Projects Abroad - Volunteer Programs in Romania

After being in Romania for 13 weeks my entire life has changed forever.
I had tried to get into veterinary assistant-school for three years, and I kept getting letters back, saying: "Thank You for Your application, but We cannot employ You at the moment". I was dissappointed and I felt like my life was falling apart. I started looking at other subjects to study, but none of them interested me as much as the work with animals.
I decided to do something extra-ordinary, hoping the clinics in Denmark would see my passion for working with animals, and three months later I was on my way to Romania.
It was the journey of my life, and I'll remember it forever! I found lifetime-friends, I fell in love with Romania and I found myself! When i returned to Denmark my friends got a whole new Signe back, and they like her, just as much as I do ;)
The most important thing about my trip to Romania was my job, where I worked at a shelter and a clinic. It is because of this, I finally got accepted into veterinary assistant-school, and cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunaty! Thank you Projects Abroad - without You I would never be able to do what I love for the rest of my life! A special thanks to Projects Abroad in Romania for their support, advices and for being their whenever we needed them! All of you have a place in my heart, and I'll never forget anyone of you!

I spent two months in Romania doing a physical therapy placement and loved every single minute of it. Before this experience, the only time I had spent abroad was a week of an alternative spring break trip with 14 of my classmates, so I was a little nervous about going so far from home on my own. Those worries disappeared the minute I arrived to see the Projects Abroad sign in the airport. The staff was incredible at making me feel at home and trying to morph my experience into what I was looking for. For example, when I wanted a different experience from my placement, they had one set up for me within the week.

My placement was at Hospice Casa Sperantei where I worked with children with lifelong disabilities and terminal illnesses. The physiotherapist I shadowed was amazing and really invested in teaching me. I was allowed to touch the patients, interact with them, feel their stiffness and crooked spines: experiences I hadn't had shadowing physical therapists in the US. I left this experience with no doubt that this was what I wanted to do as a career. I was so excited about it, I actually filled out almost all of my physical therapy school application while I was abroad!

Being abroad over the summer was awesome. Since you can come and go when you want with Projects Abroad, I crossed path with 40some volunteers from all over the world. Every night we would meet up for dessert or karaoke or coffee, and on the weekends there was always someone to explore the country with. We became so close that I will always call them my Projects Abroad "family".

I learned so much in Romania about myself and what I wanted in life. I met some incredible people and learned not only a ton about Romania, but the places where my fellow volunteers were from too. All of this with the beautiful Romanian backdrop, the summer I spent there was the best of my life.

A small city in the Eastern European country of Romania is not where many people would go. However, for me, it was the most amazing 1-month experience I could have asked for and my choice to volunteer with Projects Abroad was the best decision ever. This summer I spent 1-month in a medical internship in Brasov, Romania through Projects Abroad. Preparing for my trip, I had no idea what to expect but the PA staff were with me from the time I considered a project. With frequent check-ups before my arrival in Romania, my friend and I felt ready to go to a new place. After travelling across time zones we arrived in Romania and it was unlike any place I had been before. The structure of the Projects Abroad program is what made it such a special experience for me. I lived with a host family and had a placement at a local care center for children with Down Syndrome. When I wanted more medical experience, the PA staff immediately gave me an opportunity to work in the local hospital as well with doctors and other Romanian college students. The freedom and flexibility of this program appealed to me the most. After being taught transportation and directions to work and the city center, we were responsible for attending every day. We could plan our own trips with other volunteers and if we ever had any questions, the PA office was just a 10 minute walk and the staff was more than happy to help plan. Romania was a place I had never before thought about going to, but ever since I returned to America, I can't stop talking about it. The friendships I made through my 1 month in Romania are more than I could have asked for. Projects Abroad was fantastic in every aspect of this trip and made my experience the way it was. Projects Abroad is a wonderful organization and I hope to participate in another program with them. I feel that everyone should participate in such eye-opening and life-changing experience.

When considering where to travel for my international volunteer experience Romania was an interesting choice because it seemed like the perfect mix of old and new. What I did not realize about this experience is how profoundly it would change my life. The memories that I have made while working with the children and staff at projects abroad will forever stay with me. For anyone considering volunteering abroad, either for themselves or school, I would strongly recommend projects abroad Romania. The experience and the staff were incredible and became like family while I was there, but like any experience remember to be open to those things that are different, retain a sense of humor when things go wrong and finally be adaptive and willing to change when things don't go exactly as planned.