Nino.

Worked on a large-scale Swedish farm during the summer season, gaining practical experience in fruit harvesting and general agricultural work. My main responsibilities included strawberry picking, working in polytunnels, assisting with crop maintenance, and carrying out various physically demanding outdoor tasks.

I regularly worked long shifts, often starting early in the morning, and learned to work efficiently under time pressure while maintaining quality standards. I also gained experience working as part of an international team and adapting to different tasks depending on the needs of the farm.

The job strengthened my physical endurance, reliability, teamwork skills, and ability to work independently. It also gave me a better understanding of the daily operations of a commercial farm and seasonal agricultural production.

I studied at the Faculty of Arts of Comenius University in Bratislava, where I specialized in Russian and East European Studies. The programme focused on the history, culture, politics, literature, and society of Russia and the wider Eastern European region.

During my studies, I developed a deeper understanding of the historical and political development of Eastern Europe, as well as the cultural and social differences between individual countries and regions. An important part of the programme was also the study of Russian language, literature, and culture, together with subjects related to international relations, history, and contemporary developments in the post-Soviet space.

The programme taught me how to work critically with different sources of information, analyse historical and political events, conduct independent research, and present complex topics in a clear and structured way. I also gained experience in academic writing, communication, and working with texts in different languages.

My studies helped me develop strong analytical and research skills, as well as a broader understanding of different cultures and perspectives. They also strengthened my interest in travelling, learning about other countries, meeting people from different backgrounds, and continuing to gain new experiences outside of my own environment.

I studied horticulture at the Gustav Čejka Secondary Vocational School of Horticulture in Malinois, where the education had a strong practical focus. A significant part of our studies took place outside the classroom, giving us hands-on experience in gardens, orchards, parks, and forest environments.

During my studies, I learned a wide range of practical horticultural skills, including pruning and maintaining trees and shrubs, mowing and caring for lawns, planting and maintaining different types of vegetation, and working with various gardening tools and equipment. We also learned how to identify different species of trees, shrubs, and other plants and how to understand their specific growing and maintenance requirements.

Practical training was an important part of the programme, so we regularly worked outdoors and gained direct experience with real horticultural tasks. This taught me how to work independently, take responsibility for assigned tasks, and adapt to different working conditions and environments.

The school gave me a solid foundation in horticulture and helped me develop a strong relationship with nature and outdoor work. It also provided me with practical skills that I have continued to use in gardening, seasonal agricultural work, and other physically demanding outdoor jobs.