Arts Lab 7.0: Aya Hossameldin Saad Mohamed | Month I

From Blue to Green, that’s how I suddenly felt when I arrived in Târgu Frumos, coming from Alexandria, from the vast blue sea and the city that is both lively and calm at the same time, to the green nature and constant tranquillity.

At first, I felt a bit confused, sometimes lost, and even lonely. Everything around me had suddenly changed, even the language. But soon, I began to feel that I was part of the home, part of the city, part of the people. I blended in quickly, or at least, I think I did.

I started to get to know the city, the people, the language, the places, the food, even the air felt different. We began to gather and do some activities together, both at home and outside. We discussed questions and important topics that helped us get to know one another better and to understand our own personalities. I found these activities truly helpful because they allowed us to dive deeper into ourselves.

We went to Iași for the first time, got to know the city, and visited the French Institute there. We exchanged cultures and languages with young people from Romania during an event held at the Institute. What a coincidence, the last thing I did in Egypt before leaving was take part in an art exhibition at the French Institute in Alexandria, and it was about my city, Alexandria. What a strange coincidence indeed!

I have now begun my first artistic residency on Romanian folklore. We started learning about Romania’s folklore, heritage, and history, while also visiting several schools where we’ll be working for six days, sharing our artistic experiences side by side with Romanian folklore, and passing them on to the children.

It’s a big challenge to work with children who have disabilities, but I’ve learned so much from them. For example, I’ve become a more patient person, and I’ve discovered something new about myself, that language is not such a big barrier after all. I showed them how to complete their artistic tasks by doing them myself in front of them, and they quickly noticed even the smallest details and created truly beautiful artworks.

October 3rd: Today is my birthday, my first birthday away from my family and friends. At the beginning of the day, I felt lonely and sad, but my colleagues surprised me in the evening and we held a birthday party for me that was filled with laughter, love, and hugs. I felt so lucky to have these friends who wanted to shower me with love on such a day.

Folcloristica Festival: What an experience that truly captures Romania and its rich heritage. We visited many people and a small village called Heleșteni. A village that feels like a dream, I visited this wonderful place for the first time, a place full of enchanting nature and tranquility.

First, we visited Mrs Liliana Oloeriu, who welcomed us with great warmth and generosity, as is customary among the Romanian people. We saw her handmade embroidery works, colorful and joyful pieces, and I was amazed by her precision in stitching and her use of traditional Romanian motifs. I learned a lot from this lady and admired her dedication to her craft.

Later, we visited many places that reflect the vibrant spirit of Romania, and we were always greeted with kindness and hospitality. Moreover, the experience of traditional food was indescribable, as if it were an essential part of every welcome. We were served handmade food and drinks, all prepared with love.

On the second day, we went to give art and interactive workshops with the children. I learned so much from them and saw a genuine love for art, experimentation, and joy in what they were doing. We continued our day by presenting a performance that expressed our own culture, and this was truly one of the most enjoyable parts of the day. We danced, sang, and shared moments of joy together with the townspeople.

On the final day, I was a member of the jury for the Romanian folklore dance and singing troupes. It was an honor to be in this position. I enjoyed it a lot, and it was my first experience watching different troupes present their artistic heritage and having a role in choosing the best. By the end of this festival, I felt my spirit had become lighter and filled with happiness.

At the end of this month, I felt like it was more than 30 days, because I experienced so many events and details that made me feel like it was a whole year filled with laughter, love, compassion, singing, art, music, food, and natural places.

This monthly report was written by Aya Hossameldin Saad Mohamed, our Egyptian volunteer taking part in a seven-month Arts Lab 7.0 mobility, co-funded by the European Union under the European Solidarity Corps.