Merna Kolta

Traveling isn’t just about visiting places

it’s about truly immersing yourself in the life of a country. From Bulgaria to Poland, every moment of my journey was about discovering not only the landmarks but also the culture that shapes them.

Living the daily life, observing routines, tasting local foods, and interacting with people allowed me to experience history in its living form. The material and intangible aspects of culture the stories, traditions, and small everyday practices are what truly create a nation’s history.

Each encounter, each small discovery, made me realize that history isn’t just in museums or books; it’s alive in the people, the streets, and the ordinary moments that weave together the identity of a place.

I never imagined that volunteering could take me on such a journey from Bulgaria all the way to a Polish museum

 stepping into a world filled with history, culture, and endless discoveries. My adventure began in the educational section of the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, and from day one, it felt like stepping into a living story.

Working with school children was both challenging and magical. I guided them through archaeological sites, showed them how artifacts are preserved, and watched their faces light up as history unfolded before them. The workshops weren’t just about facts they were about curiosity, creativity, and storytelling.

But the experience didn’t stop there. I joined senior citizens in ethnography-related workshops, sharing knowledge and learning from their life stories, bridging generations through culture and tradition. Beyond teaching, I explored other museum roles: conducting 3D scans of artifacts, helping prepare exhibitions, leading tours, and even trying my hand at archaeological drawing. Each task revealed a new layer of the museum’s life and offered unforgettable memories.

What made this experience truly special was the people I met students, seniors, fellow volunteers, and museum staff from all walks of life. Each encounter added a unique color to my journey, making it rich, diverse, and deeply human.

Looking back, this long-term volunteering wasn’t just about museums or artifacts it was about connecting generations, discovering hidden stories, and creating memories that will stay with me forever. It was a rare, immersive experience that shaped not only my understanding of history and heritage but also my appreciation for the power of museums to inspire and unite people.

Waking up at 5 a.m

preparing for the site before the sun had even risen.
Walking through the mountains in the quiet of early morning, knowing that another day of discovery was waiting for us.
It was a daily adventure we looked forward to  tired, dusty, and deeply rewarding.

This was my first archaeological project in Bulgaria, in Veliki Preslav and it was far more than just a volunteering experience.

In 2024, I lived there for several months and took part in archaeological excavations, but what stayed with me went far beyond the fieldwork itself. It was a period full of learning, challenges, and unforgettable memories. I worked side by side with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, and through this daily interaction I learned as much about collaboration and human connection as I did about archaeology.

This experience became a real turning point in my life. It changed the way I see archaeology, heritage, and my own path in this field. It opened new doors, shaped my professional direction, and gave me the confidence to continue working internationally in museums and heritage projects.

Veliki Preslav will always hold a special place in my journey  not only as an archaeological site, but as the place where my professional and personal perspectives truly began to evolve.