Cosimo

The summer cradled and took care of our expectations, confident we were waiting for the arrival of September and psychologically we were preparing to face an experience that would allow us to help children and young people from the lower classes of society to become integrate into this. Everyone with their convictions, with their methods, with their skills, with their studies; all those securities that have grown over the years and that have made believe them special; each of us, thought to come to Romania and change the lives of these children. As soon as I arrived, i found the first observation that clashed with the idea of starting, I expected to find poverty and desolation at every corner, I found endless fields of sunflowers and characteristic villages along the road that led me to Arad. The city then, between underground bars, clubs, rock concerts, had nothing to envy to so many that i already visited even in my country. The first times, with the other volunteers, it was a continuous demonstration to be ready, bold, determined to begin this mission. The legs trembled when we found ourselves alone for take care and involved children who gave us orders on how to play in an incomprehensible language. Everything is harder when you can't communicate and create a connection with them, it seemed impossible to get accepted, and our social inclusion project seemed to get stuck in the face of our inability to be part of their community. The Romanian winter, the abundant snow that for months has fallen continuously, the few hours of pale light and no sun, have crumbled the positive energies with which we had arrived. As a group we took courage, we stripped ourselves of the false images we wanted to give of ourselves and we opened up, we became friends first and then a family. We traveled together to discover this country that was becoming difficult, we discovered its beauties, climbed the Carpathians, headed down in to the monasteries, rejoiced in discovering the legends that were handed down from castle to castle, we were fascinated by Transylvania, spent too many hours in trains, flew into its skies. The language has become sweeter, the people more sympathetic. It was like learning to live again. So, we understood that even in the centers in which we worked, we had to behave like children, stay at their same level, have fun with a "minge", run with them "afara", so as to become "prieteni" and propose our activities. It was difficult to say goodbye to the friends who, over the months, have finished their service, it was terrible to say goodbye to the children who became "ours" throughout this year, and it is even more difficult to think about leave this country. We go away, knowing that what we have received from all this experience is much bigger and deeper than what we thought we would give.