St Patflck s Collepe.
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l\y'aphera | I
Romania was a brilliant experience. I had the chance to see a whole different world to the one I live in. Everything we did and everything I saw, I will never forget. I couldn't pick just one thing that I thought was the highlight of my work, as the whole week was my highlight. I had the chance to meet other people my same age from other schools and got to know them a lot in that week. I would recommend a trip like this to anyone, as it is a worthwhile exper,ence. Charlie O'Hara
I don't know how to describe Romania. Just everything we did with Romania was brilliant. The group who were chosen were excellent. Everyone was up ior a bit oi fun and everyone had brilliant ideas for lundraising and this is why we raised so much. Romania was the best week of my life. Everywhere was brilliant whether it was the Kindergarten or the orphanages. Everyone was happy when we were there. l\4ost ot them had nothing and didn't want anything and I just found this amazing as il it was me. I would have wanted something. lf you gave them a sweet they thought you were brilliant and they just wanted to thank you. Romania has also given me many new friends from the other schools that went. At the end of the week no-one wanted to go home because how good we all lelt and if I ever got the opportunity to go again I wouldn't have to think about it. Darren McNicholl
It's hard to select iust one experience from Romania ' there are so many great ones and each one is fantastic and memorable in it's own special way. On Vlonday the 21st January we \,Yent to Dacia School. We travelled for over an hour to get there Jrom the hotel. To many ol us it appeared ',e were just driving further and further into the Romanian wilderness, until finally we reached the isolated village of Dacia. As we got of the bus we noticed some strange sights under the Jrozen snow, we were later told that the street was an open sewer. The school itself was extremely run do,,Yn and cold inside. The children there performed some songs for us on our arrival and were excited and happy to see us. Myself and Amy, one of the girls from Ballyclare, quickly bonded with a seven year old boy named Teo. We began playing a bouncy ball game with him lt was amazing to see the sheer enjoyment and excitement he got lrom this simple game and he wouldn't let us stop for quite some time. We later played football with him and had a snowball
As we left we gave him some small presents, which he was delighted with and he seemed genuinely thanklul. lt still
fight.
amazed me how much enjoyment he and the other children were getting from such simple things. This becamea recurring thought throughout our week in Romania. We were confronted with the realisation of how little these people had but also how much our efforts were helping lhern. Coming home from Romania we were left no doubts that all our {undraising had been 100% worth it, but also that we had delinitely made small but life-changing differences in these peopies' lives.
Cormac Henry Romania lor me was unbelievable; it was one ol the most worthwhile and enjoyable weeks of rny life. Throughout the week we visited many people and places. I personally enjoyed the old peoples' home the most. Here, we received the warmest reception, and they were just so kind -they wanted nothing only
our company and attention for the short wile we were there.
Romania showed me a lot it taught me to treat everyone and everything I have with respect. I met many people in Romania; people who I had never even spoken to before. 'm really glad I gained
this experience. Sinead Rogers
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