Volunteering in Romania Changed My Life

In July 2016 I decided to leave the USA and volunteer with Projects Abroad in beautiful Romania. I was always interested in volunteering abroad and a friend recommended Projects Abroad. She spoke about the wonderful support of their staff, her life changing volunteer experience, and of how comfortable she felt during her time in Romania. Once I decided to volunteer I was immediately welcomed by Projects Abroad. Before I left for Romania my volunteer advisor, Carlos, emailed me several times to make sure I had all of my questions answered about accommodation, transportation, and general life abroad. Carlos was always available to answer questions any questions I had about Projects Abroad and my program in Romania.

When I arrived in Romania, I was greeted at the airport by one of the local Projects Abroad staff. Razvan was extremely helpful and I immediately felt at home. When I arrived at my host family's house he made sure I was all settled in and that if I needed anything I could always reach out. One of the best parts of my volunteer experience was my amazing host family. My "host mother" Rodica welcomed me into her home with a huge smile and I was happy that I practiced "hello" in Romanian so we could greet each other! Although there was a language barrier between us I knew that I could always come to her with any questions about my stay in Brasov. She was always available and she made sure I felt happy, safe, and that I was well fed! She made some of the best food I've ever eaten! I had no idea Romanian cuisine was so delicious! Staying with a host family in Brasov added another element to my volunteer experience that truly allowed me to immerse myself in the Romanian culture.

The Projects Abroad team in Romania helped me navigate my way through my volunteer program as I had many placements. One of the head coordinators, Ali, assisted me with my placements and she was always free to answer any questions I had about living and navigating Brasov. We quickly became friends!! She Overall, the entire Projects Abroad team was incredibly supportive and I will forever be thankful for them. Many times when I had questions or concerns they went out of their way to help me and make sure I was comfortable with all of my volunteer placements.

My experience with Projects Abroad allowed me to create life long friendships. Several of my fellow volunteers were from the United Kingdom, Australia, France, and the USA. During our free time from volunteering we took day trips together (visiting "Dracula's Castle" was a HUGE highlight) and shared coffee in the town square. We all bonded over our different volunteer experiences because each of us had a different focus for our projects. Overall, my volunteer opportunity in Romania allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream: to give back to others in need. Projects Abroad was pivotal in helping that dream come true and I can't wait to hopefully visit a different volunteer location someday! After I left Romania I had the confidence and the experience to travel abroad to Poland where I am now teaching as an English teacher. I learned skills from my Projects Abroad program that has made me a better traveler, teacher, and a better person. Thank You Projects Abroad!