Joyn Samarcanda

“Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone Made This the Best Summer of My Life.”

Dorotea Rosic — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:01:37 +0000

Beata Kudelikova - Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone Made This the Best Summer of My Life

In this interview, Beata from Czech Republic shares her incredible journey with Samarcanda—from taking a leap of faith and moving to a new country to creating unforgettable summer memories. With laughter, fun, and a deep love for the job, Beata reminds us why stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to the best moments of your life.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

– I’m Beata, but my friends call me Bea or Beuška. I come from the Czech Republic. I saw Samarcanda’s profile on Instagram, so I decided to try my luck and wrote to them.

What were your first thoughts when you arrived in Samarcanda?

– Since this wasn’t my first year in animation, to be honest, nothing really surprised me.

What was the most memorable moment of your time here?

– The most memorable moment? I can’t pick just one because there were so many amazing moments! But my favorite part of the shift was always kids’ lunch. I don’t even know exactly why, but my colleagues, the hotel staff, and I always had so much fun.

If you could relive one day in Samarcanda, which would it be and why?

– Hmm, definitely my first day of work. I was so excited! Stjepi put me on kids’ lunch duty with Tija—she was so kind to me, and it made that day the best one.

How do you think this experience has shaped or changed you?

– This experience changed me a lot. First of all, I “moved” to a completely new place for three months—and I did it alone. That in itself teaches you so much. Sometimes it messes with you, and it gets hard. You end up crying to your mom on the phone, but if you push through those tough moments and difficult days, you come out as a completely new person. Take me as an example—I came to Croatia only knowing English. After two summers, just from listening to the language every day, I can now speak Croatian at a solid level. So yeah, you need to prepare for the worst and stay strong, but in the end, it’s so worth it.

What is one object, photo, or memory that perfectly captures your time in Samarcanda?

– Oh yeah, there’s one photo (my favorite one, by the way) that shows more than I could ever put into words.

What’s the funniest phrase or word you learned while in Samarcanda?

Stjepi gave us diplomas, and on mine, he wrote that I was the “Biceps of the Season.” To this day, I still have no idea what he meant by that, but it always makes me laugh because Stjepi is honestly such a funny person.

How do you plan to keep the spirit of Samarcanda alive in your life?

– The spirit of summer, friends, and this job is something that stays with you long after the season ends. It’s the laughter shared after a long shift, the sunsets watched together by the sea, and the feeling of being part of something bigger. It’s about creating unforgettable moments, pushing yourself beyond your limits, and forming friendships that feel like family.

If you have something to add, feel free to do it!

If you’re scared to go—don’t be! Look at me—I came from another country, without knowing the language, and I was one of only two foreigners in the whole team (actually, in the whole hotel). And yet, I can say this was the best summer of my life. I made so many friends from Croatia and Serbia, improved my English, learned more Croatian, and spent the entire summer by the sea.

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“Every Day Feels Both Similar and Unique—That’s the Magic of It.”

Dorotea Rosic — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:21:17 +0000

Mira Rehwald - How my vacation turned into an unforgettable summer!

In this interview, Mira, a 20-year-old from Germany, shares her journey with Samarcanda. From growing up vacationing in Croatia to unexpectedly joining the team after a spontaneous performance, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

– Hello! My name is Mira, I’m 20 years old, and I’m from Hamburg, Germany.

Funny story about how I started working for Samarcanda! Since I was 13, I’ve been vacationing in Croatia—always in the same place, at the same campsite. I basically grew up with the place and the animation team. Over time, I learned all the dances and routines they performed because I was friends with the animators back then.

Fast forward to 2023—I was on vacation there with my best friend. One night, we went to watch the Descendants musical they put on for the guests. At the end of the show, they played two of the club songs, and my best friend and I jumped on stage and danced along at the front. The boss saw us and asked our team leader, Marta, who we were. She recognized us from previous years, so she came up to us and asked if we wanted to work there. Just like that, our vacation ended, and we started working!

Then in 2024, I came back to work again because summer 2023 was absolutely perfect.

What were your first thoughts when you arrived in Samarcanda?

– I already knew everything, I enjoyed it, and it was so much fun meeting all the people I would be working with.

What was the most memorable moment of your time here?

– Probably after the musicals, when the audience is applauding—you know you did a great job, and everyone is excited to spend time together afterward.

Also, just sitting outside the mobile home, surrounded by everyone, simply enjoying the moment and having fun together.

How do you think this experience has shaped or changed you?

– I became more confident and learned how to speak on stage and entertain everyone. I also realized that I actually enjoy dancing and working with kids, even though I didn’t know I like it as much before.

What is one object, photo, or memory that perfectly captures your time in Samarcanda?

– This photo on the left. :)

If you could relive one day in Samarcanda, which would it be and why?

– I can’t decide—every day feels both similar and unique at the same time, and it really depends on my mood. But I’d say any day with sunshine and happy people around me is the perfect day to relive over and over again.

How do you plan to keep the spirit of Samarcanda alive in your life?

– I just love entertaining people, and I often think back to the amazing times I had with Samarcanda.

What’s your go-to song for boosting your mood here?

Oh, probably Ljubi Jako by Nikolija—I have no idea what they’re saying, but the song gives me such summer vibes and puts me in a great mood! Also, Good Days by SZA.

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“Until this day it’s hard for me to believe that I could work in such amazing places”

Dorotea Rosic — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 11:00:47 +0000

Pablo Cancar - My summer in Samarcanda!

Meet Pablo from South America! This summer, he embarked on an exciting journey to Croatia, working as an animator with Samarcanda. In a short interview, Pablo shares his experiences, challenges, and unforgettable moments from his summer adventure. Find out what it’s like to work, have fun, and create lasting memories in few of Croatia’s most beautiful destinations!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

– Hi! My name is Pablo Cancar. I’m a Chilean/Brazilian actor who chose the path of adventure as a way of living. I decided to leave my home in search of a fulfilling and meaningful job without even knowing what animation was really about. The main reason that brought me to Samarcanda was the amount of experiences you can go through while actually working. Meeting people from all over the world, surrounded by talented and professional colleagues in beautiful locations… I had to be a part of that.

Was there anything that surprised you about the experience?

-I remember thinking: “Am I really here?” “Is this real?”. Even when I was already working for a long time, I still felt the need to stop and look around me. Until this day it’s hard for me to believe that I could work in such amazing places.

What was the most memorable moment of your time here?

– It’s impossible for me to pick just one. I could name the everyday volley matches on the beach, the aqua aerobic workouts full of energy and laughs… but the most memorable moments I had were when I could blurry the lines between working and playing, and I could really connect with the guests from the hotel. After the fitness or sport sessions, we could talk about our culture, our interests, or about how our lives are after the summer is over. You end up making great friends and meeting wonderful people.

How do you think this experience has shaped or changed you?

– Working in Samarcanda has changed me in every possible way. Meeting people from all over the world makes you understand how different we could be as humans, and at the same time how many similarities we share. I feel more mature, tolerant and prepared to face anything. This job tests your soft and hard skills, and every day is different. It trains you to be always ready.

If you could relive one day in Samarcanda, which would it be and why?

– I remember a day where we had a Beach Volley match with guests that stayed at the hotel for a long time. We used to play everyday at high intensity and committed to win. One day, a group from another hotel came to play against us. I felt I was in the World Cup. We gave everything to win like we knew each other from years, supporting and encouraging each other. It was raining a lot, the only rainy day in the whole season. It felt special, the vibes were amazing.

How do you plan to keep the spirit of Samarcanda alive in your life?

– I’m a very shy person when I’m not working. Samarcanda helped me face that fear of talking to people and be more confident in general. I think the best way to carry the spirit of Samarcanda is to be aware of the people around me, to smile everywhere I go, to be kind and caring. By working here, I experienced how much people appreciate it and how their day can change for good.

Describe your time here in three words.

Amazing. Rewarding. Challenging.

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How Ismael turned his summer into his dream job (and had fun along the way!)

Dorotea Rosic — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:52:17 +0000

Ismael López - My summer in Samarcanda!

In the first article of the Joyner Stories Blog, we present our Ismael, a talented sound engineer from South America, who worked in Samarcanda this summer. In this interview, Ismael shared his experiences, challenges and memorable moments that shaped him. Find out what his summer full of adventures looked like!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

– I am Venezuelan and (almost) Colombian. I am a sound engineer and my experience in entertainment industry and entertainment for hotels in different parts of the world made me want to try a new adventure in Croatia.

Was there anything that surprised you about the experience?

– Even though I love what I do and I enjoy it, the most surprising thing was the fun and joy I had. Colleagues become your friends and even your local family, and doing what you love with them is priceless.

What was the most memorable moment of your time here?

– As my role was DJ/Tech, for sure the music was the most signature and emblematic part of it. We started making goodies for the shows, creating anthems for friendships and using songs for particular moments. This way every time we hear the song, we remember each other and the joy we had with these music.

How do you think this experience has shaped or changed you?

– The great thing about Samarcanda is that you always try new things and maybe discover new skills you never imagined you’d have. You arrived thinking you couldn’t do something, and at the end everyone will remember you for being the GOAT at it. This can go from animation to social skills. It’s beautiful.

What is one object, photo, or memory that perfectly captures your time in Samarcanda?

– Regarding this ‘anthem’ thing I mentioned earlier. I had my own goodie and tradition that after finishing the evening shows, or after closing our nightclub I played a song I liked for people to sing along. I think the most emblematic one during the season was Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, and there’s a video from my POV at the DJ cabin where the animation is singing it after the show, and EVERYONE in the audience was singing along with it. Also, Pool Party! Literal chills!

What advice would you give to someone considering a similar experience?

Are you kidding me? Go ahead! You won’t regret it. Trust me, you might even found the love of your life in the experience😜

How do you plan to keep the spirit of Samarcanda alive in your life?

Come on, it’s impossible not to keep it. You’d never hear Baby Shark the same way. Just kidding… The best thing that Samarcanda taught me is that you can have a lot of fun while working, and that joy is what bring people together. I try to use it as a motto for my personal and professional life.

If Samarcanda were a song, what would it be?

I suppose Occhi Negli Occhi is the correct answer officially, but for me it will always be Sofia by Alvaro Soler! (And of course Bettina Scordarella!)

If you have something to add, feel free to do it! 😊

I’m getting Flinky and Bizù tattoed if I make it to 5 years in the company.

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