Nicky Popa

ESC International Volunteer

Hey there! I’m still 20 and still in London. This is my final week in this amazing city and as much as I love it I’m ready to go home. It was an amazing experience where I met a lot of beautiful people and made memories that I’ll tell at the dinner table to my nephews and nieces, but all good things must come to an end!

Leaving won’t be easy, after all I made London my home for two months, but it’s a chapter that needs to be closed. This part of my story was not about a place I instantly fell in love with nor the part I suffer over leaving, but similar to the resolution after the main character learns more about themselves. I learnt things I would never have learnt anywhere else.

I wish more people knew about ESC. Living in another country for a few months, especially by yourself, will teach you so many things about who you are and what you want out of life, no matter how old you are.

I will miss my life here, it wasn’t the kind that rock stars write songs about, but it was full of fun experiences. Living this life alongside other volunteers was wonderful, especially understanding our different perspectives of the same topic. Moreover, the professional opportunity made me better understand what career I might want to pursue, so don’t think that you only get personal experiences…you get two for one.

The people I’ve met thanks to this program are people I will keep in my heart for a long time, the friends you make during projects like these are people you are going to have a unique bond with for the rest of your life.

There are a million things I would want to say, but I think the thought of me actually leaving is filling up my head.

London, thank you for having me, it has been a blast mate.