Cluj and Sighisoara

AUGUST 23, 2008
Below are a couple of my favorite churches in Cluj. I went for a day, and I really enjoyed the city. It's the 3rd largest city in Romania and is very active...much different than I'm used to in Tarnaveni. My favorite part of the day was a delicious shoarma and lemonade I had in Centru. I can't wait to go back and experience the city a little more.

AUGUST 26, 2008

First, I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mom!! Today I wished so many times that you were with me experiencing all the cool sites today. I think this is a city you would really like!

Below you can see some of my photos from Sighisoara. I went there for the day with one of my students, Tudor, and his mother. They are incredibly nice! For the most part this is what I've experienced from all the students and parents I've met. It's the real Romanian hospitality that so many people talk about. In Ploiesti, I didn't see too much of this hospitality except from the gazda's (host families). I really think the small town life is more for me. I'm finally starting to speak with people in my bloc and outside. I hear them talk about "the American girl" all the time, but none of them will approach me. So I've finally gotten over my shyness and started talking to them!! The small town life is something I've realized I like more and more as I invision my future life. But I digress, in the pictures from Sighisoara you can see the 154 steps up to the Hill Church. That may not seem like a lot, but it sure felt like it on a 90 degree day with ancient, uneven, wooden steps. The man working there was very nice, and I spoke to him a while about why I'm here from America. Being in the church was a cool experience for me because my family and I are Lutheran. It connected me to the history of my church...and part of the construction for that church was even done during the Reformation. Cool, huh?!! The picture of me in the archway is in the crypt of the church. Tudor and I thought that was cool! The picture beside that is something I thought my brother would find cool. It's from the cemetary outside the church, and there is a gaping hole in one of the tombs. Tudor and I walked around like zombies for a while thinking someone escaped from their coffin! HAHA! The next three pictures are just randoms...of Tudor and his mom Daniella, a picture of the clock tower, and then me with a wine jug designed to look like Vlad Tepes. Then there is a statue outside the monastary church and the awesome restaurant we ate at outside of town.

I know you'd heard of Vlad Tepes by now. He's the man that inspired the Dracula legend. He was born in Sighisoara and the city banks a little on this fact. I don't mind...it makes things a little more interesting I guess. Just as long as you all know that Dracula was not real. He was a character invented by Bram Stoker, but Vlad Tepes was real and his nickname "The Impaler" came from his affinity for torturing and impaling people with wooden stakes! Although I usually despise the way The History Channel portrays historical figures...Cities of the Underground actually has a pretty good episode about him. You might check it out if you are interested!

OLYMPICS

I've had some questions recently about my response to the Olympics from Romania so I thought I'd share a brief observation.

The Olympics are definately not as hyped here in Romania as in the United States, but I think that is to be expected. I think Romanian athletes have performed extremely well throughout the games...total Romania has achieved at least one of every medal. It was a surprise to me that Handball is such a big sport here. People love it. I didn't know what it was until arriving in Ploiesti. I think it's a mix between soccer and basketball, and if you ask me I prefer regular old basketball. Of course I realize you didn't ask me, but I am from Indiana so you probably saw that one coming. I watch at least one event everyday on my tv...sometimes I watch it in Hungarian and understand nothing and at other times I watch in Romanian and understand some. Honestly talking about the Olympics with Romanians has only served as another example of the positive view most Romanian people have of America. I like that! I cheer for both the U.S. and Romania currently, but I've always been a big believer in wanting everyone to compete to the best of their ability regardless of what nationality they sport on their jersey, leotard, swimsuit, etc. Isn't that kind of the whole point of the Olympics??!

GO USA and HAI ROMANIA!

My home for the next two years

I'm not allowed to show some specific things about where I live on my blog, but here are some basic things I thought you'd all like to see.

1) My kitchen and the view from the balcony

2) Living Room and hall--you can see the cats here also.

3) the Cat poster, and the bathroom (a shower with no shower curtain is difficult)

4) my bedroom with winter clothes not yet put away and the school's sign

5) mosaic on the front of the school and the Tarnava River

6) Plus -where I grocery shop and my street

As you can see I've included the embarrassing cat poster that is permanently stuck to a door in my hallway. All of you that know me well know that I hate cats...and I'm living in an apartment where cats stare at me everytime I walk from the living room to my bedroom. AHH!!!

A Few of My New Favorite Things

So...having just watched The Sound of Music, it came to me that recently I've developed a new list of favorite things. Gone are a vast number of my favorite comforts from home...they have been replaced by far more simple things. For instance,
1.) Ice cubes
2.) a foarte scump (expensive) but delicious frozen pizza
3.) Old women giving me things so I can survive in the winter.
4.) Learning how to light my gas stove without having my eyebrows singed.
5.)Lebinita--Watermelon
6.) My new sandwich maker!!

There are far more, but I think you get the picture. Although it is difficult now during the adjustment phase of my Peace Corps service...this is one of the reasons I joined. I want to be able to live well with basic comforts and eliminate many of the luxuries I've grown accustomed to in my 24 years. Don't get me wrong...Romania is not a desolate place void of modern goods. To the contrary, it is one of the most developed countries Peace Corps serves; however once you get into the rural areas of the country you start to see remnants of a world that we've left far behind in the U.S. (minus the Amish) I love this part of Romania because I can see the way in which my great-grandparents lived...it's incredible!

Enough of that...one more story! Today I finally succumbed to my need for a hair dryer. It's been 3 months and the end of summer is quickly approaching so I bought one. Apparently, here in Romania, the store needs to have a criminal background check or something in order to sell you a hair dryer. They ask to see the legitimatia (my Romanian id) and fill out a larger amount of paperwork than I think is necessary. What am I going to do with a hair dryer?? I'm just teasing obviuosly, but I am a little curious as to why you need to show identification to buy a simple bathroom appliance!

Camping in Bezid

My first weekend as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) was a fun one even if I was treated a little like a kid because they think I can‘t speak as much Romanian as I actually can. Camping was interesting because of the diverse group of people: Relu and Dana, my community mentors, and some of their friends including a couple that only spoke French. It was beautiful in Bezid. Bezid is a lake situated in the hills about an hour away from Tarnaveni. When the water level is low you can even see the steeple of a church from an old town that now lies at the bottom of the lake.
We went swimming, fishing, and cooked-out! Cooking out is different here…they seriously prepare entire meals from start to finish right out in the open. Generally speaking, in the States, we do most of the prep work before leaving and then just put stuff together at the campsite. I officially ate pig fat for the first time and it wasn’t too bad. We grilled chicken and mici (the Romanian version of a burger I guess is what I’d call it) and had a delicious dish with peppers, potatoes, onions, and sausages! It was nice spending more time outdoors because over the past few days I’ve had to stay home waiting for the cable and internet guys to come.
Although camping was fun…there were lots of moments that made me miss home, and I realized that I am more homesick than I thought. Don’t get me wrong, I like it here; but I have nothing to do in August so that gives me a lot of time to think about what I’m missing out on at home! Relu even told me that I looked like he did when he first went to the US. The hardest parts were when we were sitting around the campfire…I have lots of fond memories that start out that way even if some of them involve being pelted with marshmallows or having cop cars flying through cornfields toward us. Haha! Good times! Anyway, I’m creating some great new memories and stories to share with you all; just don’t forget about me. I want to hear your stories from home too even if you do think they are boring! Well that’s enough for this post I guess. Here are some pictures of Bezid for you to enjoy. Notice the Cadillac with Michigan license plates...that's the vehicle we took camping! Small world ehh!?

Week 1 in Tarnaveni--My New Home

Week one in Tarnaveni has been a mixture of different experiences and emotions. I often struggle to put my feelings into words, but for the sake of all of you that want to know how I’m doing I will try my best. Honestly, I’m start to feel more comfortable here, but I’m unsure of my ability to integrate into a community. Granted I’ve only been here for 5 days, and it is far too early to doubt that I’ll ever walk around town and easily converse with the townspeople. Today is 8-8-08, the opening day of the Olympics. I love the Olympics, and it has always brought out my patriotism…it is weird to experience it while living in another country.

What’s the first thing you think of when I say Romania?? Don’t say vampires…do you think Nadia Comaneci?? Good for you if you did. Okay I know that was random, but I like it!

Soon I will post some pictures of my apartment, but I want to get a little more settled before I do that. Everything is suitable and in some ways superior to what I expected when joining the Peace Corps. I have indoor plumbing, a TV, a stove, a fridge, and as of this weekend I’ll have a phone/internet/cable!! I’m very grateful to have so many comforts…although I have experienced having bed bugs, showering without a shower curtain, a mixture of cold and freaking hot water, using a gas stove for the first time, and general isolation. Feel free to laugh…I know it’s not bad and I’m not complaining! I actually rejoice in my present circumstances! My landlady is wonderful, I feel safe in my community, I’m learning how to cook for myself all over again (so much for frozen pizzas, Hot Pockets, and grandma’s house). I go out a couple nights a week with friends for a beer or two and try my best to speak in Romanian --but it ends up being something I call Romglish. I knew that August was going to be rough…there are things going on at home that hurt to miss and I very much wish I could be there to comfort and/or encourage my friends in need. I’m a prayer warrior though, and I know that only God controls what will happen. What did Martin Luther say?? “Pray and let God worry.” I will do just that, but know that you are always on my mind and in my heart; thousands of miles cannot effect that!
I’ve made some friends here and am going camping this weekend near a lake in the mountains! Transylvania is (in my humble opinion) one of the most beautiful regions of the world I’ve seen. The contrasts in nature are beautiful…yesterday for instance as the sun was blazing down on the greenery covering the rolling hills of the Transylvanian plateau, I couldn’t help but wonder at the young trees at the base of the hill gleaming in bright greens and yellows and the way their youth and color contrasted with the age and deep, dark green hues of the fir trees that dominate the Romanian landscape in Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains. Did I describe that well enough? I hope so, but it truly is a delight to see. I haven’t forgotten how beautiful my home in Indiana is…I do long to see kids shooting baskets in the driveways, the cornstalks standing tall in August, the thousands of glints on the lake in the early morning before boats are out, dew on the golf course at 6 am…but I love experiencing the similarities and differences with my current home and the home I carry in my heart. Well this got sappy (no tree pun intended) in a hurry so I will bid you a fond la revedere. Pa Pa! Te Iubesc!

Farewell Ploiesti...I barely knew you!

So I’m currently on the train right now, heading toward Tarnaveni for the next two years. (I’d like to add that it’s the Intercity train…I’m riding in style! And I‘m trying to enjoy it because it cost me an arm and a leg and won‘t be my travel of choice very often.)
I had a good time in Ploiesti. I never imagined that it would be difficult to leave a city and so many people that I’ve only known for 10 weeks. Moving on…my August in wide open. So for future reference I’m gonna need some support over the next few weeks to help combat a few moments of loneliness I’m sure I’ll encounter at some point, but as has always been the case in my life, the good far outweighs the bad! As I look out my window toward the beautiful Carpathian Mountains near Sanaia and Brasov…and look over the medieval cities with all the German heritage and history I could hope for as is the case in Sighisoara and Medias; I think to myself, WOW the next two years of my life are going to be a constant stream of challenges, excitement, and wonder. Traveling through Transylvania is an adventure and is certainly pleasing to the eyes! Oh yeah, I’d like to add as a side note that, as my friends, you are no longer allowed to mention vampires to me in reference to the area I’m living in. Come on people, they are not real! Haha!
It was difficult saying goodbye to my gazda today…it was a tearful goodbye with my gazda mom. To my actual parents à she told me to tell you that I am a great girl and that you raised me well! Seriously, she said that…I'm not making it up. I have my Grandma Phyllis’ voice ringing through my head right now saying “We’ll tell you; you don’t tell us” when referring to my sarcastic arrogance.
Welp…I’ll have plenty of time to update and things once I get there so I will bid you La Revedere!
P.S. I have a new address! DO NOT send anything to the Bucharest one…in fact, throw that one away! Feel free to contact me in a week or so.

Pictures from Swearing-In