Projects Abroad, Newsletters from Romania

When asked if I wanted to attend a traditional festival in the rural village of Halchiu, I became very enthusiastic as I had never really seen Romanian dancing, singing or even the costumes worn by people on special occasions before. I was going to get my first taste of a traditional event during my stay in Romania, so how could I refuse?

When December comes around in Romania, the anticipation of Christmas is thick in the air. Christmas, or ‘Craciun’, is generally considered to be the second most important religious holiday in Romania, after Easter. Many rich traditions are observed during ‘Craciun’, which include customs that date back more than two thousand years to Romania’s Dacian ancestry.

Visiting the Saxon region of Transylvania, encased by Sighisoara, Brasov and Sibiu, is a surreal experience and a must for everyone who wants to explore the soul of Romania. Traditions and habits from the past have been preserved so faithfully that exploring one of its small villages represents a real time jump into the past.

Sirnea reveals a soul you would not expect. This small village, part of the Fundata commune, together with Fundata and Fundăţica, does not owe its fame to a museum, a castle or a church. Tourists do not come here to pay a tribute to an old hero or a historically relevant event. What makes Sirnea a tourist attraction is its inestimable natural heritage. Walking down the un-tarmaced streets, pine and walnut trees, wild berries, nettles and willows welcome the visitor.

The medieval town of Brasov, where our journey begins, is very much a magnetic point within the Carpathians. Tourists looking to discover Saxon Transylvania are drawn to its picturesque historic centre, where a vibrant cosmopolitan life-style thrives within its 15th century walls. However, those looking to experience the warm heart of rural Romanian life must look further afield, and so, it is the quest for the bucolic romanticism that Romania is famed for that brings The Village magazine to Viscri.

The school system in Romania is extremely dogmatic, often the teacher reads out of the textbook and the children copy it down or repeat. Luckily most of the teachers we were working with were really open to new ideas and receptive to our input. The children were so eager to meet someone new and to have a chance to really explore the language. We were astonished at how grateful the teachers were and what a difference they said it made even to the most truculent of pupils.

The Seven Stairs refers to the levels of the waterfall, framed by a grouping of ladders that lead you up along its different levels. It is one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done.
The ladders next to the different sections of waterfalls were so neat; you could feel the mist from the waterfall as you made your - sometimes completely vertical - ascent...

Wandering through the ancient streets of a city as old as Brasov, visitors enter a setting so steeped in history it may feel intimidating, especially those not used to the old world setting of Europe. Plaques proclaiming the construction of town squares, streets and buildings over 500 years old can be somewhat daunting (historically speaking) to a newcomer.

The Junii Pageant in Brasov takes place every year on the first Sunday after the Orthodox Easter. It’s a colourful and fun event, and people from all across Romania travel to see it. During the parade, crowds cram the streets of Brasov, and it’s almost impossible to see your feet if you happen to be standing in the Council Square. Everyone wants to see the proud men, dressed in exquisite costumes, riding on horseback through the town.

Situated 160 miles from Brasov, Cluj- Napoca is an ideal destination for a weekend break. Here’s a quick guide to narrow down the city’s many options. Upon your arrival, discard your belongings. This is not to suggest, of course, that you alight your transport of choice (see below) and cast your bags aside; the best place to keep them, if comfort and excess is the theme of the weekend, is at the Continental.

Boil the potatoes in their shell. When ready peel them off and leave them for a few minutes to cool down. Then mince the potatoes and mix them up with flour, semolina, some salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar. The dough should be soft and a bit sticky. Take the seeds out of the plums – if you wish, according to your taste, you can put some sugar of some jam inside. Snatch pieces of dough, roll them in a quadrate shape, put a plum inside and then form medium balls of dough. Your hands have to be wet so the dough will not stick to your fingers.

The day of February 24th celebrates Dragobete, the Romanian mythological god of love and well-being. The myth that follows Dragobete is one of revenge and ill planning mother-in-laws. The mother of Dragobete, Baba Dochia, sends Dragobete’s wife to pick berries in the month of February. The young woman is helped by God, who helps her find berries to bring back to Baba Dochia. Upon seeing the berries, Baba Dochia believes that spring has arrived and so dons 12 lambskins for warmth to make her way up the mountain with her goats.

Being situated at the bottom of the Tampa Mountain, at the crossing of two ancient roads which linked Transilvania to Tara Romaneasca and Moldova, Brasov does seem like a Fairy Tale City. This is the name that our city has received during all winter holidays, as a proof of celebration.

The group at Pedagogic High School chose ‘Angels and Demons’ as their theme and performed the play called “Angel in Training”. Info High School divided into two groups, one taking the theme of ‘Angels and Demons’ with their play “Devil in Disguise”, and the other taking the theme ‘Shifts in Time’. Through a series of improvisation sessions and with direction from us, the volunteers, the groups eventually developed three scripts. The next step was memorization and rehearsal.

My flight landed in Bucharest on October 1st, just in time to see a beautiful, red sunset. I had four weeks of Care work ahead and, although a bit nervous, I was looking forward to getting stuck in. After a warm welcome from my host family and a couple of days of orientation from The Projects Abroad staff, I was feeling settled and eager to begin.

The Golden Stag Festival, a fixture in Brasov since 1968, has attracted some of the world's greatest performers, including James Brown, Christina Aguilera, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, and Pink. Brits Simply Red headlined this year's festival. These big names might draw crowds, but the heart of the festival is a competition between amateur performers for a 10,000 euro prize.

I’ve found that the Projects Abroad staff is always eager to help you make the most of your time here, as long as you express what it is that you want out of your experience. Overall I have enjoyed my time in Brasov. It has all of the characteristics of a Western European city, but you don’t have to look very far to find quite a lot of differences either. My one regret is that I wish I had made more of an effort to travel within Romanian early in my trip...
"My advice to any of the volunteers here would be to make the most of your time in Romania right from the start."

While I spent the majority of my placement at a small animal veterinary hospital to gain more experience in a clinical setting, I nonetheless observed the multi-faceted role that veterinary clinics play in a country greatly influenced by the presence of domestic and feral animals alike. Within the first week of my placement, a dog came in with a deep laceration alongside its flank; the laceration was caused by a stray dog in the neighborhood, so the cut needed to be properly treated with antibiotics to prevent the spread of bacterial infection.

Mmmm... food. There is a list of favourite treats to be found in Romania, from sweet to savoury. The most popular I have found is Mamaligia cu Branza (or Polenta with cheese). Made of boiled corn meal topped with cheese, the description doesn't sound appealing, but trust me it's good stuff. Other dishes to be tried are Sarmale (small pastries from a local chain called Fornetti), and Ciocolata Calda (a wonderfully thick hot chocolate, usually topped with whipped cream).

A group of volunteers arrive every morning at 9 o'clock at Sacele Hospital, for a new day of work. As usual, the main activities are: changing diapers, wet sheets, bathing the babies (if needed), and feeding the babies. They then go with them to the Hospital's playroom where the babies have a chance to play with their favourite toys and games.

In mid October, a Canadian veterinary volunteer from Kitchner, Ontario arrived in Brasov completely oblivious to the fact that she would shortly be falling in love. Placed at ‘Millions of Friends’ a local dog shelter, Laura Nutt spent her days assisting vets with the care of approximately 800 dogs housed at the shelter. Her role involved assisting with procedures, prepameals, and caring for hundreds of abandoned animals (including a house full of cats). It wasn’t long before she found love in the form of a young puppy named Marianna. Laura felt an instant bond...

The Junii Festival parade took place in Brasov on April 15, continuing a tradition dating back centuries. Consistently held on St. Thomas's Day (the first Sunday after Easter), the festival, lead by the seven brotherhoods of Junii, commemorates the spring season and the rejuvenation of nature. The brotherhoods, originating from the old Brasov district of Scheii, practice their time-honoured rituals and customs for weeks preceding the highlight of the festival: an elaborate display of Junii men dressed in traditional, colourful costumes on horseback through the town square.