Romanian and Hungarian Journey
Audra Stang:
When I was younger, I used to take an empty paper towel roll from the kitchen and pretend that it was a telescope. I’d walk around my neighborhood looking through this tiny portal, with one eye shut, until one of my friends would run up to me and slap it out of my hand. Then the world would suddenly become vast and bright, and I’d notice and be aware of things I had not been aware of before. This is what my trip to Romania did for me (but with an airplane rather than a crayon covered cardboard tube).
The world is truly a huge place. I am sure it will sound silly, but I never would have imagined that an entire country, even its four-star hotels, could go without air conditioning. I could not fathom walking down the street and finding myself surrounded by chickens and the occasional cow, or having a child ask me for “pasta” (toothpaste) while visiting an elementary school. What a huge wake-up call!
I thought I’d seen it all; then I opened my eyes. The world is bigger and more beautiful than I ever imagined it to be.
Ashia Neal:
It was like living in a fairy tale; all of it seemed so fictional. From the colorful houses to the money that looked like what I played with as a child. Their traditions and customs were so different from ours. One of my favorite memories would be something most Americans forget about, family. In Romania, families share every special moment together. This journey has truly opened my eyes to not only enjoy life, but to take it one step at a time.
Kathleen Harrington:
Romania was, by far, one of the most eye-opening trips I have ever experienced. Not only going across seas, but also immersing ourselves in the new cultures and cities… all of it was just so incredible. I ate cow brain and liked it. I learned to ride a bike on the banks of the Danube River in Budapest, Hungary. Not many people can say they have done the things we have done. I will never forget the girls I shared this with or the amazing adventures we went through. I feel like I can now call myself a true Globetrotter.
Genny Parshley:
From Hungary to Romania, we traveled. From village to city, we embarked. And through it all, we each gathered new pieces of ourselves along the way… what a beautiful thing!
Wherever we were, we brought the flavors of our pasts, our individual personalities, and a willingness to help and learn. The people of Romania let us immerse fully (or as fully as teenage American girls can) into their enchantingly diverse culture. Wow, the juxtaposition of our two countries… how each of us go about our daily lives and how we view life itself, truly came to life during this experience.
Seeing the abandoned and sick children at the hospital, entertaining the young kids of the village with silly games that a serious language barrier could not even prevent, bailing hay in the torturous sun, eating traditional meals with the close-knit families, and experiencing all of this new world with senses ready and willing…
There is something so invigorating about being in a new country, across oceans and lands of all kinds. Maybe it is the fresh, renewing air of a place that has existed so much longer and that has seen so much more than our own. Or, is it the uniquely chill and simply content-with-life vibes of the people? It could be the mysterious walls of the village and cities that whisper stories of the forgotten past. Whatever it is, it has ignited in me a flame. It has created a burning sensation within my very soul that inspires me to travel, to explore every inch of the world.
The past two weeks have been some of the best ones of my life. They allowed me to take all the things I love (meeting new people, helping others, and spreading joy), and spice them up with the things I have only dreamt of doing (traveling across the world, living in a foreign country, and creating new friendships that can survive all the waves of the oceans and infinite miles of land).
The things I have done, and the people I have met have made a mark on my soul. Every time I gaze at that mark, I will be reminded of how big the world really is and of my dreams to wander where no one else has dared to wander – “take the path less traveled.” No one could have asked for a more rewarding and inspiring adventure, and for that, and all that I gained from it, I am forever grateful.
Ashley Hunt:
This trip was by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. Just the experience itself has changed me for life. I have more respect and knowledge in me now – perspective that will last a lifetime. Being able to joke with my friends, and be serious all at the same time, is very difficult. This trip helped me know when to talk and when not to. While in Europe, I learned many different life-long lessons like patience, hope, courage, strength and determination. This trip overall was astonishing.
Samm Ingram:
This opportunity to travel to Romania and Hungary with the Dustin’s GreenHouse Globetrotter team has been a real eye-opener. It is an experience that I will share with everyone I know. This experience is unforgettable.
Raven Wilson:
Europe, indeed, was a life-changing experience that I am so glad I was a part of. I felt blessed knowing I could influence and enrich the lives of some of the less fortunate children we came across. It is amazing to know that I have gained new types of experience, insight into a new culture, and created wonderful bonds with other girls my age… all gifts I will bring home.
If I could ask anything of the people I know, or will come across in the future, I believe it would be to never take your life or lifestyle for granted because there are other people who would treasure what you have.
Johnisha Watlington:
I am so grateful that I was chosen to go on this trip. It was a life-changing experience for me. I feel like you never really know another person’s culture until you try out their way of life for a period of time. This trip has brought all of the girls together in a special way, and I think these friendships will last a forever.
While in Romania, we had the privilege of providing toiletries and other household items to children whose parents cannot provide such things. As a Globetrotter, I was able to give a piece of myself to the people we helped. I hope those kids and those families will hold that gift dear. I know I always will!
Nikki Varitimidis:
My time in Romania was eye-opening. I experienced a new culture with 15 amazing girls. The memories I have made on our trip will stay with me forever.
While in Romania, we helped a lot of children by providing them with toiletries, toys, and playmates. I hope that I was able to impact the kids in the way that they impacted me.
In addition to assisting children, the members of the Globetrotter Team were able to immerse themselves in the Romanian culture. While there, I became aware of a new level of poverty, which was accepted as normal. I will never forget a young boy I saw shoeless and eating other people’s leftovers.
I believe that on this trip I made a positive global impact. I grew as an individual and expanded my global knowledge. Without the Dustin’s GreenHouse organization, I would never have had the chance to become involved in such a philanthropic experience. For that reason, I will be forever thankful to Dustin’s family and all the many volunteers involved in the Dustin’s GreenHouse organization.
Adrian Brown:
Wow! I really don’t know where to start… I saw so much and learned so much from this trip. I feel like I got a lot out of the experience and that it helped me to get ready for the real world. I want to say thank you to Dustin’s GreenHouse. I will never forget how you have changed my life because these memories will forever be within my heart.
Briana Dockery:
At first I felt numb… nothing affected me like I thought it would. Later in the trip I realized I had been living a life of luxury, not the simple life I thought I was living beforehand.
In actuality, it is the Romanian people who have a simple, basic lifestyle. This trip let me experience another culture, while enabling me to appreciate my luxuries much more!
Janii James:
My journey to Romania reminded me of how important family is to me. The act of being a family is lost in America. Many American families are broken or don’t spend much time together. With one of our home-stay families, we were able to see a real family dynamic; it was beautiful. Electronics were not as popular to them as they are to Americans. Games like volleyball, bad mitten and soccer were played when there was down time. They ate dinner together, as a family, and it was considered rude to rush through this time and to leave without being excused. Their dinners were like mini-meetings where you could enjoy fellowship and each other’s company. Families in America don’t take advantage of these opportunities. Being able to see this made me value my family even more. I really missed my grandmother, Mrs. Lillian James, so much!
My journey has also shown me how grateful I should be of my lifestyle. On the streets of Romania, I saw a new level of poverty. Random people called “beggars” approached us for food. They wanted food more than money, and barely had shoes on their feet. That really woke me up. I have seen children rummaging through trash bins trying to find something to eat. Although there is poverty in America, I have not seen anything like this. Food is wasted everyday without a thought. It is truly a shame, and the worst part is that we do not even realize what we are doing.
I am truly thankful for the opportunity to have the opportunity to learn about lives outside of my own. This journey will definitely be a stepping stone for my future.
Monisola Anjorin:
During my past two weeks abroad, I can honestly say that I have been exposed to the most beautiful places and some of the most beautiful people in the world. I have learned a lot about trusting and supporting others. Thanks to Dustin’s GreenHouse, I no longer have a fear of the future, because I know that if I can hike up a mountain, if I can bike across the Danube River, if I can impact the life of a child I knew nothing about previously, I can do anything.
I am forever grateful for this experience that has empowered me to move on and touch others the same way I have been touched.
Lakeya O’neal:
I have experienced living the life of a Romanian. Through the lessons learned when I transitioned into being involved with this wonderful family, who let us join them in their wonderful lives, I learned a lot about myself and how much I appreciate daily items such as water, ice, fast food, etc.
I take myself and items for granted, but now I know the true value of things. One day I may not be allowed to drink as much water as I want to, or eat as much ice as I do… I am ready to changes certain things about my lifestyle. Thanks to the Romanian families who welcomed us into their lives, and the amazing women who work with Dustin’s GreenHouse who provided me with this opportunity.
Lorna Devkota:
You know how often you read a book that leaves an impression… and how parts of it leave a fleeting image in your mind? The words and the meaning can continue to haunt you long after you are finished reading. One dark night in a small town in Romania, the 15 girls and 7 leaders who make of the 2009 Dustin’s GreenHouse Globetrotter team built a bonfire. We were each asked to share something about our past that makes us who we are today. After a short time, the stories began to flow, just like the tears that followed soon after. Each girl had something to say, and an experience to share. In my 12 years of school, I have not learned as much as I learned that one night. While sitting by that bonfire, I learned why people act the way they do. The past affects us all, but it is how we handle our past makes the biggest impact. That night awakened me, and made me realize that even after you speak and interact with someone, you have only scratched the surface. So, the next time I see someone with strong emotions, I will not wonder what is wrong with therm. I will instead think about the life story that makes them the way they are today. This trip has changed the way I think about the world, and for that I am forever grateful.
