My Exchange Experience

Miss you!

dianagaftoneanu — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:22:20 +0000

I wanted to write because I just realized how much I miss you!
YES, you!
I miss my roommate

I miss all the AIESECers I met, from us 9 trainees to LC Budapest I miss our mentor teachers, Tibi and Brigi and their adorable kids! I miss the teachers and the squires, the camp leaders and the staff
I miss Melting Pot and it’s leaders But I guess most of all I miss the children!

Waking up at 7 in the morning after a night of planning their lessons, learning, playing, running, singing and dancing… I wish just for one day to be back again there with all of you, having the time of my life. You truly made my summer the best I’ve ever had and I sincerely thank you for everything. It just sinks in how amazing everything was.

That’s why I wanted to share with you this movie I made about People Team and Exchange through AIESEC:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=493498349521

Enjoy!

And I hope it brings back memories as sweet as mine!

Snowy and cloudy summer

dianagaftoneanu — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:44:23 +0000

Some of you may remember me talking about a fairytale place in Romania, where in the middle of the summer you can touch snow and big puffy clouds are all around you.

It’s called Transfagarasan and it’s on top of Fagaras mountain, the tallest mountain in Romania. I went there the next weekend after Polly went back and I’m still sad we couldn’t go together, she really wanted to see it. Maybe this is the reason I’m writing about this. And adding pictures!

I have to mention that there were 32 degrees in Brasov and under 15 degrees on Transfagarasan, over 2000 meters up. Freaking cooold!!!

Mountain sheep herds and herbs!

The famous clouds!

Poetic
And the fabulous waterfalls!!!

We didn’t climb so high as to reach the snow cause we were underdressed for such high altitudes, but we”ll do that next spring. I can’t wait! I hope you guyz enjoy the views as much as I enjoyed them!

Until next time, lots of virtual hugs!

P.S. Click on the pics, the resolution is awesome!

Back at home

dianagaftoneanu — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:22:26 +0000

I’ve just realized I’ve never told the story about coming home and about Polly’s visit in Romania.
It was crazy
I didn’t even realized how I ended up in the airport, trying to trade the return ticket for one 5 days earlier. Polly was with me, we both decided to head to Romania the next morning after the reunion with the teachers in Budapest. It was actually her birthday. I think Csaba was the one that helped me put all in balance and make up my mind about heading home.

Too many problems had piled up so even though I lost the rent and the plane ticket and many more, I still think I made the best decision.
The exchange ticket was way to expensive so we ended up at the train station, not even knowing if there were any trains. Imagine Polly and I running around the city with all our baggages, simply heading for Romania.
We waited 4 hours for our train to arrive and 10 minutes before the departure, we were running around the train station realizing that there’s no line 5, only 6, 7, 8 and 9. I almost started crying with desperation when some men helped us get to line 5. We were running and crying with our baggages after us, and finally managed to reach the train, 2 minutes before departure. What a ride!

We had to change trains in Arad, Romania. By the time we arrived there it was already midnight. Train stations can be really spooky at midnight but we managed to change money (we didn’t have Romanian money) and catch the train to Brasov. It was a 7 hour ride and we slept all the way. We were alone in the compartment so we close the light, the curtains and locked the door. I even took my pillow out of my baggage.

Polly and I finally arrived in Romania on 8th of August, my dad’s birthday. First thing we did was of course visit Bran, with Dracula’s castle and other famous sites.

We celebrated my dad’s birthday and the next day we headed to Sinaia, a city famous for it’s castles!

On our way back though, we got on the wrong train to Brasov, one more expensive. A really kind guy offered to pay our tickets in case the controller came and so he did. He was great! We also sat near an american who was studying archeology in Romania and another Chinese guy who (funny enough) was a trainee for AIESEC Bucharest, in an international internship in Romania, just like Polly and I were in Budapest. How cool is that???

Only on the third day did we manage to actually visit Brasov. Brasov is a very old historical city so there’s a lot to visit. A whole day wasn’t enough!

We visited around 10 museums, 2 towers, 2 mountain views, 1 fortress, council square and the most narrowest street in Europe. We also participated in the concert of the biggest organ in Europe (yeah, a lot of “-est” in Europe ) and many many more. It’s a nice thing to do when you come home: visit everything that’s famous and beautiful!

In the last day we decided to visit Rasnov fortress which is a huge, recently renovated, amazing fortress on top of a mountain, with a lot of spooky stories and an amazing 360 degrees view. For example it is said that the fountain in the fortress is so deep that it goes throughout the mountain and if you throw a coin, you won’t hear it reaching the bottom!

From here there’s a 2 hour long road through the forest to Brasov, with amazing views like the centuries oaks, which are huge oak trees over 400 years old. On the way we stopped to the most famous winter resort in Romania, Poiana Brasov.

I know that most of the photos are with Polly alone but since it was just the two of us… i was her official photographer.

5 days through the trip Polly had to head back to Budapest so we bought a bus ticket and we went to the bus station. I still don’t know how but we managed to miss a huuuuuge buss and Polly lost her bus. Silly enough, we just realized this half an hour after the bus left. Panic was starting to settle in when we decided to go after the bus by car. My boyfriend’s dad just came to pick him up and all four of us got into the car and rushed after the bus, calling the buss driver every 5 minutes. We finally caught it 100 km away from Brasov while they were making a small break. The whole road I was praying for her to catch the bus. I don’t think I ever prayed for that long, lol.

I didn’t even say goodbye. I was so eager to see her on the bus that we just put her on it and the bus left so quickly. I still feel sorry for not being able to hug her goodbye… She told me she loved Romania and most of all, my mom’s cooking. Especially mashed potatoes. So if any one of you wants to taste internationally approved great food from my mom, just come visit!

Virtual hugs from back in Romania!

Camp of music

dianagaftoneanu — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:27:39 +0000

Every time I hear this songs, I can’t help to think about camp!
David Guetta ft Fergie ft LFMAO – Getting Over You

Yolanda Be Cool & DCUP – We No Speak Americano

Bon Jovi – It’s My Life

Cascada – Pyromania

FIFA time!
DAVID BISBAL & KNAAN – WAVING FLAG

Shakira :Waka Waka This Time for Africa

AIESEC roll calls!!!
Mr. C The Slide Man – Cha-Cha Slide

Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!

And of course my favorite song from the whole camp!!! tan tanan tanan tanan tanaaaaan

why no more blogging

dianagaftoneanu — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:24:15 +0000

I was asked why I stopped blogging

2 big reasons

1: no internet connection in Budapest (except parks or Mc Donald)

2: I’m back in Romania!!!!

Already missing the teachers from Hungary!!!!

I have internet!!!!

dianagaftoneanu — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:29:36 +0000

I finally have internet! In a shopping mall 2 km away from home and stealing from a coffee shop but it’s internet!!!
Happy day for me!
Budapest rulles!!!
Second day in Budapest!And I woke up at 11!!! No curfew, nu children, no breakfast at 7… Later on we went shopping in a local mall (only 4 floors high with a huge Interspar beneath). I tried to buy a sim card here but they are much too expensive. After another 3 hours of rest at noon Stucki called and told us to meet him at 8.30, because he has a surprise for us. Stucki, Chabe, Chris and his girlfriend were waiting for us. Us means the AIESECers without Wes (who left that morning) and Viki who is a bit ill. And what a surprise we had! We went to the Liberty Statue!!! By foot… all the way from home.

I’m gonna come back with details about the first day too which was amazing!
My battery is running low so I’ll guess I’ll finish this post next time I visit the shopping center.
Stay tunned, it’s worth it
And party, and party, and party

PYROMANIA

dianagaftoneanu — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:04:55 +0000

Check out this song:
This us my new favorite song!

Can you guess why?

Let me give you a clue:

py ROMANIA py ROMANIA

Last graduation day

dianagaftoneanu — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:51:02 +0000

Today was the last day of teaching, last test and of course, last graduation.
I feel extremely sad that we are leaving tomorrow, I’m sure I’m gonna miss teaching and the camp. I wish I could come back next year!
The last class was amazing! – great, smart and active kids!
3 of the girls even made us T-shirts with our names on them and a ghost (like the kitchen ghost )

Thank you Domi, Zsofi and Eni!

Today we did sugar cubes It’s the second class I do this with

We also gave presents for the Taboo winning team and the second best team . Congrats team Monkey Champions!!!And so we said goodbye to the (new and improved) kitchen ghost….

…and with tearful eyes and tissues we left the classroom for the last time.I’m gonna miss teaching so much!!!

BONUS picture:

Polly taking something out of the trash! GERRRRRRMS!!!!

Teaching sports…

dianagaftoneanu — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:50:09 +0000

Anti-sports Diana actually thought sports today!

These are some of the teaching methods Polly and I used:

Geopardy:

The OOPS list:

Drawing names:

Taboo all the way!!!

And other funny things:

Btw I teach in a kitchen. And it’s haunted! Doors always open out of nowhere, creepy!!!

Pentru cei dragi

dianagaftoneanu — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:48:46 +0000

Pana acum am postat in engleza deoarece blogul e citit si de AIESEC Budapest si cei de la tabara dar postul asta este doar pentru cei dragi de acasa.

In ultima vreme imi este din ce in ce mai dor de casa. Ma bucur cand vad ceva familiar, ascult muzica romaneasca si vorbesc foarte mult despre acasa. Poate prea mult.

Mi-e dor de chestii stupide precum plimbari prin parcu central sau pe republicii, de stat degeaba acasa si alte lucruri care deobicei nu le apreciez. N-am de ce sa ma plang aici, totul e perfect, dar nicaieri nu-i ca acasa, nici mancar in Ungaria. )

Mai sunt doar 3 zile de tabara, apoi 2 saptamani in Budapesta si…. ACASA!!!

Deabia astept!

Imbratisari si pupici tuturor celor dragi mie, in special:

Parintii, Ada+ Radu

Dragos + Cristina

Maria

@ BV

De voi mi-e dor in mod special