Romania: land of the Dracula myth; home to the mysterious Transylvania region, where vampires are said to appear from fog-covered castles set high in the desolate mountains towering above rural villages.

There are few places in the world as mesmerizing and charming as this beautiful European country. The enchanting landscape is spotted with picturesque windmills, articulate monasteries, and ornate churches, all perched in an untamed, mountainous terrain that rolls across Eastern Europe.

In May of 2007, I embarked on this Romanian student travel journey with eight of my peers from the University of South Carolina. We would be participating in a three-week English Immersion Camp with five high schools in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, teaching a variety of business and cultural courses. After 35 hours of traveling, we finally landed in Cluj’s humble airport, nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. We loaded into a cramped Renault mini-van and pulled onto the crowded city streets. We were passed by dozens of miniature vehicles, zipping between lanes and around corners. To my surprise, we also shared the road with men inching along on horse-drawn carriages. Modern day innovations exist harmoniously with Old World ways of life. It was absolutely fascinating.

» Read more: Feature Student Travel Destination – Romania