Everything happened so fast. One week after finding this project, I landed in North Macedonia to begin my first EVS experience. As I am already more than halfway through my stay, now is a good time to write about my experience so far.

Macedonia welcomed me with its beautiful nature, various cuisines, and caring locals. I really appreciate all the staff at SFERA and the volunteers from Turkey with whom I am working. In our spare time, we enjoy working and exploring what Macedonia has to offer.

As a part of my project, I am cooking twice a week at a small kitchen called Baga Food, which is located outside of Bitola. At first, we struggled with the language barrier because nobody understood English, but in the end, it made my time here really fun while trying to understand and speak Macedonian. I’ve learned new recipes from the traditional cuisine, such as sarma, cevapi, musaka, zelnik, and many other desserts. I can’t explain how much I enjoy spending time there; everyone is so nice, and the food is simply incredible!

Once a week, we go to NU House in Bitola to prepare pancakes or chill out, which has made my time there really enjoyable. My favorite memory from the whole stay in Macedonia is the running race in Bitola, where we supported the runners by making mini pancakes, and afterwards, we had a little afterparty.

Otherwise, I participated in the events of SFERA such as “Art Attack,” “Sweet Coffee,” and “Short Film Screening Night.” I also traveled a little to Prilep, Pelister NP, Prespa Lake, and the capital city of Skopje. I like the architecture here because it’s very different from that in Czech towns and cities.

This is my first EVS experience ever, and I have to evaluate it extremely positively. I came here to discover a new culture, to get some experience, and to have time only for myself—my stay has fulfilled everything perfectly.

See you soon!

Mony