JJ’s ESC Adventure | Volunteering and Life in Bordano

Hello! I’m JJ, a 25-year-old computer technician from Cádiz, in the south of Spain. Growing up I didn’t travel much, and I was at that point in your life where you feel a bit lost. Because of that, I looked for something new that could help me discover what I really wanted from life, step outside my comfort zone and see new places.

This project felt like the perfect chance, and I couldn’t believe my luck when I got picked. The work looked mostly related to forestry but there were also many activities included, and the area was absolutely beautiful. With mountains, forests, the Butterfly Museum, the river and the lakes around Bordano, it was exactly the type of environment I enjoy. The village is small, but since I am from rural Cádiz I felt right at home.

The work itself is physically demanding. It’s manual labour, it’s tiring, and yes, it gets boring. My advice is not to isolate yourself with headphones but to talk, joke and work close to other volunteers, get to know them. That makes the hours pass faster. Our main task was to remove two invasive plant species: Canadian vine and Ailanthus. And let me tell you, by the end of the project you’ll be an expert on them.

Outside of work, living with the group was the most interesting part. There was always someone to talk to, something happening in the evenings, and we tried to plan things together on weekends. Cooking together was surprisingly great, I honestly think I ate better here than at home. In the end you feel a bit like family.

Overall, the project was extremely positive for me. The activities were great, the group atmosphere was amazing and I will never forget Bordano. If you need a break from routine, I would absolutely recommend this experience to young people.