Romania - a pretty 'extreme' country...

....in the summer it's 45 degrees, in the winter it's minus 25. Rich Romanians make Abramovich look like an impoverished street-sweeper, but the Romani population in Southern Romania make up the single poorest community in Europe.

A couple of weeks ago I got back from rural Romania, where I'd been living with Lucas. It took a while for my balls to thaw since it was about minus 11 in the day and we were working outside the whole time.

I've spent a bit over a month in Romania over the past 2 years working with this awesome charity which helps really poor kids who have next to nothing (they're called LimXpo: if you wanna learn more about them or work with them, call me, or check them out here).

Adeline (aka 'King Kong')

The town's called Turnu Severin, I took this photo from outside the local school.

Ternu Severin - 'The Asshole of Europe'

It definitely feels good to feel like you're 'helping the world' - but I'd be lying if I said that's the only reason I keep going back. Truth be told Romania is fucking cool and a beautiful country too. They've got natural hot-springs, mountains, cascading waterfalls, and I hear they're getting Cable TV in 2015.

August

December

Lucas being manly by the hot-springs

I've learnt a lot in Romania. 

I wont get into what I've learnt about 'myself' or about 'the world'. That shit is far too deep and will take far too long.

Firstly; kids are way cooler than adults. We played with kids all day who had nothing, and didn't speak our language, but they were just happy to see us and I have never had more fun than with them. Adults spat at us in the street, refused to help me in the supermarket when I couldn't find the toilet paper, and even attacked us with a massive pack of dogs on chains (yeah - seriously).

This kid is completely deaf - and nearly got hit by some nobhead drunk driver

Secondly; some Romanian women are the potentially the fittest in the world (despite their hideous 'spade-faced' male counterparts).

'Mirella' the Romanian Goddess

Thirdly; Romanians treat dogs like utter turd. I know this is a bit of a random complaint but seriously - WTF. There are thousands of stray dogs all over the place and they're seen as pests. People kick them in the face and throw them around for fun, like that crazy old cat-lady tramp in The Simpsons. This one was stuck outside for hours and would have frozen to death if Lucas hadn't lovingly snuggled it in between his teets.

Oh, and most importantly; Romanian alcohol is cheaper than water. 
Albeit if you drink 2 pints you wont shit for a week. This case-worth set me back 20 Lei (that's 4 quid).

4 pints of 'Timisoreana Brew' cost 80p

Worth it.