One week - Post PULSE assignment

I am still in a state of confusion, time-wise. I am told that it is two days till Christmas by my very excited children but am still unable to comprehend how it has rolled around so quickly! The final week in Romania was a complete whirlwind of good-byes, and best wishes from people I had met throughout my short stay.

Intranet was up and running at exit and I am so happy. The database was glitch free and was being used when I left, also a bonus. I volunteered at my final event, Mojo's Quiz Night and it was one of the most successful ever. There was even a few Aussie trivia questions thrown in as a thank you.

I have to say that I miss Romania already. How could I be so attached to a country and its people so quickly? I understand now how the founder of the Hospices of Hope became so devoted to the future healthcare of Romania and why, 20 years later, he still spends so much of his time and energy championing the cause. One of the biggest issues for me was comprehending how healthcare standards could varying so greatly between individuals depending on circumstance, race, economic background and relationship with the healthcare professional. There is still a lot of corruption in the system and bribery is still considered a standard practice to enable locals to receive adequate healthcare. This simply cannot be seen as acceptable. There needs to be a drive for change. The Hospices of Hope do not accept any payments for their services, and they provide so many. Medical, Psychological, Spiritual, Physical assistance are all a part of helping the palliative care patients and their families. I am proud to say that I will still provide assistance post assignment, on my own time, via electronic means to enable support.

On a personal front, I am feeling the flight overload at the moment. I really enjoyed all the travel, but I have to say, cattle class is not great fun on the long haul flights, the leg cramps, the food, and sleeping upright (which I am now quite proficient at) is not at all fun. I was thankful to the great Aussie hosts on the last flight though, I had chats with them at around 2am, ate all their food and generally annoyed them. I was given a fast past through customs too, so they mustn't have felt too hassled. Now back at home, house bound for the most part, arrived to a sick cat and a broken radiator in my car and a less than healthy bank balance. I am grateful though, two days back in and half the boxes unpacked, and everything seems to be moving back into a general groove of things.

So what's plans next? I am looking forward to Christmas with my family, my eldest daughter is excited about cooking for everyone. Starting back at GSK in early January, a smaller team, a new manager but an enthusiasm to get started and back into the swing of things. On the volunteering front, I hope that once my finances improve to take the girls to either Thailand or Japan this year, closer to home, and both countries needing support in terms of volunteering activities. Watch this Space!!

Merry Christmas Everyone. Blessings and Good Will to you all.

Dani xxx

Just a few thoughts, Christmas and finishing off the assignment...

The last week in Romania. Wow. I am trying hard to contain my excitement with going home although there is equal measures of sadness as I will say goodbye to my new friends and extended families. I have loved every moment of this experience.

Was in Brasov this week and experienced snow!! Real snow! It is soft and fluffy, not hard like hail we get (and I thought it would be). I did end up falling on my butt, runners are not adequate snow wear. I saw fireworks and the Brasov Town Christmas tree lit up, it was the most beautiful sight. Apart from the travel to and from Brasov- (constantly delayed trains), I am really, really going to miss that place. So beautiful and such kind, wonderful friends.

I went to the Bucharest Christmas Market last night and saw the lights and colours of the city. Wow, so incredible! I haven't bought anything to take home yet (I have severely depleted my room in my case) but hopefully I can find some small items for my friends and family before I return.

On the work front, managed to get a lot of work done on the intranet which I am grateful for. The database is working well for those using it, and I am completing my last pieces of paperwork before I leave Friday.

For possibly the first time, I am too overwhelmed to write. Everything I have experienced, shared, has ultimately changed me. I hope for the better. I have experienced such highs and lows, tears and sadness, laughter and happiness.

What have I learnt?

- I swear. A lot. Luckily my team see this as humorous and not offensive (thank goodness!)
- I am quite depreciating. Feedback I have received from my work here has been so warm, so kind and complementary, which I also get at home, but I never really appreciated.
- I need to devote more time to my family and friends. Life can be so fleeting, can be removed in a moment. We need to remember the blessing of every moment we have.
- That you can achieve a lot with very little.

What have I taught?

- Aussies don't sound like Steve Irwin. Sorry mates, but he was in a league of his own.
- That small businesses, companies, organisations need to utilise more computer based tools. If you want to successfully stride into this new era, you must move with the times. I believe that the team are not quite ready, but I am hopeful for their future.
- How to have open and clear dialogue, and how important this is. I think it is so important for people to know where they stand, are they on the right track? What needs to be changed to improve performance?

What would I have changed?

- I believed that I went in with few assumptions. I know now that I was wrong with this. My home team are open to improvements and suggestions for best practise. This can sometimes be misinterpreted as, 'I know better, therefore you should do things my way.' This is not the case nor my intention.
- Language barriers can be difficult with a project. Training a group with varying ability in the English language and having little ability with the local dialect can be a huge barrier. I would like to say that I picked up Romanian quickly and easily but that would be untrue. I would like to think that I would spend more time in prep before starting on learning more about the local language.
- Visa, I think the excessive delays with the processing of the visa was definitely detrimental to my time spent here. I think this needs to be analysed well prior to the assignment and the assignment postponed until this paperwork is complete.

I really cannot believe how fortunate I am to been given this opportunity. I will forever be grateful to gsk and Hospice Casa Sperantei for this time and experience. I look forward to continuing my relationship with the Hospice as a volunteer, helping via skype or remote desktop connection where I can. I will always have the Hospice in my heart as well as inked to my skin.

Pretuim fiecare clipa de viata - Cherish every moment of life.

Dani xxx

Twenty days to go...

Wow, I cannot believe I am reaching the completion of my assignment. I am genuinely saddened to think of leaving the Hospice Fundraising team whom I have grown to know and love. They are an extraordinary group of people with fiercely wicked senses of humour and an ability to pull of the most incredible events with literally no resources.

My reflections?

Although I found it easy to love Bucharest and found the assignment quite sociable from the start, I know that it was difficult for some people to warm to me. I have a strong personality, speak English quickly (with Aussie inflection and colloquialisms) and my assignment wasn't incredibly popular given that the software I was sent to assist with had been implemented years ago and hadn't worked efficiently throughout this time. My friends and family at home know that this would be a hurdle for me, but not insurmountable. Perhaps you are even nodding your heads now and thinking, "Poor bastards, they didn't know what they were in for when Dani came on board".

It has been a time of intense joy and sadness. I love the people, the social atmosphere, the unique location and places to visit and see. The only other country I know that offers mountain ranges, beaches and such varying weather is home. Romania adds to this though with its rich lustrous history. I even love the food now thanks to Mada in the office who makes such delicious Romanian cuisine without the risk of food poisoning.

I miss my children, I miss them more than anything, and have throughout. They have also had their ups and downs, Kaitie has been made School Captain for her year level, she also won Student of the Year at her new school. She has made such amazing friendships and has finally found her niche. It only happens to be two states away from where I work! Hannah on the other hand, has done very well at school given the social butterfly she naturally is and blitzes her assignments and exams with relative ease. She misses her friends in Victoria though and cannot wait to return. Torn.

I have had moments of sadness here, it is difficult to be in an environment where you don't know the primary language. Being ridiculous as I am, I thought that by six months, I would be fluent (embarrassing to admit). I do now pick up the general gist of a conversation, but cannot contribute or understand the little nuances. The team still try and teach me a word or two, but my memory doesn't seem to retain them.

Being an un-socialite has been exhausting too. I love being around people and activities but being naturally introverted means that I need my own space to digest and think things through. Sometimes this has been an impossibility given my commitments and the stress has shown. Last weekend at the Ball I had a small nervous breakdown given the exhaustion from the build up, the late nights and finally the event. I think it was good in a way though as the team saw that I am vulnerable, and cannot be happy or "on" all the time. (Thank you for your help Irina and Oana!) I remember my last manager explaining to me that she was very introverted, but watching her in a room, you would never guess. She explained that she puts that to the side, does what she needs to and regains her senses at a later time. I guess I take this message to heart and try and do this, most of the time!

On a good note, the team are starting to use the software, it has taken almost the full six months, but the database is now cleaned, it has been adapted to Romanian needs (to the extent of my ability as this goes unsupported by the software developers!). My team see the benefits of using a database for their events and how a co-ordinated PM tool will assist and not hinder their efforts. I need to thank Laura for encouraging the team also. I think it will assist as the group rapidly grow and become a more global than local effort.

Our intranet is now a pinch away from release. It is a little slower than anticipated given that the teams have been focused on their events at the most busy time of year and also given IT's location is two and a half hours away. A bit of a hike in terms of collaboration. Some things you just need to do in face to face meetings! Again, thanks goes to the Brasov website team, for their assistance and ongoing support with this initiative.

Twenty days and I will update you again. Thank you again, my Romanian friends (including ex-pats) and missing you my Aussie ones.

Dani xxx

In Memory of Laura

You may remember me writing about Laura some months ago.

Dear Laura passed away today leaving her two beautiful daughters.

Although I am glad that her battle with illness has ended however she had such a beautiful aura, zest for life and positivity. She will be missed.

Please pray for Ramona, her nurse and carer who took such gentle care of her these last few years and pray for her mother and children who have looked after her since she fell ill.

I will remember the rays of light that shone through her window on to her artwork in a beautifully bright and cheery room. Her multi-coloured finger and toe nails. Her smile.

GSK PULSE Assignment Versus GSK Brasov's Orange Day

Well, it wasn't a part of my initial assignment but it did seem like too good an opportunity to pass up. To help create an intranet site for Hospice Casa Sperantei based on SharePoint.

Given that I have had some exposure to SharePoint through using it and implementing Sites and Sub-Sites in GSK Australia, I thought that it was something I could start to play with and work towards implementing closer to the end of my time in Romania. I quickly realised that having full access to SharePoint and not just the GSK templates on offer to us at home meant I would need significant software designer experience and assistance. Enter GSK Brasov.

A little background. Early in my PULSE assignment I met with Marius, IT Director at GSK Brasov when we were both running in the Hospice Crosa (me 4km, he, the full course). I suggested a partnership at this stage and a plan started to form. Orange Day is one day a year given to GSK employees to dedicate to a charity, either individually or as a part of their team. I thought, I wonder whether we can partner the PULSE project and Orange Day in a collaborative IT project? When I proposed this concept to Marius, he agreed to help. After a few initial meetings with Marius and his  team and a brief introduction to the Hospices requirements, the day was set.

At 9.30am the A-team arrived. Victor, the Hospice IT Director and I completed a quick brief on what our expectations and needs were for the project. Basically we wanted a simple intranet site that was in keeping with the Hospice design and profile and inclusive of the teams collaborative needs. Reservation bookings, Event Calendars, Newsletter, Blog Spot, Announcements and Employee Look-Ups were a few of the major features.

A quick overview of the project

 

10am the team had a Inpatients Unit Site Tour, to get an idea of who their work would eventually be benefiting. As one of the staff members at the Hospice said, they usually receive volunteers to help with patients or events but very few people think of the IT infrastructure and its requirements. However if what was created today worked well, there would be nothing to stop Victor and the Hospice from taking the site global to the groups within the network in the UK, Moldova, Serbia, USA and Scotland.

Hospice Casa Sperantei - A Beacon of Hope in Romania

Mirabela, our Volunteers Coordinator explaining the role of the Hospice
and the valuable work they do.

 

Petruta explaining the work of the Medical team to the group

 

Preparing a ward for patients. Although palliative care is a
heart-wrenching industry to be working in, the team at
Hospice Casa Sperantei put the patients needs first, ensuring that
their last moments are filled with light and a peace-filled environment.

11am, The work started. The initial designs were taken back to scratch and the whole site rebuilt. The team were focused, energised and brought a whole new viewpoint and set of ideas to what we initially conceptualised. Proof that a well-structured team can work wonders.

1pm. The team were focused but needed a pick me up. Pizza?

From 1.30pm to around 6pm the team worked furiously. They completed the overall design of the intranet, the IT ticketing system and a strong basis for launch. All that is left for Victor and I to do is add the appropriate web-parts and content. They didn't leave until their tasks were complete and we were all satisfied with the result. What they offered us today was five IT experts, full time on a singular project. Realistically this task could not have been achieved by the Hospices dedicated team of two people given they would need to complete their every day activities as well as implement the site. This would entail payment from Hospices for training, time out of their regular jobs not to mention the need for additional resource. This project could literally run into thousands of dollars to achieve what GSK were able to implement in a day. To say that I am grateful is an understatement.

Mirabela and Victor - They are grateful too :)

Home time!! A job well done

Acknowledgements

Marius Istrate - Service Manager of the Web Technology Centre, GSK - Brasov
Victor Anania - IT Director of Hospice Casa Sperantei Romania
Victor Miron - SharePoint Expert and Overall Designer of Hospice Intranet Page
Sorin Allinca - SharePoint Expert
Codruta Alexandru - SharePoint Expert
Stefan Bustan - SharePoint Expert
Mirabela Vasile - Volunteer Co-ordinator, Hospice Casa Sperantei
Petruta Anania - Assistant Co-ordinator, Social Division

Four Months Down... Eight Weeks To Go

At the four month mark now. I have had significant hold-ups with my Visa which has caused some issue with returning to my assignment in Romania. Luckily the Hospices' head office is in Otford, UK, so I have spent the last three weeks working from here. A big issue that I have experienced is a disconnect from my project in Romania. I feel like I am still achieving my objectives and ensuring that I am keeping to the project however I find it increasingly difficult to be away from my team. A key learning for me with the PULSE project is to ensure that you delay or try and arrange your Visa needs prior to assignment, even if it means that you may start later than anticipated.

What have I achieved in the last three weeks?

• Working with the team in the UK we have managed to refine some of the database processes which is great for the team when I return home. Continued working on the process document to simplify the content.
• We have a date set for Orange Day 2012 with the Brasov team to assist with the implementation of the SharePoint based intranet for the Hospice.
• I have met with future potential donors, discussed what I do, how GSK support NGO's and most importantly my work with the Hospice and their patients.
• Attended the PULSE Awareness Week, met with my co-ordinator and other members of the PULSE team and future volunteers.
• I have volunteered at a fundraising event here, to gauge the differences between Romania and UK events.
• Worked with one of our Romanian Corporate Partners on putting together a web based template to generate sales for patients wanting to sell art work to help them become self-sustaining, financially, even if they are bedridden or house-bound.

In between all these activities I have also managed to make it out of the UK visiting rural France and Belgium. Wow. What an experience! I saw opulence and wealth of these areas, but Carole also introduced me to the poverty of some of the lesser known regions. She explained to me that Europe are still evolving which can be financially crippling to some of the communities as they struggle to maintain their culture, their heritage and history while the world grows and advances around them. Who is right? How can balance be maintained? Is tourism one of the solutions? I have to say that I am full of questions about what can be done to make lives better, easier. I know this is not my assignment but I can't help but wonder what more individuals can do.

The good news is - my visa has been approved so I am now waiting on the documentation so I can head back. Looking forward to being back in Romania even though I will miss the UK. Also looking forward to Christmas and being back with my children. How I miss their hugs!

Love lots

Dani xxxx

Cross-eyed but getting it done!

Halfway through my assignment, It seems to have all gone so quickly, I want to use this blog for a few special shout outs and thank yous for the time that I have spent here - I know there will definitely be more and something more formal nearer to the end!

Still waiting on my Romanian Visa approval which has proved to be quite stressful this week but luckily I am staying with the most beautiful people, Carole and Ian, who have not only housed me but have taken me sight-seeing locally and to France for the weekend! 

I am working with an amazing team in Otford - a HUGE thank you to Peter and Alex this week who have proven to be invaluable in terms of knowledge base and support. I know that there is no way we could have completed what we have this week without such a solid team. The database locally is going great guns, we have had to complete a fair bit of clean up and resolution of some technical issues but I think the majority of this is now out of the way. I am now chomping at the bit to do some more work and training with the Romanian team but I know that I will be back there soon.

A quick thank you to Britain, I have been lucky enough to experience some blue skies over the past couple of days - I feel thoroughly spoilt.

A huge thank you to my GSK Pulse Coordinator whom I have caught up with this week and which is always a joy. I have really grown quite fond of Debbie during my time in my assignment. I think having such competent and kind support during the most trying of times is the most you could ask for. 

Still with GSK, thank you to Angela and Marius in Brasov who have supported me throughout this assignment, Angela with helpful advice and friendship and Marius with the undertaking of intranet design and creation for the Hospice, what was a mere concept is becoming a reality with you and your team's assistance. Thank you to Claire and Monica back in Australia for helping support my local workload.

To my family - thank you always to my mum and dad for the infinite patience with me and dealing with those niggly issues that always seem to come up when you are away with no possible means to resolve them. Thank you to my children whom I love so dearly and miss with my heart and soul. Thank you for giving me permission for this experience at the expense of us being separated for what seems like an eternity.

Finally - thank you to GSK and to the Hospices of Hope for this incredible experience. It is truly invaluable, life-changing and I know that I will never, ever be the same.

Dani xxx

Sea Legs

I have had the past two weeks returning home from my PULSE assignment, I have renamed this as my "sea legs" as returning home is more complicated than I could imagine. During the last few weeks I have caught up with my parents, my children, and my dearest friends. I have touched base with my GSK team which has been great and also contacted the Hospice sporadically.

So why "sea legs"?

I have really enjoyed time with my family and friends, It has been difficult to slot myself back into normal life and discussion given my focus over the last three months. I have to admit that I am feeling a little flat - there is so much to do, for my assignment, and at home at GSK, or so much I want to do. (I think jet lag has a huge amount to do with my mood and feelings too!)

My visa issues still are unresolved. I think that I gained some leverage today - all documents have been received now and are now being sent to Romania for completion. Still another few weeks away though.

There is so much I want to still do in terms of training back in Romania and UK, I know that this was started before I left and I am confident (as long as the system has been used) that the team will be able to utilise the system easily prior to my departure in December. My team is extraordinary at the Hospice and I look forward  to returning to them shortly.

Back home? I had the privledge of speaking with my new manager about my role and what I will be doing when I return in late January. And have come away with home work!! It is all extremely exciting and I am energised by what my team having been doing in my absence. I miss them so much!

Flying out again Saturday (more jet lag - groan)

Dani xx

Following the yellow brick road....

Back in Oz. Get it?

What a manic week, I have to say, the last couple of days have spent like in a coma - still recovering from serious jet lag, veerrrry tired and awake at strange times of the night.

Good flights home - Bucharest to UK, best airline food yet, curried chicken, yum! Just missed catching up with Jen at the airport, d'oh. Next time Miss Jen, next time!!

Overnight stopover in Singapore - met up with my amazing colleagues and friends from GSK Singapore. Dinner with Wendy was incredible - real noodles, rice and vegetables. I was a very happy lady!! (PS. The most AMAZING iced tea - tasted like butterscotch! and was homemade!)

 

Then went through a stroll through the neighbourhood and we discovered a Buddhist temple. It was an amazing experience where we were taught how to pray. I have been exposed to so many different religions, beliefs and ideologies - surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, each religion seems to follow a similar path on the most basic level. Live well, be kind to others, and pray - for peace, for friends, relatives, strangers, and to gain peace from the stress of every day living.

 

 

 

 

The following day started at GSK in Singapore where I met with Wendy and Xiu Ping and stole them away briefly so they could show me the local sites. I went to the Temple of White Tara and had my palm read - another irreplaceable experience. The reader knew about my failed marriage, my two children and my current charity work. How do they know these things?

 

I then dropped Wendy and Xiu Ping back at the office and went to the Singapore Flyer where I was able to watch the set up for the Singapore Grand Prix, the Harry Potter exhibition (yes, I am incredibly grown up) and then the Gardens by the Bay.

 

 

Then straight to the airport for my next trip to Sydney! Landed and got through customs easily - headed to Circular Quay for breakfast and to wait for a TC with work. Then off to the Romanian embassy for two hours. Still haven't resolved all the issues with my visa which is frustrating but I am told that it wont take long to rectify.

 

Back to the airport where I seriously could not keep my eyes open, I don't think I have ever felt so tired. I napped sporadically as our plane was delayed, my phone dying and messaging my sister to let her know what was happening. Landed in Brisbane - no phone, now dead. New pick up areas and no signage, so no sister. Seriously, the blood moon this night meant that nothing was going in our favour. After two and a half hours at the airport and considerable cost to us both, I ended up finding a taxi and heading to her place by this mode of transportation.

 

A quick exchange of gifts, and then sleeep.

 

A mixed array of crap from around the world.



Following day - a quick look through my sis' favourite shops then off to see my girls! Oh, how they have grown, they are taller, more mature in features, and just beautiful. Oh how I missed them.

Six hours train trip to my mum and dad in Bundaberg and then rest. It has such a gruelling trip, I think it will take a little time to recover, but I am definitely getting there!

Dani xxx

Some of the things I love about Romania (and some of the things that I don't love so much)...

Let's start with the not so lovely (in no particular order)...

1. Pride in workmanship - A photo is worth a thousand words in this instance. As a friend says to me, how many other places gives you the opportunity to garrote yourself as you walk?

This is in front of a friends building, the holes in the ground are so big
they have had to put boards over them. Voila! Job done. There are actual
building works next to this property but they seem non-plussed that they
are destroying the integrity of the surrounding buildings.

 

 

2. As above except with keyed locks. I have been told there is a "trick" with almost every lock as the locksmiths can't seem to cut a key to fit the lock correctly. This may mean that you need to leave the key slightly out so it will turn or only put it a little way in before trying to turn. I locked myself in the staff bathroom on the first day and had a slight panic to think that I may end up living in there as I didn't know the "trick". haha!

 

3. Having to look at head height when you walk on the paths so you don't accidentally hang yourself and having to look down so you don't end up knee deep in dog poo. Seriously, it is everywhere. Pilate's say, keep your head high when you walk. Do so at your own risk in Romania.

 

4. Taxis. This would have to top my list of dislikes for oh so many reasons. Don't go to a theme park if you want an adrenaline rush - just jump in a Bucharest Taxi. Firstly, the fare is based on a reverse bidding system. I have found that they tend to start at 50RON and you have to talk them down or walk. No seat belts and if you try to find and use one, the driver gets terribly offended and will turn to yell at you while they plough along, head first in oncoming traffic.

5. Some of the station platforms are extremely narrow. It is a little surprising to see a train pull up almost to the wall at some stations.

 

 

6. The poverty. There are many homeless, many beggars, it is hard just to ignore them, but you can end up quite poor if you give money to every one that you see. As a friend said, who knows what they are using the money for? Best to buy them a loaf of bread instead of cash.

 

 

7. The medical health system. For a foreigner with private health cover the health system is adequate, for those without it can be horrendous. I am grateful, as always to be working for Hospice Casa Sperantei who work towards palliative care and also education for medical testing before illness becomes terminal.

 

What I genuinely love about Romania

 

  

 

1. The people. Their kindness, their generosity of spirit and their welcoming manner especially with tourists and strangers. I have been hugged so many times since arriving, it was unusual at first, now I love it.

2. Their pride in their work. Our cleaner at work in Brasov emptied the washing machine that held my clothes, even though I said not to fuss about it and hung out, ironed and folded them. I was embarrassed that she went to so much trouble, but everyone here tries to go above and beyond expectation.

 

 

 

3. Looking after souls, all souls, including plants and animals. Nurses, doctors and volunteers looking after the patients. And then some people carry sachets of pet food in their bags for the stray dogs. One of my work mates salvaged a bonsai that had been thrown away and was caring for it in the hope that it would survive.








4. The beauty of the country. From the bustling cities and their amazing malls and parks, to the countrysides with their towering mountains and flowers everywhere. The architecture is also so amazing. You must visit this amazing place!



 

  

 

5. The public transport system. The metro trains are new, as are the buses. They are kept clean and the public are respectful of this property. It is very easy to navigate around Bucharest, even without knowing Romanian!

 

 

7. Cleanliness - watching the early morning cleaners with mops and scrapers cleaning the shop fronts with enthusiasm and pride.

 

8. The stray dogs - this is probably a surprising one, but most are not vicious, the locals and the dogs live harmoniously for the most part. The dogs play, run, sleep near humans and seem to be quite happy with their lifestyle.

 



9. Location, location!! Living so close to everything!! It is a hop skip and a jump across the border, you can fly, train it, bus it and even drive to a different country! Coming from a country surrounded by water, this is a physical impossibility at home!

 

10. Music, festivals, entertainment - being in the centre of things means the most amazing artists, bands visit here. In the last couple of months, Lady GaGa, Garbage, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Lenny Kravitz just to name a few!

 

11. The malls. Oh my goodness! The shopping! Love love love it here! And a visit to the cinemas are so cheap in comparison to home.

 





To wrap up, I have soooo much more to see, but Romania has so much to offer the humble tourist. I love it here. I am going to miss it when I leave, even for a short time. It already feels like home.

 

La revedere for now Romania,

 

Dani xxxx

Learning curve

This week I started training on the database and had to rethink my ways and adjust accordingly. I arranged my training materials and planned training as I have done in Australia not thinking about language barriers, current skill levels and making general assumptions on past experience. I could kick myself.

First day of training I conducted with the whole team, classroom style at their own desks, own computers. We had some technical issues and some ploughing ahead as they had a good competency with the database and some left behind. Ok. Rethink. First lesson - fail. Second lesson I held in a room with me in control and team watching. Yawns and general boredom. Second lesson - fail. Third lesson I planned one on ones and some with groups of two. Voila! Finally success! This worked much better as I could use patience and explain myself fully when language barriers became an issue and we could resolve technical issues without holding anyone else up and I could answer questions as they came up. End of the week most of the team trained. Phew! Now for implementation and daily use. Will have to archive old data for a second time as our first trial with keeping all data did not work. 35,000 contacts and no way to review? Let's use as a read only library and enter new contacts and financials. We will see how it goes.

Share point is moving along with amazing assistance of Gsk. Second meeting this week with agenda, brainstorming planning and implementation arranged. Everyone is slowly coming around to the idea and becoming more positive about the concept and what we could use it for. So happy.

Personally. Tired now. Lots of travel within and outside of Romania. But oh how I love this country. I will sincerely miss it and the people when I leave. I had a wonderful experience on the train this afternoon. I watched a family have to say goodbye to each other. Mother and daughter one way and father left on the platform. There was many tears from the daughter - I showed her a picture of my children and said I was sad too. The mother spoke to me in Romanian and I sadly replied that I don't understand as I am still language deficient. I did try but my pronunciation is atrocious and it is unfair to their beautiful language for me to keep torturing it the way I unwittingly do. I gave the daughter my copy of Marie Claire, the uk version I picked up in Paris thinking she would like the pictures. Well unbelievable. Both mother and daughter poured over the pages pointing at the fashion, both reading and rereading. As you can imagine, I told them to keep it - for five euro I can pick up another copy easily. I shared some of my perfume with them as they saw an advertisement in the magazine. They were still smelling their arms I left. I think of how much I take for granted, that something so simple can bring so much joy. (They were kind enough to feed me as a thank you! A banana which will make my family laugh as they know my complete aversion to the fruit. But I ate it to be polite. It hasn't changed my mind. Lol)

Returning to Australia next week to apply for my visa to return and see my family. I am so excited to see my children. I miss them desperately. They are packed already and ready for our adventure with my parents. Beach, family and friends. I feel that I will always be torn after this experience though, I already feel like I am leaving a home. How can you have an adventure like this one and not change utterly and totally forever more.

Signing off for now.

Dani.

Bonjour from Paris!

Ok, so this maybe my last trip for a little while as my savings have run dry and I have expenses in Aust when I return home next week.

Paris seemed like the place to be, with weather being fine and flights cheap. I flew in late on Friday night and struggled from the moment I landed.

The automatic ticketing machines do not accept Australian credit cards and of course there was one last train leaving in five mins!! An assistant there must have seen the look of horror on my face to think that I would be stuck in the airport overnight so gave me a free pass on the proviso that I bought a ticket when I got into the city. I thought, no problem. Wrong. Same issue in the city and no atms. Stress city. A lovely person swiped her card and let me on to the platform and I snuck through behind someone else on another. I felt awful but desperate times call for desperate measures! Made it to my station after three trains and just after 1am as my hotel was a fair distance out of the city. Luckily a cafe was open and an exasperated waiter sighed loudly and assisted with directions. Thankfully the hotel was only four blocks away and open when I finally arrived. I have to say, if you go to Paris and don't mind being on the outskirts of the city, the classic hotel is lovely and the staff are helpful. Their breakfast was divine which I was surprised about as I am not a huge fan of buffets but real, crispy bacon, scrambled eggs, mini toast and croissants topped off by juice and coffee. Magnifique!!



So first day's schedule was to the Eiffel tower then Disneyland. Found a cash machine close to my apartment so I had my two day travel pass and was set to go. Using my metro map - which I have found in every other country refers only to the underground trains threw me into a heightened state of confusion. The trains, buses and trams are all on the one map but not marked in any way to note differences between which or what you need to catch. Oh gawds. So one tram ride later I was stuck in a station with an arrow pointing to a small empty room and apparently marking where my bus would be. Hmmm. Asked info desk, unhelpful as they pointed to the empty room and said that it would be there. Asked someone else, unsure. Running late at this point so figured it would be quicker to walk. Still scratching my head about that one. Maybe it was French humour to have English speaking visitors running in circles. If you see me in YouTube let me know. So I walked halfway- twenty minutes and found a train station with a direct to the tower. 9.26am and I may make my appointment time of 9.30! Maybe. Get out at the station and ran. Made it at 9.32. Phew! Crowds weren't too bad at this stage and I was at the summit in ten minutes from arriving. Funnily it was mostly Australians in the tower, I winced as I heard one really laying the accent and slang on thick. It is nice to hear another Aussie, but really we don't all sound like Steve Irwin in reality, I promise. Lol.

Spoke to an Aussie couple at the bottom and compared travel tips. They, like me, loved Austria. They are on a long European trip seeing most of the continent. They believe they have seen enough churches to fill a lifetime.

On to Disneyland. After getting lost down several different streets trying to find the right station and fighting off the street hawkers and charlatans conning unsuspecting visitors out of their cash. There are a lot of them. Everywhere. There is warnings everywhere about pickpockets too. Something I am not used to as Romania has such a low crime rate.

Disneyland was cool. After getting over the homicidal feelings towards other people's screaming kids, I really started to enjoy the atmosphere. I missed my girls terribly but wandered around taking lots of pics and buying them presents. I wasn't able to go on many rides with the queues to most being over an hour and a half. I did go on the river boat ride, the haunted mansion, and all of the movie tours though which were all pretty cool. I missed out on big thunder railroad -again!! Stayed for the night show which was pretty amazing, the castle doubles as a huge projector screen and they use coordinated fireworks, projection and music. Amazing. Different to America that had the street parade instead.

Late night again getting home after 1am. Paris was still very much awake at this time, even more so than the daytime!! Cafes were bustling, bike riders everywhere and the atmosphere was buzzing. But i had to go home after a huge day. Went to the train station and of course, my two day pass had expired. Wtf? The lady on the information desk sighed loudly, but did not hang up from her phone call and fixed my card. I was getting used to people being frustrated with me at this stage! Haha

I enjoy the unplanned visits more than scheduled events - frustrated by having to be at designated areas at designated times. Much happier just playing a day by ear and seeing where fate takes me. This was my Sunday, and I loved it. the metro card worked with no issues, the weather was fine, perfect!



 

First stop I decided would be the Louvre. Didn't go in as I was happy just being outside in the sunshine. No queues from the metro entrance though! Do you know that there is 35,000 pieces of art work and if you saw each for only 30 seconds, it would still take you over three months to see everything!!! I mean wow! Ate more pastries, figure it may be a while before I have any like that again. :-).




Went to the Moulin Rouge, just to see where it is an check out the seedy neighbourhood (as described by people on trip advisor.) you know what? It is a really awesome area- sure it is dodgy but full of cool bohemian types, very relaxed. I liked it.

Went on to the Arc de Triumph, I didn't go up - I figure that I was doing things on the run. It was nice to see the places but limited time to spend at each. That might annoy some but I really don't mind the fly by visits.

Next stop - I wanted to see Notre Dame, I ended up changing my mind when I got to the river though and did a cruise instead - it was nice to sit in the sun on the water, take pictures and totally chill. Saw many bridges, I particularly liked the lock bridge which sparkles like it has been spray painted in gold. It is covered in padlocks from the lovers, signifying a seal on their love for ever. Saw where Marie Antoinette lived and died, saw Notre Dame of course, the Eiffel Tower and several other beautiful and key sites.

From here I went for a stroll through Paris, where I was asked by a street artist whether he could draw me for free - I declined, it always seems very dodgy to me and he said he would pray for me. I get that a lot, evil must simply seep from my pores. Lol.

Had comments from locals on my tattoos, very complimentary, not many European women get tattoos or so I have been told. I then headed to the airport, and shock horror, train was on time so I made my flight with plenty to spare.

Paris, although troublesome in terms of transportation, about 75% of the locals locals genuinely seem to hate tourists (get this, we help pay your wages and bring income to the city!!), and service is so slow in majority of the restaurants I visited, I liked it. I really did. It is a pretty city. Akin to Bucharest (as it is known as little Paris) it has different areas but all cool and unique in its own way. I still have so much to see and do, I hope I get the opportunity to return - I agree with a comment made from a friend, don't do it solo if you can help it, Paris is really a city to share.

(Oh and as a PS, I was waved over to the European line in border control when I returned to Bucharest. The guy raised his eyebrow when he saw all the stamps into the country, said 'you're enjoying our summer?', I replied 'I love it so much here, I am applying for my visa next week!' he then said 'welcome to Bucharest!' first time for everything! Aww, it's like my second home, it really made my weekend. :-D)

Working with Angels

Today I had the privilege to go out with Ramona, one of our nurses on two home visits. The first patient, Laura, was a 42 year old woman with ovarian cancer. She is pretty, fine boned young woman, very vibrant, positive and colourful (literally with different coloured nails on each hand and feet). She was diagnosed three years ago and was operated on seven times within a short - six month time frame. Her story terrified me as she is so similar in age, she has twin girls aged 14 and is divorced. She worries about her children's futures should anything happen to her and this plays on her mind given that she is permanently bed ridden as the multiple surgeries have left her with two open wounds which now will not heal. She does not trust any doctors other than the ones through the Hospice as when she was in hospital being operated on and in recovery the doctors would come to her saying that they were there to simply give her an injection, then would sedate and operate on her without consent. Truly frightening. She now does not know the status of her disease, the progression or whether she is in remission. She refuses the aid of hospitals, ambulances or any other health care professional but our own.

It is strange how empathy truly makes a situation hit home. I have been in a state of shock, my heart aching for her and her family. I met her daughters, Anke and Anika, they were so happy and positive, showing me their art work, and talking with me in fluent English as their whole family does. Laura had a successful teaching career prior to cancer. She now spends much of her time investing in artistic expression and with this she is extremely talented. I did suggest that she thinks about selling her artwork as this would be a source of income that the family needs to support both her and her children's needs. If you have any other ideas, please let me know. I will take my camera next time to show you photos of their work, I believe that you will be as impressed as I was.

The next trip was to visit Marius, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis twenty years ago. He is now today incapacitated with no movement from the neck down. He can feel his arms, his legs, his torso but his body is now physically wasted from lack of muscle use. He speaks very fluent English, like Laura and has a quick and active mind. He was very chatty and quite happy to share the experience of his disease and how it has affected him and his family since the initial diagnosis. The degeneration of his body started at age31 when he lost the use of his legs. This terrified his wife who divorced him soon after and took their two sons. He lost his home, and was living in a car, so embarrassed by his situation and his dissolution of his marriage that he was unable to tell his family, his friends. He now lives with his sisters who take care of him on a daily basis, the best way they can. They are not wealthy though so he lives in a tiny apartment with very little room for Ramona to navigate around in order to clean and help him. She visits him once a week to thoroughly bathe and look after him. His sisters, while knowing their familial obligation is to help him, are somewhat resentful by the situation of reverting to full time carers. It is up to Ramona to clean up after days of no attention apart from feeding, this means dirty diapers, full external catheter bags etc. He is lonely given that the Hospice are the only ones who provide him with proper carer assist and also volunteers to talk with him. His sons do not visit, sadden by his situation, and like his mother afraid for what their future might hold.

Ramona is amazing  in terms of her ability, the visit with Marius took literally hours as she cleaned, shaved, washed, clipped his hair, finger and toe nails. I helped as much as I could but she does this solo every single week. I was stunned by her kindness and commitment, unfortunately this nursing gene completely surpassed me so watching her, and while I was speaking with Marius, I was in awe.

I am drained, emotionally, from such visits. Laura is a palliative care patient, Marius is with the Hospice as no one else can look, or will look after him. Both situations are heartbreaking. I wish I had my children, my parents right now. I wish I could hold them and tell them just how much I love and miss them. I am grateful to live in a country with a strong robust health care system that looks after everyone that requires it.

Can I also add a comment about the HUGE amount of pride I have for the company I work for. I met with Marius and Angela (past PULSE volunteer) from GSK Brasov yesterday, both who have offered their expertise and assistance to support the creation and implementation of the Hospice Intranet and dedicated employees to a volunteer day activity. I have also had similar conversations with GSK Bucharest, UK, USA (with Courtney - another PULSE volunteer) and Australia who have offered different but essential support to the charity. Thank you so very much. I am, and I know the Hospice definitely is so appreciative.

Marius (our patient) gave me one piece of advice as I left today. Take nothing for granted, live your life like you have one day remaining. I intend to keep to this as should anyone who reads this blog.

Love to you all.

Dani xxx

Dani's Guide for Traveling (Light and Solo!)

I thought I would briefly share some of my travel tips since I am doing things considerably cheaply, comfortably and learning A LOT along the way.

- Get yourself a decent backpack, make sure it is sturdy but light. Some European budget airlines will not let you take on more than 7 kg in your hand luggage (and this is how I am travelling - hand luggage only). Some countries are quite flexible and lenient with this rule, however others are the complete opposite and are extremely strict (UK and Romania being apart of the stricter rules). Hand luggage is ONE bag, including your handbag which restricts things a little more. My backpack was gratefully nabbed from my parents place before I left. It was originally a laptop bag but it is so strong, the integrity of the bag and the size makes it perfect. It has heaps of secure pockets for passport etc.

 

- Book at least your flights and accommodation in advance, this is just my preference. I don't mind planning my trip - tours, museums, walks etc, when I land, but it is comforting to know I have somewhere safe to go home to in the evening. I use Kayak.com for cheap flights and Wotif.com for last minute cheap deals. I usually double check on TripAdvisor to see what others have said about the hotels. This is not a preference for everyone, but safety is still a huge priority for me while travelling solo.

- Do get to know the local public transport system. I have gone from "the Forrest Gump of Public Transport" as dubbed by my team in Australia, to be quite able to travel from A to B or even A to M and return. Public transport is cheaper than tours, most guide books tell you exactly what lines to rely on to get to where you want to go, and strangers can be quite helpful if you do get lost.

- Do decide on your must do activities and plan accordingly. I tend to do those activities first and then I do my getting lost activities in the afternoon. I don't think I have missed anything that I was really keen on seeing - yet! Orientate yourself with a map. I am not a great map-reader but am getting used to it! I actually helped a fellow ex-pat find his way to a rather obscurely hidden museum while in Vienna and pointed the way to the main attractions to an Austrian that didn't speak English but told me in one word where they wanted to go. If you do happen to get lost, cafes and restaurants are a great place to stop, have a drink, re-orientate yourself, ask questions, and head on.

- Book your tickets in advance for those popular must see attractions. Places like the coliseum have HUGE line-ups, you could wait literally hours. If you book on line or at the local tourism office you can save money on your tickets and jump the queue.

- Do be confident while travelling. Don't be a target for muggers or pick pockets. I don't know any great tips for avoiding this happening except for watching your things, Taking long purposeful strides when going places. Trying not to be the tourist with map and camera pointing at attractions (although this is me some of the time). Stand with your back to the wall in train carriages, Use both straps on your backpack or hold the one strap that is over your shoulder.

- It can be disconcerting not to know the local language. Either make the effort to know a few brief phrases or be clear and concise with what you need. I am terrible, absolutely awful linguistically but am becoming brilliant at charades.

- Want to learn a few things for free? A guide gave me this tip - you can tag along on the end of tour groups, hear some facts about the attraction, city you are visiting without being a part of the official group. You can see these tour groups everywhere. Usually groups of 20 or so, with rods with handkerchiefs tied to the end. I must say, I haven't done this yet, but may in the future.

- Get lost!! My favourite way of exploring. The places I have found just by chucking in the iPod and walking! The people and the places, incredible. You need to be, again, quite confident in order to do this. It can be stressful if you like to always know where you are.

- Get to know your fellow travelers. It has been amazing meeting so many weird and wonderful people. You may only get to know them on the trip, but knowing them briefly is better than not at all.

- I stay a minimum of two days in any one place but bring one change of clothes. A great tip I was given on a train (when still lugging around a suitcase) was to do this, then wash the first change of clothes in soap or shampoo, rinse well, wring out as much water as you can, pull out the creases and hang dry. Works fantastically as every hotel has a towel rail and usually a hairdryer if you want to fasten the process.

- Limit your purchases. Get small, easy to carry, non-fragile gifts (learnt this the hard way - a piece of Italian Murano glass smashed and now sitting in a bin somewhere)

- Drink water - and lots of it. I take at least a one litre bottle with me, and aim for 2 ltr per day, especially when flying, you have to hydrate yourself.

- Get over that fear of public toilets, wrap the seat in toilet paper if you have to, but get used to the fact that they are not like home.

Things I cannot travel without:

• Wet-ones (antibacterial) for after toilet stops (see above note) and to freshen up)
• Stick deodorant - you can't take sprays on board flights
• iPhone - Internet wi-fi can be found almost everywhere. You can update facebook, email and use as a backup camera - which I have had to do several times
• Camera and back up battery - I think you all know how much I love my pics now.
• Sturdy, comfortable footwear - don't kill your feet before the adventure starts
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Plastic bag for the washing you want to take home
• small first aid kit - pain killers, anti-diarrhoea tablets (just in case)

Have fun! The world is an amazing place as are the people in it. Enjoy them.

Dani xxx

Setting the record straight..

Up till now, most of my blog has been based on the positives of overseas volunteering, as the majority of my experience has been. I do think it is important though for people to see the other side though before making the decision to do the same.

The Financial Implications - Your expenses at home do not cease when you travel, so instead of paying for expenses in one country, it is split between two. I am grateful that my parents have assisted with the nightmare of contacting different service providers while I am over here to discuss bill disputes etc as I am physically unable. To call home for example, costs around one Euro per minute.  I also support the financial needs of my children, to make sure they have what they need while I am away. I am sometimes judged,  by locals, for the blessing that I have to be born in a country of wealth, without the realisation that with good wages, comes higher expense. Everything is comparative, when I am home, there is no savings, no extra income. I do not own my own home and will realistically not be able to afford to due to the high price of living in my home country. I have travelled to three different countries in three months while being here. The tickets purchased being extremely cheap and having to do a lot of at home web surfing to ensure that I procure reasonable flights and accommodation. I also tend to have one major meal now, and forgo the evening dinner, preferring to use the additional money for travelling. I don't get my nails done which I have noted is quite popular here, and have not had a hair cut since leaving home, for the same reasons. We all have differing priorities in terms of what we want to do. For me - travel is my passion.

Family and Friends - Coming to a new country can be quite lonely. If, for example, you have children as I do, your heart physically aches from the absence of having them away from you. A phone call is adequate but not enough to fill that hole. Being in a country where there is significant language barriers can be a hardship too. Not everyone wants to converse with you in English if your local dialect is poor. I have been grateful that I have made many wonderful friends whilst being here, but there is also moments where you do miss home. (My heart soars when I hear a fellow Australian's voice when travelling).

Exhaustion - Being a volunteer means that people assume that you have super human abilities, being able to stay awake till all hours, and still conduct yourself in a reasonable manner the following day. I have attended events an evening before having to be up at 3am for yet another event and then finishing at 2am the following day. I thoroughly enjoy the events but even now, tiredness overwhelms me and yes, some of this is my fault for the aforementioned travel, but still, sleep is a  luxury that I can't afford.

Support - Trying to get projects started and completed can be problematic. Priorities differ and sometimes assistance for your needs are put far behind everyone else's. Delays are inevitable which can prove to be frustrating.

Food - Oh the food. If you have ever watched the movie - Along Came Polly, there is a part where Ben Stiller talks about how sick he has been since meeting Jennifer Aniston. He talks about throwing up and losing considerable weight due to the food eaten. This is me. Since landing here, I have been sick so many times, I have lost count. I have stopped eating local cuisine, even a salad made me seriously sick yesterday as it had not been stored correctly and was slimy in consistency but not wanting to offend the host, I ate regardless and yes I paid for this dearly. I now eat small meals, starting the day with toast and Vegemite donated by kind UK and Aussie friends. I then eat muesli bars and food from the local supermarket and only very occasionally have a meal in the evenings. The food here is delicious, but very rich, fatty in terms of meat and cheeses, and I just cannot stomach it. This is an obvious issue with me and what my body is used to, but it can make some days very uncomfortable all the same. I miss fish and chips, pies, pasties, and traditional "Aussie" food.

Finding what you need, when you need it - Back to your body. Trying to find feminine items in the evening when everything closes at 9pm is disastrous. Not poor planning, just body readjusting to time zones, changes in environment etc. I haven't been grocery shopping for around a month. It is not only difficult to find what you need, trying to interpret what you are purchasing can prove to be a headache.

All in all, my experience has been such a wonderful one, but I want there to be an understanding that with great experiences comes the flip side. You need to take the good with the bad and ensure that you focus on the better parts which I hope I have achieved to date and communicated well through my blog.

Live every moment.

Dani xxx

Oh Vienna, my heart belongs to you.

My Vienna trip started right from the get-go. Good timing for the flights (no red-eye flights, thank goodness!) and Austrian Air are divine to travel with - you walk on board and classical music is piping through the speakers. A French-accented pilot welcomes you on board and have a pleasant flight (my heart melts at the sheer sound) and you are fed without having to paying a million Euros for the privilege! No applause needed on landing as there was no expectation of an unscheduled crash landing. Brilliant.

Flying over Austria is a great introduction to the country. The country-side looks like one of the many fashion designers that line the streets of Vienna has come and taken hand dyed and painted silks and created a patchwork of colour. Deep sea green, emerald, chartreuse, beige, creams, tans and rich earthy browns dotted with wind farms and broken up by lakes and rivers of azure. Beautiful.

Now the weather wasn't fantastic this weekend. The heat wave broke and we had clouds and rain. Sometimes this puts a dampener on experience, but Vienna - I could imagine you could love it in any weather.

I took the double decker train from the airport to the city central - 18 mins, non stop. Quick and quiet, dropping straight to the centre of the city. I wanted to get to know the surroundings of my hotel so took two further trains to Praterstern, home of an old carnival complete with artwork (and freaky clown images. Ugh!). I took a trip on the giant ferris wheel to get a better look at my surroundings.

the stuff of my nightmares, think IT by Stephen King

 

OK, so next stop was something tacky - I went to Madame Tussaud's, and I am sorry but I loved it! How clever are the wax artists (or whatever they like to be called) to create the images they do!

 

 



Next trip was to find my hotel and then head back into the city. I managed to find my way OK but when I returned to the station one of the major lines was down and a lot of us were  wandering aimlessly and scratching our heads. The only communication was in German which was disastrous for me as I know exactly zero . As luck would have it some Swiss firey's came to my rescue, they recognised me from the same hotel they are staying at and helped me into the city. Happy days. :)

Oh my word - getting out of the station and seeing Stephansplatz for the first time. Those who have been there will know exactly what I am talking about. Wow. What a city. The churches, the architecture, the shopping. Sigh. Love love love this place!

I won't bore you with all  320 photos on this one day, you can check out my album on facebook if you want to go through them all. I went to the Imperial Burial Vault, damn do they know how to bury their dead. Such intricate work on their caskets! It was as if the artists had bronzed skeletons and the mourners in these mountainous constructions. Amazing.

I hadn't made any further plans at this point so I continued to stroll through Stephansplatz, looking at the bright windows filled with such opulence and riches - Jewellery, clothing, handbags, shoes. Sigh, I could go back with an endless credit card, no problem.

Anyway, back to museums and culture - momentarily distracted there (even just by the pictures and memories. haha!!)

So continuing my walking, I went past grandiose fountains and buildings and found the museum district. I went to the Papyrus Museum which may sound dull but imagine, this is how written communication started! The pieces reserved in the museum were contractual, political, medical, religious and magical. It was incredible to see the hand writing of someone long dead, to know that to them, at the stage of writing, the parchment was their focus, the most important thing to them at that moment.

Next stop - the Ephesos, Collection of Arms and Armoury and Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments. (My camera died at this point which was horrific for me, meaning I had to rely on iPhone photos for the remainder of the trip. This has been rectified with the purchase of a new battery to come with me on my next journey). This museum was incredible. It had pieces of excavated artifacts from Turkey, cross bows, swords, pianos, violins from Vienna, all in the one building. Sounds bizarre but each exhibition complemented the next very well.

The next day was spent traipsing to the Danube Tower, which is nice, but really doesn't have a patch on the Melbourne Eureka Tower. It is in the United Nations area of Vienna which is quite sedate in comparison to the remainder of this beautiful city. The views were good, but I wouldn't say spectacular.



View from the elevator shaft - going up!!

Headed to the torture museum, which was a little tacky but went through the techniques used through inquisitions and questioning of suspected criminals. I have to say that the idea of torture makes my stomach churn, but I am still interested in learning more. The museum housed the traditional methods, the rack, iron lady, thumb screws, water torture, and more.

As I strolled through Vienna on my return, I found the Cafe Museum, so much sugar, so many cakes. I had a sugar headache after visiting!

Next stop - the zoo to see the pandas for my little sister who has a marvellous affinity with these cuddly-looking bears. I have to say, I did adore them, seeing them for the first time up close and personal. How cute are they! And clumsy! Falling over each other. Very very cute.

It was so wet on the second day so it ended early (around 4pm). I have to admit to napping that afternoon, recovery from the day before I think.

Day three was devoted to the Jewish quarters - The Jewish Museum and the Judenplatz Museum, learning about the holocaust and the history around it. In 1421, 200 Jews were taken to a pyre and burned alive. Prior to this many more were tortured and their children left to starve. I have to say that although not a practising Jew, this filled me with anxiety and anger in many respects. I fail to understand how we can be so cruel to fellow human beings regardless of the religious preferences. I also found time to visit the Sigmund Freud museum - his original medical practice until he fled Vienna due to religious persecution to the United Kingdom where he stayed until he died.

My last and final stop before the airport was to visit the great church in Stephansplatz. Very rich, illustrous and gothic.

I truly loved every moment in Vienna. It is the most beautiful city, and while I have heard extreme views on the city, you either truly love or hate it, I have to say that I am firmly in the team of the former. I hope I some day get the opportunity to come back.


Dani...