Experience:
Organisation:
Name: Lara
Hometown: Hereford
Destination: Romania
Project type: Teaching Drama and English
Organisation: Projects Abroad
What were your impressions of your destination?
Although Romania is in Europe, it feels as though you are on another continent. When I arrived it took awhile to get used to. Just seeing cars driving alongside a horse and cart was a bit of a culture shock. Living with a Romanian family and working with Romanian teachers helped as they introduced me to Romanian customs and food. By the end of my three months I did not want to leave, in a way it now feels like a second home. Brasov is one of the most beautiful cities on the earth completely surrounded by snow capped mountains (even in the summer) and forests. It is also so untouched by tourism so you go away really feeling you got the 'Romanian Experience'.
Was the work interesting and challenging?
I really enjoyed the work, especially when I was teaching drama. As Romania has joined the EU teaching English in a classroom can be a little restrictive as you have to stick to the curriculum. However with the drama clubs you can go as wild and imaginative as the kids want. Also if you're willing to put the time and effort in you can cast, direct and show a play. Really it's down to you, Projects Abroad can place you in a project but the more you put into it the more interesting and challenging it will become.
What was your accommodation like? Did you feel comfortable and welcome at all times?
I was really lucky with my accommodation. I stayed with an old lady who spoke no English, and although this was quite daunting at the start it was really helpful in improving my Romanian. Her family lived in the same block of flats and her grand daughter was a professional actress and she helped me with my drama programme. Although the flat was small, my room mate and I were always given our own space. Looking back I'm glad Projects Abroad placed the volunteers with a family rather than all the other volunteers living together. It meant we got to experience the culture, food and the customs. It was one of the highlights of my stay.
Were you happy with the organisation and the staff that were responsible for you during your stay?
Before I left I rang up the Projects Abroad Office and they gave me the e-mail of the country manager. This allowed me to ask him specific questions relating to my programme and the country which was really benefical. They also gave me the e-mails of other volunteers who would be out there at the same time. The in country staff were amazing and would go out of their way to help me. This included driving me to the hospital and staying with me when I had an eye infection, organising nights out and meals at the office and drawing me maps showing me the way to the local cinema. They also helped me to organise places to rehearse my students and a theatre for the play to be shown. You really felt you could rely on them and they became more like friends than anything else.
Do you feel that you got value for money on the project?
Yes. When I was first saw the prices I thought they were quite high. Then I carried out research into other companies and similar projects and saw that Projects Abroad was actually one of the cheaper companies. For the service I got before I left, whilst I was there, and after I left was amazing.
Would you recommend the project to others?
Yes
