Internationalmatt's Blog

Teaching English in Constanta Romania in 2004

In the summer of 2004 I went to Constanta Romania with some of the members of the college group at my church. It was a fun adventure for me to watch as some of my Romanian friends spent time with the people from the college group. We did several different activities such as visiting an orphanage, activities with children in the park, and spending time with our Romanian friends. One aspect of the trip that meant a lot to me was being able to teach English and sharing that experience with some of the college students from my church.

me teaching in Grace Church in Constanta Romania

I enjoyed sharing the experience with the students who joined me. I appreciated their willingness to try something new to them. They were a talented group and watching them interact with my Romanian friends gave me a lot of respect for them as they stepped out to try a variety of new activities that at times stretched them. I consider that trip as one of the highlights of my work with internationals because I had an opportunity to pass on a bit of my experience.

one of the students from the college group taking a turn to teach

Of course any trip to Romania the best part for me is to see my friends. One of those friends is Cristi. He grew up in a difficult life situation but thanks to Jesus working in his life and his determination to press on despite the challenges Cristi has been able to not only improve his life but also help others. Cristi has worked with Turkish children to help them improve their lives. He has also helped many others such as the young man in the following picture who was homeless. Cristi brought him to church and to our English classes.

me with Cristi on my left and the young man he was helping

That trip meant a lot to me because I had the opportunity to connect with my Romanian friends again. I always enjoy my time in Romania. It meant a lot to me because I also had the opportunity to pass on a bit of what I have experienced with my friends from church.

March 31, 2010 - Posted by internationalmatt | International Friendships, Internationals, Romania, summer, Travel experiences