09/28/2026
🇷🇴❤️ Hackensack may be small, but our Birchwood family reaches around the world. 🌎 Another hard goodbye at Birchwood…
It’s time to say goodbye to our Romanian friends, Alex, Andrew & Denisa, and it’s hard to put into words how thankful we are for them.
We truly could not have done this summer without you. Your hard work, dedication, long days, smiles and willingness to jump in wherever you were needed meant more to us than you probably realize.
One of the greatest parts of bringing university students from around the world to Birchwood is watching them arrive as strangers and leave as family. ❤️
Alex, Andrew & Denisa—you became part of our Birchwood family and part of our little Hackensack community. You came from halfway around the world, worked incredibly hard, made friendships and left your mark on all of us.
As you head home to Romania, know that you will always have a family here and a little piece of Hackensack, Minnesota, will always be yours. 🇺🇸🇷🇴
Thank you for everything you gave us this summer. We will miss you more than you know.
Safe travels home, our friends. ❤️
Once Birchwood family, always Birchwood family.
FROM ANDRU ; When I first came across the job listing, the words on the printed page didn't say much – cook position, this many hours weekly, that much pay hourly. I came to Minnesota unsure of what to expect, not knowing the people here would embrace me like I were part of their family. All the jokes, smiles, awkward silences, mistakes, achievements, wins and loses I experienced working at this restaurant have made me feel right at home. It's been a long and challenging season, but one of the most fun summers I've ever had. A sincere thsnks to Rick and Linda and all of our amazing staff (yes, every single one of you) for making this experience memorable!
FROM DENISA; Hi, I'm Denisa, from Romania, and I'm doing my Master's in Public Relations and Communication.This is my third year in the U.S., but this is the year I've truly felt connected to the people around me. at work, when I go out, just day to day. It feels like home in a new way.
