My first week in Thessaloniki

First week in Thessaloniki | Collage by @lev_me_vision

I believe that everything that happens in life has a meaning and is not accidental.

I had already been in Thessaloniki on a volunteer project for two months, from May

to July 2025. When it was time to return to Estonia, I tried my best to find another

project or job that would allow me to stay in the city, but unfortunately, nothing

came of it.

From July to November, I continued to search for opportunities in other countries

through the European Solidarity Corps program. I sent about thirty resumes to

different organizations, but never heard back from any of them. It was difficult and

very demotivating.

Then one morning, I decided to check out opportunities in Thessaloniki again and

to my delight, I found a new project. I experienced a whole range of emotions: on

the one hand, joy, and on the other, doubt and fear of being left without a response

again. After months of silence, it's easy to start thinking, "What's the point of

applying if I still won't get a response?"

But, I think fate was simply waiting for the right moment.

So, the contract was signed, the plane ticket was bought, and on December 3rd, I

found myself back in Thessaloniki. To be honest, I was traveling almost into the

unknown.

The organization Esai En Roi operates in various areas of volunteer work: it

includes both creative and administrative tasks. I was invited as a creative person to work on graphic design, illustrations, and the visual promotion of the

organization's mission.

Artwork isn't limited by rigid frameworks or strict precision, especially since the

organization's theme and focus of projects changes every month. In December, as

it turned out, the main focus was helping homeless animals PawPosotive Parks and every day we participated in this work in different ways.

The first week of the project was more of an introductory one. I made friends with

people who came from different countries and gradually absorbed new information

about future tasks and projects. To be honest, after a month of being here, I have a

hard time remembering exactly what happened in the first week, the whole month

has flown by in my memory. When you're passionate about something and truly

enjoy it, you stop tracking time and just keep doing what resonates.

But as I began to mentally revisit that first week, the images began to emerge more

and more clearly. The first day was perhaps the most "empty" and physically

exhausting: I arrived around 4:30 PM, literally collapsed on the bed, and didn't

wake up until the next morning.

My first day of work was spent in the office, where I received my first assignment

to draw illustrations for the project's days. I got to work right away.

And on the evening of December 4th, Volunteer Day, some other guys and I put on

a small performance in the bar. We created a simple but very lively rhythm by

clapping our hands, using a drum and prayer beads. It was spontaneous, warm,

and truly unifying.

The next day, the organization arranged a meeting for us with a veterinarian at their

clinic, which specializes in helping homeless animals. In Thessaloniki, anyone who

sees a clearly sick cat or dog on the street can call them, and specialists will come

and provide assistance at the clinic's expense.

In the following days of the first week, we prepared for events that were scheduled

to take place near the end of the project.

Alongside work, I finally got to see the friends I'd made during my first stay here:

walks, concerts, taverns and all of this gradually brought back a sense of home.

Recalling my first week on the project, I can't help but smile. I'm sincerely glad I'll

be staying here until July and perhaps longer.

In conclusion, I can say with certainty: it was fate. It was no coincidence that the

organization in Thessaloniki responded to my application and it was as if

something had been leading me here all along.

by @lev_me_vision