ESC Stories

I arrived in Romania at 2 a.m. on February 1st, after a long day of traveling. This was the first time I ever flew alone, so I was already stepping outside of my comfort zone. I remember feeling anxious but also incredibly enthusiastic about what this project would hold for me.

In the first couple of weeks, I had the chance to meet my new roommates. Just thinking about the opportunity to live with people from different countries was amazing, but actually sharing a house and an experience like this was even better.

Around the third week of February, we had the On-Arrival Training (OAT). This is a 3-day online event where we met other volunteers in Romania, learned a bit about the country’s history and geography, and gained more insight into the European Solidarity Corps and the National Agency. This event was super helpful for bonding with other people and better understanding the program.

I like to say that February and March were the months of settling in, traveling around the country, and meeting new people! We visited Târgoviște, Bucharest, Craiova, Brașov, Mărășești, and more—the list goes on!

March was also when I met the kids in the Afterschool program and began planning and facilitating activities. I never thought I would be working in this field, even as just a volunteer, but I was already having a blast. Learning how to get the kids’ attention, resolve their conflicts, and play with them was truly amazing.

Sometimes it felt like a bit much—I wasn’t exactly used to being around 7 to 9-year-olds all the time—but I quickly adapted and found a new passion. I loved them with my whole heart!

As the months flew by, I also facilitated activities in local high schools on important topics like bullying, aggression, education, and more. It was super interesting to learn about their opinions on these matters, which helped me better understand their social and economic realities. I really enjoyed leading these activities, and I hope to continue them in Portugal.

One of the best memories I have from the Afterschool program is our trip to Sinaia with the kids. We visited the Peleș and Pelișor castles and made delicious gingerbread cookies.

When summer came, so did the Summer School. This was a bit more challenging than the Afterschool, but it went great. I had the opportunity to facilitate new kinds of activities, like pottery lessons with air-dry clay and English lessons.

In the Summer School, we also visited Snagov’s City Hall and met the mayor, toured the botanical garden in Bucharest, and explored Destiny Park. At Destiny Park, the kids had the chance to try out different careers, like policeman and construction worker. Seeing them happy and having fun was the best feeling ever.

Overall, it’s safe to say this ESC project was life-changing! These past 6 months helped me realize what I would like to do professionally and how to make it a reality, which was my biggest goal in coming to Romania. I met the kindest and most amazing people that I hope will be a part of my life forever. Returning to Romania sometime in the future is definitely in my plans!