Students from Colegiul Unirea “fired the hora”, saw deer and ate pies in Nereju

Dozens of 9th and 10th grade students from Unirea National College in Focșani had unique experiences last week when, together with teachers, representatives of the Vrancea Red Cross and Vrancea IPJ, they went to Nereju commune. Here is what the unionists communicated to us:

“Once again, the unirist activities gave the week dedicated to nature an aura with shades of red, and this fact came as a result of strong experiences that the whole nature of the Vrancea Mountains enjoyed with us. We stopped again in Nereju, being awaited by the mayor of the commune, Toader Gemănaș, and the local councillors. On the stage of the Cultural Home, not yet inaugurated (an elegant, modern hall, which will give the villagers the possibility of organizing multiple activities), our colleagues sang in Moldovan, and the rest of us sang the choir, then the Serbian from Vrancen until we didn’t feel the cold anymore.
“Red Cross” joined us from the beginning, even through the management staff, but also IPJ Vrancea which was our support and guide again. We organized ourselves into three teams (so that we could beat the time that seemed to be against us): one group set off to Caldărei Zăbalai, another to fifteen homes of elderly, single people, with distant homes (most times) from the rest of the community, and the third team went to the folk craftsmen from whom they learned not only artisan styles in wood, but also amazing life stories.
We arrived at Caldărire Zăbalai thanks to the zeal of an ardent mayor who was not intimidated by the rain and cold. He provided us with six off-road vehicles, the local foresters went with us as guides, but what surprised us, the mayor even arrived with a team of us. We saw deer, bear tracks (fresh), we stopped at the spring that didn’t dry up even in the harshest times and tasted its liquor! I told Mr. Gemănaș: “It was the most beautiful trip so far!”.

The old people we went to with IPJ and Red Cross representatives saw us as “beautiful souls” and “a hope for this country”! I cried with them, even though I have lived such experiences before. There is no way of mastery under such circumstances. We were led to their houses by employees of the town hall – “Social Assistance”. On our return we were greeted with warm pies and donuts and hot tea made from locally harvested herbs.
We are attaching the names of the warm and big-hearted people who welcomed us this time as well. Transport to the nature reserve from the Vrancei Mountains to the Zăbalei Hot Springs, on the Zăbalei River – The persons involved in ensuring the round-trip transport of the students: the mayor with the institution’s car, Antonescu Ionica with his personal car, Enache Mirel with his personal car, Putoi Nicu with his personal car, Antonescu Mihaiță with his personal car, Bozgonete Maricel with his personal car.
Also, the transport to the folk craftsmen Terțiu Șerban and Lupașc Tudorita was provided by: Donie Mirel with his personal car, Dinu Maricel – the deputy mayor of Nereju commune with his personal car, Glavan Costel with his personal car, Glavan Nicoleta with his personal car, the mayor with his car institution, Antonescu Ionica with his personal car, Enache Mirel with his personal car, Putoi Nicu with his personal car, Antonescu Mihaiță with his personal car, Bozgonete Maricel with his personal car.
The team formed by representatives from the Red Cross, IPJ Vrancea and Unirea High School, Mrs. Chiriac Cristina, Mrs. Colin Liliana and Professor Enache Pătrașcu were accompanied by Bozgonete Gina and Petrescu Mirela, employees of the Nereju City Hall, who supported the distribution packages offered by Unirea High School.
They were served with traditional products, specific to our area, donuts offered by Mrs. Staruiala Niculina and pies from the mayor, products from Mrs. Busilă Sofica, famous for these traditional products“.