Second Month Excitement

As my second month in Romania came to an end, I realized how quickly time has been passing. By now, things are starting to feel more familiar, and I’m getting more comfortable with the people, the environment, and our daily routines. This month was full of new experiences, trips, activities, and, of course, plenty of memories

This month, we had the opportunity to visit Constanța with a group of volunteers. It was nice to get out of Miercurea Ciuc, explore a different city, and spend some time together outside our usual routine. I would say that the ride to the Airbnb was a great bonding experience. However, the funniest part was probably arriving and seeing the building. From the outside, it looked completely ruined! Luckily, once we entered, the actual place was really nice. Travelling with the other volunteers is always a good opportunity to get closer and create new memories.

One of the highlights of this month was definitely Halloween week! The Powerpuff Girls decided to dress up with cat ears when we visited the foster homes to bring some spooky Halloween spirit to the children. We also had a Halloween party where we could enjoy the celebrations, spend time together, and get into the Halloween spirit. It was a fun change from our usual activities and a great opportunity to enjoy some time with everyone.

Another interesting experience was visiting Arton Marton High School. We prepared a presentation for the students and organized different games to make the activity more interactive and enjoyable. It was a great opportunity to meet local students, share information, and interact with them in a different environment. Activities like these remind us that volunteering is not only about what we teach others but also about what we can learn from the people we meet.

Something else that happened this month was a CrossFit activity that all the volunteers ,including some of the staff, participated in. We started by doing some individual warmups to then continue in a partner exercise. When that was finished we continued into getting into groups of four to compete against each other in various games. In the end all the pain we got after that was worth it since my team won.

Overall, my second month has been filled with new experiences and opportunities. From travelling to Constanța and celebrating Halloween to visiting a local high school, every activity has added something different to my experience. I’m slowly getting more comfortable with my surroundings and building connections with the people around me, even though we have also had to say goodbye to some important people along the way. I guess that’s also part of the experience: meeting people, creating memories, and learning that not everyone will be there for the entire journey. Nevertheless, I am excited to see what the next month will bring and what other experiences are waiting for us!

Until next month! ❤️

-Nadia

Update On My Life In Csíkszereda After 1.5 Months

Information: As I wanted to focus on truly expressing my thoughts, I wrote the blog post in German and then had it translated to English with DeepL.com, as I did last time 🙂

I’ve been living here in Csíkszereda for almost two months now. It’s actually pretty hard to describe everything that’s happened and what I’ve experienced, simply because I’ve already settled into my daily routine here. And somehow, quite a lot has happened.

So yeah, it’s actually not that easy right now to put into words what I’ve experienced over the last two months and what this time has meant to me. That’s why I’ve decided to just share a few thoughts here that feel right at the moment and give an overview of my time here.

1.    I like the freedom and independence I have here

I’ve lived with my family my entire life so far. In practice, that meant I didn’t really go grocery shopping, I didn’t have to do my laundry, I’ve never cleaned a bathroom, I usually didn’t cook for myself, and I didn’t really keep track of my finances. These are all things I do regularly here – or rather, have to do. And surprisingly, I’ve realized that I actually enjoy doing most of these things (though I still miss eating with my sister). For example, I have an incredible amount of fun going grocery shopping and letting the products at Lidl, Kaufland, or dm (my usual shopping spots here) inspire me. By the way, the stores here already feel totally familiar, and I know exactly which shelf to find my vegan coconut yogurt and my other well-hidden go-to products on, for example. To get back to the main point (I got a little sidetracked talking about my love of shopping): I’m surprisingly happy with my new responsibilities because they give me a previously unknown sense of freedom and flexibility that I really appreciate.

2.    Work’s fun but challenges are part of it I guess

Our actual project at the foster homes has been running for 3 weeks now, and I can say that I’m happy with it. The three of us (Nadia, Alexa, and I) work really well together as a team; everyone has their own responsibilities, we stick to our agreements, and we put together a great program for the children and teens every week. I also feel that working on this project together has brought us even closer personally, which I think is really nice :). It’s also really enjoyable with the kids because they participate so well, look forward to seeing us, and sometimes even give us hugs when we say goodbye.

Still, it’s sometimes a little difficult because most of them can’t, or won’t, speak much English, so Alexa has to do a lot of translating. That works out great in itself, but I know I could connect with the kids on a different level if I could understand Hungarian fluently. And yes, to be honest, some days that one hour at the foster home drags on, or I’m just already tired in the evening and don’t have 100% energy left. But I also know that we’re important to the kids and that our work can make a small difference in their lives. And yes, that’s why I came here in the first place 🙂

3.    The people I’ve met here

At the beginning, there were 18 of us volunteers in the house, which at first sounds pretty exhausting and like a lot of chaos. But based on my experience here, I have to say, contrary to my initial expectations, that all the other people around me are the greatest benefit of the entire project. We don’t just live together – we work together, spend our free time together, cook, eat, laugh, play cards, watch movies, and share personal things. And in the process, we’ve become friends (though, by the way, that wasn’t always easy with some of them. One person has such high standards that, after just a few weeks together, he said quite bluntly when I first asked, “No, we’re not friends.”; But now we are friends and have even taken a friendship photo. Actually, we should be celebrating an anniversary next year).

Aside from a few questionable friendships, things feel pretty close with the rest of the group now, and I feel like we’ve grown closer over the last 1.5 months. That makes it all the sadder that another volunteer left us last week. Someone who was an incredibly important, fun part of the group, who also had the best movie recommendations and is an insanely good pianist.

So yes, thank you to all the people I have around me here. Even though I wouldn’t have thought so at first, that’s the biggest benefit of this project (even if it hurts when people leave). Plus, we’ve welcomed four new volunteers, which means I’ve got a new roommate, I’ve met my super-nice mentor, and I’ve gotten to know some great people outside the Care2Travel volunteer group.

(just a bunch of nice people you can see on the photos ⬆️⬇️ 🙂 )

A quick summary, since it hasn’t been long enough yet: The city and the people are awesome, I’ve learned to do my own laundry, I enjoy going shopping; and oh yeah, there’s also the project (which is actually really nice, too).

~ written by Sarah

Lately with the Powerpuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls

Me, Nadia, and Sarah have managed to become a pretty good team, and I genuinely love working with these two. There is something very nice about finding people with whom working feels less like work and more like something you actually want to do. Dream team, if you ask me.

We have also started a new tradition of taking daily selfies. Daily is a generous term, considering that some days we completely forget, but the intention is there.

And then there is our energizer. Shoutout to Sacha for the idea. Whenever we need a little boost, one of us announces, “PEAK OF ENERGY,” and all three of us respond with a collective “HUUU.” Is it scientifically proven to increase productivity? Probably not. Does it work on us? Absolutely. Sometimes all you need is to make a weird noise with your friends and continue your day.

Constanța: Seagulls, Sandcastles, and Questionable Sleeping Positions

Some of us went to Constanța for a little trip to the sea, which came with all the essential ingredients of a good story: sandcastles built by the boys, someone managing to sleep on two chairs pushed together, and me discovering my new favourite animal. The seagull.

We also met a very cute dog who decided to follow us all the way to our accommodation. Naturally, we named her Stalky. She was just a girl with a mission, and who were we to question it?

There was also a folk festival happening, which meant I got to listen to some songs by an artist I really like. A lovely little bonus to an already good trip.

We played Marco Polo, too, because apparently being adults is mostly about finding increasingly creative ways to entertain ourselves. Everything was fun and games until I hit my head against a wall. Don’t worry, it wasn’t that deep, and the fun continued. If anything, it added a little plot development to the trip.

Back to the Houses

The Powerpuff Girls also had their first visit to the foster care homes, and this was probably one of my favourite parts of the whole experience so far.

It was so good to see the kids again. They were genuinely happy to see us, and I think I was even happier to see them. There is something about being welcomed back by kids who remember you and are excited that you’re there that makes the whole thing feel worth it.

We’ve already started doing some interesting activities with them, including things connected to this year’s main topic: the environment.

We have environmental bingo, which is a fun way to sneak a little learning into the games, and our weather report activity. For the latter, everyone chooses a weather phenomenon — rain, thunder, sunshine, whatever speaks to them that day — and uses it to describe how they feel.

I really like this one because it gives everyone a way to express themselves without having to explain everything directly. Sometimes you’re not ready to say you’re having a bad day, but you can say you’re a thunderstorm. And somehow, everyone gets it.

The girls have also been getting along really well with the kids, which makes me very happy. Seeing them connect and find their own way of working with the children has been lovely.

Karaoke, Parties, and the Art of Doing Absolutely Nothing

Of course, we don’t spend all our time being responsible volunteers. Every Friday means karaoke night, and we also go to parties together. There is something very funny about spending your day preparing educational activities and then spending your evening singing songs with the same people. Balance, I suppose.

But we also have our quieter days. Sometimes the only reasonable plan is to stay in, have a game night, and colour mandalas with Nadia. Just existing in the same room and enjoying the company.

We’ve also had plenty of interesting conversations, the kind that start with one random question and somehow end up somewhere completely unexpected. At some point, we even took a test to find out whether we were black cats or golden retrievers. To my great surprise, I am apparently a black cat.

Halloween, but Make It Educational

Halloween week meant visiting the kids with cat ears on. We also prepared Halloween-themed activities, which gave us an excuse to bring a little spooky atmosphere into the houses. And honestly, any activity becomes at least 30% more interesting when you add Halloween to it.

We finished the week with a Halloween party at the house, complete with hide-and-seek, Rage Cage, and some truly questionable costume decisions.

I went as a black cat. Very original, I know. But the others made up for my lack of creativity: we had a bride before and after the wedding, Ceaușescu, Bob the Builder, the Joker, and, of course, more cats.

Until next time, stay tuned for more updates from the Powerpuff Girls and the rest of our little story.

Alexa, the seagull enthusiast.

A New Chapter in Miercurea-Ciuc

Before I started volunteering, I did not really have a specific goal for this year. I had just finished university and wanted to try something new. I was also curious about volunteering because I had never really understood why so many people choose to do it. I wanted to meet people from other countries, improve my English and communication skills, develop my problem-solving skills and become more confident while helping others.

My first week was very exciting, but also a little stressful. I did not know the other volunteers yet, so I did not know their habits or what they considered normal. When people from different countries and cultures live together, small differences can sometimes cause problems. Luckily, everything went well. We had some different opinions, but we were able to talk about them and find solutions together. We also went out into the city and had a good time.

Coming back to Miercurea-Ciuc was also a good feeling for me. I spent three years here as a university student, so I already knew the city and missed its atmosphere and the community I became part of. I’m glad that I can spend another year in this city.

During the first weeks, I also had the On-Arrival Training. Some parts were interesting and useful, while other parts were less useful for me. Since I was born in Romania, some of the information about Romania and what is considered polite or impolite was already familiar to me. However, I really enjoyed the activities where we worked together and talked about ourselves. One of my favorite activities was the “persona”, where we presented how we currently feel about the project and how we think we might change during the year. We also talked about our roles, strengths and weaknesses, which helped us understand each other better.

After the On-Arrival Training, we also had the chance to visit Sighișoara together with the other volunteers. We explored the city, visited some museums and tried some local restaurants. One of the most interesting places was a restaurant where Vlad Țepeș was presented in a vampire-themed way. Overall, it was a really exciting experience, and it was nice to discover the city together.

We have also started learning more about our projects. My project is an After School Club, where I will help children with English. I am looking forward to meeting them and finding creative ways to teach them.

Now that the first weeks are over, I am excited to start my activities. I know that everything may not go exactly as planned, but I am ready to learn from the experience, try new things and see how I can help the children.

~Lehel

My Journey in Transylvania

Hello everyone, I’m Sacha 23 years old from France. Before coming here I was a psychology student and since I don’t have studies anymore I wanted to use this pivot year to do a volunteering in a foreign country.

We arrived one month age, since then we’ve done a lot of things: travels, meetings, trainings, parties and group activities.

I wanted to come here because since I have no Master’s degree, I wanted to use this year to do volunteering in another country. I needed to have time away from studies so I can think about my professional project, but also so I can learn a lot of new things (working with kids, teamwork, making up some projects…). To be honest, Romania wasn’t my first choice, but I’m very glad to be here because of my roommates, the association, which does things in a way that makes me comfortable and feel useful for a community, but also because of the landscapes that are so beautiful.

On the other hand, about the work. It started with (a lot of) meetings about living in a community, the county with its specificities, such as the Hungarian-Romanian co-living, the warnings about bears or even the way to act with kids. I learned a lot of things, and even if sometimes it was long, it was, in my opinion, a necessity for us to give the best work possible. We also had On-Arrival Training, which was more focused on teamwork, how the ESC works and working with kids. These trainings made me meet some other volunteers who are also in Romania. We talked about how life has been since we arrived.

Life in the house is also pretty fun and very stimulating. Most of the time, everyone is doing their own thing. Some people stay in their rooms, others are in the living room playing games, talking or watching something, while others are cooking together. We also do a lot of activities together such as hikes, waste collection or even parties during the week-end.

I really like this atmosphere because we all have our own personal space while still spending a lot of time together.

The cultural mix is also something I was looking forward to before coming here, and I am really enjoying it. Living with people from different countries allows me to discover other cultures, habits, traditions and ways of seeing things. Sometimes we spend hours talking about our lives, our countries, our experiences or simply discussing random topics. It really feels like a small melting pot of cultures, and I think this is one of the most interesting parts of the experience.

Overall, I have really enjoyed my time here since I arrived. I still have a lot of things to discover, learn and experience, and I am excited about the next few months. I also start working with kids, doing some introductions, games and playing football with them as a way to create a relationship with us so they would be more confident with us.

It’s so nice to discover how to work with kids, they are really open to meet new people and activities with them are way easier than what I was thinking before coming here.

I hope that life here will continue to be enjoyable and that everyone will feel comfortable and satisfied with the work we are doing. I know that there will probably be some difficult moments along the way, but I think that these challenges will also be part of what makes this experience valuable.

For now, I am really happy to be here and curious to see what the next few weeks will bring.

Sacha Prévot

My debut in Roumania

Why I’m here ?

My name is Anatole, I am French, but I live in Belgium. After finishing high school, I started studying communication and design. I only did it for one year because I didn’t really enjoy it. After that, I started working in primary schools as an after-school activity leader. It was a revelation! I absolutely loved it and felt like I had finally found my place. I then worked in holiday activity centres during school breaks, went on school trips with children, and worked at summer camps. I had the opportunity to work with all kinds of age groups, from 2 to 17 years old.

(me and my colleagues at summer camp)

After this amazing year spent working with children, I was able to achieve one of my dreams: going to China! I spent a whole month there, and it was a trip I will never forget.

(Chongqing, China)

After coming back, I had to think about what I wanted to do next. I wanted to go back to studying, and I was considering studying languages, especially Chinese. Unfortunately, the university did not accept my application, so I had to find a Plan B.

I have always loved adventure, discovering new places and travelling, so I found the European Solidarity Corps programme. When I saw this project in Transylvania, working in an after-school English club, I immediately applied. I thought it was perfect for me, considering all my previous experience working with children. And now, here I am! I can’t wait to really get started!

My life here is quite enjoyable. I have always loved being surrounded by nature, especially mountains, so I couldn’t ask for a better environment. The air is fresh and, for now, the weather is pleasant. Unfortunately, I know that this won’t last forever, as winters here are quite harsh!

I have met some amazing people from many different backgrounds, countries and cultures. I have become friends with the two other French volunteers, a German, a Romanian, an American and a Spanish volunteer, which makes us a very diverse and multicultural group.

The days at the office are quite enjoyable as well. The atmosphere is great, and there is a really good group dynamic. In my free time, I continue doing my creative activities, such as drawing and music. I also often go for walks to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. We also go out quite often together and do different activities.

We really took the opportunity to visit the country, we visited Brasov, Sighisoara. We even went for a weekend to the sea in Constanta!

So, for now, everything is going well. I am really enjoying my experience here, and I am very excited to finally start working in the schools!

Written by Anatole

My First Month in Csíkszereda

When I woke up at 4 a.m. on the morning of my departure, I was surprisingly not very nervous. My father took me to the bus station, and from there I travelled to Basel Airport. Since it was my first time flying alone, everything felt quite new. After arriving in Bucharest, I explored the city for a few hours before meeting two other German volunteers. Together, we travelled by train and bus to Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc), where we met the other volunteers at our accommodation.

I settled in very quickly and got along well with everyone from the beginning. During the first few weeks, we did many different activities together and got to know each other better. One of our first activities was a hike to the Belvedere Tower in Șumuleu, where we enjoyed the view of the surrounding area. We also went to a trampoline park, which was a lot of fun.

Another highlight was our trip to Sighișoara. We explored the beautiful old town, visited Dracula’s house and enjoyed some really good food. I really liked the atmosphere of the town, and it was great to discover another part of Romania together.

We also went on a weekend trip to Constanța, on the Black Sea coast. It was nice to spend some time by the sea and explore a different part of the country.

Overall, I feel very comfortable here. I have already developed a daily routine, know my way around the city and feel much more settled than I did at the beginning. Surprisingly, I have barely felt homesick so far. I really enjoy spending time with the other volunteers, and I am looking forward to all the experiences that are still ahead of me.

~Leo

One Month in Csíkszereda

I arrived in Csíkszereda a month ago, and a lot has happened already.

I chose to come here mainly for the mountains, the nature, and this unique region in Romania with its strong Hungarian culture. I wanted a total change of scenery, to live in a community, and to challenge myself, especially with English. It’s completely different from my life before, and I knew it would be a new adventure.

My project here is called Community Inclusion. I’m going to run Quiz Nights and Language Clubs to create some fun moments with the locals. I like the idea of bringing people together through games and activities. You don’t always need to speak the same language perfectly to have a good time with someone.

The language barrier is real, but people are cool about it. The other day at the supermarket, I totally stumbled over my words trying to say thank you. The cashier smiled and was just happy I tried to speak her language!

One of the biggest challenges for me so far has been adapting to working in English. It’s one thing to study a language, but it’s completely different when you have to use it every day to communicate, understand instructions and work with other people. And then there’s learning Hungarian through English, which makes things even more complicated! Sometimes my brain has to work twice as hard just to understand what’s going on. But I guess that’s part of the experience, and I’m slowly getting used to it.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that people here seem quite reserved and not always very outgoing at first. It’s quite different from where I come from, in the south of France, where people are generally more expressive and outgoing. It’s interesting to discover these cultural differences and to learn that people can communicate and connect in very different ways. I’m still getting used to it, but I think it’s an important part of living in another country.

One of my favourite moments this month was a walk in the forest. We walked all the way up to a viewpoint, and the view from the top was incredible. It was one of those moments when you can just stop for a while, look around and enjoy where you are. I came here partly for the nature and the mountains, so moments like this remind me why I wanted to experience life in this region.

Living here is also an opportunity to discover a different way of life, meet people from different backgrounds and learn things I wouldn’t have learned by staying in France. Of course, adapting takes time, especially when you have to communicate in a language that isn’t your own. Some days are easier than others, but every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

I still have a lot to discover, both about Romania and about myself. I hope to improve my English, become more confident when communicating with others and create some great moments through our activities. I also want to explore more of the region, spend more time in nature and learn more about Hungarian culture.

I just hope people feel my good vibes and enjoy the events. It’s only been one month, and there’s still a long way to go, but I’m curious to see what the next few months will bring!

My First Days in Romania

Starting my European Solidarity Corps experience in Romania has been a mix of excitement, new experiences, and meeting many new people. From the moment I arrived, I knew that these next few months were going to be something different and special.

My journey started when I arrived at Bucharest Airport. From there, I met the French volunteers who were also going to Miercurea Ciuc. We had a long journey ahead of us, but it was nice to already have people to travel with and start getting to know each other. We arrived in Miercurea Ciuc around midnight. Even though it was late and everyone was tired from traveling, we finally got to meet the rest of the volunteers. Instead of going straight to sleep, we decided to spend some time together and played UNO while getting to know each other. It was a simple but fun way to start our experience and break the ice.

The next day, we had lunch with our coordinator which gave us an opportunity to talk and get to know him and the other volunteers better. After that, we went on a city tour with another volunteer. We got to see different parts of Miercurea Ciuc and learn more about the place where we would be living and working. As the days went by, we started feeling more comfortable with each other and with our new surroundings.

One of the best parts of the beginning of the project was getting the chance to explore different places in Romania. Some of the volunteers went on a trip to Brașov, where we were able to  discover another beautiful Romanian city. It was a great opportunity to spend time together outside of the project and experience something new. We also had a trip to Sighișoara, this time with all of the volunteers. Exploring the city together was a really fun experience, and it gave us the chance to create memories as a whole group.

During the beginning of our project, we also took part in our On-Arrival Training. It helped us understand more about the European Solidarity Corps, our responsibilities as volunteers, and what we can expect from our experience. We also started doing team reflections, where we could talk about how things were going, share our thoughts and experiences, and discuss things that we could improve. I think these reflections are important because they help us communicate better and understand each other as a team.

These first days have already given me many new experiences. I have met people from different countries, explored new places, learned more about Romania, and started becoming part of a new community. Even though everything is still new, I am excited to see what comes next. I know there will be challenges, but I also know there will be many more opportunities to learn, grow, and create memories that I will remember for a long time.

-Nadia

My Journey To Csíkszereda

Information: As I wanted to focus on truly expressing my thoughts, I wrote the blog post in German and then had it translated to English with DeepL.com 🙂

Imagine you’ve absolutely no idea at all what you want to do after school, and actually, volunteering doesn’t sound too bad either (everyone does it in one way or another anyway, and it looks quite nice). The thing is, at a certain point, time starts to run out – when August suddenly begins and then, of course, comes to an end at some point, and at some point, in theory, university would start and various deadlines would come up.

In my case, at least, I’d been registered on the European Youth Portal since last winter, but I’d received quite a few rejections and’d completely given up hope that a volunteering placement through the ESK (= European Solidarity Corps) would work out from early/mid-September. When I then received an enquiry from Care2Travel at relatively short notice, I thought to myself, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose anyway’ ‘Why not?’ Long story short: after a phone call and a few emails, it became clear that in less than three weeks I’d be taking part in a volunteering project in Transylvania for 8.5 months. And that’s actually quite a cool thing – short notice or not, I was pretty lucky to have got into a project at all. So thank you!

And because this is my first blog post, and rambling on about the first three or four weeks here (we’ve actually been here that long already) would make the whole thing a bit too much, I’ll pick up where I left off: the journey here. For me, that was actually quite special. I actually set off two days before my actual arrival date, as I travelled the entire route from Aschaffenburg to Csíkszereda by train.

From Aschaffenburg to Munich, where I stayed with relatives, I set off early on Sunday morning for Vienna, where I got to know Vienna Central Station during my five-hour wait (it’s really big and quite nice, but on Sundays most of the shops were closed – a bit of a shame, really 😦 ).

At 7 pm, I finally boarded the first night train of my life, which took me to Brașov in 15 hours. I’d recommend giving the experience a go in itself, but unfortunately, at least in the seated compartment, I didn’t sleep all that well with two men snoring loudly right next to me, bright train lights, the occasional horn, and regular ticket and passport checks. Otherwise, though, it was brilliant. Joking aside, the journey wasn’t exactly comfortable, but most of the people I met on the train were really nice and helpful. Plus, it’s just a cool experience to have, and of course it’s a more climate-friendly way to travel than by plane.

Having arrived in Brasov with my huge suitcase, I hopped on a two-hour regional train and, before I knew it, I’d reached Csíkszereda after 2.5 days. I was very pleasantly surprised by everything there (meeting other volunteers, the town, the accommodation – by the way, I’m the only one with a single room…). But to wrap things up, I’d say those are stories for another day – or rather, another post 🙂

written by Sarah 🙂