Care & Community Volunteer Stories, Romania

Stephanie Bryant - Care in Romania As I rode through the Carpathian Mountains on my way from Bucharest to Brasov, I could feel the anticipation and excitement grow. Was I really here? Did I really leave the country for the first time all by myself into a world that was completely unknown to me? Yes I did, but somehow I wasn't scared. The wild, unmanicured countryside was breathtaking, and I couldn't wait to get to Brasov and see what else was in store.

Care in Romania – Sara Griffiths I remember distinctly sitting in Birmingham airport awaiting my flight; I was overwhelmed by a nervous excitement. A few hours down the line, two flights and a rather bumpy, hair raising car ride later I had arrived in Brasov. This was to be my home for the next month and what a home it would turn out to be.

Care in Romania - Phillipa Beston After two years of waiting and planning, finally I arrived in Bucharest airport. Before I set off for London Heathrow Airport, I was apprehensive to say the least. This was my first time travelling alone and taking part in a project like this. Had I known everything would run smoothly, I would have been a bit more composed once I got to Romania and was met by the desk officer, Alex. From then on, it was good to know I was in safe hands.

Care & Community in Romania - Valerie Case I never thought that I would have the opportunity of taking part in volunteer care work in Romania but after being made redundant as a teacher I seized the chance to join my friend Rosie on a 'senior' gap experience. I left behind a rather bemused husband giving him lists of instructions on how to operate the washing machine, put on a clean duvet cover and water the house plants, but the ironing he would have to negotiate with his mother.

Care & Community in Romania - Rosemary Prebble Romania had been in my head since the revolution but I didn't actually imagine I would ever go there. When I decided to retire from my job as a teaching assistant, specializing in special needs, I found myself on the internet searching for voluntary work with children in Romania. Before I knew it, I had booked up to go for 3 months. I am 61 and had never been on a plane before!

Care & Community in Romania - Laura Parker University ended and we all asked ourselves, "What now?" Six months later, many of my friends had started jobs or returned to school, and I found myself still asking, "What now?" Throughout University I had enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from many different countries and to learn a lot about global politics and developing nations. This led me to desire to travel abroad as a volunteer and try to help in a hands on situation in one of these nations. A lot of my friends found themselves in similar situations with similar desires. I think many people have the idea in the back of their heads of wanting to provide assistance abroad in developing nations, but are never sure how to go about it. Once they know how, it is often too difficult because of financial reasons and other responsibilities back home.

Care & Community in Romania - Addison Fickas I arrived in Bucharest late at night exhausted, jetlagged, and harried after a day and a half of travel, struggling with my luggage and a bit lost in the heat of a Romanian summer. The hottest it gets back home in dreary Washington State is about 60 degrees. It was nearly two in the morning when I actually opened the door of my host house and met Nuti, my host mother, and Lorna, another volunteer I was to be sharing a room with for the next three months. Nuti spoke very little English, but Chris, a Projects Abroad staff member who picked me up from the airport, managed to translate the conversation and I was soon asleep in my bed.

Care & Community in Romania - Richard Edney On the 6th February, I arrived at Bucharesti Airport, România, to begin two months voluntary work in a state orphanage. I was soon greeted by a sea of faces at Arrivals, but quickly managed to pick out the board which read 'Projects Abroad'. After introducing myself to Danielle (my care supervisor), we set off on the long three hour taxi journey to the medieval mountain town of Brasov, in central România.

Care & Community in Romania - Chris Wyatt On Wednesday the 8th of January I discovered a deceptively big country called Romania and a beautiful mountain town called Brasov. I had decided to do a care project as I thought it would be the most rewarding for me and Romania had been sold to me by one of my friend's mum who in fact is Romanian herself.

Care & Community in Romania - Jo Cope I arrived in Romania on a cold, snowy afternoon in March. I felt very nervous and wondered what I was doing leaving the comfort of my home to come to this strange looking place... I was only supposed to be in Romania for four weeks, but I ended up cancelling my flight home and returning after six weeks and then went back again within three weeks of getting home.