Starting an European Solidarity Corps project is exciting. A new country. A new language. New people. New habits. New experiences. Maybe even a completely new version of yourself. There is a lot to discover during an ESC project, and much of the focus is naturally placed on the adventure. The places you will visit, the people you will meet, the activities you will take part in and the memories you will create. But there is another part of the experience that can be just as important, and sometimes much harder - learning how to adapt and be your true self in the new place.

Moving to another country means stepping away from everything that has been familiar to you. Suddenly, things that once felt completely normal can feel different. The way people communicate, the language they speak, the way they spend their free time, and even small everyday habits can make you realize just how much of your life has been shaped by the culture you come from.

And sometimes, realising all of that and adapting to the new surroundings takes time. There is no specific formula for feeling at home in a new country. Everyone experiences it differently. But there are a few insights from an ESC volunteer that can help make the process easier - and perhaps help you get a little more out of your ESC journey along the way.

Tip 1: Give yourself time to create a new comfort zone

It is okay not to feel at home immediately. Moving to another country is a big step. You are already leaving your familiar environment and stepping outside your comfort zone, so you don't have to pressure yourself to instantly feel comfortable in your new one.

Give yourself time to rest. Give yourself time to observe. Give yourself time to figure out where the supermarket is, which bus you need to take, where you like to have coffee, where you like spending your time alone, who you feel comfortable talking to and what makes your new surroundings feel a little more familiar. And just like that little by little, you will start creating a new comfort zone.

But there is a small catch! Don't let your comfort zone become a bubble. Your new comfort zone should be a place you can return to, not a place you never leave. After all, if you spend your entire ESC project doing only the things that feel safe and familiar, you may miss some of the experiences that brought you there in the first place.

Sometimes you need to feel a little uncomfortable to discover something new.

Tip 2: Trying matters more than perfection

One of the biggest parts of adapting to a new country is accepting that you won't know everything. You will find yourself surrounded by a new culture, a new language, new cuisine and different customs. Things that seem obvious to everyone else around you but not to you. And that's what makes them interesting.

And yes, sometimes this might make you feel lost or homesick. You might miss the food from home or find yourself wishing that things worked the way they do in your country.

But your ESC project is also a chance to try.

Try that Slovenian potica.

Try speaking the language, even if you are absolutely convinced that you are pronouncing every word wrong.

Ask questions.

Join the activity even if you don't know anyone there.

Say yes to something you've never done before.

You don't have to be good at something to try it. Trying matters more than perfection. Because by simply trying, you’re already opening yourself up to everything your new environment has to offer. A lot of people would never even take that first step. And sometimes, the people around you will remember your effort much more than your mistake. So don't wait until you feel ready. Try.

Tip 3: The more you compare, the less you see what makes it special

Let's be honest, comparing is almost impossible to avoid. Especially in the beginning. You see something and immediately think “Back home, we do it differently.” And that's completely normal. Our own culture is the reference point we know best. When we encounter something unfamiliar, our brain naturally compares it to what we already understand. The problem starts when comparison becomes the only way we look at our new surroundings. Because the more you compare everything to home, the more your attention stays focused on home. And the more your attention stays there, the less space you leave to experience where you are now.

Your home culture will always be part of you. You don't have to forget it or stop loving it. But your ESC project gives you the opportunity to make space for something new, too. Maybe you'll find a new custom you love. Maybe you'll understand a different way of thinking. Maybe you'll realize that there isn't always one "right" way of doing things.

Sometimes, the things that initially feel strange are the things you end up missing the most when you go home.

Tip 4: Reflect on your journey

During your ESC project, a lot is going to happen. There will be exciting days, funny moments, new friendships and experiences you never expected.

But there will also be difficult days. You might feel nostalgic. You might feel lonely. You might become frustrated. You might miss your family, your friends, your home or simply the feeling of knowing exactly how everything works. And sometimes, you might not even understand why you're feeling the way you do.

That's part of being human!

Not every day of your ESC experience needs to be amazing. Give yourself permission to have bad days. But also give yourself time to understand them. Stop every once in a while and ask yourself "Why am i feeling this way? What is the emotion? Is there something I need right now?". Reflection doesn't mean overthinking everything. It means giving yourself enough space to understand what is happening inside you. Because emotions that you don't acknowledge don't simply disappear. Sometimes they build up until everything becomes one big, confusing mix of feelings. Taking a moment to recognize them can help you understand yourself before that happens.

And don't only reflect on the difficult moments. Look back at the good ones too.

Think about the first time you managed to have a conversation in the local language. The first friend you made. The first place that started feeling familiar. The first time you realized you were no longer just a visitor. Those small moments are part of your journey too.

Your ESC journey doesn't have to be perfect. Adapting to a new country isn't a straight line. Some days you might feel like you've completely found your place. Other days, you might wonder what you were thinking when you decided to move abroad in the first place.

Both can be true.

You can be grateful for your experience and still miss home.

You can love your new country and still struggle with parts of it.

You can be excited about what's ahead and still be scared.

You don't have to choose one feeling.

Your ESC project is not only about discovering a new country. It's also about discovering how you respond when everything around you is new. So give yourself time, try the new things, step outside of your comfort zone, be curious, take your time. Because by the end of your ESC journey, you might realize that the biggest thing you discovered wasn't just a new place. It was a new version of yourself.