To Romania and Back

The summer after my senior year of high school I had no plans besides sitting around and waiting to ship to Boston for school, across the country from my Texas home. I decided this was my year to do something meaningful – to go out and explore, a luxury I knew I wouldn’t have once I entered the ‘real’ world of college classes and working my way through school. I found Project's Abroad by exploring my options online, and chose Romania through a series of eliminations and reconsiderations. It was the best decision I ever made.
The first summer I volunteered with Project's Abroad I participated in a Care Project. 3 days into my trip I started my Care project in Budila, a tiny town that took me two bus transfers to get to every morning. I worked in a sibling foster home with 10 children who no longer had parents, but still had their brothers and sisters. The communication with these children, kids who were kept from me by a massive language barrier, became almost barbaric but we came together and formed a fun bond. Each day we would do an activity I brought, anything from floor puzzles to painting pots to making bracelets, and we would play outside on their massive lawn. I taught them how to play new games, they used me as a pawn in theirs, and we taught each other how to count to 10 – something I practice daily just to remember how sweet and eager they were.
My second summer in Romania was spent on a veterinary volunteer trip. I traveled by bus to a small animal clinic in the city and was able to assist with surgeries, play with animals and work with grooming. I volunteered with my good friend from the summer before and had a blast!
I also felt that I was well supported by the volunteer coordinators in my country. They really went above and beyond in making me feel welcome and safe. I traveled internationally by train on the weekends on both of my trips and I was assisted with buying tickets, planning my trip and kept in contact with staff while I was away. All in all, both of my trips were life changing experienced that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I made some great friends, saw some amazing places, and ultimately fell in love with a corner of the world I probably would have never visited normally.