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Name: Sarah Nash
Programme: Romania Childcare
Dates: June 2007
Please contact us for more information about volunteering in Romania
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How did you feel before you joined the programme?
I was really excited as I had travelled to Romania to work with children before and knew that it was the country that I wanted to be in. I couldn't wait to get there and get stuck in.
How did Real Gap assist you?
Real Gap answered any questions I had well and made me feel at ease about my journey there, and settling in with the projects once I was there. |
What was the accommodation like?
The accommodation was very comfortable, I was staying in the offices of the Romanian company and it had all the facilities I needed, including free internet access so I could let people back home know that I was still alive! It was also very convenient for the projects, some of which were just downstairs.
What did you think of the programme?
The programme was fantastic- the projects and the children there made the trip for me. The first week of the trip was difficult as I had lots of free time, but from the second week I was given more projects and chose to go to as many as possible which I think helped me get the most from my experience.
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What was the most memorable moment of your trip?
For me, one of the children from the hospital was the most memorable aspect of my trip. She was lovely, and such fun to play with- I was enjoying myself just as much as she was!
One day she drew me a picture- it is such a special souvenir to have and it was such a compliment that she wanted to do that for me. |
Did your project and destination meet your expectations? Any anecdotes?
Bucharest surpassed any expectations that I had- it is such a cosmopolitan city, yet in some ways it is not as developed as the UK. The people were very friendly but many couldn't fathom why we were there which was quite interesting. At all of the projects people made us feel welcome and the children weren't nervous about interacting with us which made what we were doing a lot easier!
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How have you benefited from your experience?
When I returned from Romania last year I felt I had learnt a lot about working with children, and about myself and how I rise to challenges. This year built on that for me, with all of my new experiences adding to what I already know.
What advice could you offer to someone considering this project?
Romania is a wonderful place and I think that everyone should travel there at least once in their life. While you are there you should take the opportunity to see as much of the country as possible. I have now seen cities, the mountains and the seaside in Romania and every different area is such a contrast to the next that you have to see them all to fully understand the country and its culture. You should also spend as much time at the projects as possible- it's up to you what you get out of this project and for me it was the children that made it such a rewarding experience. |
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