Romania
Sunday 3rd of May 2015
Today we flew from Manchester airport to Amsterdam; I flew with Kim, Mr Boyle, Miss Clegg, Paige and Charlotte; we flew with KLM which was a very different standard of flying compared to when I have been on other holidays with my family. When we arrived at Schipol airport we were 20 minutes early, however our second flight to Bucharest arrived an hour and a half later. We finally arrived at Bucharest airport and we met up with the Danish students and their teachers. We then all travelled from Bucharest to Campulung, which took about three hours. Once we arrived at the school we were greeted warmly by our hosts. My host was called Sandra and she was very nice. After sorting our bags out and leaving them at our hosts houses, we went to the local park in Campulung we (the English, Danish and Romanian students) played charades and talked. After which we went back to our hosts homes. Today has been a long day.
Monday 4th of May 2015
Today we arrived at the school for a formal welcome, after which all of the students went to the World War mausoleum for the soldiers who fought to defend the Campulung region in Romania during the First World War. After which we went back into the town and visited an Orthodox church which was beautiful and the lady who let us in was from England, she was lovely. Afterwards we went to a local restaurant for a meal which was tasty. Sandra refused to let me pay for my meal, she paid. Myself and Kim worked out that our meals cost 22leu altogether which amounts to around £11 including drinks. Afterwards we all danced both Romanian and Greek dances until we became tired and went to our hosts houses and then to bed.
Tuesday 5th of May 2015
Today we visited ‘castelul bran’which is more commonly called Dracula’s castle, it was breath-taking and the history behind it was so interesting. Afterwards we saw Brasov and Rasnov city, for lunch we visited Poinia Brasov ‘Coliba Haiducilor’ restaurant, which was very nice. We then returned to Campulung and went straight back to our hosts’ homes.
Wednesday 6th of May 2015
Today we visited ‘Oratia Camp’ which is like ‘Go-Ape’ but less artificial as it is actually built in the trees. Before we started we ate doughnuts and drank water in a wooden view point that overlooked the valley. We were then taken up to the ‘easy’ course which I thought was good fun, even if I did scrape my elbow. However, the next course was a bit harder but I still really enjoyed it, even if I did get sap all over my jeans! Afterwards we ate some traditional Romanian food but I didn’t really enjoy that too much it was really salty. We then returned to our hosts’ homes.
Thursday 7th of May 2015
Today the only activities planned with the whole group were later on in the day so Sandra’s dad took us to Piteşti, a city about 1 and a ½ hours away from Sandra’s flat. Once we arrived we visited a planetarium, an art gallery and a geology hall. That was really interesting to see the different styles of art compared to the more western styles that I had seen in Manchester. We then went to for lunch at a really nice restaurant after which we went for a short stroll before returning to meet up with her father to go home. Afterwards we watched some experienced dancers perform traditional Romanian dances which were amazing. We all went for a meal and (again) spent the night dancing, this was so different to any other type of farewell do that I had ever been to. It started to get late so after saying goodnight we went back to our hosts’ houses for the last time, packed up our suitcases and went to bed.
Friday 8th of May 2015
Today we travelled home. Bucharest airport is so big. It is nothing like Manchester. For our transfer flight we stopped in PARIS!!! This was amazing as I love Paris and anything Parisian. I spent more money in less than 24 hours in Paris than I had done in five days in Romania. Also it was the first place I ever tried a macaroon. We then flew home to Manchester, met up with our parents then I came back home after stopping at Macdonalds for tea.
What I learned…
What I got from this…
Sunday 3rd of May 2015
Today we flew from Manchester airport to Amsterdam; I flew with Kim, Mr Boyle, Miss Clegg, Paige and Charlotte; we flew with KLM which was a very different standard of flying compared to when I have been on other holidays with my family. When we arrived at Schipol airport we were 20 minutes early, however our second flight to Bucharest arrived an hour and a half later. We finally arrived at Bucharest airport and we met up with the Danish students and their teachers. We then all travelled from Bucharest to Campulung, which took about three hours. Once we arrived at the school we were greeted warmly by our hosts. My host was called Sandra and she was very nice. After sorting our bags out and leaving them at our hosts houses, we went to the local park in Campulung we (the English, Danish and Romanian students) played charades and talked. After which we went back to our hosts homes. Today has been a long day.
Monday 4th of May 2015
Today we arrived at the school for a formal welcome, after which all of the students went to the World War mausoleum for the soldiers who fought to defend the Campulung region in Romania during the First World War. After which we went back into the town and visited an Orthodox church which was beautiful and the lady who let us in was from England, she was lovely. Afterwards we went to a local restaurant for a meal which was tasty. Sandra refused to let me pay for my meal, she paid. Myself and Kim worked out that our meals cost 22leu altogether which amounts to around £11 including drinks. Afterwards we all danced both Romanian and Greek dances until we became tired and went to our hosts houses and then to bed.
Tuesday 5th of May 2015
Today we visited ‘castelul bran’which is more commonly called Dracula’s castle, it was breath-taking and the history behind it was so interesting. Afterwards we saw Brasov and Rasnov city, for lunch we visited Poinia Brasov ‘Coliba Haiducilor’ restaurant, which was very nice. We then returned to Campulung and went straight back to our hosts’ homes.
Wednesday 6th of May 2015
Today we visited ‘Oratia Camp’ which is like ‘Go-Ape’ but less artificial as it is actually built in the trees. Before we started we ate doughnuts and drank water in a wooden view point that overlooked the valley. We were then taken up to the ‘easy’ course which I thought was good fun, even if I did scrape my elbow. However, the next course was a bit harder but I still really enjoyed it, even if I did get sap all over my jeans! Afterwards we ate some traditional Romanian food but I didn’t really enjoy that too much it was really salty. We then returned to our hosts’ homes.
Thursday 7th of May 2015
Today the only activities planned with the whole group were later on in the day so Sandra’s dad took us to Piteşti, a city about 1 and a ½ hours away from Sandra’s flat. Once we arrived we visited a planetarium, an art gallery and a geology hall. That was really interesting to see the different styles of art compared to the more western styles that I had seen in Manchester. We then went to for lunch at a really nice restaurant after which we went for a short stroll before returning to meet up with her father to go home. Afterwards we watched some experienced dancers perform traditional Romanian dances which were amazing. We all went for a meal and (again) spent the night dancing, this was so different to any other type of farewell do that I had ever been to. It started to get late so after saying goodnight we went back to our hosts’ houses for the last time, packed up our suitcases and went to bed.
Friday 8th of May 2015
Today we travelled home. Bucharest airport is so big. It is nothing like Manchester. For our transfer flight we stopped in PARIS!!! This was amazing as I love Paris and anything Parisian. I spent more money in less than 24 hours in Paris than I had done in five days in Romania. Also it was the first place I ever tried a macaroon. We then flew home to Manchester, met up with our parents then I came back home after stopping at Macdonalds for tea.
What I learned…
- Greek, Turkish, Danish and Romanian students all have
a better relationship with their teachers.
- Student/ teacher respect in all the other countries is
very obviously mutual whereas this is not always the case in Britain.
- Other European schools have different grading systems.
- When compared to other European customs, British
hosting customs are nowhere nearly as hospitable towards the guest.
What I got from this…
- Unforgettable memories.
- Friendships (that have so far survived 1420 miles).
- A realisation of how small Great Britain is in
comparison to other countries.
- How regional accents and dialect can affect a language
and how it is perceived.
- How unappreciative I am of the fact Copley is rather
small and only one floor (mostly).