A ROMANIAN STORY

That's the story of SEMEP Summer Local school  "DANUBE DELTA - 2003" in Tulcea - Romania. There is a lot to be said, so let start:

After weeks of preparations the day came. On 12th June at 2.30 pm the bus was waiting for us in front of the back school door, so we brought the luggage and left. Two hours later we reached Duran Kulak where we had to pass the border on foot. Of course, some problems appeared, but nothing serious. Monica was waiting for us on the Romanian side. Everybody was happy to meet each other again, there were many kisses and hugs. In the Romanian bus we took our way from the border to Tulcea. It passed past Konstantza, Mangalia and a large part of Dobrujda. The road was good except for a small part where there were so many holes that the bus was shaking and shaking and it wasn’t possible neither to sleep nor to eat. However, this doesn’t matter. At last we arrived in Tulcea, in the hostel of the Agricultural College  "Nikolae Cornateanu" where we were going to stay for the next 4 days.

Here to tell us " welcome " came a dozen of dogs who live in the school yard and for whom the students from the veterinary classes are responsible for. They were of different age and breed and soon we became friends.

After being accommodated, we were invited to dinner. The meal was "Kachamak "- a Romanian national food. The taste was very strange for me because I have never eaten it before but our teacher said that we also have it in Bulgaria.

Later we went for a sleep to be ready for the planned boat trip in the morning.

The morning came and we were awaken early, at 7,30 for breakfast. I can't remember what exactly it was, but it was nice. After we made our hunger go , we sat outside in the park on the benches , where Monica came with Irina, Andra and the other girls. She made us know what the agenda will be, gave us the papers with some information and the worksheets, as well as the badges with our names.


At 9 am we left the hostel and followed our hosts to the Danube bank where a boat was waiting for us. On board we were divided into 4 groups and began our trip on the river.

There were so many interesting birds and plants, even the view itself, so we watching and taking photos all the time. We saw a hundred of water lilies, thousands of insects, and especially mosquitoes.

From what we read and Monica told us, we learnt a lot about the Danube Delta’s history and diversity.

This day the weather was sunny and hot, so some of us succeeded in making a suntan, while staying on the boat.

We stopped twice and picked a number of plants to use them for the posters we had to make later - The motto was  "Our route by samples".

In 4 hours on water we got back to the bank and then back to the hostel for lunch.

In the afternoon we visited the Information Centre DDBR, where we learnt much more about the Danube Delta as a Biosphere Reserve and the National Museum of sciences, which was interesting for us with the animals and birds which the Delta is a home for.

We had also the chance to have some coffee and soft drinks in one of the local cafes, then to change some money with Irina 's help. I forgot to say that we got to the centre and back by a city bus.

At 8 p.m. our dinner was ready and we enjoyed it very much.

Next day was the real sightseeing trip. After breakfast we got on the bus and left for the Cocos Monastery. It was really a beautiful picture. Irina told us the legend about the monastery, its name and history, then we were allowed to see around and to light a candle, if we liked, of course.

The way to the other monastery -Celic Dere Monastery wasn't a short one, so we went ahead.

The plan was to have a barbeque at Alice's summerhouse, situated almost on the top of a hill between the two monasteries

So, our boys took the food and the drinks and we reached Alice's place just for lunch.

Here the boys and the children of our hosts found some water guns and the first water war began.

Then our Romanian friend's grandmother showed us her talent and surprised us with a tasty lunch.

When we finished filling our worksheets, Monica invited us to sit under a tree and to make a discussion about the last question of it. The opinions were different and it was really interesting conversation.

After the wonderful experience we had had with Alice and her family, we left to get to the bus. The aim was the Celik Dere Monastery, where we were lucky to find a well with fresh, cold water, real one, not with bubbles. Here Hristian showed him as a "water man", giving each one to drink.

After this water adventure we got our chance to see the monastery. We were told the legend and the history of this sacred site. While in the Cocos monastery there was impressive woodcarving, here we were impressed by the frescos. The view was outstanding.

In the evening it was planned to go to a disco, but the plan changed because of a problem in it. The boys were very disappointed, but all the same, we decided to postpone the dances for tomorrow and went to a cafe. Again, we had great time, talking and sharing our impressions.

15th June was full of work. That was the day when we had to make our posters and presentations. Everybody worked hard before and after lunch win his team and the result was an amasing exhibition.

For a short time, each of us was a model and a star. Photos, we taken from all the directions, to save the wonderful moment.

Our work over the project was finished successfully and the headmaster of the college, Dr. Hodja gave all of us a Certificate for participation. The same were given to our teachers and our headmistress, Mrs. Ivanova

Part of the night we spent in the disco. Here, listening to music, dancing and enjoying ourselves, we celebrated the great time we had in Romania. Of course, good things always have their end and it soon came for us. At midnight we got back to the college by taxi.

Our last morning in Tulchea began with a great shopping. We went to the centre of the city to buy some gifts and souvenirs. I mean, we - the girls and the teachers, the boys were sleeping in the hostel.

When we got back, packed our luggage, took our package lunch and left at 12 at noon. To see us off came Monica, Irina and the dogs, who already had their Bulgarian names: Blagoi, Kancho, Ivancho, Mariika....

That was the only sad moment during the whole trip. We say  'good bye', and left with the hope to meet again. The weather was also sad and heavy clouds were covering the sky all the day. Several times on our way back it rained.

But that wasn't a problem. One with the bus appeared and we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to reach the border in time. Fortunately, it didn't happen. But the driver wasn't very communicative and didn't stop in Konstanza as he was told beforehand. He stopped in Mangalia but I think only because our teacher asked him again.

Here in Mangalia happened the last bad thing. Vesselina lost her camera with all the photos in it.

When we reached the Bulgarian border we didn't have problems any more. Our Bulgarian driver Tony took us, and been accompanied by a heavy rain, brought us back home.

That was the end of our trip but not the end of new friendship and memories.

They will always be with us, because people remember longer the good events, and this trip was one of the best.

DOBROMIRA, 11 d grade,

III HSNS - Varna, Bulgaria