First week of PST complete!

Life as I know it so far has been very different than what I expected! That's what I get for having expectations...I knew they would be completely wrong! Things are going well. I feel more and more at ease in Ploiesti and Romania as a whole everyday! Today we had demo lessons in the middle school were I've been attending classes. They were very interesting, and I'm totally looking forward to getting back in a classroom! More and more I'm realizing I've missed teaching tremendously.

Culturally, in Romania so far, I've learned a little about what it's like to be a woman in a very traditional patriarchal society. Granted it is not always a bad thing, but it's definately different from the US. My gazda family is really cool! I get along with them extremely well, and we are getting to know each other better everyday. They help a lot with my language learning.

This weekend I'm going hiking in Sanai (I think that's how you spell it). Hopefully I'll be able to put some pictures and stuff on here from that. Until then here are a few pictures from traveling and Ploiesti...

Life in Ploiesti

Although my life is dominated by language classes and various other meetings...things have been progressing smoothly. I'm getting along fine with my gazda and slowly getting to know more of my fellow PST's. Tonight a bunch of us are watching a video called "California Dreaming." It's about Romania so that is exciting. Then I'll return to my gazda on the "other side of the tracks" where I will be given too much food and then go to bed!

My gazda is in a bloc style apartment and is nice. It's kind of far away from the area where I like to hang out and where I attend my classes, but I'm learning to use the bus system well enough.

I didn't expect to be quite this homesick, but I think it's getting better. I mean, I wouldn't trade this experience for the world and I've already learned so much in the 7 days I've been here!

Pa for now! Buna Seara!

Life in Romania

I have mixed feelings about everything, but last night was the most fun I've had in Romania so far. Some of us PST's went to a concert in the middle of Ploiesti. It was nice to just let loose a little and enjoy ourselves because most of our time is consumed by classes and studying! I was 20 minutes late for my curfew, but everything seemed to turn out okay. I hate being late, but I've never had a curfew in my life!!! Today I'm finally going to get a cell phone!! yay!!

I don't have much time today so I'll keep it short. I'm desperately homesick, but it's getting better everyday! LOVE YOU ALL BACK HOME!!!

Made it to Romania

Salut! I'm exhausted and very nervous about the next 2 years. If I'll make it is still yet to be seen, but I hope everything is going to go well! I've been talking to current volunteers and some of my fears have definately been alleviated. This is gonna be short because I don't have much to say. I'm just very tired, nervous, sick, scared......... trying not to think about the dreaded ET, Early Termination. I'm not sure whether it would be horrible or a blessing. Please pray for me! I need every bit of your support!

Pa

Hardest Day Ever...so far

I'm sitting in my hotel room in Philly right now...just got done eating a Philly Cheesesteak. It should have tasted good, but I still have a sick feeling in my stomach. I have a feeling that this sick feeling is from homesickness...but that's embarrassing because I've only been gone for one day! Here's a little recap of how my day went.

5-6 am --Got to FW airport and said goodbye to my family for two years. It was really hard, and I would have been sobbing if I hadn't been frisked by TSA security.

7-8 am -- Sat in OHare in Chicago and called Rachel for a little advice. She totally gave me the pick-me-up I needed, but it inevitably made me cry. Flew to Philly!

11 am --Got to Philly and preceded to go to a Chinese restaurant for lunch with a fellow PC'er named Bill.

1:30-7 pm -- Filled out that paperwork I hadn't done yet, checked-in, and had staging meetings. All of these things helped alleviate some of my anxiety because everyone is feeling the same way I am!

I've had many moments today where I just wanted to turn around and fly back to Fort Wayne and live there forever with my family and friends near me! But I'm realizing that I can do all that in 2 years! So to all of you reading this take care of yourselves so that I can come back to you in 2010!!!! lol! Love you all and I'll miss you everyday!

Saying goodbye for now

It's very hard to say goodbye to those that you love. I'm not telling you anything you don't know, but over the last several days I've gotten to experience plenty of that myself.
So right now I'm watching the Country Music Awards and Trace Adkins is singing "You're gonna miss this." Not exactly the song I want to be hearing right now...but it makes me think of all the things I'm gonna miss. That's the hardest thing for me...at the same time all the things I'm gonna experience is the most exciting part of leaving. So I guess it's another situation with opportunity costs. Two years is gonna go by so fast, and before you all know it I'm gonna be back to bug you all again! I'm gonna be having fun and helping others, but I hope that all of you feel called to do similar things wherever you are!

Going to Romania

So...recently I wrote a blog about my thyroid and how my TSH levels were off. As a result, I was unsure if I was still going to be in the Peace Corps and go to Romania...

My thyroid is fine, and I am going to Romania!! I leave on Monday, May 19th!!

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!

Surprise Party

I was waiting to write this post in order to let the awesomeness of my friends fully sink in. On Saturday night my friends threw me a surprise party...props to them for catching me off-guard!! It is an unbelievable feeling to have people that would take time out of their busy lives to organize a party. I'm not sure that I deserve their friendship, but I can tell you that I'm going to try to live up to the examples they have set for me. The girls got me a digital picture frame, which is the most perfect gift for me. Gifts and cards are great...but what meant the most to me is that people showed up. A movie I watched the other day had a line in it, roughly paraphrased it said that one of the most important things in life is simply showing up. I agree with that, and my heart is full of love for my friends that continuously show up!!

I'm not sure I fully showed my appreciation at the party (because I was at a loss for words which doesn't happen often) so here is a giant THANK YOU to all who attended or left me messages... How did I get so incredibly lucky and blessed to be friends with some of the most amazing people I've ever met??! I will forever be indebted to you, and I hope that I can be the type of friend to all of you that you have been to me. (I hope that makes sense...)

The Indiana Primary

So I know this doesn't have much to do with the Peace Corps, but I need to comment. The Indiana Primary was yesterday, May 6 2008. Hillary won the closest of victories...I voted Obama. Regardless of who all of you in Indiana voted for, there was one factor that I found a little disconcerting. 17% of the democratic voters yesterday were in the 18-29 age group. What's up??!

Do you not believe that this election is important?? All elections are! Do you not stand for anything you are willing to take time out of your day to support?? I spend a lot of time defending my generation and saying that we are not apathetic... but maybe I'm wrong. If I am, then I am greatly disappointed in my friends and the youth of Indiana. Take a pride in your country! And if you choose not to vote... then don't bitch and complain. Don't expect your government to represent your best interests; you didn't take the time to let your interests be known. To those of you choosing not to vote based on civil disobedience, as long as you participate in other ways, I applaude you.

I keep hearing that we need change, but maybe the change that we need isn't centered in the government or the candidates for President. Maybe the change is in the hearts of the people, like those in Indiana, that could have made a difference and chose apathy.