Lauren’s Christmas Trip Diary - 2011
9th January 2012
15 year old Lauren from Lincoln joined the group of ROAD members on the 2011 Christmas trip.
Here is her diary…......
Friday 2nd December 2011 Temperature 0 °c - 3 °c
Today we left Lincoln at 1.00am, and travelled to Luton airport. We arrived there at 3.45am. We got checked in, and then had breakfast at a café. After that, we waited one and a half hours because the flight was delayed. We finally got on the plane at 8.45am and took off at 9am. The flight was about 3 hours 20 minutes. When we arrived at Cluj Napoca, we collected our luggage, and then we went to get the mini-bus. We then drove to Zalau, this took 2 hours to travel this distance. We arrived at John and Nely’s house at 4pm. Nely had prepared some wonderful Placinta, some cheese and some jam ones. Then we went to meet our hosts, and get settled in. We went back to John and Nely’s house to have dinner, we had homemade Soup, Pork and Mash potato. We then walked back to our host houses to have a good night’s sleep.
Saturday 3rd December Temperature 7 °c
Today we woke up at 8am, we went for breakfast at 8.45am. Then we walked to the mini-bus at 10am. We drove to the warehouse, at Hereclean. When we arrived at the warehouse, we sorted and then packed the shoeboxes for Starciu School. We left the warehouse to go to ‘Kaufland’ to buy food for some families. We went back to John and Nely’s for some lunch. We then went to some poor families, in Zalau and then in Ortelec, we delivered food and shoeboxes to families and children.
Sunday 4th December Temperature 11.5 °c
Today we went to Harul church; the service was 2 hours and 15minutes. Afterwards we had a meal with some people at the church. Then we went to look around Zalau and walked through a park. After that we went to ‘Kaufland’, to buy bananas, for schools in the morning. Then we went back to John and Nely’s to deliver presents to a young lady called Diana. After that we went back to the apartment to have an early night.
Monday 5th December Temperature 11.5 °c – 14 °c
Today we woke up early to go to the schools. We went to the warehouse to collect the shoeboxes and presents for the 3 schools we were going to. We travelled to a school in Ortelec, Santa delivered the presents to the children. Then we went to Moigrad School and to Brebi School. We then travelled to the ‘NoRo’ Centre (the new centre). Whilst there we watched a presentation performed by the children. Then we went to ‘Kaufland’ to buy another batch of bananas. We spent the evening with Dorica and Tibi Dan.
Tuesday 6th December Temperature 9 °c
Today we went to 4 schools, Prodenesti, Brusturi, Lupoaia, and Borza. Santa delivered the presents to the children. We then went to the C.I.T.O (disability centre). Whilst there we brought some candles. Then we went to the ‘Pasi Spre Viitor’ to have a look around and meet the residents living there. We then went to ‘Kaufland’ to buy 260 bananas for Starciu School in the morning. Then back to Nely’s again for a snack and then back to the apartment to have dinner with our hosts John and Otilia Ciupe.
Wednesday 7th December Temperature 7 °c
First of all we went to the Crasna care homes to deliver bananas and chocolate to the residents. Some of the residents treated us to some carol singing. We then travelled to Starciu School and delivered presents in 9 classes. The ages ranged from 3-15. Then we went to ‘Kaufland’ (for the last time) for more bananas.
Thursday 8th December Temperature 5 °c
Today we went to 4 schools: Campia Salaj, Salajeni, Cosei and Recea, Santa delivered his final presents. We then went back to the warehouse for the last time. Then back to John and Nely’s for lunch, we went to our apartment to pack our suitcases. We went back to the apartment for an early night.
Friday 9th December Temperature 2 °c
We woke up at 1.30am; we left our apartment at 2am to go and collect the others. We drove to the airport, we then got checked in and went to sit in the departure lounge. We got seated on the plane at 6am and left at 6.15am. We arrived back to Luton at 7.20am (GMT.) We arrived home at 11.45pm and then got unpacked.