‘This journey made me feel accepted’.
By Lucas Waddell
Oh hi, is this your first time participating in a program like this one?
Are you nervous because you don’t know anyone and scared you might feel left out?
Afraid of leaving your hometown for a place so far away?
When I was invited to join an Erasmus mobility just a few weeks before the trip, I felt anxious too. I remember telling myself: ‘Eh, I don’t really like travelling. I’m not that interested in leaving my little paradise. In Madeira, I have everything I could ever want. The last time I travelled was, what, five years ago? And the event is so far away’.
But I had decided that this year I would try new things, so it was settled: I was going on an adventure to Romania to learn about human rights with colleagues from four different countries.
Start
And so I did. And oh my, how glad I am that I accepted it! It turned out to be a life-changing adventure – one that I still find difficult to describe with words, but I will try.
I want to start by talking about the trip from Bucharest to Sucevița. First, we took a six-hour train ride. My colleague and I were lucky: we got seats at a table. The train had air conditioning and was surprisingly comfortable, especially for one that looked at least half a century old, if not more.
The best part of the journey was who sat across from us. A very kind law professor from the University of Bucharest joined our table. We spent the ride deep in conversation, which kept us entertained the whole way.
I learned about the history of Romania, its past governments, and how the current one functions. He also spoke about the country’s metal and railroad industry – even pointing out abandoned factories as we passed them on the way.
First Great Experience
This was just the beginning of how I would feel in Romania: welcomed and safe with the people around me.
On the first morning of activities, I still hadn’t loosened up. We started the day by being introduced to the organizations that had brought us there and the roles we would play in the project.
Then, during the coffee break, I got a huge surprise. The host association had prepared a birthday cake for me – it had been my birthday the day before. It caught me completely off guard.
That moment was when it clicked in my head how truly amazing this experience was going to be. They sang Happy Birthday in all the different languages of the groups. I just sat there, astonished by what was happening.
I felt completely embraced by these people I had only just met. My heart melted, and I shed a tear of happiness.
Second Great Experience
Art? How do we feel about our own artistic expression? For a long time, I didn’t really care much for it. But one of the things that always happens in these experiences is trying something new. And for me, that “something new” was expressing myself through art.
On the third day, after we had already read the United Nations’ Declaration of Human Rights, we were asked to express – through different forms of media – the right that resonated most with us. I chose Article 23: the right to work and to receive remuneration worthy of human dignity.
I felt very anxious. Coming from a background in the exact sciences, I have no artistic expertise. At first, we were asked to make a sculpture out of molding foam. I decided to create a red fist to represent workers’ struggle. For most of the process, I was extremely nervous. But after a while, people started complimenting what I had made. That external approval gave me confidence and pride in my creation.
After a short break, we returned to the activity room. This time, we were asked to paint a tote bag. Again, I felt nervous at the start – but quickly grew more confident with each brushstroke.
By the end, I felt both proud and emotional. I had finally expressed myself through a medium I had avoided for years out of fear of disappointment.
Final Happening
Do we truly understand how others see us? Or do we tend to see ourselves as less? One of the most memorable parts of this trip came from a surprise activity the hosts had prepared for us.
The whole thing was wrapped in secrecy. We were told not to enter the activity room until we were called in. When I finally stepped inside, I felt a sense of awe. The room was dark, lit only by candles, with an eerie song playing in the background.
We were asked to sit in front of a goblet filled with a bordeaux-colored liquid, shimmering in the candlelight. In front of us lay pen and paper. While we waited, I kept wondering – what was this all about?
At last, the hosts entered the room. They were dressed in Romanian traditional garments with vampire-themed accessories. Then they explained what would happen: we were to write secret letters to other participants of the mobility. In these letters, we could confess hidden thoughts, share admirations, or express feelings we hadn’t yet spoken. The hosts – and their lovely assistant Karla – would make sure the messages reached the right people.
At first, I felt exposed. I didn’t know what to write, nor who might write to me. But soon, that feeling faded. The first messages I received were full of kind words and compliments. As they kept arriving, I felt truly valued by the people around me.
Inspired, I began writing back – trying to guess who was behind each letter. It was an incredibly memorable and kind experience. It gave me a new perspective on how others see me, and on how I see and judge myself.
Conclusion and Recommendation
How do you end such an experience? Normally, I would lack words. This journey made me feel loved, accepted, and confident in myself and my abilities. It left me inspired for what is to come next.
And yet, it didn’t really end. It was simply the beginning – the start of a new chapter in my life. One where I will try to live in ways I never dared before.
I may be losing myself a little in these thoughts, but what I truly want to say is simple: if you’re doubting yourself, if you’re nervous about trying something new – like the Erasmus program – my advice is: do it.
This mobility was part of the project called Empowering Minds for Human Rights co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The project is coordinated by the Municipality of Haninge (Sweden), with My Madeira Island being the partner in Portugal. The event described in this article was hosted in July 2025 by Association Act O’Clock from Romania.
