Even though, it might sound super cheesy, but I have to say that Erasmus+ youth exchange “Enhancing Youth Employability Through Photography” that was taking place in beautiful Budapest was life changing experience for me.
I don’t even know what to begin with; when so many things have happened during those 10 days.
I thought it will be a bad decision, to interrupt my school year and travel abroad just when my work there started and I have to say, when I got into the bus, that was going to Warsaw (and then we were suppose to have a flight from there to Budapest), I started regretting everything and just wanted to stay in Vilnius. I’m so happy I didn’t do that and just let my destiny meet me.
First of all, amazing organizers took their whole day to take everyone either from train station or airport and showed the way to the hostel. The whole experience for them must have been quite exhausting because they were taking the bus for so many times that day, but they were so dedicated to welcome us and make sure we won’t get lost! That was incredibly sweet of them!
So the first day, when everyone were just gathering, we had quite some free time and had a chance to explore the city. It was incredible! Not only the weather but also the whole experience. My eyes couldn’t understand and take in the whole panorama at once. For sooo many times I’ve heard that Budapest is the most beautiful city in entire Europe, and I have to say, none of those people who told me that have ever lied to me, it is for sure the truth!
Day by day we were exploring new activities which were mostly connected with arts and that made my heart sing everyday more and more! I can’t believe that I actually made my own pinhole camera and even tried it out a couple of times (it was one of my dreams for a really long time and I finally got a chance to do it!). It was also very exciting that we made group projects for bags and posters and then printed it out with silkscreen technique. It was incredible how it was possible to make an actual exhibition in such a short time and without any kind of rush! That was the thing that twisted in my head, since I’m studying printmaking I always was in a hurry and stress to make my artworks, but now I touched a different kind of work experience and I believe it will ingrain in my working habits for a really long time.
I was really excited to hang all of our works at the exhibition place (which was extremely lovely café that felt like home) and to see how much fun we had and what incredibly creative people gathered together to meet each other and get to know each others cultures.
It was my second time attending youth exchange and since I can compare the two experiences, I can say that during this programme, I met such inspiring and motivated people that for sure will stay in my heart forever.
I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate and to change my mindset for the better. Thank you everyone who organized and everyone who participated!
