This weekend I ventured off on my own to meet some of my fellow volunteers in the large university town of Cluj. I left my apartment a little late on Saturday morning because my alarm clock didn't go off.
Instead of waiting two hours for a bus I decided to try my hand at hitch-hiking all the way by myself. I've always been a little timid about doing this, but I sucked it up and held out my hand in the proper position my gazda dad, Dan, had taught me while hitching a ride to Bucaresti from Ploiesti. It wasn't 5 minutes and I had a ride from a nice man traveling to Targu Mures. We had a short chat and then he turned the radio up so I figured I was either boring him or he just wanted to drive in peace. I liked this! Once in Mures, I decided to continue hitching to Cluj. I found a ride to Ludus, and then hopped aboard a maxi-taxi to the train station in Cluj. This took me around 5 hours and cost me 10 lei (about $3)...by car from Tarnaveni it takes approx. 1 hour 45 minutes. Asta e! (literally translated as "This is..." It's commonly said throughout Romania, and is the equivalent of saying "What can you do")
Once in Cluj, I met up with the volunteers and a couple of their friends visiting from Michigan. We just chilled in the afternoon since they had all had a late night the evening before. Once evening came we thought we'd try to get a table to watch the football game between Romania and Serbia. It's impossible to find a place without reservations for the game so we split up for the time being and had some drinks at different bars. Serbia won the game so the ruckus in the streets I was hoping for never transpired. There was, however, a nice candlelight vigil held in the piata for Earth Hour! Did you all do it?? After the game, we were walking around when we encountered a girl with a "Free Hugs" sign. Our entire group happily accepted the hugs and went on our merry way. We ended the night in a great Hookah bar across from our hostel. After the festivities at the Hookah bar, we headed back to the hostel and proceeded to have a massive cross-cultural exchance. I variety of languages were spoken (Romanian, English, French, Spanish, Russian) and then -- skipping over some parts -- we all went to sleep for a couple hours before waking in the morning and departing for our various towns in Romania.
A group of us headed to McDonald's before catching our buses, talked with some American basketball players playing on a Romanian team, and then we said our goodbyes and headed home. I got back to Tarnaveni looking like a tired mess, and of course I ran into a group of students on the walk to my apartment. Good to be back in my Romanian home.
Can you tell I got tired of telling this story? I hope you found it a bit interesting.
All in all it was great fun, but it was also one of the longest 34 hours of my life.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
a little catching up
Hey all! Sorry I haven't been keeping up lately. I've been a little up and down recently, but I'm happy to say I'm doing alright now!
Today made me homesick, and it wasn't necessarily in a good way!
Sunny this morning.
Snow at 10 am followed by clouds and wind.
By 4 pm it was sunny and clear blue skies for my walk home!
Seems like Indiana weather has followed me to Romania.
Anyway, I'm all smiles today. The kids drove me crazy, and I almost lost my voice; at least they were driving me crazy in English! The lady at the check-out counter at the market and I had a little chat, and she told me that my Romanian is getting better! On top of all that, I don't have class until 3 tomorrow! Score!
I'm praising the Lord and trying to be a little more disciplined in my prayer life, but God never ceases to amaze me on a daily basis! I need to be more vocal about that!
A couple things have really gotten to me spiritually lately:
1)in a podcast from my church at home Chad said --Jesus is my filter for everything--right on! 2)The mother of a girl I tutor, who also happens to be a fellow teacher at my school, said something that humbled me. She said, "Tara, you are perfect for my daughter right now!" She said this to me in English which shocked me! If that's the most recognition I get from my Peace Corps service I'm happy with that!
Sending smiles and sunshine your way!
Tara
Today made me homesick, and it wasn't necessarily in a good way!
Sunny this morning.
Snow at 10 am followed by clouds and wind.
By 4 pm it was sunny and clear blue skies for my walk home!
Seems like Indiana weather has followed me to Romania.
Anyway, I'm all smiles today. The kids drove me crazy, and I almost lost my voice; at least they were driving me crazy in English! The lady at the check-out counter at the market and I had a little chat, and she told me that my Romanian is getting better! On top of all that, I don't have class until 3 tomorrow! Score!
I'm praising the Lord and trying to be a little more disciplined in my prayer life, but God never ceases to amaze me on a daily basis! I need to be more vocal about that!
A couple things have really gotten to me spiritually lately:
1)in a podcast from my church at home Chad said --Jesus is my filter for everything--right on! 2)The mother of a girl I tutor, who also happens to be a fellow teacher at my school, said something that humbled me. She said, "Tara, you are perfect for my daughter right now!" She said this to me in English which shocked me! If that's the most recognition I get from my Peace Corps service I'm happy with that!
Sending smiles and sunshine your way!
Tara
Monday, March 16, 2009
Waiting on Spring
For me spring has always signaled a return to golf weather; while I may not be able to golf, I can tell I'm going to like spring here in Transylvania!
The last few weeks have reminded me more of Indiana weather than anything else, but as I walk to school I'm starting to see the signs that my little part of the Transylvanian plateau is coming back to life. Throughout the winter, it was dark and depressing...and I was starting to suspect that the myths and legends surrounding Transylvania may have had some validity. Then spring arrived! The hills began getting their color back, the area where I play football with the kids became packed with new faces, teachers brought out their spring wardrobes, and now most of my conversations in Romanian inevitably become all about gardening or plants.
People keep giving me plants and flowers...sure some were for martisor and International Women's Day, but I have a sneaky suspicion that they are testing my gardening skills. On my walk home after Int. Women's Day several women stopped me on the street to ask how much I paid for my ficus. I kindly told them it was a gift; however, I've discovered to open the lines of communication with the townspeople of Tarnaveni all I really need to do is carry around a plant.
In my little town and the surrounding villages, it's all about organic foods and winemaking. This area of Transylvania was once called "wine land," but during Communist collectivization many vineyards were torn out to make room for cultivating more profitable crops and building industries.
Although the generous nature of my Romanian friends and colleagues keeps me stocked with most of the foods and wine I need...I can't wait to watch the grapes grow and make some wine together with friends as they try to bring back something that used to be a great source of pride for the region; and I look forward to developing more of a "green thumb" and growing some things on my own.
The last few weeks have reminded me more of Indiana weather than anything else, but as I walk to school I'm starting to see the signs that my little part of the Transylvanian plateau is coming back to life. Throughout the winter, it was dark and depressing...and I was starting to suspect that the myths and legends surrounding Transylvania may have had some validity. Then spring arrived! The hills began getting their color back, the area where I play football with the kids became packed with new faces, teachers brought out their spring wardrobes, and now most of my conversations in Romanian inevitably become all about gardening or plants.
People keep giving me plants and flowers...sure some were for martisor and International Women's Day, but I have a sneaky suspicion that they are testing my gardening skills. On my walk home after Int. Women's Day several women stopped me on the street to ask how much I paid for my ficus. I kindly told them it was a gift; however, I've discovered to open the lines of communication with the townspeople of Tarnaveni all I really need to do is carry around a plant.
In my little town and the surrounding villages, it's all about organic foods and winemaking. This area of Transylvania was once called "wine land," but during Communist collectivization many vineyards were torn out to make room for cultivating more profitable crops and building industries.
Although the generous nature of my Romanian friends and colleagues keeps me stocked with most of the foods and wine I need...I can't wait to watch the grapes grow and make some wine together with friends as they try to bring back something that used to be a great source of pride for the region; and I look forward to developing more of a "green thumb" and growing some things on my own.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
March 8th
This year March 8th may usher in the beginning of Daylight Savings Time for you all back home, but since coming to Romania I've learned it's also International Women's Day. Although it was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1909 thanks to the Socialist Party of America, it is not a recognized national holiday in America. Most of the countries that observe International Women's Day are in Eastern Europe and Central/SE Asia. Men don't worry! Women's Day may get more attention, but there is an International Men's Day. It is November 19th!
International Women's Day comes on the heels of Marțișor, and here in Romania it's a pretty big deal because it's also observed as an equivalent to Mother's Day. Women are certainly the center of attention during the first week of March! I've never received so many flowers nor have I been kissed on the cheeks so many times! I even got a ficus from my students in 6B that I'm going to try not to kill!
Last night all us teachers gathered at Tarnava Restaurant to celebrate the occasion with good food and lots of drinks. To be more specific, I had lots of food and drinks...most of my colleagues observe Post (Lent in the Orthodox church) and this required that they abstain from alcohol, meat, etc... Afterwards I went out with friends to the Crama in town and just enjoyed a fun Friday night.
It may not be an observed holiday, but this year is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day in the U.S. I'm embarrassed I didn't know about it earlier. After researching it a bit here, http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2009/ , I was reminded how many oppourtinties I take for granted thanks to all the women who struggled in the past. Although I care about all human rights causes regardless of gender, March 8th seems like a good day to see how we can help women suffering all over the world!
To all you wonderful ladies reading this --La Multi Ani! You are remarkable! Thank you for being such great examples for women around the world!
International Women's Day comes on the heels of Marțișor, and here in Romania it's a pretty big deal because it's also observed as an equivalent to Mother's Day. Women are certainly the center of attention during the first week of March! I've never received so many flowers nor have I been kissed on the cheeks so many times! I even got a ficus from my students in 6B that I'm going to try not to kill!
Last night all us teachers gathered at Tarnava Restaurant to celebrate the occasion with good food and lots of drinks. To be more specific, I had lots of food and drinks...most of my colleagues observe Post (Lent in the Orthodox church) and this required that they abstain from alcohol, meat, etc... Afterwards I went out with friends to the Crama in town and just enjoyed a fun Friday night.
It may not be an observed holiday, but this year is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day in the U.S. I'm embarrassed I didn't know about it earlier. After researching it a bit here, http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2009/ , I was reminded how many oppourtinties I take for granted thanks to all the women who struggled in the past. Although I care about all human rights causes regardless of gender, March 8th seems like a good day to see how we can help women suffering all over the world!
To all you wonderful ladies reading this --La Multi Ani! You are remarkable! Thank you for being such great examples for women around the world!
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