📅 14.07–27.07.2024 | St. Gilgen, Austria
If only words could truly express how incredible these two weeks were—full of emotions, challenges, and unforgettable friendships. Through the CircAbility project, I had the chance to rediscover myself, learn new skills, experience Austria’s breathtaking nature, and meet incredible people.
From the moment I arrived in Salzburg, I was enchanted by Austria’s natural beauty—the blue lakes, endless sky, and towering mountains. Our home for two weeks was a school in St. Gilgen, just a short walk from Lake Wolfgang, where we could swim and relax between training sessions.
At first, I was nervous. How would I be accepted? How would I keep up with the demanding circus training? But my fears quickly faded. The Latvians, Austrians, and Estonians welcomed me like family.
Circus training was intense—9:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day! We started with fitness training with the amazing Beme, followed by acrobatics with the energetic Andre and Heidi, and then various other circus disciplines. The trainers constantly adapted exercises so that everyone could participate—including me and my friend Elizabeth, who use wheelchairs. They even installed a tracked stairlift just for us, making the space fully accessible!
Thanks to the trainers’ crazy and creative ideas, I ended up doing things I never imagined possible. Flying, balancing, pushing my limits—it was an adrenaline rush like no other.
Beyond training, some of my most treasured moments were the mealtime conversations, the inside jokes, and the shared dreams of moving to Austria forever (special shoutout to the “rich Alpine doctors” joke! 😂).
We also had two amazing facilitators, Veronica and Kayolina, who ran our morning circles, daily reflections, and Youthpass activities. Kayolina brought her young children along, and they instantly became attached to me. Saying goodbye to them was heartbreaking—their sweet hugs and kisses will stay with me forever. ❤️
Read my follow-up blog post, where I’ll share our final goodbyes and the people who made this experience so special!
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