Hello! My name is Adelaide Lassalle and I will be turning 30 in a few weeks. After studying languages – English and Spanish, as well as European and international relations, I carried out various professional missions in the field of translation, press, tourism and even administrative management. After this last professional experience, I left for Varna.

Have you volunteered before this project?

Yes, I already did my first European volunteering a little over five years ago in Bulgaria! I had the opportunity to discover several corners of the country, including Varna, where I spent a holiday weekend. I had good memories of this seaside town and was happy to come back, this time to live there.

As for the project, it was a unique experience and I am grateful to have been a part of it. I developed professionally and linguistically, discovered new architectural wonders and also managed to make many friends, which is still important to me today.

What was your motivation to apply for this project?

When I applied for this project, I was looking for a real change in my personal and professional life. Going to live abroad again (I already did at one point during my university degree) in a multilingual environment and joining the Alliance Française presented a great prospect for 2023. A new beginning in a nutshell.

A few words about your experience as a volunteer – what were your missions, what did you learn about yourself, what new skills did you acquire, how did volunteering change you?

During the months I wanted to promote the French language and culture through various activities. In fact, creating Instagram posts about Francophonie in the world, participating and organizing events such as Festival of Music, July 14th, European Day of Languages, visiting schools in French classes, spreading French culture, as well as working in the media library marked my days in Varna.

These various tasks appealed to me and allowed me to develop skills in social media management as well as digital content creation.

Finally, as I am passionate about languages, working and developing in a multilingual world, every day of this volunteering was very enjoyable and stimulating for me.

What challenges did you face during this project?

I would say that the language was a challenge because I arrived with a very low level, but I still managed to improve it during the year, much to my delight! Unfortunately, it was difficult to express myself on several occasions, which I found unfortunate and sometimes even problematic.

I would also add moments of solitude, especially at the weekend, but maybe that’s inevitable when you live abroad, away from family and friends? I don’t know… Luckily there were a few!

In conclusion, I would point out two or three moments of difficulty, of misunderstanding regarding other ways of functioning, of doing, of acting. It was these moments that challenged me.

What is your favorite time during the project?

It’s very hard to pick just one favorite moment during this project! (Laughs) there were several, but I’d say one of my favorites was one weekend I was able to attend the Rose Festival in Kazanlak. I have beautiful memories of it, during which I had the opportunity to walk among the rose fields, enjoy the festive atmosphere of the city, discover it with sun rays, etc.

The picture where you see me with a crown of flowers on my head was taken at this very moment!

What would you say to young people to motivate them to volunteer?

It is an unforgettable experience that I recommend, and very educational both personally and professionally.

I myself volunteered twice at two different ages in my life, 24 and 29 years old. Each project has enriched me in its own way, and this is a real opportunity to grow, learn, get to know and discover myself again, as well as to build an image of a country for myself.

What are your future plans after becoming a volunteer?

Returning to France after this volunteering, I am currently looking for work here in the Paris region, more broadly in France as well as abroad.

Follow our website and our Facebook and Instagram profiles for current opportunities and offers!

The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the content, which reflects the views of the authors alone, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.