Letter from Romania

One of Pia's former schoolmates has just begun her second tour of duty in a Romanian orphanage. Pia has sent me Claire's first newsletter and I reproduce it here. This first-hand account is somehow different from anything else I've read.

Hi guys,

I have been here just over a week now and really settled in well. Everyone was so welcoming that it felt just like coming home. I have the same bedroom in the volunteer apartment and am back working at the same house. The girls were so excited to see me and kept jumping up and down and screaming. On my first day they even put on a little concert to welcome me back and when they were saying grace they thanked god(!) for sending me back and making them
all smile - it was really heartwarming. It really feels like I haven't been away.

The days have been mostly the same - doing chores round the house, gardening, walking them to workshop and school, showering them, learning Romanian etc.
There are a couple of changes - Constantin has moved to Casa Rachel - he was one of my favourites so I miss him but have been over to see him quite a bit. There is a new girl called Rodica who is really sweet. She used to be in the spital with the other girls but she got lost in the system and Bruce and Sandie have been looking for her for years. They eventually heard that she was in a spital in Ganast and immediately feared the worst as it is rife with TB and STD's.

When they went to collect her they thought she was mentally ill as she kept banging her head against the wall and screaming. Apparently she was quite violent at first but now she is the sweetest thing. She still gets up in the night and hides food in her bedroom - she obviously can't believe that there will always be something to eat and that you dont have to fight or steal from each other.

The village of Nicoresti hasn't changed too much still very run down - there are a lot less chickens as they all got bird flu - still some running around so i am trying to avoid them! The villagers have got it pretty hard – they are actually a lot worse off than the orphans (the animals are even worse off - I'd forgotten how skinny the horses are - and they have terrible sores from carrying around heavy loads).

Their day-to day lives are tough enough without all the extra problems that they have - everyday I hear another shocking story. Today I heard that the local policeman (who is married to the teacher) raped a 14 year old girl at gun-point. He got off cos there is a lot of bribery and corruption still. There is a new handy- man who is just 18 and came to sandy for help as his dad killed his mum. They also employ a girl who was in the spital but managed to escape and is now living rough - she was offered a place at casa elisabeta but was scared that it was like the spitals so refused.

As if that wasn't enough there is a high rate of skin cancer amongst the villagers - in the last 2 days 3 have been told they are dying - they either can't afford treatment or the treatment isn't available. There is a rumour that its because of Chernobyl which is just 500 miles away - it could also be because they spend so much time outside working and wouldnt even dream of using suncream. Its all very depressing so I try not to dwell on it too much.

The weather has been really good - snowed on first day but hot ever since so have spent a lot of time outside and already got sunburnt! It was really bad just before I arrived - lots of snowstorms and power cuts! The river has flooded and so I have to wade through it about 5 times a day! On my first day I had a nightmare - Mariana, who is paralysed down one side, fell over and was covered in muddy water - luckily she found it funny! Petrica lost his boot and then I got my boot stuck in the mud, when I tried to get it out I lost the other boot! I am an expert at it now though!

There is one other volunteer here called Emily she is nice but she leaves tomorrow - its her computer that I am writing this on which is why the emails so long as not sure when I'll get to an internet cafe. 3 volunteers arrive tomorrow 1 girl and boy about my age and a man in his 50's - he is a born-again christian so a bit worried about him! He has a car though so he may be my new best friend! Emily and I made it into Tecuci (the nearest town) last night. We hitchhiked in! It was the first time I'd tried to hitchhike so i was quite excited - we only had to wait about 5 minutes and 2 nice guys stopped for us - they even offered to wait for us and bring us back! It was a lot quicker and more reliable than the bus so Ill def do that again. We went for a pizza and I was really excited about having a Romanian beer but all they had was Carling! The whole meal cost us a fiver – cheaper than the taxi home!

I think thats enough news for one email. I'd just like to say a big thankyou to everyone that has donated - they are putting the money towards an extension on Casa Rachel so they will be able to take in more boys so your money really has been appreciated. I'd also like to say thanks to all those that came to my various leaving do's - it was great to see everyone again and I'll see you all again in August.Take care - and keep emailing me your news - I'll try to reply individually.

Lots of love

Claire