A foreign country, different culture and an unknown language. These are the barriers that three girls named Roxana, Mihaela, Georgiana and five boys: Norbert, Alexandru, Andrei, Danut, and Christian – who are living and studying in Romania, Teoretic Mihail Kogalniceanu lyceum, had to deal with. This summer, they decided to take the opportunity of Erasmus+ and came to Lithuania, a resort of Druskininkai to gain some practice and knowledge in tourism sphere.

It was a tough challenge not only for the students – some of them barely even knew English. It was also a challenge for the organizers of the practice as well. They had to find a place, that would accept them, and that was not easy because summer is a very hard-working time and it is a tough task for trainees to find a practice.

Finally, a true hospitality came along and the project was guarded by the Mayor of Druskininkai Municipality Ricardas Malinauskas. “Druskininkai is the oldest and the most modern resort of Lithuania. We have come a long road and accrued a lot of invaluable experience and authentic knowledge in the sphere of tourism and wellness.

For those who have discovered Druskininkai in its most proper times, I would like to remind that a few decades ago the resort was on the edge of bankruptcy. Thanks to the effort of the citizens of Druskininkai, the city is a blooming and beloved city again. We have worked very hard but the exact process was so interesting! I am sure, that you have to share the success and knowledge you have gained. We have a lot to be proud of in tourism sector – starting with the unique objects, and with one of the most favorable conditions in the country for small business. I have no doubt that for those who have an interest in tourism, the knowledge, and skills of the people, working at Druskininkai, are interesting and useful. I am very glad that the experience of Druskininkai interests not only the students from Lithuania but from other countries as well. I hope that they will bring out only the best impressions, profession-related knowledge and will come back to visit again and again. ” – he said.

The purpose of this practice is not only to share knowledge. For those who are interested in tourism – the city of Druskininkai, as the Mayor mentioned, is a real treasure. The students here were surrounded by a safe, warm environment and also were given some unforgettable adventures for which they didn’t even have to look far away – they had a chance to explore and have fun right ahead.

Surely, a challenging job was not the only thing all of the students found here. They played golf in Vilkes golf place, went totally crazy in Uno adventure park, tried water slides in a pond called Alkos, and of course got to know Druskininkai in its history museum. For the first time in their life’s they have seen the traditions of baking “tree cakes”, in Lithuanian language called “šakotis”.

After all those adventures, they have spent time in Karolis Dineika Wellness Park, tried cable cars and even went Nordic walking. Later on, they had a chance to relax in a water park.

Exceptionally in the resort of Druskininkai, all of the students had a chance to combine their work and leisure time into one big experience.

They have worked in one of the biggest places, like Druskininkai recreation and health center “Aqua”, the center of tourism and business information of Druskininkai, Grand Spa Lithuania, medical Spa “Egle” and hotel “Goda”. Everyone who was related shared their experiences.

So how did it go? How Druskininkai looks through the eyes of Romanian students? About all of this, we created a story from even five parts. Follow the news to know what they had to face while staying here, in Druskininkai resort.