Volunteer in Teaching in Romania

I can’t say enough to recommend that you consider a trip to Romania via IVHQ and their local partner, Care2Travel, at least once in your lifetime (although it is possible that the experience will be so lovely that, like me, you will long to return). The preparation and attention to detail provided by the Care2Travel team mean that your comfort, safety and opportunity will always be foremost. The accommodation on a quaint pedestrian-only main street of the city of Csikszereda provides a place where you immediately become family with a cast of international characters. Mine were from Brazil to the Philippines, New Zealand to Malta. They included 18-year olds in search of adventure, a young couple in love, and a 68-year-old woman who returned to revisit the joys of a previous visit. I have a new “brother” from Texas, who may be one of only a few people who love Romania more than I do. New “sisters” include a bubbly obstetrician and a woman from nearby New Jersey who shared my own sense of belonging. I chose to do the extra orientation week which gave me not only a chance to climb ladders 72 feet into the crown of a Jesus statue for incredible mountain views and to go 2700 meters below the earth into the Praid salt mines which host a bar, a cinema and an adventure park, but to also avail myself of extra Hungarian lessons, learning phrases specifically suited to my upcoming teaching project. When Murphy’s Law reared its head and the teacher I was to work with in Bankfalva became suddenly ill, Peter, the director of Care2Travel quickly adapted the program to include me in the afterschool program in another village for that week. I was seamlessly included in a project that allowed me to spend longer hours and more play time with kids than the teaching offered, and I made lots of new friends. Teaching resumed the following week at Bankfalva school with Peter himself standing in as a substitute, and my translator for classes. T think we made a great teaching team. Even though I had no formal teaching experience, I was able to interact with kids in grades 4 -8 by asking and answering questions and playing word games. The high point in my teaching experience came on my last day when I volunteered to participate in a service-learning project, helping the students pick up trash throughout the village. The kids delighted in teaching me new words, including the one for horse poop, and even pointing out their own houses. I delighted in setting an example as a 66-year-old American woman reaching into streams and gutters to retrieve garbage right alongside the students. We collected about 30 full bags of trash that morning. When asked how much value the communities receive from short term volunteers like me, Peter answered that even one chance for a student to be successful in a conversation with an English speaker can foster enthusiasm for the whole class to understand the benefits of learning English. His explanation game me comfort in understanding my role and value here. I also had the chance to visit the animal care project when one of my flat mates generously took time on her day off from that project to walk there with me. We spent time socializing and playing with puppies. There’s nothing like some puppy time to fend off homesickness! One last treasured opportunity Care2Travel gave me was the ability to participate in the local community. Through both quiz night and weekly English Club I met and was befriended by locals who taught me so much about the Hungarian heritage of this part of Romania. It was not unusual for me to meet one of these locals on a walk through the city and to be invited for coffee or a beer as if we were old friends. I’ve never had such a rich 3 weeks in my life. So…. come with an open heart and an open mind to volunteer in Romania. Through Care2Travel you will share who you are and be given so much more in return, no matter your age, background, or ability. Take the first step on the journey of a lifetime. Fall in love with a place that will let you into its heart, with people who will remember you always. I, for one, can’t wait to return.

I worked with volunteer HQ and wow! I literally had 24/7 support from all my instructors and superiors. The students were always engaged in my schools and the gratitude they showed me every day made me feel like I made a difference. The food is absolutely fantastic in Romania and the culture immersion is such a blast. I was taken around the city by a few high schoolers who just talked and talked it was such a cool experience. The locals keep to themselves but are willing to chat if you approach them. Getting mocked by 3rd graders WASNT my idea of fun until it happened every day. These kids are so bright and welcoming it makes you hope to see them every day.

The local team did a really great job in supporting me during the time I was volunteering. I felt a very strong connection with the kids I was teaching and it made me happy to see how enthusiastic the children were when we were present in the classroom! I also learnt many things about the local customs and culture. Overall, I had a positive experience on the program as not only did I get to see a new part of the world but I also got to see the smiles that I would put on people's faces!