Eat cake and have it too!

The weather held up - though overcast for most of the day, so off we went for a pre-Easter party with our neighbours and presented our contribution - the cakes!

(Well, just because we're in Romania, doesn't mean that we can't take a little bit of British culture, after all Coke and Pepsi have flooded the world with American culture).

We also took a 'Duggy-Egg' salad and toast to nibble on before the main meal which was also well recieved and a nice, savory start to the banquet which followed.

Anyway, the cakes were very much appreciated and eaten before, during and after the main meal, even though the Simnel cake was cobbled together with ingredients which could be found in Romania. In fact, they were so much appreciated that our host was seen to eat a total of 8 pieces and growled if anyone else moved in.

Everyone had a good time, and left with very full tummies or just fell asleep where they were sitting.

(P.S - We did leave some cake at home, so more today following a lovely roast lamb dinner which is just about to be popped in the oven).

Easter Saturday

Well, today the weather is a little wet and drizzly, but not too big a problem as Easter Saturday is the day for cooking in Romania. Many people will fast today, so to get their fill of food, they will prepare the banquet which will be eaten after the midnight service of celebrating the light in the world.

So, we have dyed the eggs, made the Simnel cake (a little tradition from the UK needs to be kept), banana-choc cup cakes for the children and we're off to the neighbours for the start of Easter festivities.

Together at two o'clock in the morning we shall make our way up to the church on the hill and welcome the light together, circling the church with our candles before taking communion.

Happy Easter.

Easter in Romania (coming soon!)

Whilst many of you celebrated Easter last weekend, here in Romania, we have Orthodox Easter on its way this weekend!

So now the children are all off school and having fun in the sunshine, whilst the family prepare the house and food for a wonderful Easter feast.
The children are very excited and want to be a part of the Easter celebration prepa-ration, so the programme is all about Easter, Easter tradition and of course Easter eggs!

In other areas, Easter is a very busy time of year, the planting has started and all around the gardens and fields are sprouting new growth. The painting and spring cleaning is well on its way too, everyone is busily working so that the house is spick and span for any visitors that might arrive during the holiday.

Lamb is the main dish here for Easter (and in fact the only time of year that you can buy it, which disappoints be lots!) Eggs are leaping of the shelves as they are bought to dye ready for everyone to play ‘egg tapping’ on Easter Sunday, but more about that in a few days’ time!


Happy Easter!

May Madness - Volunteer for Less than £220/week

May Madness
Volunteer with children in Romania for less than £220/week** with our May Madness Programme.

You’ll have to run to catch this one!

Volunteer with a friend between 1st and 31st May, and you both get the experience for half price, on all two and four week stays within this period.

So pay only £635** each for 2 weeks, or £875** each for a 4 week stay.

The programme in May is quite different to the summer programme. You still get all of the necessary pre-departure support, on programme training and in country support.  Everything remains the same with the exception of the length of the day, which stops at 13:00 instead of 17:00.

Why not take a look at this and other offers on http://www.volunteerromania.eu/Special-Weeks.php  for more details, or drop us a line on contactus@volunteerromania.eu and we will have a chat with you about your options.

*Pick-up for 1st May start is 3rd May   **Usual price £1270 for 2 weeks, £1750 for 4 weeks.

The Children's Homes

When I first came to Romania the state ‘orphanages’ (as they were called then) were horrendous by western standards, just like the TV reports I had been seeing, but one thing I noticed here in Deva was that the children were happy and the staff loved them which is what counted to them. They didn’t care about the toilets not having seats, doors or even partitions between them, they were just happy to be loved.

Here we all are together and these smiles were always there, not just for the photograph.
 

Now, I am pleased to say that the standard of living has improved greatly. All of our children now live in a ‘family’, ten children share an apartment with one nanny. The children are of varying ages (just like in a real family), but all of the same gender. (There are 160 children)

Each morning, the children go to school and each afternoon return ‘home’, and do their homework or attend our English school. During school holidays, we plan a programme for them which is educational, but fun and they love it. When we arrive they are all there waiting and waving, in anticipation for the surprises ahead.

We try to have a theme for the week, always starting the year at the Eater break and moving on with the olympics, pirates, gardening, swimming, painting, pottery, recycling and any others that we think up along the way.

In future weeks, we will show you how we worked last year, so that you can start thinking of what you might bring to the project when you visit us. Don’t forget to sign up now for the Easter special, 2-4-1 http://www.volunteerromania.eu/Special-Weeks.php

Sometimes we take them on trips, sometimes we all go to the garden and help with the vegetables, always we have fun!



Our new arrival

Volunteer Romania is pleased to announce the arrival of Alison Richardson-Douglas to their team.

Alison is very experienced in volunteering, starting her tour in Romania many years ago and having been Country Director for the international volunteering organisation GVI. She is fully qualified in Programme and Project Management, Health and Safety also a First Aid Trainer, as well as being fluent in English and Romanian! So we will be in good hands.

Arriving in Romania in 2000, she has lots of stories to tell about her time here, and has been featured in the local and National press a few times too, so keep an eye out in future blogs for the occasional snippet.

Alison will be our Programme Director.

International Womens Day

Every year Romanians celebrate 8 Martie, Ziua Femei. A beautiful tradition, that doesn’t depend upon whether you are a mother or not, all you have to be is female.

On this day wherever you go, you will be presented with a flower, in the bank, in the hardware store, or just in the street flowers will be given to you from men or children. Female friends will give each other flowers, teachers will arrive home with arms full of bouquets.

So whilst the celebrations of spring were only 7 days ago, it really has arrived by today, a day worth going shopping and wandering around town.

All you men out there, don’t worry, of course with the entry into Western Europe, you get your day too. No lady knows when this is, but you can be sure that when it arrives, the men will remind you!

So a very happy Ladies Day to the ladies (and to the men – just in case)