Romania: Lessons on being human, encountering the Other, & inhabiting our planet Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I didn't find the classes to be particularly difficult, which was nice because it allowed me the energy to dive more fully into experiential learning--hiking, taking trips, testing my language skills with the locals... and as far as experiential education, I got out what I put in.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was amazing. They literally ran to me with open arms and made me feel like I really was part of their family. Living in an apartment during the second half of the semester came with unique challenges, but both experiences helped me to learn about what it means to live in Romania.

I personally enjoyed most traditional Romanian foods a great deal, and I didn't find it to be terribly different from what I grew up with in the middle of the United States. I will note though that Romania is very much a meat-eating culture, to those for whom this may be a concern.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I went to Romania with the mindset that I would challenge myself to adapt to another culture to the best of my ability. While my light hair and eyes did not exactly help me blend in, I did work really hard to learn and practice as much of the language as I could, which enabled me to chat a bit with locals and immensely enriched my experience. Romanians were thrilled that I had made the effort to learn their language and learn about their culture, and I felt that the program also facilitated meaningful connections with the community through host families and a range of other activities.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My only actual health-related issue during the semester was a sprained ankle which was well tended by the paramedics at the Viata camp where I sustained the injury. Romania's health system in general, however, leaves much to be desired.

Violent crime is very rare in Romania, and although there are still a few stray dogs here and there on city streets, I can't recall a time when I felt that my safety was genuinely threatened while studying there. Watch out for petty theft and fraud though. I had no problems with any sort of theft, but I was also careful.

This semester in Romania was more than I could have possibly hoped for. Having never left the United States before, I had no idea what to expect from a foreign country or from an abroad program, so the experience was jarring in the best of ways. We traveled around the country on sight-seeing excursions, went on hikes, and interacted with youth in the communities in ways that helped me engage with the culture in profound ways. Romania is a fascinating mix of phenomenally beautiful landscapes with the cold, concrete architecture of its communist past, which called me into greater reflection on human history and what it means to inhabit our planet in the present day. I was welcomed into a family in Lupeni that loved me as their own, and I will forever see the world differently because of my experiences in Romania.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Romania was crazy affordable. One leu is the equivalent of four USD..

Select all that apply

• Host Family
• Apartment

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• Americans
• Host Family
• Other

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• Americans

• Experiential Education
• Learning the language while immersed in it

• A couple more sessions of the language class at the very beginning of the semester would be helpful.

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer