My name is Grace and I live in Chicago. I came to Romania for the first time in 2016 for an Erasmus project. All I knew was that I was going to work as a volunteer in a camp. I had no idea about what it was going to be like. I fell in love with the people I met, the children I got to work with, the views, the nature and eventually with the whole country. I’ve returned each summer since then. This was more than just a summer volunteering opportunity for me. It was a life-changing experience. I love this program with all my heart because not only did I make new friends, but I also found a big family. Because of the pandemic situation, I could not go to Romania anymore. It was very hard to stay away from them, but I understood the situation. Even though I’m not there, I still keep in touch with my colleagues and even with the kids I’ve been working with. Seeing the light installation “Mi-e dor de tine” in Chicago this year was unbelievable. It made me emotional since I hadn’t realized how much I have missed Romania and my friends. I can’t describe what I was feeling at that moment. It felt like I was there again, reunited with all those beautiful people. I felt complete like I hadn’t felt in a long time. Mi-e dor de voi si de Romania!