on the grass, swimm in the river Isar, play and enjoy. At some places in the Garden I discovered also Chinese wooden tower and Monopteros, the greek temple. The view from the Monopteros is really great. I saw almost all the city and the rest of this beautiful Garden. And about the Munich weather- I also felt it on this day. During the entrance in the Garden it was really sunny. After 20 minutes it starts to rain. In a half hour the snowflakes started to dance. And then after I took my jacket again, of course- it was so sunny like in summer. I think every person should one in the life visit the English garden in Munich. It is simple magical. At this moment I though, the world is really big and beautiful. After this trip I decided to travel a lot. When you are on the trip you discover differences between big and small, loudness and silence and the most important thing is the experience for yourself and the others. The road is the best teacher! #travelling #experiences #learning

It ́s not uncommon to feel alone, confused and even a little scared when you start living alone in a city. It takes a while to know the routines, rhythms and peculiarities of your adoptive home. I have lived all this in first person when I moved to Seville to begin my university studies and that is the reason why I write this article and then I will present the tips that I would have liked to hear when I arrived in the city to feel at home. Take some things with you that remind you of home. Put some things in your suitcase that remind your home from the moment you unpack your luggage. Even simple things, like your bedding or curtains, will make your new house seem more cozy. What helped me most was to place photos of my family and friends on the walls, so it will seem to you that you are not so far away. Explore and be a tourist. Don ́t forget to tour the city as a visitor. When you arrive, visit the tourist attractions as it will help guide you. If you spend a day or two watching parks, museums, commercial areas, etc., you will get a good idea of what your new city is like. Do what the locals do. For example, do you see that everyone rides a bicycle in your new city? Get a bike! Is the subway the most used form of transport? Get your transport card as soon as possible, so you can easily explore and tour the city with the rest of the city's residents. In Seville, for example, teenagers tend to travel by bicycle and that's how I met one of my best friends, since we were doing the same route to go to university. Make local friends. It ́s likely that your neighbors or the people you meet in the gym or in class have lived in this city throughout their lives. If you strive to meet local people, you will feel more comfortable in your new city and they will also help you a lot. They will offer you plenty of good advice, they will tell you where the best bars and restaurants are and they will give you all kinds of recommendations about places to visit, street food stalls, etc. By absorbing all this knowledge about the place, you will begin to feel like a resident before you know it. Have them visit you. Invite your new friends to study or drink at home. With this you will not feel alone at home, it will increase trust with your new friends and hopefully they will invite you to their homes another day where you may meet new people. I hope these tips help you if you are going to start living in a new city. #dosanddonts