They have been in Spain for just two months but, when they fell from the carefree Erasmus to the nightmare of the Dana flood, they didn't think twice about rolling up their sleeves to lend a hand.
They are Aurora, 21, from Alghero, and Laura, 23, from Iglesias. They don't want to release their surnames, nor their photos, "because we didn't do it to get in the paper but only because we felt it was the right thing to do."
Aurora and Laura moved from the University of Cagliari to Valencia, a prime destination for Erasmus students, in September : the first to continue her studies in Literature, the second for an internship after graduating in Communication.
After days of extreme heat, the sudden bad weather, they tell Unionesarda.it: "And yet initially we did not understand the gravity of the situation: sure, a lot of wind, gusts of rain, fallen trees, the university closed. Only in front of the TV did we realize the tragedy around us ."
So much fear, which crossed the sea and reached their families in Sardinia: «We were all very worried» . But then the desire to lend a hand took over. «Yesterday we went to a collection center to help load the vans with clothes and food» . Today instead they got their hands in the mud : «We organized ourselves through a group of guys who have lived in Valencia for years to reach the areas most affected by the bad weather. Ten minutes by car and at least an hour on foot, making our way between the overturned cars. Then, armed with brooms, shovels, bags and gardening gloves, we tried to shovel all that mud».
An experience, they say, "very physically demanding. But with the adrenaline we didn't feel tired at all. What we felt was the great emotion. We cried seeing people who lost everything and yet smiled, grateful for our little help. A supportive people, who despite having nothing left gave us so much . For us it was as if it had happened in Sardinia, we don't feel like heroines at all".
Now, they recall, "unfortunately the emergency is not over and we will continue to lend a hand. To Sardinia and Italy we say: please, even from a distance, donate what you can. These people need everything ."