I have to again apologize for my delay. Things around here have been busy with IST, and the end of the school semester before vacation and now with the holiday season! I couldn't believe how fast time has gone!
Well I believe I left you right before I left for IST. Well IST was fantastic, it was so great to see everyone again, I really did truly miss a lot of people and it was so nice to see their faces and to talk with them again. There were some people that I had not seen or even spoken to since PST, so it was wonderful to catch up again. While IST was fantastic...the ride there was less than satisfactory. While I had taken this route before and had an excellent experience as it was a nice big bus that was not crowded at all I was convinced that that would be my experience again. Well I was wrong, it was a crowded maxi taxi which was hot and uncomfortable. This time I at least was not alone and my colleague and I could complain together. Oh well it is just something we can go on to laugh about :D
When we did arrive in Predeal however, it was lovely and since I talked to the driver ahead of time he dropped us off right at the driveway to the hotel so we did not have to wonder around Predeal. I probably wouldn't have minded though because it was absolutely beautiful there. We were right in the middle of the mountains, and I was able to see just a glimpse of the beauty that Romania has to offer, it was absolutely fantastic and if I have time and money I would love to return!
While I was in Predeal we were able to take some language classes, and I actually took a LPI (Language Proficiency Exam) as well, and thankfully my language has improved! I still have a long way to go, but my conversation skills are a lot better, but with time and practice I can only get better! That is what I like to think anyway!
So then it was time to go home and finish up the semester, which was nice and just ended up being us singing Christmas carols with the kids. It was fun. I know I probably should have updated then...but I forgot! Sorry everyone! I did however get a chance to run into town because I had a package. It was from my former Kwik Trip co-workers! I was so excited, it was an awesome package as well! So heavy though, I cannot imagine how they got it to the Post Office! The man at the customs office handed it to me and it had broken open in transit, but was always in a big ole post office bag and was kind of like "Here ya go" and I am thinking "How!". Thankfully however he allowed me to borrow the bag since I could barely lift this package and actually ended up dragging it most of the way home in the fresh snow. Thankfully it was there!
Oh the trip home is another story! The maxi taxi driver decided that he was going to pick up every person along the way, who had the most baggage in the world. I thankfully had a seat right in front, but I just wanted to teach this driver the word no! We were squished in there like sardines, I am glad that I was not one of the people standing or sitting in the back, that must have been extremely uncomfortable. Oh well what are you going to do that is just life and in the end I made it to my destination safely :)
Let's see after that I ended up spending some time with some of my students. It was actually really fun and nice to get to know some more people in town. I learned some new card games and taught some new card games, went sledding and went on a sleigh ride, it was fun and I am glad that I did the snow activities while the snow was around because starting on Christmas it began to rain! I could not believe how warm it was, but the snow stayed around for Christmas, so it was still white :)
After that I traveled to Botosani to pick up my friend Carly and do some shopping as well. It was fun and interesting. It was interesting because we went to this traditional dancing event and waited outside in the freezing cold for at least an hour, until our other colleague Deborah spotted the woman how runs the shows at the cultural center so we were able to wait inside for a while. Yet when the parade finally arrived it was less than satisfactory and long, and we couldn't see a whole lot because we were inside so we stayed for a while but then decided to leave. However we could not leave out front because that is where the show was, so we decided to leave out the back, but when we got back there, there were a lot of dancers in the back room and we were again locked in by people. However Deborah being the persuasive person that she is somehow convinced the people to put on a show and start dancing, so we basically got our own private show of traditional Romanian dancing. It was crazy but very interesting!
So I spent some time in Botosani and then returned home with Carly where we relaxed, watched movies, I made cookies, ate some good food, hung out with some friends, waited for Joslyn to get into town, then ate some more food, met with some more local families in my town, and just spent some time talking and hanging out. It was really nice. We only stayed in Trusesti until the 26th and then Joslyn and I made our way down to Bucuresti, which is where I am now. I am currently visiting an old friend from who I met in college. She is a native Romanian who was studying abroad at UWEC. So it has been very nice to see her again and to catch up and to see what her life is like (which is absolutely fascinating to hear about!) and just to see Bucarest from the eyes of a someone who grew up here. She knows all of the interesting places to go and how to get around, so it has been a really interesting and worthwhile experience.
Then tomorrow Carly will arrive in Bucureti and we will spend the day in Bucurest and then leave for Braila where we will spend New Years with another volunteer. After that it is back to reality and I will begin my second semester of school. I am looking forward to this semester and hoping to make it better and to learn more this semester, so we shall see :) Well that is all for this post. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and enjoyed your time with family and friends. I missed you all very much and just thing in 2 Christmases I will be home for it! I also hope that you have a Happy New Year and that you bring it in with a bang! Just think I will be there to bring in 2012 with you, which really isn't that far away. I love and miss you all and hope and pray that only the best comes your way. May all your hopes and dreams come true and may your New Year be full of only the best. You will hear from me again in 2010!
Voi iubesc si va pup!
Mi-adore de toate lume!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sorry for the Delay
Hey all I know it has been ages since I have updated, and I apologize for that, things have been crazy and it just got behind me. I promise I will have a heck of an update for you when I get back to the site after the New Year, I will have a month to make up for! Maybe I will break them up just a little bit, but I promise I will do better next month with the updating and they will be more regulated :D
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a Happy New Year. You have no need to worry about me I have been spending all of my holidays over here with friends, the Peace Corps is great for forming new friendships and support networks that help you out when you need it the most so I am never alone on the holidays. Eat lots of yummy Christmas treats for me and I hope you enjoyed your turkey, ham and stuffing! For the Busses, Sebos, and Millers I am sorry I missed you last week at Christmas, that would have been nice to see everyone, but we will figure out a time to get together no worries! Love you all like crazy and Happy Holidays to all!!!!!!
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a Happy New Year. You have no need to worry about me I have been spending all of my holidays over here with friends, the Peace Corps is great for forming new friendships and support networks that help you out when you need it the most so I am never alone on the holidays. Eat lots of yummy Christmas treats for me and I hope you enjoyed your turkey, ham and stuffing! For the Busses, Sebos, and Millers I am sorry I missed you last week at Christmas, that would have been nice to see everyone, but we will figure out a time to get together no worries! Love you all like crazy and Happy Holidays to all!!!!!!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
IST here I come
So I figured I would try to get a jump on some things and do my blog early, so I don't forget :) Tomorrow evening I will be in Botosani and then early early early Monday morning I will be on my way to Predeal for our In Service Training. So I am in for a week of language classes, and other cultural/specific classes for teaching, and I get to see all of the members from my group again! I am excited for that, I miss all of them. It is crazy by the end of our training this summer, I was very ready to leave and get away from my group for a while, just because we were in such close corners with each other for such a long time, but now I can't wait to see them again, it will be a nice visit I think.
I can't believe that it is already December! It seems like just yesterday it was May and I was boarding a plane to take me to Romania, and now I have been here for 6 months already! Six months! Before you all know it I will be home and you will be saying, "You were gone, no kidding, time went by so fast!"
I wish I had some interesting story to post for this week, but I really don't. It was a short week, I only had 2 days of school this week. There is a lot going on with the government and the economic crisis here in Romania, so the teachers are basically told that they have to take a mandatory 8 days without pay. So they took 3 of those days this past week, and then I am gone for a week, then I will teach 2 more days then it is off to Christmas vacation for us. So needless to say, my month of December is crazy busy...or not. I am planning on having a day where my kids can come in and sing some Christmas carols with me, and it seems like lots of them are interested, so I am going to try it and see if it works out. If so great, if not...well at least I tried :)
Today I actually had some of my kids come over and we listened to some Romanian Christmas Carols. I had hoped to learn them, but I think my kids were just tickled pink that I wanted to hang out with them and spend some time with them. It was fun though, and I like hanging out with them, because they think I am super cool :) Which of course I am ;) The coolest actually. They are good kids and I liked hearing them sing in Romanian and they liked it when I tried, so that is all that truly matters.
Tomorrow I have to prepare myself to get going to Predeal, packing, and getting some stuff from Tory's old gazda. Tory was the volunteer that was at my site before I was, so I am playing postman for her since she is going to be at IST as well, that way it is easier.
Well I think that is about all for today. Hopefully next week I will have more interesting things to say and more stories to tell. Just a boring uneventful week here, but you have to have those once in a while.
Te iubesc!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
I can't believe that it is already December! It seems like just yesterday it was May and I was boarding a plane to take me to Romania, and now I have been here for 6 months already! Six months! Before you all know it I will be home and you will be saying, "You were gone, no kidding, time went by so fast!"
I wish I had some interesting story to post for this week, but I really don't. It was a short week, I only had 2 days of school this week. There is a lot going on with the government and the economic crisis here in Romania, so the teachers are basically told that they have to take a mandatory 8 days without pay. So they took 3 of those days this past week, and then I am gone for a week, then I will teach 2 more days then it is off to Christmas vacation for us. So needless to say, my month of December is crazy busy...or not. I am planning on having a day where my kids can come in and sing some Christmas carols with me, and it seems like lots of them are interested, so I am going to try it and see if it works out. If so great, if not...well at least I tried :)
Today I actually had some of my kids come over and we listened to some Romanian Christmas Carols. I had hoped to learn them, but I think my kids were just tickled pink that I wanted to hang out with them and spend some time with them. It was fun though, and I like hanging out with them, because they think I am super cool :) Which of course I am ;) The coolest actually. They are good kids and I liked hearing them sing in Romanian and they liked it when I tried, so that is all that truly matters.
Tomorrow I have to prepare myself to get going to Predeal, packing, and getting some stuff from Tory's old gazda. Tory was the volunteer that was at my site before I was, so I am playing postman for her since she is going to be at IST as well, that way it is easier.
Well I think that is about all for today. Hopefully next week I will have more interesting things to say and more stories to tell. Just a boring uneventful week here, but you have to have those once in a while.
Te iubesc!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!
For Mom, Dad, Fred, Uncle John, Auntie Mary think about that title real hard and remember Thanksgiving at the Holiday Inn I believe that it actually made it onto our answering machine at home as well :) That was a good Thanksgiving :)
So again sorry that this post was late...but I had a lot going on these past few weeks. So I think I will start from the most recent and work my way back.
So this Thanksgiving I went to Bacau to spend Thanksgiving with some other volunteers there. It was a vegetarian Thanksgiving, but all of the food was absolutely fantastic! We had homemade rolls, salad stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoe fries, brocolli cheese casserole, pumpkin bread and apple crisp. It was so fantatic and as traditional for Thanksgiving we ate way to much and felt ill for the rest of the night. But it was good, it was nice to be with other volunteers on Thanksgiving...while away from my family they are a good substitute...but never as good as the real thing :) The trip down there was fairly uneventful until they dropped me off at some random place in Bacau because they left someone at the last stop...that was interesting but it worked out because Sarah (the volunteer in Bacau) found me :) Good thing we have cell phones!! They truely do save lives :)
The trip home was fairly interesting however, I was so excited to have found a 10:15 bus home, so I could be home by the early afternoon...but for some reason it did not show....which resulted in me staying outside for 3 hours waiting for a second bus...which worked out anyway and I made it home :) So that is all that matters
So lets see the work week was fairly uneventful, I went to school, taught the kids, gave a couple quizzes and that was about it.
On the other hand some home issues did arise that were rather interesting. So the simplest first, I ran out of propane gas, that was a simple fix and just needed to be changed out....on the other hand my electrical issues were very interested. It all started last week Tuesday. So I decided that I wanted to take a shower, so I had to plug in my hot water heater....but when I did my electrical box started sparking. There was even smoke! I was astounded and freaked out! So I called someone and they looked at it right away, and it was all scheduled to be fixed on Thursday. However when I went to turn on my light the next morning, I turned on my bathroom light...and the electrical box started sparking yet again! So clearly it could not wait another day. So I went to find someone and they fixed it immediately and I was able to go into Botosani to get my package. So I got a ride into Botosani with the crappiest Dacia I have seen yet here in Romania. The guy had to shove the car into the right gear, I thought for sure we were going to break down, it was crazy. I actually leaned up against the door, and it opened! While we were driving! So I quickly moved away from the door, but as we were going, they found another passenger so I was forced to sit very close to the door, so that made me hold the door shut so I wouldn't fall out along the way. Also as we were going along a cow ran right out in front of us so we had to come to a screetching halt as to not hit it. By this time I was just laughing at how crazy the day had been, it was such a Romanian day :)
So it is now Friday and I wanted to take a shower before I went to Tirgu Neamt for Thanksgiving dinner, so I plugged it in and there were flames and all the power in my apartment went out. So I then again had to call someone to fix it and subsiquently had no time to take a shower so I had to run down to the bus stop to try to get into Botosani so I found a ride again into Botosani and made it in plenty of time to get my package...but I had put my backpack in the trunk of the car....and then I forgot it! I was totally freaked out! I wanted to go to Tirgu Neamt so I got my package and decided to go to see my friends anyway and just bought some stuff when I got there. And I am glad that I went because I had a lot of fun with everyone there and I had amazing food! It was a good weekend! And it ended even better because I got my backpack back when I got home! Luckily we had talked a little bit and I told him that I teach English in Trusesti and he happened to be one of my student's Dad's so it all worked out in the end and I was very lucky!
However my electrical problems did not stop after the weekend....so I went to plug in my water heater and it was good for a while...but then it started to spark again! So I unplugged my friedge and everything else in my apartment. Then as the day went on, it got worse and worse and I couldn't have anything plugged in or my lights on without the electrical box sparking and eventually my power went out yet again! It stunk, but then on Monday I got it fixed, but I called the electrical man in the morning, and it was all good and I have not had any problems since then.
So needless to say these past few weeks have been eventful, but they have been good in all, oh well it makes for some good stories to remember :) What is better than that!
So in closing I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! And if you decided to brave Black Friday I hope you got some good deals! I miss you all and love you all and hope that the holiday season is going lovely for you thus far :)
Take care!
Te iubesc!
Mi-a dor de tine!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
So again sorry that this post was late...but I had a lot going on these past few weeks. So I think I will start from the most recent and work my way back.
So this Thanksgiving I went to Bacau to spend Thanksgiving with some other volunteers there. It was a vegetarian Thanksgiving, but all of the food was absolutely fantastic! We had homemade rolls, salad stuffing, corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoe fries, brocolli cheese casserole, pumpkin bread and apple crisp. It was so fantatic and as traditional for Thanksgiving we ate way to much and felt ill for the rest of the night. But it was good, it was nice to be with other volunteers on Thanksgiving...while away from my family they are a good substitute...but never as good as the real thing :) The trip down there was fairly uneventful until they dropped me off at some random place in Bacau because they left someone at the last stop...that was interesting but it worked out because Sarah (the volunteer in Bacau) found me :) Good thing we have cell phones!! They truely do save lives :)
The trip home was fairly interesting however, I was so excited to have found a 10:15 bus home, so I could be home by the early afternoon...but for some reason it did not show....which resulted in me staying outside for 3 hours waiting for a second bus...which worked out anyway and I made it home :) So that is all that matters
So lets see the work week was fairly uneventful, I went to school, taught the kids, gave a couple quizzes and that was about it.
On the other hand some home issues did arise that were rather interesting. So the simplest first, I ran out of propane gas, that was a simple fix and just needed to be changed out....on the other hand my electrical issues were very interested. It all started last week Tuesday. So I decided that I wanted to take a shower, so I had to plug in my hot water heater....but when I did my electrical box started sparking. There was even smoke! I was astounded and freaked out! So I called someone and they looked at it right away, and it was all scheduled to be fixed on Thursday. However when I went to turn on my light the next morning, I turned on my bathroom light...and the electrical box started sparking yet again! So clearly it could not wait another day. So I went to find someone and they fixed it immediately and I was able to go into Botosani to get my package. So I got a ride into Botosani with the crappiest Dacia I have seen yet here in Romania. The guy had to shove the car into the right gear, I thought for sure we were going to break down, it was crazy. I actually leaned up against the door, and it opened! While we were driving! So I quickly moved away from the door, but as we were going, they found another passenger so I was forced to sit very close to the door, so that made me hold the door shut so I wouldn't fall out along the way. Also as we were going along a cow ran right out in front of us so we had to come to a screetching halt as to not hit it. By this time I was just laughing at how crazy the day had been, it was such a Romanian day :)
So it is now Friday and I wanted to take a shower before I went to Tirgu Neamt for Thanksgiving dinner, so I plugged it in and there were flames and all the power in my apartment went out. So I then again had to call someone to fix it and subsiquently had no time to take a shower so I had to run down to the bus stop to try to get into Botosani so I found a ride again into Botosani and made it in plenty of time to get my package...but I had put my backpack in the trunk of the car....and then I forgot it! I was totally freaked out! I wanted to go to Tirgu Neamt so I got my package and decided to go to see my friends anyway and just bought some stuff when I got there. And I am glad that I went because I had a lot of fun with everyone there and I had amazing food! It was a good weekend! And it ended even better because I got my backpack back when I got home! Luckily we had talked a little bit and I told him that I teach English in Trusesti and he happened to be one of my student's Dad's so it all worked out in the end and I was very lucky!
However my electrical problems did not stop after the weekend....so I went to plug in my water heater and it was good for a while...but then it started to spark again! So I unplugged my friedge and everything else in my apartment. Then as the day went on, it got worse and worse and I couldn't have anything plugged in or my lights on without the electrical box sparking and eventually my power went out yet again! It stunk, but then on Monday I got it fixed, but I called the electrical man in the morning, and it was all good and I have not had any problems since then.
So needless to say these past few weeks have been eventful, but they have been good in all, oh well it makes for some good stories to remember :) What is better than that!
So in closing I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! And if you decided to brave Black Friday I hope you got some good deals! I miss you all and love you all and hope that the holiday season is going lovely for you thus far :)
Take care!
Te iubesc!
Mi-a dor de tine!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
2 weeks in one post
Oh my am I ever late on my post. I was going to try and post in the middle of the week, but I forgot...so then it became closer and closer to the weekend...so I decided to just wait until Sunday. I didn't forget to post last week Sunday, I was actually out of town. Not to much happened last week anyway, so that post would have been uninteresting anyway :)
So this past weekend I was out of town. As I mentioned in my earlier posts I am a member of peer support. Peer support is an organization in which individuals within the Peace Corps can call to talk about problems, minor or major, without having to go directly to the Peace Corps themselves. So we are the middle ground sometimes, and sometimes people just need to have someone to talk to, so that is what we are there for! :) So we had a little meeting/get together, just basically a fun weekend to hang out and chill together. It was a long trip...11 hours by bus, but it was good. For the most part, I lucked out in terms of transportation. I was lucky enough to find an early bus to Brasov, which was about 2 hours from Sibiu. The really nice thing was there was hardly anyone on the bus the whole time, so I was able to just chill out and relax without having any strange individuals attempt to chat with me. While I don't mind talking with new people...sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. So then I get to Brasov and at the exact bus station that I am dropped off in there is a bus going to Sibiu in a half hour! Luck was on my side, as I was super tired already from the traveling, not having to search for another bus was nice...but there was a small delay along the way. We unfortunatley got stuck behind an accident. We were only delayed for about a half hour, but I was worried it was going to be longer and I had already been on the road for 10 hours so I really wanted to be at my destination. While we finally got going, and I made it to Sibiu safe and sound. It was really nice just to chill out and be with some Peace Corps people again. Sometimes I am just craving to speak in English as it is super difficult and challenging to speak in Romanian...though it is slowly improving. So as for the weekend it was just basically a weekend of relaxation and hanging out with friends...which was nice. And we had the occasional drink...or more. The volunteer we stayed with in Sibiu actually gives historical tours of the city, so we got out own private tour...which was really cool. Sibiu is very beautiful and has an absolutley amazing church in the center of town. We even climbed up the tour, about 180 stairs...just when we thought we were to the top....we realized that we were only halfway up! However the view from the top was worth it in the end. You could see the whole city and the beautiful mountains in the background. It was absolutely fantastic, words can actually not describe the beauty. I was actually super happy that we had the peer support party in Sibiu because it is near the mountains, the mountains of Romania are beautiful and sometime I hope to go climb in them....or at least attempt to :) So after the church we continued to walk around and continued to enjoy the natural beauty of the city. I hope to be able to go back there again because it is absolutely fabulous and I hope to explore it more in the future. Oh and I almost forgot we got some free entertainment while we were there. Zach (the volunteer that we went to visit) has an interesting man outside of his apartment. There is a drunk man that tends to go binges and then walks up and down the streets yelling, talking, singing, harassing people...but it was quite entertaining to watch him. I guess he has yelled at people, interrupted kids soccer games, he asked us for batteries, and I think he may have given flowers to someone, oh and he serenaded my friend Justin while we were walking back to the apartment...it was extremely entertaining and another interesting Romanian experience.
So then I had to take my trip home...a night bus that went straight from Sibiu to Botosani! Again luck was in my favor! Yes! So I just had to stay on the bus until it stopped, I love it when things work out that way. Then we even arrived in Botosani 45 minutes early! So I walked over to the bus station and what do you know a bus that is going through my town! Yay more luck, and it left about 5 minutes after I got there! Yay again! Luck was on my side, I got home around 6 and was able to take a nice nap before class so I wasn't to extremely tired, which was nice. Actually for the first time while I was in Botosani walking the 100 yards to the bus station, someone offered me a car (a cheap car). I found that odd, but it was interesting because I had just talked to my parents about a show they had watched featuring Romania (I think it was Anthony Bordain's: No Reservations) and my dad said that they had bought a car from somebody. I had never seen this before and didn't think it was very common....but then someone offered me a car. I don't think even if I could drive in Romania I would make the decision to drive here...everyone drives so fast it scares the crap out of me!
So thus started the week, my Monday was pretty good....but I did have a run-in with one of my students. However it ended well. So I had to boys in one of my 6th grade classes that were fighting the whole time. So continually I told them to stop and it did not work, they continued to argue and disrupt class. I think a lot of the kids are used to this...but I am not and I find it very difficult to concentrate when kids are talking, especially since it is in a different language. So finally I said, "What is the problem," and they said something that I didn't understand...but it was to the effect that one boy said something that was not nice...essentially making fun of the other boy. So then I asked them if they had respect for me and the rest of their class...and they continued on fighting. So finally I brought out my grade book. I give my kids a grade for everyday, if they try hard and participate, they get a good grade like an 8,9, or 10. However if they don't participate, and if they don't try, and if they are disruptive...they get grades like 3, 4, 5. So I pulled it out and asked them what grade they thought they deserved. Having them say a low grade was difficult for them...and actually one of the boys came up after and apologized for his behavior. I said that if he has problems in the future to come talk to me or Mona, and if we can't solve it before class, to leave the problems outside of the classroom and we will figure it out later. I know he is a good kid, and I am pretty sure that he was being egged on...but they were both being disruptive so I hope in the future that they are better...and just the fact that the one apologized was a huge step in the right direction.
Let's see other than that not to much has been going on. I am trying to get back in the habbit of exercise again so I walked about 2 miles today and yesterday...so let's hope I can keep it up. I just needed to get out of the house and wanted to feel healthier and get some fresh air and it was worth it....so now I just need to find the energy to continue it because it is so much better for me and I know that I will be able to concentrate so much better if I maintain the exercise...so we shall see! I do like to be healthy and I have not been so great about that lately...I haven't gained weight...but I haven't been eating as healthy as I should be yet...so give it time and I will get better with it :) I do like to be healthy though it is great!
Well I think that is about it, I will post next weekend...I will be going to a Thanksgiving dinner with some other volunteers so that should be nice :) I am looking forward to seeing some friends again and spending some quality volunteer time with some good ole American food!
I hope everyone is healthy and happy! I miss you all everday! Take care!
Mai vorbim!
Te iubesc!
~Pana mai tarziu
Sarah B.
So this past weekend I was out of town. As I mentioned in my earlier posts I am a member of peer support. Peer support is an organization in which individuals within the Peace Corps can call to talk about problems, minor or major, without having to go directly to the Peace Corps themselves. So we are the middle ground sometimes, and sometimes people just need to have someone to talk to, so that is what we are there for! :) So we had a little meeting/get together, just basically a fun weekend to hang out and chill together. It was a long trip...11 hours by bus, but it was good. For the most part, I lucked out in terms of transportation. I was lucky enough to find an early bus to Brasov, which was about 2 hours from Sibiu. The really nice thing was there was hardly anyone on the bus the whole time, so I was able to just chill out and relax without having any strange individuals attempt to chat with me. While I don't mind talking with new people...sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. So then I get to Brasov and at the exact bus station that I am dropped off in there is a bus going to Sibiu in a half hour! Luck was on my side, as I was super tired already from the traveling, not having to search for another bus was nice...but there was a small delay along the way. We unfortunatley got stuck behind an accident. We were only delayed for about a half hour, but I was worried it was going to be longer and I had already been on the road for 10 hours so I really wanted to be at my destination. While we finally got going, and I made it to Sibiu safe and sound. It was really nice just to chill out and be with some Peace Corps people again. Sometimes I am just craving to speak in English as it is super difficult and challenging to speak in Romanian...though it is slowly improving. So as for the weekend it was just basically a weekend of relaxation and hanging out with friends...which was nice. And we had the occasional drink...or more. The volunteer we stayed with in Sibiu actually gives historical tours of the city, so we got out own private tour...which was really cool. Sibiu is very beautiful and has an absolutley amazing church in the center of town. We even climbed up the tour, about 180 stairs...just when we thought we were to the top....we realized that we were only halfway up! However the view from the top was worth it in the end. You could see the whole city and the beautiful mountains in the background. It was absolutely fantastic, words can actually not describe the beauty. I was actually super happy that we had the peer support party in Sibiu because it is near the mountains, the mountains of Romania are beautiful and sometime I hope to go climb in them....or at least attempt to :) So after the church we continued to walk around and continued to enjoy the natural beauty of the city. I hope to be able to go back there again because it is absolutely fabulous and I hope to explore it more in the future. Oh and I almost forgot we got some free entertainment while we were there. Zach (the volunteer that we went to visit) has an interesting man outside of his apartment. There is a drunk man that tends to go binges and then walks up and down the streets yelling, talking, singing, harassing people...but it was quite entertaining to watch him. I guess he has yelled at people, interrupted kids soccer games, he asked us for batteries, and I think he may have given flowers to someone, oh and he serenaded my friend Justin while we were walking back to the apartment...it was extremely entertaining and another interesting Romanian experience.
So then I had to take my trip home...a night bus that went straight from Sibiu to Botosani! Again luck was in my favor! Yes! So I just had to stay on the bus until it stopped, I love it when things work out that way. Then we even arrived in Botosani 45 minutes early! So I walked over to the bus station and what do you know a bus that is going through my town! Yay more luck, and it left about 5 minutes after I got there! Yay again! Luck was on my side, I got home around 6 and was able to take a nice nap before class so I wasn't to extremely tired, which was nice. Actually for the first time while I was in Botosani walking the 100 yards to the bus station, someone offered me a car (a cheap car). I found that odd, but it was interesting because I had just talked to my parents about a show they had watched featuring Romania (I think it was Anthony Bordain's: No Reservations) and my dad said that they had bought a car from somebody. I had never seen this before and didn't think it was very common....but then someone offered me a car. I don't think even if I could drive in Romania I would make the decision to drive here...everyone drives so fast it scares the crap out of me!
So thus started the week, my Monday was pretty good....but I did have a run-in with one of my students. However it ended well. So I had to boys in one of my 6th grade classes that were fighting the whole time. So continually I told them to stop and it did not work, they continued to argue and disrupt class. I think a lot of the kids are used to this...but I am not and I find it very difficult to concentrate when kids are talking, especially since it is in a different language. So finally I said, "What is the problem," and they said something that I didn't understand...but it was to the effect that one boy said something that was not nice...essentially making fun of the other boy. So then I asked them if they had respect for me and the rest of their class...and they continued on fighting. So finally I brought out my grade book. I give my kids a grade for everyday, if they try hard and participate, they get a good grade like an 8,9, or 10. However if they don't participate, and if they don't try, and if they are disruptive...they get grades like 3, 4, 5. So I pulled it out and asked them what grade they thought they deserved. Having them say a low grade was difficult for them...and actually one of the boys came up after and apologized for his behavior. I said that if he has problems in the future to come talk to me or Mona, and if we can't solve it before class, to leave the problems outside of the classroom and we will figure it out later. I know he is a good kid, and I am pretty sure that he was being egged on...but they were both being disruptive so I hope in the future that they are better...and just the fact that the one apologized was a huge step in the right direction.
Let's see other than that not to much has been going on. I am trying to get back in the habbit of exercise again so I walked about 2 miles today and yesterday...so let's hope I can keep it up. I just needed to get out of the house and wanted to feel healthier and get some fresh air and it was worth it....so now I just need to find the energy to continue it because it is so much better for me and I know that I will be able to concentrate so much better if I maintain the exercise...so we shall see! I do like to be healthy and I have not been so great about that lately...I haven't gained weight...but I haven't been eating as healthy as I should be yet...so give it time and I will get better with it :) I do like to be healthy though it is great!
Well I think that is about it, I will post next weekend...I will be going to a Thanksgiving dinner with some other volunteers so that should be nice :) I am looking forward to seeing some friends again and spending some quality volunteer time with some good ole American food!
I hope everyone is healthy and happy! I miss you all everday! Take care!
Mai vorbim!
Te iubesc!
~Pana mai tarziu
Sarah B.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Happy Halloween
So I am one day late for Halloween, but still...Happy Halloween! I hope you all had a fun time on Halloween and those of you that went out...I hope the day after wasn't to bad :) I hope all of the Trick-or-Treaters had a good time, and that you didn't freeze. It was sure cold here...I only went outside today to take out my garbage and from then on out decided to stay inside. It was cold!
So about this week, well needless to say...it was crazy! Great but crazy! We had to try and make all of our last minute plans pull through for the Halloween party, and I think that we pulled it off well. My week was all about getting prepared for this one day, but in the end it was all worth it and I actually feel that I had some time to bond with my students, which is something that I have been searching for an opportunity to do.
So the week began as this, we had a meeting on Monday to figure out things and decided to go for supplies on Tuesday. I went with another professor and the kids of the student council to the Mayor's office, and some other places in town to ask for donations. We then went to buy prizes for the games. Lots of candy for trick or treating and some supplies for additional decorations. Then it was off to work, we were supposed to have a meeting on Wednesday....and no one showed up....that was scary, but the kids really pulled it together on Thursday. I came to school for the meeting, taught my one afternoon class and then proceeded to stay at school until they kicked us out at 7. I made decorations with the kids, when they could get out of class they came and made decorations. We cut out pumpkins, made paper chains, made paper ghosts, did some coloring, and some crepe paper decorations. There was lots of cutting and stapling and coloring...but it was great. I really feel like I had an opportunity to bond with them, and they truly did work hard to get everything done, even kids that weren't on the student council came and helped...without them I don't think that it would have been possible.
Then Friday came...D-day! I again came to school early, for a meeting...that I didn't know we were having until we got there. We got all of the final preparations in order, and then waited for school to let out so we could decorate. We set up the rooms, got the scary lab set up, organized the prize bags, and made the school look super cool. Then we waited for the kids to arrive. The party itself was great. We had many different rooms, several for trick-or-treating, a scary lab, an art room for the best picture, bobbing for apples, best pumpkin, and musical chairs. The kids and teachers manned the rooms while I ran around to make sure that everyone had everything that they needed. Going to each room for a little bit and seeing what they needed when and to see how the kids were enjoying themselves. It was so great to see them all in costume, they were really creative. We had several doctors, Shrek, a zombie bride, princesses, mummies, Michael Jackson, fairies, zombies, cats (I was a cat :) ) Harry Potter, and more. It was so great to see their creativity! I loved it! The kids had a great time making art, posing for pictures, they went crazy for bobbing for apples, and loved the candy. After the party, the kids marched down the street yelling, and shouting and just having a good time. They then went to the club in town and had some fun dancing. It was great to see how much of a great time they were having! Needless to say I think it was a success! I was happy because we were worried that it wasn't going to come together in the end...but we did it, without the kids we couldn't have done it though, so I was so proud of them. I actually liked how it turned out, because if it wouldn't have been so crazy hectic in the end I would not have had an opportunity to bond with them while making the decorations!
Then Saturday we went to take down all the decorations. I wanted to help the janitor clean up the school because it was absolutely trashed...but she wouldn't let me. So the kids and I just made sure that we took everything down and put it away. Not to many kids came, but enough did that we finished in a timely fashion and the ones who did come recieved a treat from me for Halloween...it wasn't anything much...but they loved it, so that is all that matters!
Later on Saturday I met up with some of my friends and we made cookies...I actually taught them how to make them, played some cards, and then went to the club where I enjoyed a much deserved beer and then we played some table tennis. I have been feeling a little less shy lately...hopefully I can keep that up and this good determined mood continues....we shall see. I want to not be shy...but it is hard, especially since I am not extremely confident with the language...we shall see and as we all know perseverance pays off in the end and I just have to keep on going and I will get there :) I think this Halloween party really helped, and hopefully it will encourage me to keep on trucking...my next goal to open up classes for adults in my town! I thought about doing something for Thanksgiving....but that might be a little difficult...maybe I will try something for next year...like a play or something. I think other than that we will be good for the party's until Valentines day or St. Patricks day...I am not sure about Christmas....we will have to see about that one.
As for today, it has been just lesson planning and staying inside. It is cold outside so I am just fine staying in. I need to be rested as I am going to be watching my Packers play later tonight! Yay for Skype with Lizz and Andrew! Next week I have to find someone to fix my faucet...the water does not run in the kitchen...which is very annonying actually...but we will figure it out. Find some wood so I can start a fire....learn how to start a fire....start some new classes....as my class schedule changed yet again....figure out how to get to Sibiu for a peer support conference and teach classes and maybe figure out how I can start adult classes in my community. We shall see...I probably shouldn't take on too much to early...as I am still getting used to things. We shall see what time tells :) I am feeling much better though, so that is good, and I finally feel like I have done something for my community, which is a great feeling! Hopefully this great feeling continues on as I really am enjoying it :)
I hope you all are doing well! I miss you greatly and think of you often! You are all great and I love you so very much! I hope you are not to cold, and maybe if there are still leaves on the trees take some pictures for me, I miss the woods of my house and the beauty of the fall there. I am surrounded mainly by fields...so not a lot of trees to see. Stay warm, don't freeze, and take care of yourselves!
Te iubesc si Te pup
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
So about this week, well needless to say...it was crazy! Great but crazy! We had to try and make all of our last minute plans pull through for the Halloween party, and I think that we pulled it off well. My week was all about getting prepared for this one day, but in the end it was all worth it and I actually feel that I had some time to bond with my students, which is something that I have been searching for an opportunity to do.
So the week began as this, we had a meeting on Monday to figure out things and decided to go for supplies on Tuesday. I went with another professor and the kids of the student council to the Mayor's office, and some other places in town to ask for donations. We then went to buy prizes for the games. Lots of candy for trick or treating and some supplies for additional decorations. Then it was off to work, we were supposed to have a meeting on Wednesday....and no one showed up....that was scary, but the kids really pulled it together on Thursday. I came to school for the meeting, taught my one afternoon class and then proceeded to stay at school until they kicked us out at 7. I made decorations with the kids, when they could get out of class they came and made decorations. We cut out pumpkins, made paper chains, made paper ghosts, did some coloring, and some crepe paper decorations. There was lots of cutting and stapling and coloring...but it was great. I really feel like I had an opportunity to bond with them, and they truly did work hard to get everything done, even kids that weren't on the student council came and helped...without them I don't think that it would have been possible.
Then Friday came...D-day! I again came to school early, for a meeting...that I didn't know we were having until we got there. We got all of the final preparations in order, and then waited for school to let out so we could decorate. We set up the rooms, got the scary lab set up, organized the prize bags, and made the school look super cool. Then we waited for the kids to arrive. The party itself was great. We had many different rooms, several for trick-or-treating, a scary lab, an art room for the best picture, bobbing for apples, best pumpkin, and musical chairs. The kids and teachers manned the rooms while I ran around to make sure that everyone had everything that they needed. Going to each room for a little bit and seeing what they needed when and to see how the kids were enjoying themselves. It was so great to see them all in costume, they were really creative. We had several doctors, Shrek, a zombie bride, princesses, mummies, Michael Jackson, fairies, zombies, cats (I was a cat :) ) Harry Potter, and more. It was so great to see their creativity! I loved it! The kids had a great time making art, posing for pictures, they went crazy for bobbing for apples, and loved the candy. After the party, the kids marched down the street yelling, and shouting and just having a good time. They then went to the club in town and had some fun dancing. It was great to see how much of a great time they were having! Needless to say I think it was a success! I was happy because we were worried that it wasn't going to come together in the end...but we did it, without the kids we couldn't have done it though, so I was so proud of them. I actually liked how it turned out, because if it wouldn't have been so crazy hectic in the end I would not have had an opportunity to bond with them while making the decorations!
Then Saturday we went to take down all the decorations. I wanted to help the janitor clean up the school because it was absolutely trashed...but she wouldn't let me. So the kids and I just made sure that we took everything down and put it away. Not to many kids came, but enough did that we finished in a timely fashion and the ones who did come recieved a treat from me for Halloween...it wasn't anything much...but they loved it, so that is all that matters!
Later on Saturday I met up with some of my friends and we made cookies...I actually taught them how to make them, played some cards, and then went to the club where I enjoyed a much deserved beer and then we played some table tennis. I have been feeling a little less shy lately...hopefully I can keep that up and this good determined mood continues....we shall see. I want to not be shy...but it is hard, especially since I am not extremely confident with the language...we shall see and as we all know perseverance pays off in the end and I just have to keep on going and I will get there :) I think this Halloween party really helped, and hopefully it will encourage me to keep on trucking...my next goal to open up classes for adults in my town! I thought about doing something for Thanksgiving....but that might be a little difficult...maybe I will try something for next year...like a play or something. I think other than that we will be good for the party's until Valentines day or St. Patricks day...I am not sure about Christmas....we will have to see about that one.
As for today, it has been just lesson planning and staying inside. It is cold outside so I am just fine staying in. I need to be rested as I am going to be watching my Packers play later tonight! Yay for Skype with Lizz and Andrew! Next week I have to find someone to fix my faucet...the water does not run in the kitchen...which is very annonying actually...but we will figure it out. Find some wood so I can start a fire....learn how to start a fire....start some new classes....as my class schedule changed yet again....figure out how to get to Sibiu for a peer support conference and teach classes and maybe figure out how I can start adult classes in my community. We shall see...I probably shouldn't take on too much to early...as I am still getting used to things. We shall see what time tells :) I am feeling much better though, so that is good, and I finally feel like I have done something for my community, which is a great feeling! Hopefully this great feeling continues on as I really am enjoying it :)
I hope you all are doing well! I miss you greatly and think of you often! You are all great and I love you so very much! I hope you are not to cold, and maybe if there are still leaves on the trees take some pictures for me, I miss the woods of my house and the beauty of the fall there. I am surrounded mainly by fields...so not a lot of trees to see. Stay warm, don't freeze, and take care of yourselves!
Te iubesc si Te pup
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A tough week that ended well...
So this week was kind of interesting. It started off kind of rough, I always start off my week with the students in group 2. We have the students divided into two groups, group 2 consists of the kids that have a harder time learning and are generally a little bit more disruptive students. This does not extend to all group 2 students but it is a fairly common trait for the group. So on Mondays and Tuesdays I have Group 2. Monday was kind of rough, they didn't really listen very well, and I was kind of frustrated. Then Tuesday came, for some reason on Monday night I could not sleep at all, I did not fall asleep until after 2 and then tossed and turned all night until my alarm went off at 7. So I was not feeling 100% to begin with and then I had 4 classes which did not listen at all. I was getting so tired of saying listen, stop, don't talk to each other, raise your hands, have and various other things and I kind of cracked. I actually cried in front of a class, I held it together for the most part...but the tears definitely wanted to make an appearance. Then my counterpart came in and I started to cry and then some other teachers saw me cry so now they think that I hate it here...which is not true...because I do like it here in Trusesti and in Romania...it just got to me and I needed to have a minor breakdown. Well then the week went on and it got better I had my group 1 who are generally much better (though not always) and I think they heard about my breakdown so they were on extra good behavior.
Then I was just feeling kind of down still so I went into Botosani to go shopping. The funny thing is I just started walking...kind of knowing where I was going...but then went away from the stores and just walked. I found the big park in Botosani and it was so wonderful just being in the middle of a park. Even though I was in the middle of a city...I felt like I was in the country again. It was peaceful and quite and beautiful. There were trees and sculptures and just people sitting around watching others. It was so peaceful and beautiful and it just felt like all of my problems went away I really loved it.
Then on Saturday I got to see Tory, she was the volunteer that was here before me. She was just here for the weekend visiting the family that she stayed with, but I got to hang out with her for a while on Saturday...which was really nice. It was so great to talk with someone who knows what it is like. Sometimes it is really hard to follow someone, because the people are here remember Tory how she was when she left...not when she came. So they often forget that I don't know the language that well, and I am still rather timid and that life in general is difficult everyday. So they don't understand why I am quite or not super outgoing all the time because Tory was. Talking with Tory really helped though, and kind of sparked a determination in me, so hopefully I can make a change and start attempting to put myself out there more and just through myself in there not caring if I make a fool of myself. That is the only way I am going to learn things, and I don't know I just feel different now. A good different though!
Tory and I also had an interesting experience. We were taking a walk along a road and there were lots of carutas (horse drawn carriages) and one stopped and asked if we wanted a ride. I had never ridden on a caruta before...so we said sure. The guy was chatting and found out that he knew Tory. He had given her a ride one day...this time by car, he took her to school. So they chatted for a while and then he mentioned that he works at the piata on Fridays and that I should come to his booth/table area to get cheese and sour cream and milk from him. He has good dairy products so I am sure if I went to his stand he would just be tickled pink. He also said that he has 3 boys in Italy and a good wife and a good family and good animals and if I ever want to come to his village to visit him he will take me in like one of his own. So I am sure I could get some really good Romanian food there....I don't know if I ever will but who knows what will happen :) Then we decided we were going to go to the top of the hill so he said lets go fast! So he made the horses run! I was holding on for dear life to a chain in the back, dirt was getting kicked up into my face, he grabbed onto my arm so I wouldn't fall off and we went very fast down an uneven road, in a wooden caruta....a very interesting experience to say the least! I wanted to ride a caruta....and I got the true Romanian experience.
So that was about my week...just lesson planned today and did some baking. I am bound and determined to meet my neighbors...I am going to do it this time, I have to because that is the only way that I am going to be able to meet people is be introducing myself. I just have to start and once I start I know I will be fine and the more people I know the better and the more integrated I will be. I just have to find that confidence and I will be fine. I will get there and I will do it and I will make this experience everything that it can be!
I miss and love you all everyday. Know however that I am doing fine, I just had a bad day....but I got over it and I am going to get back on the horse and I am going to do better, I know I can do it! I think about you every day and I hope you are well and happy! I am looking forward to what I hope to be a productive week and hopefully I will have many good things to write about next week! I will have a Halloween party on Saturday so I am sure that I will have interesting things to say about that :) So that is all for this week!
La revedere!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Then I was just feeling kind of down still so I went into Botosani to go shopping. The funny thing is I just started walking...kind of knowing where I was going...but then went away from the stores and just walked. I found the big park in Botosani and it was so wonderful just being in the middle of a park. Even though I was in the middle of a city...I felt like I was in the country again. It was peaceful and quite and beautiful. There were trees and sculptures and just people sitting around watching others. It was so peaceful and beautiful and it just felt like all of my problems went away I really loved it.
Then on Saturday I got to see Tory, she was the volunteer that was here before me. She was just here for the weekend visiting the family that she stayed with, but I got to hang out with her for a while on Saturday...which was really nice. It was so great to talk with someone who knows what it is like. Sometimes it is really hard to follow someone, because the people are here remember Tory how she was when she left...not when she came. So they often forget that I don't know the language that well, and I am still rather timid and that life in general is difficult everyday. So they don't understand why I am quite or not super outgoing all the time because Tory was. Talking with Tory really helped though, and kind of sparked a determination in me, so hopefully I can make a change and start attempting to put myself out there more and just through myself in there not caring if I make a fool of myself. That is the only way I am going to learn things, and I don't know I just feel different now. A good different though!
Tory and I also had an interesting experience. We were taking a walk along a road and there were lots of carutas (horse drawn carriages) and one stopped and asked if we wanted a ride. I had never ridden on a caruta before...so we said sure. The guy was chatting and found out that he knew Tory. He had given her a ride one day...this time by car, he took her to school. So they chatted for a while and then he mentioned that he works at the piata on Fridays and that I should come to his booth/table area to get cheese and sour cream and milk from him. He has good dairy products so I am sure if I went to his stand he would just be tickled pink. He also said that he has 3 boys in Italy and a good wife and a good family and good animals and if I ever want to come to his village to visit him he will take me in like one of his own. So I am sure I could get some really good Romanian food there....I don't know if I ever will but who knows what will happen :) Then we decided we were going to go to the top of the hill so he said lets go fast! So he made the horses run! I was holding on for dear life to a chain in the back, dirt was getting kicked up into my face, he grabbed onto my arm so I wouldn't fall off and we went very fast down an uneven road, in a wooden caruta....a very interesting experience to say the least! I wanted to ride a caruta....and I got the true Romanian experience.
So that was about my week...just lesson planned today and did some baking. I am bound and determined to meet my neighbors...I am going to do it this time, I have to because that is the only way that I am going to be able to meet people is be introducing myself. I just have to start and once I start I know I will be fine and the more people I know the better and the more integrated I will be. I just have to find that confidence and I will be fine. I will get there and I will do it and I will make this experience everything that it can be!
I miss and love you all everyday. Know however that I am doing fine, I just had a bad day....but I got over it and I am going to get back on the horse and I am going to do better, I know I can do it! I think about you every day and I hope you are well and happy! I am looking forward to what I hope to be a productive week and hopefully I will have many good things to write about next week! I will have a Halloween party on Saturday so I am sure that I will have interesting things to say about that :) So that is all for this week!
La revedere!
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Just another week in Romania
So it looks like I am falling into a rhythm, one post a week, which is pretty good for me. I am not very good at recounting my adventures, because they never sound as good as they actually were. Oh well at least I try :)
So this week there really wasn't anything to interesting that happened. I just basically went to school all week. Something that was sort of interesting though, is the behavior that I recieved from the students, for some reason they were crazy good this week! I even had a new behavior plan to institute, but it wasn't really all that necessary, because they were so good. When I was in Iasi this past weekend, my friends that I met and I got to talking about school and something that is a problem for everyone is the behavior from the kids. One of my friends was telling me about his method, since the kids don't respond to yelling or a talking to, he goes with grades. In order to get them to participate and be on decent behavior he gives them a grade for every class. I liked this idea so I decided to implement it. It works wonders, they want to get good grades, especially since I told them I would put them all in the catalogue (which I am not doing, but they will be calculated into their final grade) so it will hurt them if they get bad grades in class in the end. So if they are good they get a 9 or a 10 (which is equivalent to an A) and if they are not good they will get a 2 or a 3. This has worked so far, and it will be a good way for me to get to know their names :) Since I also use the book for attendance every day. So we shall see how this next week goes and if they continue to have respect for me or not...I sure hope so!
That is all for the kids, but I did get to talking with the secretary at school one day and found out that she has a granddaughter that is about 2 weeks older than Josee (my niece and goddaughter) so she was thrilled to show me pictures of her. So I am going to be bringing in pictures of Blair and Josee to show her, and the rest of my family as well, because they are all so important to me! My friends are too, but if I showed her pictures of all of my friends I think that we would be there for ages! I also got to talking to the physics teacher, she is so nice and I found out that she has a cousin in Canada. I asked her if she ever wants to go there and visit her...but she didn't seem so keen on it :) Even though this is her first year there, and she has never met an American Volunteer before (all of the other teachers met and worked with Tory who was the volunteer in my village before me) she is really good to speak with, because she speaks simply and slowly. I am starting to understand more, but it is still difficult, especially when people automatically think I am fluent in Romanian and start talking really quickly with strong accent and complicated. There are some who are really good though, and it makes life and learning a lot easier. I really do like Romanian, it is just a complicated language. My counterpart put it into a good perspective though. We were talking about how complicated I think that the language is, and she told me to imagine being in Asia or somewhere in Africa where none of the words would hold any similarities to English. She is completely right though, because there are a lot of words that are really similar, it is just the sentence structure and the gender sensitve words, as well as the conjugation of verbs that gets me every time, because that is not something that is prevalent in the English language. In time I know I will learn however, my Romanian has actually improved since I have come to my village, so that is something that I am excited about!
Let's see what else is new, oh I was on my way to the Piata on Friday morning when I recieved a phone call, I had a package from my parents! Again since Tory was here before me, it works out in my favor, I exchanged numbers with the man from the post office and when a package comes in he gives me a call since it is dificult for me to get there. I can only go to the post office between 10 and 11:30 to pick up packages, in a city that is a 1/2 hour away by car. So Friday is really the only day since I do not have school on Fridays. Needless to say I was thrilled, I love getting packages, so I went home to pack my bags really quickly as I was planning on spending some time with my counterpart and immediately went to the bus stop! I didn't actually take the bus, I rode with someone (hitch hiking is very common hear and safe) and this was the first time the ride didn't turn into something interesting. The only thing that was interesting is that the guy forgot I was in the back seat. Apparently he doesn't normally give rides to people, and it is not like I was chatting their ears off as I do not know the language very well, and it usually turns into a rather limiting conversation. It was just funny when his friend told him I was still in the car, but I got to where I needed to go in the end. So there really has yet to be a dull ride for me :) I guess I will take it though, nothing has been frightening yet...and I hope that it stays that way...I will steer clear of scary! So I got my package, and the people at the post office are all super nice, so that rocks. My arms are still sore from carrying it, that sucker was heavy!
I won't talk about the package too much but I wanted to mention my favorite thing. My niece Blair decided that she would color me some pictures, some for my house and some for my classroom. The cutest part is the ones for my house were all precious moments (which are only my favorite things in the world, and for all of you who know me super well, you know how many I have already collected :)! ) and the ones for my school were the alphabet :) The best part was on the letter Z she wrote, "Yay we finished the alphabet!" Man I love my family! The rest of the stuff in there rocked to, there was tons of stuff for school, and for Halloween since we are having a Halloween party, so they should really enjoy the decorations...which include (Spider webs, a ghost that flies around the ceiling, and a bat that flies around as well!) I think those are going to be a real hit! My mom is so creative! These kids are creative as well, so I think that the decorations they make themselves are going to be awesome!
Let's see other than that not much else is new, just lesson planning and chilling out at home. It has been getting cold out, so I decided to make brownies today, and I never really did get to meet my neighbors very much with them last time because I got scared and gave them to other people I already knew, but I am going to try again...hopefully starting tomorrow...we shall see if I build up the courage. I think that I can do it! Oh but I wanted to mention before I forget...especially for mom and dad, everytime that I talk with people for the first time they ask if my parents are going to come and see me, so it looks like everyone here is looking forward to meeting you. Also as long as John and Mary are still planning on coming to see me as well, I am sure they would be absolutely thrilled to meet you as well! So I think when you do come to see me, you are instantly going to be very popular! I am sure they will show you a good Romanian welcome!
Well I think that is all for now, I am going to go and try to lesson plan a little bit before I attempt to stream the Packer Game, I want to see this one because once Donald Driver makes his first reception he is going to make history, and I love Donald Driver! He is my hero...so I want to see his bit of history, he deserves it! He is amazing, not just on the football field but off of it as well! Alright, well I will try to post again next week Sunday! I always try to remember because I know their are a lot of you who read it, so I want to include you in everything that I can. I love and miss you all so much, but I do love it here (but I plan on coming home, don't worry) and I am doing very well and learning a lot every day! I hope you all are doing well and you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Oh and before I forget my love goes out to the family of Millie Olm, I am sorry I couldn't be there for the service, I would have been there in a heartbeat if I was in the United States. Millie has always meant a lot to me as she saw me and Fred grow up. I am glad you are no longer in pain or confusion, but you will always be missed. We all love you.
Te iubesc
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
So this week there really wasn't anything to interesting that happened. I just basically went to school all week. Something that was sort of interesting though, is the behavior that I recieved from the students, for some reason they were crazy good this week! I even had a new behavior plan to institute, but it wasn't really all that necessary, because they were so good. When I was in Iasi this past weekend, my friends that I met and I got to talking about school and something that is a problem for everyone is the behavior from the kids. One of my friends was telling me about his method, since the kids don't respond to yelling or a talking to, he goes with grades. In order to get them to participate and be on decent behavior he gives them a grade for every class. I liked this idea so I decided to implement it. It works wonders, they want to get good grades, especially since I told them I would put them all in the catalogue (which I am not doing, but they will be calculated into their final grade) so it will hurt them if they get bad grades in class in the end. So if they are good they get a 9 or a 10 (which is equivalent to an A) and if they are not good they will get a 2 or a 3. This has worked so far, and it will be a good way for me to get to know their names :) Since I also use the book for attendance every day. So we shall see how this next week goes and if they continue to have respect for me or not...I sure hope so!
That is all for the kids, but I did get to talking with the secretary at school one day and found out that she has a granddaughter that is about 2 weeks older than Josee (my niece and goddaughter) so she was thrilled to show me pictures of her. So I am going to be bringing in pictures of Blair and Josee to show her, and the rest of my family as well, because they are all so important to me! My friends are too, but if I showed her pictures of all of my friends I think that we would be there for ages! I also got to talking to the physics teacher, she is so nice and I found out that she has a cousin in Canada. I asked her if she ever wants to go there and visit her...but she didn't seem so keen on it :) Even though this is her first year there, and she has never met an American Volunteer before (all of the other teachers met and worked with Tory who was the volunteer in my village before me) she is really good to speak with, because she speaks simply and slowly. I am starting to understand more, but it is still difficult, especially when people automatically think I am fluent in Romanian and start talking really quickly with strong accent and complicated. There are some who are really good though, and it makes life and learning a lot easier. I really do like Romanian, it is just a complicated language. My counterpart put it into a good perspective though. We were talking about how complicated I think that the language is, and she told me to imagine being in Asia or somewhere in Africa where none of the words would hold any similarities to English. She is completely right though, because there are a lot of words that are really similar, it is just the sentence structure and the gender sensitve words, as well as the conjugation of verbs that gets me every time, because that is not something that is prevalent in the English language. In time I know I will learn however, my Romanian has actually improved since I have come to my village, so that is something that I am excited about!
Let's see what else is new, oh I was on my way to the Piata on Friday morning when I recieved a phone call, I had a package from my parents! Again since Tory was here before me, it works out in my favor, I exchanged numbers with the man from the post office and when a package comes in he gives me a call since it is dificult for me to get there. I can only go to the post office between 10 and 11:30 to pick up packages, in a city that is a 1/2 hour away by car. So Friday is really the only day since I do not have school on Fridays. Needless to say I was thrilled, I love getting packages, so I went home to pack my bags really quickly as I was planning on spending some time with my counterpart and immediately went to the bus stop! I didn't actually take the bus, I rode with someone (hitch hiking is very common hear and safe) and this was the first time the ride didn't turn into something interesting. The only thing that was interesting is that the guy forgot I was in the back seat. Apparently he doesn't normally give rides to people, and it is not like I was chatting their ears off as I do not know the language very well, and it usually turns into a rather limiting conversation. It was just funny when his friend told him I was still in the car, but I got to where I needed to go in the end. So there really has yet to be a dull ride for me :) I guess I will take it though, nothing has been frightening yet...and I hope that it stays that way...I will steer clear of scary! So I got my package, and the people at the post office are all super nice, so that rocks. My arms are still sore from carrying it, that sucker was heavy!
I won't talk about the package too much but I wanted to mention my favorite thing. My niece Blair decided that she would color me some pictures, some for my house and some for my classroom. The cutest part is the ones for my house were all precious moments (which are only my favorite things in the world, and for all of you who know me super well, you know how many I have already collected :)! ) and the ones for my school were the alphabet :) The best part was on the letter Z she wrote, "Yay we finished the alphabet!" Man I love my family! The rest of the stuff in there rocked to, there was tons of stuff for school, and for Halloween since we are having a Halloween party, so they should really enjoy the decorations...which include (Spider webs, a ghost that flies around the ceiling, and a bat that flies around as well!) I think those are going to be a real hit! My mom is so creative! These kids are creative as well, so I think that the decorations they make themselves are going to be awesome!
Let's see other than that not much else is new, just lesson planning and chilling out at home. It has been getting cold out, so I decided to make brownies today, and I never really did get to meet my neighbors very much with them last time because I got scared and gave them to other people I already knew, but I am going to try again...hopefully starting tomorrow...we shall see if I build up the courage. I think that I can do it! Oh but I wanted to mention before I forget...especially for mom and dad, everytime that I talk with people for the first time they ask if my parents are going to come and see me, so it looks like everyone here is looking forward to meeting you. Also as long as John and Mary are still planning on coming to see me as well, I am sure they would be absolutely thrilled to meet you as well! So I think when you do come to see me, you are instantly going to be very popular! I am sure they will show you a good Romanian welcome!
Well I think that is all for now, I am going to go and try to lesson plan a little bit before I attempt to stream the Packer Game, I want to see this one because once Donald Driver makes his first reception he is going to make history, and I love Donald Driver! He is my hero...so I want to see his bit of history, he deserves it! He is amazing, not just on the football field but off of it as well! Alright, well I will try to post again next week Sunday! I always try to remember because I know their are a lot of you who read it, so I want to include you in everything that I can. I love and miss you all so much, but I do love it here (but I plan on coming home, don't worry) and I am doing very well and learning a lot every day! I hope you all are doing well and you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Oh and before I forget my love goes out to the family of Millie Olm, I am sorry I couldn't be there for the service, I would have been there in a heartbeat if I was in the United States. Millie has always meant a lot to me as she saw me and Fred grow up. I am glad you are no longer in pain or confusion, but you will always be missed. We all love you.
Te iubesc
Pana mai tarziu
~Sarah B.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Interesting Journeys
So sorry for the delay in postings, I got a little busy and just didn't have the time or energy to post for a few days....but now I am back :)
So let's see we shall start with school. It is going well, and interesting to say the least. The students here are different than any students I have ever seen in the states, and they seem to have a lot of fun testing me. I am trying my best to be strict and I am talking with other volunteers about discipline strategies and I think that I have come up with a few...I have been trying to impliment them and classes have been going a little bit more smoothly, and I have some more ideas for what I can do so I think that they will be getting better. It is just a little hard because my counterpart has been so busy. My counterpart is the other English teacher, she has been busy because a lot of things have been going on with the teachers union...which she is the head of. For a while the high school and general school in my town were merged...and then they were not....and now they are again. Then we had one director...then another director....then back to the previous director. Every day it has been something different, but now they say that we are going to stay merged with the same new director...so I hope that things start to quiet down, just so I can finally get used to things. My director had to go to Bucarest one day this week, so I had all of the classes alone..that was interesting...it was difficult but interesting. One class misbehaved so much that I had to give them an impromptu test...so they know I am serious. They were not to crazy about it, especially the ones that were being good, but sometimes that is the only way to get through to them. So hopefully I can get the kids to realize I am serious...that is my number one battle right now :)
So onto other things, this weekend I went to Iasi, this is the 2nd largest city in Romania. I went there to meet some friends for a festival and just to hang out for a bit. It was a lot of traveling for one day, 2 hours there and 2 hours back, but it was worth it. The bus ride down there was interesting, I met a lady from my town who works at the casa de copii, which is the place where kids who do not have parents or anyone to stay with go, and we got to talk about that a little bit and I am able to go there and help sometime, so maybe next weekend I will just go there to see what I can do :) It was just really interesting that I just happened to be going to Iasi at the same time she was. It was funny she asked if I knew where I was going in Iasi...I said no I will figure it out when I get there, and she just kept saying Iasi is big, be careful. I did figure it out once I got there, and it took me about an hour to get where I needed to go, but I asked for directions and eventually found it, the 10 minute walk that someone informed me it would be turned out to be a 30 minute walk, but I made it and that is all that matters :)
So then we just walked around and hung out in Iasi all day with friends, there was lots of beautiful jewlery and tons of little stands to look at. They had interesting pots, hats, scarves, shoes, food, there were rides, and traditional Romanian food, and tons of other interesting things to see. The venders were crazy, they wanted you to buy their things so bad, so they would bargain with you and put their jewlery on you and say that it was so beautiful and they would give you something else as a gift if you bought it, it was very difficult to say no to them...but you had to try and then they seemed upset, but oh well, that is the life of bargaining sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.
Then I had my ride home. For the first time I took a personal train, the worst trains in Romania, and it really was not bad at all. It had a bit of an odd smell, but it was well lit and comfortable, but fine overall. I did however meet a very interesting lady on the train, and I am pretty sure she wanted to take me home with her. She kept trying to convince me to come to Iasi on Wednesday for this saints day, and I kept telling her that I had to work, and she did not want to take no for an answer. She had a good heart, but was a little odd....She had us exchange phone numbers so if I ever come to Iasi I have a place to stay...but I just did that to be nice. I don't really have any intention of calling her, but again no would not be taken as an answer. If I ever was stuck in Iasi, we do have another volunteer there and I know a couple people in my town who know people there as well, so I don't think I will be calling a complete stranger to stay with. I always seem to find the most interesting people on trains. For some reason, even though I do not start talking to people, they start talking to me, and then are drawn to me for some reason, and it is very difficult to avoid a conversation, when you are not exactly sure how to end one, besides leaving...and you can't really leave a train...oh well just another interesting experience.
So today I am going to make some American Pancakes for some of my friends here, they are all excited and I am looking forward to making them for them, and to eating them as well, I haven't had pancakes in months and it should be pretty tasty, we are going to eat them with Jam and Honey, yum :) So off to lesson plan and make pancakes so it should be a good time.
I hope you all are doing well, I miss and love you all bunches and think of you everyday. Take care and have a great day.
La revedere si te iubesc!
Pana mai tarziu (Until later)
~Sarah B.
So let's see we shall start with school. It is going well, and interesting to say the least. The students here are different than any students I have ever seen in the states, and they seem to have a lot of fun testing me. I am trying my best to be strict and I am talking with other volunteers about discipline strategies and I think that I have come up with a few...I have been trying to impliment them and classes have been going a little bit more smoothly, and I have some more ideas for what I can do so I think that they will be getting better. It is just a little hard because my counterpart has been so busy. My counterpart is the other English teacher, she has been busy because a lot of things have been going on with the teachers union...which she is the head of. For a while the high school and general school in my town were merged...and then they were not....and now they are again. Then we had one director...then another director....then back to the previous director. Every day it has been something different, but now they say that we are going to stay merged with the same new director...so I hope that things start to quiet down, just so I can finally get used to things. My director had to go to Bucarest one day this week, so I had all of the classes alone..that was interesting...it was difficult but interesting. One class misbehaved so much that I had to give them an impromptu test...so they know I am serious. They were not to crazy about it, especially the ones that were being good, but sometimes that is the only way to get through to them. So hopefully I can get the kids to realize I am serious...that is my number one battle right now :)
So onto other things, this weekend I went to Iasi, this is the 2nd largest city in Romania. I went there to meet some friends for a festival and just to hang out for a bit. It was a lot of traveling for one day, 2 hours there and 2 hours back, but it was worth it. The bus ride down there was interesting, I met a lady from my town who works at the casa de copii, which is the place where kids who do not have parents or anyone to stay with go, and we got to talk about that a little bit and I am able to go there and help sometime, so maybe next weekend I will just go there to see what I can do :) It was just really interesting that I just happened to be going to Iasi at the same time she was. It was funny she asked if I knew where I was going in Iasi...I said no I will figure it out when I get there, and she just kept saying Iasi is big, be careful. I did figure it out once I got there, and it took me about an hour to get where I needed to go, but I asked for directions and eventually found it, the 10 minute walk that someone informed me it would be turned out to be a 30 minute walk, but I made it and that is all that matters :)
So then we just walked around and hung out in Iasi all day with friends, there was lots of beautiful jewlery and tons of little stands to look at. They had interesting pots, hats, scarves, shoes, food, there were rides, and traditional Romanian food, and tons of other interesting things to see. The venders were crazy, they wanted you to buy their things so bad, so they would bargain with you and put their jewlery on you and say that it was so beautiful and they would give you something else as a gift if you bought it, it was very difficult to say no to them...but you had to try and then they seemed upset, but oh well, that is the life of bargaining sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.
Then I had my ride home. For the first time I took a personal train, the worst trains in Romania, and it really was not bad at all. It had a bit of an odd smell, but it was well lit and comfortable, but fine overall. I did however meet a very interesting lady on the train, and I am pretty sure she wanted to take me home with her. She kept trying to convince me to come to Iasi on Wednesday for this saints day, and I kept telling her that I had to work, and she did not want to take no for an answer. She had a good heart, but was a little odd....She had us exchange phone numbers so if I ever come to Iasi I have a place to stay...but I just did that to be nice. I don't really have any intention of calling her, but again no would not be taken as an answer. If I ever was stuck in Iasi, we do have another volunteer there and I know a couple people in my town who know people there as well, so I don't think I will be calling a complete stranger to stay with. I always seem to find the most interesting people on trains. For some reason, even though I do not start talking to people, they start talking to me, and then are drawn to me for some reason, and it is very difficult to avoid a conversation, when you are not exactly sure how to end one, besides leaving...and you can't really leave a train...oh well just another interesting experience.
So today I am going to make some American Pancakes for some of my friends here, they are all excited and I am looking forward to making them for them, and to eating them as well, I haven't had pancakes in months and it should be pretty tasty, we are going to eat them with Jam and Honey, yum :) So off to lesson plan and make pancakes so it should be a good time.
I hope you all are doing well, I miss and love you all bunches and think of you everyday. Take care and have a great day.
La revedere si te iubesc!
Pana mai tarziu (Until later)
~Sarah B.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Wish list
So many of you have asked me if I need anything…so I thought that I would compile a wish list, if you choose to send me something great…if not I still love you any way. I am going to try to make this fun and creative as well. So lets begin :)
1.) Winter hat, mittens and scarf. As winter is fast approaching…I do not have anything to keep my hands and head warm. I do not yet have a winter jacket, but I figure I will buy one here. I just figure if anyone out there is looking for a project…this may be your next one :)
2.) Bobby pins and Barrettes. My hair is getting long, and I am getting bored with only wearing it up, but I don’t have anything else to keep it out of my face…and the barrettes here are mainly made for children…I know Blair would love them :)
3.) Scotch tape – life just isn’t the same without scotch tape
4.) Duct tape – so I can fix anything :)
5.) Construction paper – to make fun things for my kids and besides everyone loves colored paper!! :)
6.) Dry erase markers – To use in my classroom, they are impossible to find here, and I could use them like nobody’s business in my classroom.
7.) Make-up – I need to look pretty to lure in the mend! I have sensitive skin!! :)
8.) Maple Syrup – to make American pancakes for my new Romanian friends
9.) Taco Seasoning packets – to make delicious tacos for my new Romanian friends
10.) Brown sugar – to make goodies for my new Romanian friends
11.) Measuring cups and spoons -- they don’t exist here! I have been doing pretty good at guessing…but I am just awaiting a disaster….
12.) Nalgene Bottle – Super expensive here, and I love my water! Would be a lot easier than buying water bottles to refill…especially since I can hear Debbie telling me I will get cancer that way
13.) Butterscotch chips to put in my delicious chocolate chip cookies!
14.) Peanut Butter chips to put in my delicious brownies that I have discovered I can make :)
15.) Manicure set – maybe that cube thing with the file, buffer, and all that stuff on the 4 different sides :) A girl has got to have clean nails :)
16.) Graham crackers and marshmallows…more for the summer, they don’t exist here and I know the Romanians would go wild over Smores!
17.) I don’t know what it is called, but it is that sticky puddy stuff that teachers use to put up posters on the wall. That would rock for my apartment to put pictures of family up (hint, hint send pictures!)
18.) Hooks made by scotch, could really use them for towels and stuff around the house. Scotch really does rock...they should expand to Romania :)
19.) Clothesline, I have an idea for the winter, to use to hang my clothes up…and that would be tying the clothesline to two chairs…oh yes I am becoming creative! I think I get it from my daddy :)
20.) Perfume/Body spray – something fruity and delicious I need to smell good if I am without water for several days :)
21.) Kraft macaroni and cheese – not gonna lie I had a dream about it…
22.) Peanut Butter – super expensive and extremely difficult to find here but so so good!
23.) Markers – to make activities for my kids
24.) Whole grain pasta -- does not exist here and life is just so much better with whole grains :)
25.) Nice blouses or sweaters – the stuff is made to fail here and Kohl’s does not exist…how I miss Kohls…I am about the same size I was when I left so in a L or XL ladies, if it fits my mom or sister-in-law it will fit me.
26.) Flat Black Dress shoes, the shoes around here are tiny, and not wide…10W is the size for me :)
27.) Necklaces – doesn’t have to be expensive, just simple you know me :)
28.) Pictures of you :)
29.) Food coloring – I know it sounds strange..but again for goodies :)
30.) Herbal Essences…my hair would be so happy!
31.) Hair Straightener…and small curling iron…ahem mom and dad..my bathroom...middle drawer :)
32.) Double Stuff Mint Oreos…oh there is just nothing like em! :)
33.) Counted cross stitch patterns – the ones that come in the little packet with the strings and everything…something pretty :) -- and extra needles…I always manage to lose or break them :) oh and the ring to put it in....
34.) Lotion – Vasaline intensive care – the winter is going to kill me...and again sensitive skin :)
35.) Vaporub – for all those winter colds :) Besides it just smells so delicious :)
36.) Eye make-up remover – I have had a tendancy to look like a raccoon around here :)
37.) Black tights…I have a cute dress they would go with :) Also they would hide my tattoo :)
38.) Razors the refills for the Shick Quatro…you would not believe how expensive they are here!!! Or just regular razors will work too, maybe with 2 or 3 blades on them :) I need to keep my legs smooth ;)
39.) Chow mein – Chinese food does not exist here – and I am dying for something as simple as chow mein – even if it can’t hold a candle to true Chinese food like Chicken and Broccoli :)
40.) Sandwich bags – absolutely impossible to find here but so so useful :)
41.) Note cards and post it notes – both are difficult to find and would be extremely useful in school for activities :)
42.) Ingredients for pumpkin pie...mainly the pumpkin and seasonings oh and the carnation milk...they would love the pumpkin pie at thanksgiving :)
Obviously I am not expecting all of this, I just wanted to give you some ideas :) Anything that is sent is going to be greatly appreciated and loved and I would love for you to get creative, but these are just some things I have thought about, I can’t think of everything and I am sure there is more, so just have fun, I just would like to get a piece of your personality in any package, that is what I miss the most about being home :)
Oh and there are flat rate large boxes that you can send for $50 and you can stick as much stuff in there as you want up to 20 pounds...which is a lot! I just got a package from my parents and you would not believe how much they fit in there :)
If anyone sees this and decides they want to send me a package but does not have my address please let me know and I will send it to you...just don't want to put my address on a public blog :)
Love and miss you bunches...off to a festival in town..I will try to post about it later, I am sure it will be interesting :)
Hope you all are well, I think of you every day :)
~Until later
Sarah B.
1.) Winter hat, mittens and scarf. As winter is fast approaching…I do not have anything to keep my hands and head warm. I do not yet have a winter jacket, but I figure I will buy one here. I just figure if anyone out there is looking for a project…this may be your next one :)
2.) Bobby pins and Barrettes. My hair is getting long, and I am getting bored with only wearing it up, but I don’t have anything else to keep it out of my face…and the barrettes here are mainly made for children…I know Blair would love them :)
3.) Scotch tape – life just isn’t the same without scotch tape
4.) Duct tape – so I can fix anything :)
5.) Construction paper – to make fun things for my kids and besides everyone loves colored paper!! :)
6.) Dry erase markers – To use in my classroom, they are impossible to find here, and I could use them like nobody’s business in my classroom.
7.) Make-up – I need to look pretty to lure in the mend! I have sensitive skin!! :)
8.) Maple Syrup – to make American pancakes for my new Romanian friends
9.) Taco Seasoning packets – to make delicious tacos for my new Romanian friends
10.) Brown sugar – to make goodies for my new Romanian friends
11.) Measuring cups and spoons -- they don’t exist here! I have been doing pretty good at guessing…but I am just awaiting a disaster….
12.) Nalgene Bottle – Super expensive here, and I love my water! Would be a lot easier than buying water bottles to refill…especially since I can hear Debbie telling me I will get cancer that way
13.) Butterscotch chips to put in my delicious chocolate chip cookies!
14.) Peanut Butter chips to put in my delicious brownies that I have discovered I can make :)
15.) Manicure set – maybe that cube thing with the file, buffer, and all that stuff on the 4 different sides :) A girl has got to have clean nails :)
16.) Graham crackers and marshmallows…more for the summer, they don’t exist here and I know the Romanians would go wild over Smores!
17.) I don’t know what it is called, but it is that sticky puddy stuff that teachers use to put up posters on the wall. That would rock for my apartment to put pictures of family up (hint, hint send pictures!)
18.) Hooks made by scotch, could really use them for towels and stuff around the house. Scotch really does rock...they should expand to Romania :)
19.) Clothesline, I have an idea for the winter, to use to hang my clothes up…and that would be tying the clothesline to two chairs…oh yes I am becoming creative! I think I get it from my daddy :)
20.) Perfume/Body spray – something fruity and delicious I need to smell good if I am without water for several days :)
21.) Kraft macaroni and cheese – not gonna lie I had a dream about it…
22.) Peanut Butter – super expensive and extremely difficult to find here but so so good!
23.) Markers – to make activities for my kids
24.) Whole grain pasta -- does not exist here and life is just so much better with whole grains :)
25.) Nice blouses or sweaters – the stuff is made to fail here and Kohl’s does not exist…how I miss Kohls…I am about the same size I was when I left so in a L or XL ladies, if it fits my mom or sister-in-law it will fit me.
26.) Flat Black Dress shoes, the shoes around here are tiny, and not wide…10W is the size for me :)
27.) Necklaces – doesn’t have to be expensive, just simple you know me :)
28.) Pictures of you :)
29.) Food coloring – I know it sounds strange..but again for goodies :)
30.) Herbal Essences…my hair would be so happy!
31.) Hair Straightener…and small curling iron…ahem mom and dad..my bathroom...middle drawer :)
32.) Double Stuff Mint Oreos…oh there is just nothing like em! :)
33.) Counted cross stitch patterns – the ones that come in the little packet with the strings and everything…something pretty :) -- and extra needles…I always manage to lose or break them :) oh and the ring to put it in....
34.) Lotion – Vasaline intensive care – the winter is going to kill me...and again sensitive skin :)
35.) Vaporub – for all those winter colds :) Besides it just smells so delicious :)
36.) Eye make-up remover – I have had a tendancy to look like a raccoon around here :)
37.) Black tights…I have a cute dress they would go with :) Also they would hide my tattoo :)
38.) Razors the refills for the Shick Quatro…you would not believe how expensive they are here!!! Or just regular razors will work too, maybe with 2 or 3 blades on them :) I need to keep my legs smooth ;)
39.) Chow mein – Chinese food does not exist here – and I am dying for something as simple as chow mein – even if it can’t hold a candle to true Chinese food like Chicken and Broccoli :)
40.) Sandwich bags – absolutely impossible to find here but so so useful :)
41.) Note cards and post it notes – both are difficult to find and would be extremely useful in school for activities :)
42.) Ingredients for pumpkin pie...mainly the pumpkin and seasonings oh and the carnation milk...they would love the pumpkin pie at thanksgiving :)
Obviously I am not expecting all of this, I just wanted to give you some ideas :) Anything that is sent is going to be greatly appreciated and loved and I would love for you to get creative, but these are just some things I have thought about, I can’t think of everything and I am sure there is more, so just have fun, I just would like to get a piece of your personality in any package, that is what I miss the most about being home :)
Oh and there are flat rate large boxes that you can send for $50 and you can stick as much stuff in there as you want up to 20 pounds...which is a lot! I just got a package from my parents and you would not believe how much they fit in there :)
If anyone sees this and decides they want to send me a package but does not have my address please let me know and I will send it to you...just don't want to put my address on a public blog :)
Love and miss you bunches...off to a festival in town..I will try to post about it later, I am sure it will be interesting :)
Hope you all are well, I think of you every day :)
~Until later
Sarah B.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
School Year Under Way
So my School year is officially underway. I have had a few weeks of teaching and it has been interesting to say the least. Some classes are fantastic, the kids listent, they are extremely intelligent, just are the kids that every teacher wants to have....then there is the kids that let's just say aren't the greatest. I think that a lot of it is they are just trying to push me to see how far they can go before I break...but I may just try to write down a set of rules this weekend. I am learning as I go along...but I think in the long run it will be alright :)
So teaching is going along, I am learning what they know...what they don't know...what works and what doesn't work. Everything is coming in time, and my Romanian is slowly but surely coming along. I made a conscious effort to be in the teachers lounge this week, specifically to listen to Romanian...so I can increase my comprehension. Oddly enough, it is my comprehension that is week...my speaking is alright, but my comprehension stinks. My counterpart is baffled, she has never met anyone who learns a language quite like me, usually it is the exact opposite, that people understand, but they can't produce it...not quite sure why I am such an odd duckling :)
So this past weekend I had my first train trip alone. I went down to Bucharest for a meeting for the peer support group that I am in. The trip down there was interesting....I took the night train. I was riding in 2nd class, which was fine, and I was in a compartment, and until 5:30 in the morning I was alone, so it worked out really well and I was able to sleep in peace for about 5 hours...but I did get woken up a couple of times. There were several conductors who came in and most just came and left...but there was one who was kind of a bother. I had my backpack up above myself, since I was alone. My backpack is very heavy, and the door was closed, so if anyone came in and tried to steal my bag, first I would hear them and second they wouldn't get anything good from my backpack. The conductor however was very adament about me keeping my bag near me. So I am sure that he meant well...but he made me a tad uncomfortable, because when I said it was fine and I wanted to sleep and was going to leave it there, he quickly responded with fine then I will stay in here with you! Well needless to say, I was not alright with that option, especially since the lights were off and the door was closed and it was 3 o'clock in the morning. So he proceeded to talk to me for a while, and I attempted to talk back, but finally he asked the clencher, that always makes me shoo the Romanian men away who are a little to friendly, and that is are you married. So I promptly took my back pack down, promised I would use it as a pillow and went to sleep until around 5:30 or 6 when I recieved some cabin mates. I am pretty sure that the conductor meant no harm and was just looking out for me, but I was so tired and just wanted to be left alone...especially when it was so late.
Other than that the trip in Bucharest was pretty low key. It was super good to see some of my collegues again, and just to have a chill weekend. Other than the travel :) It was 8 hours to Buc and 8 hours back, so in 3 days I traveled for 16 hours, but while I wasn't traveling it was great to be with my friends.
While we were in Buc, we had a meeting with Richard Pyle. He was a super interesting man, and he talked to us about Peer Support in other countries, what has worked, what has not worked, provided us with ideas about how to continue to improve our Peer Support network, and just talked about how we can help others who are having some issues arise at site. It was very informative, I think we all learned a lot about Peer Support, and even about what the Peace Corps training used to be like. Let me tell you, we thought that our training was long and grueling, it was a bed of roses compared to what this man went through. To give you a taste, his training involved a marathon, a drowning test, and a navigation test from the middle of nowhere. I will take language and cultural lessons anyday over that, I can't even imagine what that must have been like! He made it through however, and had nothing but positive things to say about his Peace Corps experience in Jamaica.
Other than that the week has been pretty quiet, just teaching and next week we are going to talk about a Halloween party. The kids around here absolutely love Halloween, and they have had a party for the past two years with the prior volunteer, so they are looking forward to it again. The nice thing is that I won't have to do to much...they know a lot of what to do already, and I am just going to be there thinking of extra ideas and pushing them along a bit. I am working with another teacher, so hopefully after I leave the tradition of a Halloween party can continue :) We shall see :) So we will have a student council meeting next week, and from there we shall plan the party! It sounds like it was a big ta-da last year, and I don't think that I can come anywhere close to replicating it...but hopefully I can bring a bit of myself to it this year and we shall see what happens. If you can think of any fun ideas for decorations or activities, let me know and I will pass them around to the kids for ideas for the party :) I am hopeful that it will be fun and a success.
So that is all for now...I am working on a wish list and will try to make it my next post, I know many of you have been asking and it is late now, and I am sleepy and we all know how well I think when I am sleepy...let's just say interesting things are usually said. So tomorrow I will think about what I would like and then post something, and maybe I will send out an e-mail as well. If you need my address let me know and I will send that along to you as well. I hope everyone is doing well. I miss and love you all. Things are well here and I am slowly but surely getting the hang of stuff.
I also would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Tanya Haese, she was a great person and she will be sorely missed.
You are all continuously in my thoughts and prayers, I think of you everyday and love you all so much!!
~Until later
Sarah B.
So teaching is going along, I am learning what they know...what they don't know...what works and what doesn't work. Everything is coming in time, and my Romanian is slowly but surely coming along. I made a conscious effort to be in the teachers lounge this week, specifically to listen to Romanian...so I can increase my comprehension. Oddly enough, it is my comprehension that is week...my speaking is alright, but my comprehension stinks. My counterpart is baffled, she has never met anyone who learns a language quite like me, usually it is the exact opposite, that people understand, but they can't produce it...not quite sure why I am such an odd duckling :)
So this past weekend I had my first train trip alone. I went down to Bucharest for a meeting for the peer support group that I am in. The trip down there was interesting....I took the night train. I was riding in 2nd class, which was fine, and I was in a compartment, and until 5:30 in the morning I was alone, so it worked out really well and I was able to sleep in peace for about 5 hours...but I did get woken up a couple of times. There were several conductors who came in and most just came and left...but there was one who was kind of a bother. I had my backpack up above myself, since I was alone. My backpack is very heavy, and the door was closed, so if anyone came in and tried to steal my bag, first I would hear them and second they wouldn't get anything good from my backpack. The conductor however was very adament about me keeping my bag near me. So I am sure that he meant well...but he made me a tad uncomfortable, because when I said it was fine and I wanted to sleep and was going to leave it there, he quickly responded with fine then I will stay in here with you! Well needless to say, I was not alright with that option, especially since the lights were off and the door was closed and it was 3 o'clock in the morning. So he proceeded to talk to me for a while, and I attempted to talk back, but finally he asked the clencher, that always makes me shoo the Romanian men away who are a little to friendly, and that is are you married. So I promptly took my back pack down, promised I would use it as a pillow and went to sleep until around 5:30 or 6 when I recieved some cabin mates. I am pretty sure that the conductor meant no harm and was just looking out for me, but I was so tired and just wanted to be left alone...especially when it was so late.
Other than that the trip in Bucharest was pretty low key. It was super good to see some of my collegues again, and just to have a chill weekend. Other than the travel :) It was 8 hours to Buc and 8 hours back, so in 3 days I traveled for 16 hours, but while I wasn't traveling it was great to be with my friends.
While we were in Buc, we had a meeting with Richard Pyle. He was a super interesting man, and he talked to us about Peer Support in other countries, what has worked, what has not worked, provided us with ideas about how to continue to improve our Peer Support network, and just talked about how we can help others who are having some issues arise at site. It was very informative, I think we all learned a lot about Peer Support, and even about what the Peace Corps training used to be like. Let me tell you, we thought that our training was long and grueling, it was a bed of roses compared to what this man went through. To give you a taste, his training involved a marathon, a drowning test, and a navigation test from the middle of nowhere. I will take language and cultural lessons anyday over that, I can't even imagine what that must have been like! He made it through however, and had nothing but positive things to say about his Peace Corps experience in Jamaica.
Other than that the week has been pretty quiet, just teaching and next week we are going to talk about a Halloween party. The kids around here absolutely love Halloween, and they have had a party for the past two years with the prior volunteer, so they are looking forward to it again. The nice thing is that I won't have to do to much...they know a lot of what to do already, and I am just going to be there thinking of extra ideas and pushing them along a bit. I am working with another teacher, so hopefully after I leave the tradition of a Halloween party can continue :) We shall see :) So we will have a student council meeting next week, and from there we shall plan the party! It sounds like it was a big ta-da last year, and I don't think that I can come anywhere close to replicating it...but hopefully I can bring a bit of myself to it this year and we shall see what happens. If you can think of any fun ideas for decorations or activities, let me know and I will pass them around to the kids for ideas for the party :) I am hopeful that it will be fun and a success.
So that is all for now...I am working on a wish list and will try to make it my next post, I know many of you have been asking and it is late now, and I am sleepy and we all know how well I think when I am sleepy...let's just say interesting things are usually said. So tomorrow I will think about what I would like and then post something, and maybe I will send out an e-mail as well. If you need my address let me know and I will send that along to you as well. I hope everyone is doing well. I miss and love you all. Things are well here and I am slowly but surely getting the hang of stuff.
I also would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Tanya Haese, she was a great person and she will be sorely missed.
You are all continuously in my thoughts and prayers, I think of you everyday and love you all so much!!
~Until later
Sarah B.
Monday, September 21, 2009
First Full Day of Teaching
So today I had my first full day of teaching...needless to say it was interesting.
So it started out kind of early. I decided to go into school early so I could concentrate and make sure that I had my lesson plans ready to go and to prepare for my 4th graders tomorrow, and it is also nice to get out of the house. So I sat around and chilled at school, made my plans and made the necessary preparations for school tomorrow. Then it was time to start teaching...
My first few classes were very rough. We didn't really know how to communicate that well and my lesson plans did not go as planned, I had made them way to complicated. So the first 3 I would say were aweful. As time went on they did get better and by the time I got to the last 2 I was on a role. It was interesting though there was some review vocabulary for the first unit and the kids did not know the words at all, so we just spend the whole hour learning the new words...I definitely have my work cut out for me. This time around it was the students who have more difficulty in English, so they were my harder group of students. At the end of the week I will have my better students...but in time we will get there and I can see that I will quickly learn Romanian...I don't have a choice. It is crazy though, when I was in practicum I tought 5th and 6th graders and I didn't have to use a word of Romanian with them. Today when I was with the 8th graders I had a few translaters, but some of them did not know a word in English. It is amazying how diverse they can be and it is going to be a challenge with the mixture of levels of my students.
I was feeling pretty crappy before I started writing in here...but now that I have written it down I am starting to feel much better. I know that in time things are going to improve and I am usually pretty quick about learning how to communicate with people...I don't have a choice. It is just difficult because some people including the students, have a much stronger accent than other people and they are more difficult to understand and it is hard to get them to understand that they need to speak slowly and clearly for me. In time, that is what everyone keeps saying :)
Other than that it was a pretty good day. I had a teacher come up to me and ask me if I could teach English lessons for the adults/other teachers because he wanted to learn. I am totally up for doing this, which I am sure will be a project I attempt to tackle later :) for now I just have to get used to school, at least I have one secondary project in sights then! :) I am probably going to start working on a Halloween project soon as well, so that should be interesting, apparently it was this big thing last year so they all want to repeat it. I am not sure that I can make it as big as they want it to be, but I will try to bring them something great. I think there is already a teacher who wants to work on it with me, so that should be pretty cool :) We shall see I guess. I hope that I can make it fun for them. They already have an idea of what Halloween is, since they had a prior volunteer here. So I think that we can make it fun and hopefully I will be able to take lots of pictures. Oh and if you want, send me any ideas that you can think of, I am open to anything :)
Other than that things are good. I always have lots to keep my busy and lots to procrastinate on as well :) I really am enjoying myself and I am actually looking forward to teaching the really little kids tomorrow...I have a powerpoint presentation and a game for them to play. I actually think the little ones are easier to teach, believe it or not :) So other than that nothing else much is new. I hope that you are all doing well. I love and miss you very much and think of you everyday. Oh and before I forget, Happy Birthday to Laura and Kyle. I hope you both have a great day!
Love always!
~Until later
Sarah B.
So it started out kind of early. I decided to go into school early so I could concentrate and make sure that I had my lesson plans ready to go and to prepare for my 4th graders tomorrow, and it is also nice to get out of the house. So I sat around and chilled at school, made my plans and made the necessary preparations for school tomorrow. Then it was time to start teaching...
My first few classes were very rough. We didn't really know how to communicate that well and my lesson plans did not go as planned, I had made them way to complicated. So the first 3 I would say were aweful. As time went on they did get better and by the time I got to the last 2 I was on a role. It was interesting though there was some review vocabulary for the first unit and the kids did not know the words at all, so we just spend the whole hour learning the new words...I definitely have my work cut out for me. This time around it was the students who have more difficulty in English, so they were my harder group of students. At the end of the week I will have my better students...but in time we will get there and I can see that I will quickly learn Romanian...I don't have a choice. It is crazy though, when I was in practicum I tought 5th and 6th graders and I didn't have to use a word of Romanian with them. Today when I was with the 8th graders I had a few translaters, but some of them did not know a word in English. It is amazying how diverse they can be and it is going to be a challenge with the mixture of levels of my students.
I was feeling pretty crappy before I started writing in here...but now that I have written it down I am starting to feel much better. I know that in time things are going to improve and I am usually pretty quick about learning how to communicate with people...I don't have a choice. It is just difficult because some people including the students, have a much stronger accent than other people and they are more difficult to understand and it is hard to get them to understand that they need to speak slowly and clearly for me. In time, that is what everyone keeps saying :)
Other than that it was a pretty good day. I had a teacher come up to me and ask me if I could teach English lessons for the adults/other teachers because he wanted to learn. I am totally up for doing this, which I am sure will be a project I attempt to tackle later :) for now I just have to get used to school, at least I have one secondary project in sights then! :) I am probably going to start working on a Halloween project soon as well, so that should be interesting, apparently it was this big thing last year so they all want to repeat it. I am not sure that I can make it as big as they want it to be, but I will try to bring them something great. I think there is already a teacher who wants to work on it with me, so that should be pretty cool :) We shall see I guess. I hope that I can make it fun for them. They already have an idea of what Halloween is, since they had a prior volunteer here. So I think that we can make it fun and hopefully I will be able to take lots of pictures. Oh and if you want, send me any ideas that you can think of, I am open to anything :)
Other than that things are good. I always have lots to keep my busy and lots to procrastinate on as well :) I really am enjoying myself and I am actually looking forward to teaching the really little kids tomorrow...I have a powerpoint presentation and a game for them to play. I actually think the little ones are easier to teach, believe it or not :) So other than that nothing else much is new. I hope that you are all doing well. I love and miss you very much and think of you everyday. Oh and before I forget, Happy Birthday to Laura and Kyle. I hope you both have a great day!
Love always!
~Until later
Sarah B.
Friday, September 18, 2009
1st week under my belt
So I have offically completed my first week of teaching. It went pretty well to, but I look forward to getting the kids to myself :)
The first day was interesting, there was a big gathering outside in which the priests came and welcomed everyone. That was definitely something different, since in the public schools in America this never would have happened. I didn't really no what they were saying most of the time, because we were all outside, but I got the general idea that they were welcoming them and blessing them to have a successful school year. I didn't really meet any of the kids the first day, but that changed quickly the next day :)
So day two I got to meet the kids, I meet the 3rd and 4th graders. Unfortunatley do to some changes in staffing and whatnot, I will not be teaching the 3rd graders, but it was still nice to meet them. They were all so excited to learn, it is such a breath of fresh air when you have the opportunity to see the kids who are so excited to learn! I didn't really do much the 1st day it was pretty much watching and listening to my counterpart to see where the kids were and whatnot, but it was nice to be in the classroom.
The second and third day was similar,however I was greeted with a bit of a suprise the 2nd day...my counterpart was running late and was not going to be there for the 1st hour. So I was left to go to the 8th grade classroom all by myself on the very 1st day! I had 20 minutes to prepare something, as I had absolutely nothing to do and did not know what to say or anything. Thank goodness it was an 8th grade class and they knew a lot of English...that made it easier :) So we just talked, I introduced myself and tried to learn their names and we had a question and answer session so I could learn a little bit more about them and they could learn a little bit more about me.
So that brings us to the 4th day. I actually was able to do some teaching today which was fabulous. I never thought I would enjoy teaching...but I really do, it is so much fun to work with them. It was difficult with my counterpart there, because I felt like if I made a mistake it would be really bad, but I know it will be better when I am on my own, because then I will have to rely soley on my abilities in Romanian and I will probably learn Romanian as they are learning English. I am really looking forward to it and I hope that it goes well! I think they are going to see a teaching style that they have never seen before and hopefully I can bring a little bit of America to them as they teach me more about Romania :)
So other than that it was not much of an eventful week. I really like to talk to all of the teachers at school and they are all really patient with me in my limited ability in Romanian, so that is nice...but we shall see how it goes and I am sure that I will continue to learn more and more as time goes on. I am just not so used to the lifestyle around here and my American tendancy tend to get in the way. For example people in Romania are not afraid to interupt others and they will start talking while others are in the middle of a conversation. That is very odd to me, and often leads me to be frustrated because I have to concentrate so hard on what I am saying and what other people are saying that it is not easy for me to switch subjects so quickly or to get back on track after I have been interupted. I know they are not trying to be rude...but sometimes it feels like what I am sayig does not matter to them. Oh well I will get used to it I guess. They are really kind to me for the most part and are always concerned about how I am doing. I constantly get asked if I like it in Romania and Trusesti, how school is going, and if I hate to live alone. It is interesting...it seems that the concept of living alone is a strange one....most people here do not like to be alone, I like it from time to time however, it is nice to be able to relax alone after a long day of trying to communicate in a language that is not your native tongue! :)
Well I think that is all for today, I am going to go off and relax some more, but I will try to keep updating and I will let you know how my first day teaching the kids alone goes. I hope you are all doing well and I miss and love you all very much! Always know that I am well and that I am loving this blessed experience. Take care!
~Until later
Sarah B.
The first day was interesting, there was a big gathering outside in which the priests came and welcomed everyone. That was definitely something different, since in the public schools in America this never would have happened. I didn't really no what they were saying most of the time, because we were all outside, but I got the general idea that they were welcoming them and blessing them to have a successful school year. I didn't really meet any of the kids the first day, but that changed quickly the next day :)
So day two I got to meet the kids, I meet the 3rd and 4th graders. Unfortunatley do to some changes in staffing and whatnot, I will not be teaching the 3rd graders, but it was still nice to meet them. They were all so excited to learn, it is such a breath of fresh air when you have the opportunity to see the kids who are so excited to learn! I didn't really do much the 1st day it was pretty much watching and listening to my counterpart to see where the kids were and whatnot, but it was nice to be in the classroom.
The second and third day was similar,however I was greeted with a bit of a suprise the 2nd day...my counterpart was running late and was not going to be there for the 1st hour. So I was left to go to the 8th grade classroom all by myself on the very 1st day! I had 20 minutes to prepare something, as I had absolutely nothing to do and did not know what to say or anything. Thank goodness it was an 8th grade class and they knew a lot of English...that made it easier :) So we just talked, I introduced myself and tried to learn their names and we had a question and answer session so I could learn a little bit more about them and they could learn a little bit more about me.
So that brings us to the 4th day. I actually was able to do some teaching today which was fabulous. I never thought I would enjoy teaching...but I really do, it is so much fun to work with them. It was difficult with my counterpart there, because I felt like if I made a mistake it would be really bad, but I know it will be better when I am on my own, because then I will have to rely soley on my abilities in Romanian and I will probably learn Romanian as they are learning English. I am really looking forward to it and I hope that it goes well! I think they are going to see a teaching style that they have never seen before and hopefully I can bring a little bit of America to them as they teach me more about Romania :)
So other than that it was not much of an eventful week. I really like to talk to all of the teachers at school and they are all really patient with me in my limited ability in Romanian, so that is nice...but we shall see how it goes and I am sure that I will continue to learn more and more as time goes on. I am just not so used to the lifestyle around here and my American tendancy tend to get in the way. For example people in Romania are not afraid to interupt others and they will start talking while others are in the middle of a conversation. That is very odd to me, and often leads me to be frustrated because I have to concentrate so hard on what I am saying and what other people are saying that it is not easy for me to switch subjects so quickly or to get back on track after I have been interupted. I know they are not trying to be rude...but sometimes it feels like what I am sayig does not matter to them. Oh well I will get used to it I guess. They are really kind to me for the most part and are always concerned about how I am doing. I constantly get asked if I like it in Romania and Trusesti, how school is going, and if I hate to live alone. It is interesting...it seems that the concept of living alone is a strange one....most people here do not like to be alone, I like it from time to time however, it is nice to be able to relax alone after a long day of trying to communicate in a language that is not your native tongue! :)
Well I think that is all for today, I am going to go off and relax some more, but I will try to keep updating and I will let you know how my first day teaching the kids alone goes. I hope you are all doing well and I miss and love you all very much! Always know that I am well and that I am loving this blessed experience. Take care!
~Until later
Sarah B.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Cloudy Tuesday
So these past few days have proved to be interesting. This is the week before school actually begins, so I have decided to sit down and start to try to make lesson plans. I don't know if I will actually be using them, as I am team teaching for the first week...but I figure it is good to get into the habit. So yesterday I started...and I am a little rough around the edges, but I know with time and practice it will get easier to make them. They take me quite a bit of time to make, but that is just because I want to think outside of the book. There are so many other cool ways to make a lesson interesting...and who wants to go with just what is in the book, that is just plain boring...I want to show these kids something they have never seen before and introduce a new style of teaching to them. Plus I think they may be expecting it as I am the second volunteer in this site, so they may already be accustomed to the American way of teaching!
While after school I spent some time with my community mentor. I have decided that I truly enjoy her company. She is very nice and very patient with me and we have developed a rather efficient way of communicating with one another. I went over there for lunch at noon and returned home at around 7 in the evening. It was a much longer lunch than I expected...but I didn't want to be rude and eat and leave, plus it was good practice for Romanian, as we had no choice but to speak in Romanian! Let me tell you after 6 hours of Romanian, my brain was exhausted!
While I was there I actually tried brain! It wasn't actually that bad...once I got over the fact that I was eating brain. It was in a pate form, so it was like a meat spread that was served on bread. It just tasted like any other meat. I don't know if I will opt to eat it again...but I can't say that I have never eaten brain now! I have also tried liver since being here, it is also in a pate form, and I actually really like it. It is something different, and it is cheaper and more healthy than buying meat from the store. So that is one way that I get my protein :)
So after that I returned home to chill and prepare for the next day. Today I had every intention of making some more lessons at school...but since it was a bit of a holiday...that didn't happen. Today is Saint Marian day. In Romania, everybody has 2 days to celebrate. One is of course your birthday and the second is your name day. Well today was the name day for anybody associated with the name Maria, so Marie, Mary, Mariana, Marian, etc., it is the name day for all of those folks...so since my middle name is Marie...it was my name day as well. So anyway, back to the story, they had a bit of a celebration. They brought in a ton of food, tuica, wine, and other non-alcoholic beverages were served and everybody gathered in the teachers lounge to talk and eat. I didn't understand half of what they were talking about, because many people were talking at the same time and everybody was talking loudly, but I stayed and they tried to include me when they could, which was nice :)
So then I returned home, and chilled out for the afternoon. It was cloudy and chilly today, if I had hot chocolate I am pretty sure I would have made it and curled up with a good book :) Or if I had eggs I would have made cookies. That is another interesting thing about my village, there generally is not eggs in the store. I think that I am going to be getting them from a private party, at least I think that is what I discussed with my community mentor...if she brings any eggs to me in the next week I think I will have my answer! I hope so...because I want to make more goodies for people...but it is difficult to do so without eggs. That is one thing that I do miss about the states. Is the constant access to anything that I could possibly want. If I wanted to buy something to cook Tacos, or Chinese food, I could go to just about any supermarket and get what I needed. I do not have that option here. The choices are much more limited in Trusesti, but I do make due with what I have and I am definitely not starving, but I do appreciate the option of choice a lot more now. Even for something as simple as eggs or milk (which is often spoiled is purchased from a store!).
Well that is all for now. I hope you are all doing well, and again if you would like my address please let me know and I will get it to you. Love and miss you bunches!!
~Until later
Sarah B.
While after school I spent some time with my community mentor. I have decided that I truly enjoy her company. She is very nice and very patient with me and we have developed a rather efficient way of communicating with one another. I went over there for lunch at noon and returned home at around 7 in the evening. It was a much longer lunch than I expected...but I didn't want to be rude and eat and leave, plus it was good practice for Romanian, as we had no choice but to speak in Romanian! Let me tell you after 6 hours of Romanian, my brain was exhausted!
While I was there I actually tried brain! It wasn't actually that bad...once I got over the fact that I was eating brain. It was in a pate form, so it was like a meat spread that was served on bread. It just tasted like any other meat. I don't know if I will opt to eat it again...but I can't say that I have never eaten brain now! I have also tried liver since being here, it is also in a pate form, and I actually really like it. It is something different, and it is cheaper and more healthy than buying meat from the store. So that is one way that I get my protein :)
So after that I returned home to chill and prepare for the next day. Today I had every intention of making some more lessons at school...but since it was a bit of a holiday...that didn't happen. Today is Saint Marian day. In Romania, everybody has 2 days to celebrate. One is of course your birthday and the second is your name day. Well today was the name day for anybody associated with the name Maria, so Marie, Mary, Mariana, Marian, etc., it is the name day for all of those folks...so since my middle name is Marie...it was my name day as well. So anyway, back to the story, they had a bit of a celebration. They brought in a ton of food, tuica, wine, and other non-alcoholic beverages were served and everybody gathered in the teachers lounge to talk and eat. I didn't understand half of what they were talking about, because many people were talking at the same time and everybody was talking loudly, but I stayed and they tried to include me when they could, which was nice :)
So then I returned home, and chilled out for the afternoon. It was cloudy and chilly today, if I had hot chocolate I am pretty sure I would have made it and curled up with a good book :) Or if I had eggs I would have made cookies. That is another interesting thing about my village, there generally is not eggs in the store. I think that I am going to be getting them from a private party, at least I think that is what I discussed with my community mentor...if she brings any eggs to me in the next week I think I will have my answer! I hope so...because I want to make more goodies for people...but it is difficult to do so without eggs. That is one thing that I do miss about the states. Is the constant access to anything that I could possibly want. If I wanted to buy something to cook Tacos, or Chinese food, I could go to just about any supermarket and get what I needed. I do not have that option here. The choices are much more limited in Trusesti, but I do make due with what I have and I am definitely not starving, but I do appreciate the option of choice a lot more now. Even for something as simple as eggs or milk (which is often spoiled is purchased from a store!).
Well that is all for now. I hope you are all doing well, and again if you would like my address please let me know and I will get it to you. Love and miss you bunches!!
~Until later
Sarah B.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Lazy Sunday
So it is a custom in Romania, that Sundays are the day of rest...so I am taking advantage of this and just taking a day to chill out. Next week I am going to start to try to plan some lessons...since it is a bit boring to go straight from the book! I want to keep these kids entertained and wanting to learn!
So let's see what happened this week. So as of my last post, I had my first day under my belt. Well now I have my first week under my belt. I didn't really do a whole lot this week, a lot of the time was spent sitting around in the teachers lounge...trying to understand what the other teachers were saying! That was difficult, but I have started to understand a little bit more, especially when they talk slowly, clearly, and simply. I have a saying now "In limba romana, am cinci ani" Which means "In romanian, I am 5 years old" so I can understand what a 5 year old understands :) They generally think that it is pretty funny when I say this, but most are really understanding and want me to understand, so they talk nice and slowly for me :)
So let's see, on Tuesday I was able to meet with my community mentor. Her name is Gheorgeta and she is very nice. We went to the market, and had lunch together, we even had the chance to talk for a while, and as normal for the great people of Romania, she was very patient with me. The rest of the week was pretty quite, just went to school and then returned home. On Friday I went to the piata (something similar to a flee market), and it was interesting...to say the least. These things have everything that you could ever imagine. Ranging from car parts, towels, and kitchen ware to live pigs. Yes that is right, I said live pigs. I was walking around, wondering what that noise was I was hearing and where it was coming from, when I saw a woman carrying a pig, pretty sure that that is going to be the Easter pig, if not for this year, for next year! Poor thing...
So I originally went to the piata to find a pan, I wanted to make some sweets for my neighbors. I did not find one there, but I did find one at another store, after I ran into another teacher from town, who showed me where I could buy one :) Then I went to the market into the center of town to buy my fresh vegetables. Oh yes, I can get fresh vegetables every day for extremely cheap. I can usually get a 2 or 3 days supply of fresh, organic vegetables for 5 lei, which is the equivalent of about $1.60! I love it! There is a lady there that likes to laugh at me because I will buy like 3 tomoatoes and an eggplant, and maybe some carrots. I tell her I don't need much because I live alone. She just giggles, it is fun though :) So that brought me to the end of my shopping trip, because my bags were heavy and I needed to go home.
It was a hot day, so I didn't want to bake quite yet, so I decided to go and try to find my director. Which I did, by asking where she was. I tried to go to her house...but her evil dog was guarding the door. Let's just say that dog knows I am terrified of it...he already almost bit me once. He is a very peculiar dog, he is fine inside, but if he is outside the door, he is not friendly. Well he barked at me and tried to chace me so a neighbor helped me out...but my director wasn't home. So I found her at the school instead. So we talked for a while, not for long since my Romanian is very limited, but she is very patient with me as well. I actually ran into her son while we were there and he invited me to his Dad's house to make tuica (plum brandy). Unfortunately we didn't get to make the brandy...which was a bummer because I really want to see how it is made, but I did go home with a lot of fresh organic fruit! So no tuica making on Friday...so I decided it would be a good night to bake brownies!
It was so fun to bake and it was the first time that I have made brownies completely from scratch! Oh no, you cannot buy box mixes for brownies here, and actually I think these brownies turned out better than any brownies I have ever made before...and I had tons of limitations. First off...no measuring cups...so I had to guestimate, and second, no temperature gauge on the oven! Oh no, here you can't just push a button to make your oven 400 degrees, you have to monitor your things very closely and guess what shou.d be the right temperature. I found that it is always better to go lower and cook for longer...and it was a success. So I made these brownies because I wanted to try and meet my neighbors...but they weren't home on Saturday...oh well just have to try again on Sunday (which I did) :)
That brings us to Saturday. I recieved a lovely call from Gheorghetta, an invitation for lunch :) As per call we as PCV's never turn down an invitation (which was not difficult, because Gheorghetta is awesome!) so I went to her house for lunch. The ciorba (soup) here is amazing, they make this really great ciorba radutianne (I don't know what that translates to) but it is basically a cream based soup with chicken and carrots and whatever other vegetables that you like. It is really good, that is all that I have to say. I even ate mamaliga yesterday to, which with other food such as cheese or eggs is not so bad. I am sure I will resort to eating it in the winter when I can't buy much else, or am running low on money :) So anyway, I had a lovely afternoon with Gherghetta and her family, her husband and daughter were in from Botosani, and her daughter spoke a lot of English, though I tried my hardest to speak in Romanian, and she would help me as much as she could. I also really liked it that instead of instantly translating for me, she would tell her parents to speak slowly and clearly to me, that I could understand! I really like that she gave me a chance. So after that I went with Ioana (Gheorghettas daughter) to her boyfriend's parent's house in a neighboring village. His parents are in the process of building a house out there, and it is absolutely beautiful! They have a bunch of land as well with dogs, chickens, ducks, and even a few turkeys! Maybe I will be able to buy a turkey from someone for a Thanksgiving dinner! We shall see. So I had more of a chance to speak in Romanian, and htey were all super nice. His mom was hilarious, so it was fun. If her son would go off speaking Romanian very fast and complex, which he would then ask if I understood...of course the answer was no, she would say "She understood like 2 words" then provide examples and tell him to slow down. It was so funny!
So that was my Saturday, day. When I got home that evening I got to Skype with Lizz!!! I miss my Lizz, it was so good to see her! I love Skype, P.S. if you want to see me and talk to me live for free download it and let me know and we will figure something out :) After that, I relaxed a little bit more, and then went to the Discoteca or dance club. Oh my word, that is all that I have to say. There were so many people crowded in there that you couldn't even move! I have never seen anything like it before. Such an interesting experience and it was so hot in there that when I came back in after being outside...my glasses fogged up! As we all know I am not much of a dancer, but that really didn't matter, because I couldn't move anyway...lol.
So that brings us to Sunday, the day of rest and relaxation. I met one of my neighbors today...though she couldn't talk because she was visiting with her husband who is only home on the weekends. It is rather common here that people will work in other cities and only return home on the weekends, because there just aren't the jobs in the villages and it is too expensive to live in the cities. So, it was okay that she didn't have time to talk, I was just so nervous about even introducing myself. She really seemed to like the idea that I brought her some sweets though, so I hope that she thinks they are tasty! I am bringing a little bit of American culture wherever I go :) So now that I have given you all a book to read...I am going to return to my lazy Sunday. I hope you all are doing well, I think of you everyday and miss you all. Know though, that I am very happy to be in the PC and to have this wonderful experience. I love you all! Take care!
~Until later
Sarah B.
So let's see what happened this week. So as of my last post, I had my first day under my belt. Well now I have my first week under my belt. I didn't really do a whole lot this week, a lot of the time was spent sitting around in the teachers lounge...trying to understand what the other teachers were saying! That was difficult, but I have started to understand a little bit more, especially when they talk slowly, clearly, and simply. I have a saying now "In limba romana, am cinci ani" Which means "In romanian, I am 5 years old" so I can understand what a 5 year old understands :) They generally think that it is pretty funny when I say this, but most are really understanding and want me to understand, so they talk nice and slowly for me :)
So let's see, on Tuesday I was able to meet with my community mentor. Her name is Gheorgeta and she is very nice. We went to the market, and had lunch together, we even had the chance to talk for a while, and as normal for the great people of Romania, she was very patient with me. The rest of the week was pretty quite, just went to school and then returned home. On Friday I went to the piata (something similar to a flee market), and it was interesting...to say the least. These things have everything that you could ever imagine. Ranging from car parts, towels, and kitchen ware to live pigs. Yes that is right, I said live pigs. I was walking around, wondering what that noise was I was hearing and where it was coming from, when I saw a woman carrying a pig, pretty sure that that is going to be the Easter pig, if not for this year, for next year! Poor thing...
So I originally went to the piata to find a pan, I wanted to make some sweets for my neighbors. I did not find one there, but I did find one at another store, after I ran into another teacher from town, who showed me where I could buy one :) Then I went to the market into the center of town to buy my fresh vegetables. Oh yes, I can get fresh vegetables every day for extremely cheap. I can usually get a 2 or 3 days supply of fresh, organic vegetables for 5 lei, which is the equivalent of about $1.60! I love it! There is a lady there that likes to laugh at me because I will buy like 3 tomoatoes and an eggplant, and maybe some carrots. I tell her I don't need much because I live alone. She just giggles, it is fun though :) So that brought me to the end of my shopping trip, because my bags were heavy and I needed to go home.
It was a hot day, so I didn't want to bake quite yet, so I decided to go and try to find my director. Which I did, by asking where she was. I tried to go to her house...but her evil dog was guarding the door. Let's just say that dog knows I am terrified of it...he already almost bit me once. He is a very peculiar dog, he is fine inside, but if he is outside the door, he is not friendly. Well he barked at me and tried to chace me so a neighbor helped me out...but my director wasn't home. So I found her at the school instead. So we talked for a while, not for long since my Romanian is very limited, but she is very patient with me as well. I actually ran into her son while we were there and he invited me to his Dad's house to make tuica (plum brandy). Unfortunately we didn't get to make the brandy...which was a bummer because I really want to see how it is made, but I did go home with a lot of fresh organic fruit! So no tuica making on Friday...so I decided it would be a good night to bake brownies!
It was so fun to bake and it was the first time that I have made brownies completely from scratch! Oh no, you cannot buy box mixes for brownies here, and actually I think these brownies turned out better than any brownies I have ever made before...and I had tons of limitations. First off...no measuring cups...so I had to guestimate, and second, no temperature gauge on the oven! Oh no, here you can't just push a button to make your oven 400 degrees, you have to monitor your things very closely and guess what shou.d be the right temperature. I found that it is always better to go lower and cook for longer...and it was a success. So I made these brownies because I wanted to try and meet my neighbors...but they weren't home on Saturday...oh well just have to try again on Sunday (which I did) :)
That brings us to Saturday. I recieved a lovely call from Gheorghetta, an invitation for lunch :) As per call we as PCV's never turn down an invitation (which was not difficult, because Gheorghetta is awesome!) so I went to her house for lunch. The ciorba (soup) here is amazing, they make this really great ciorba radutianne (I don't know what that translates to) but it is basically a cream based soup with chicken and carrots and whatever other vegetables that you like. It is really good, that is all that I have to say. I even ate mamaliga yesterday to, which with other food such as cheese or eggs is not so bad. I am sure I will resort to eating it in the winter when I can't buy much else, or am running low on money :) So anyway, I had a lovely afternoon with Gherghetta and her family, her husband and daughter were in from Botosani, and her daughter spoke a lot of English, though I tried my hardest to speak in Romanian, and she would help me as much as she could. I also really liked it that instead of instantly translating for me, she would tell her parents to speak slowly and clearly to me, that I could understand! I really like that she gave me a chance. So after that I went with Ioana (Gheorghettas daughter) to her boyfriend's parent's house in a neighboring village. His parents are in the process of building a house out there, and it is absolutely beautiful! They have a bunch of land as well with dogs, chickens, ducks, and even a few turkeys! Maybe I will be able to buy a turkey from someone for a Thanksgiving dinner! We shall see. So I had more of a chance to speak in Romanian, and htey were all super nice. His mom was hilarious, so it was fun. If her son would go off speaking Romanian very fast and complex, which he would then ask if I understood...of course the answer was no, she would say "She understood like 2 words" then provide examples and tell him to slow down. It was so funny!
So that was my Saturday, day. When I got home that evening I got to Skype with Lizz!!! I miss my Lizz, it was so good to see her! I love Skype, P.S. if you want to see me and talk to me live for free download it and let me know and we will figure something out :) After that, I relaxed a little bit more, and then went to the Discoteca or dance club. Oh my word, that is all that I have to say. There were so many people crowded in there that you couldn't even move! I have never seen anything like it before. Such an interesting experience and it was so hot in there that when I came back in after being outside...my glasses fogged up! As we all know I am not much of a dancer, but that really didn't matter, because I couldn't move anyway...lol.
So that brings us to Sunday, the day of rest and relaxation. I met one of my neighbors today...though she couldn't talk because she was visiting with her husband who is only home on the weekends. It is rather common here that people will work in other cities and only return home on the weekends, because there just aren't the jobs in the villages and it is too expensive to live in the cities. So, it was okay that she didn't have time to talk, I was just so nervous about even introducing myself. She really seemed to like the idea that I brought her some sweets though, so I hope that she thinks they are tasty! I am bringing a little bit of American culture wherever I go :) So now that I have given you all a book to read...I am going to return to my lazy Sunday. I hope you all are doing well, I think of you everyday and miss you all. Know though, that I am very happy to be in the PC and to have this wonderful experience. I love you all! Take care!
~Until later
Sarah B.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
First Day for Teachers...Under my Belt
So I know it has been a few days since I have posted...but my last ones were so long, I am sure you all needed a bit of a break...as did I, my fingers were tired from all the typing! So.....since I last posted I took a couple of trips into Botosani, which is where my counterpart. My counterpart (Mona) is the English teacher at my school and she will be watching over and guiding me in my next two years hear in Trusesti. I was able to spend some time with her and get to know her a little bit and see her town, which was nice. On my way home I had a bit of an interesting experience. I forgot to pay when I first got on the bus (I paid when I got off, no worries) because I wasn't sure exatcly how this particular bus worked. So when I was going to my seat a man started to talk to me...I thought maybe he was the man who took the money...but then realized he wasn't. I am sure that he was harmless...but he didn't have any teeth, and it is hard enough for me to understand the Romanian in this part of Romania with the accent...but at no teeth onto that and it becomes even harder! I can hardly understand when people speak English with no teeth much less Romanian! It was funny though, because the lady in front of him told him to leave me alone...so that was interesting.
So I returned home for a day or so...and then made my way to Botosani again, for a Beer Festival. I didn't actually spend much time there, I just hung out with some other volunteers in Botosani, which was nice. When I was at the festival however it was absolutely crazy! There were people everywhere, tons of food, tons of beer, live music and rides. If we could have managed to walk in a straight line without having to weave in and out of people I am sure we would have stayed for longer and looked around more, but it was super crowded. I am sure I will go again next year though, and I will know more Romanian then...so it shouldn't be as difficult. Also when I was in Botosani I was able to hang out with one of the other volunteers from my group...it was good to spend the day with her. However, the best part of my trip there was making tacos! Yes, that's right...I said TACOS! A volunteer from group 25 is there (actually there are 2 from group 25) and she had some seasoning packets for tacos, I got to cook, made homemade tortillas and some great tacos...it was so good! Maybe the best meal I have had since I was hear in Romania...just because it was nice to have American food again. Well actually Mexican food...but very popular food in America :)
So then I returned home for a day of relaxation before I had to begin going to school. My first day, yesterday, was kind of tough. It was hard for me to understand anything...I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, and it was generally a bit negative yesterday. The two schools in my town (The high school and the elementary/general school) are combining, so this means that some people will be out of a job, mainly a director. So I am not sure who my director is going to be yet...since they haven't made a decision as of yet. So there was a lot of stress with that, and apparently there is going to be a meeting during the 1st 10 days of class so the teachers will lose out on 10 days of pay...more to add to the stress. I also felt really nervous since my Romanian is not that good yet, so I was scared to speak. So I just felt a little low yesterday, today however was much better!
I went to school again, even though I did not have to, I wanted to get myself out there. I am glad that I did, because I met my community mentor today. She is the woman who is going to help me out in town, show me around town, answer any questions I may have, just be a general help to me. She is super nice as well, so I was able to practice my Romanian with her today. I even helped her set up her classroom, which was fun. Then after school, we went to the market and I went to her house for lunch and we chatted some more. I still have a long way to go in terms of the language...but with practice I will get it and she was very patient with me...which was nice :)
After that I came home to study a little bit, catch up on some e-mails, talk with some other volunteers, and relax. Now I am here writing my update.
So I always talk about what I do everyday, and I try to include how I am feeling. Generally I am feel pretty good here, some days are more dificult than others, but you find that everywhere. The people in Romania are generally very kind and hospitable. I am enjoying my time here very much. I have learned a lot already without even realizing it. For example, we are very luck to have stoves which we don't have to light with a match, they light themselves. We are also very lucky to have water that runs all the time. I don't have running water during the day here, and while I have learned to live with it, and it is fine, we are still lucky to not have to worry about it. I know that we also complain about the gas prices a lot, but we are very fortunate to be able to have cars of our own, and though it may cost a lot of money to keep our cars, we always find a way. Here many people have to get around with the use of carts and horses...not because of their lifestyle choice...that just is the way that it is. I am not complaining about anything, in terms of the PC lifestyle...I am extremely fortunate. I never thought that I would be sitting in my apartament, with electricity, updating my blog on the Internet. I always imagined myself in a hut in the middle of Africa, fighting off bugs and maybe other creatures. Just goes to show you how different life can be. No matter where life takes you, we always need to remember to count our blessings, we will always be watched over and we need to be thankful for what we do have...not always wishing for what we could have. I know I am thankful for everything that I have had, and for what I have now...I am truely blest...always :)
Well as for my adventures...that is all for now....hopefully I will have some more to post soon, but we shall see. Oh and I have an address now, so if you would like it please let me know and I will get that right to you :) I love and miss you all. You all are in my thoughts and prayers, and please keep me in yours :)
~Until later
Sarah B.
So I returned home for a day or so...and then made my way to Botosani again, for a Beer Festival. I didn't actually spend much time there, I just hung out with some other volunteers in Botosani, which was nice. When I was at the festival however it was absolutely crazy! There were people everywhere, tons of food, tons of beer, live music and rides. If we could have managed to walk in a straight line without having to weave in and out of people I am sure we would have stayed for longer and looked around more, but it was super crowded. I am sure I will go again next year though, and I will know more Romanian then...so it shouldn't be as difficult. Also when I was in Botosani I was able to hang out with one of the other volunteers from my group...it was good to spend the day with her. However, the best part of my trip there was making tacos! Yes, that's right...I said TACOS! A volunteer from group 25 is there (actually there are 2 from group 25) and she had some seasoning packets for tacos, I got to cook, made homemade tortillas and some great tacos...it was so good! Maybe the best meal I have had since I was hear in Romania...just because it was nice to have American food again. Well actually Mexican food...but very popular food in America :)
So then I returned home for a day of relaxation before I had to begin going to school. My first day, yesterday, was kind of tough. It was hard for me to understand anything...I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, and it was generally a bit negative yesterday. The two schools in my town (The high school and the elementary/general school) are combining, so this means that some people will be out of a job, mainly a director. So I am not sure who my director is going to be yet...since they haven't made a decision as of yet. So there was a lot of stress with that, and apparently there is going to be a meeting during the 1st 10 days of class so the teachers will lose out on 10 days of pay...more to add to the stress. I also felt really nervous since my Romanian is not that good yet, so I was scared to speak. So I just felt a little low yesterday, today however was much better!
I went to school again, even though I did not have to, I wanted to get myself out there. I am glad that I did, because I met my community mentor today. She is the woman who is going to help me out in town, show me around town, answer any questions I may have, just be a general help to me. She is super nice as well, so I was able to practice my Romanian with her today. I even helped her set up her classroom, which was fun. Then after school, we went to the market and I went to her house for lunch and we chatted some more. I still have a long way to go in terms of the language...but with practice I will get it and she was very patient with me...which was nice :)
After that I came home to study a little bit, catch up on some e-mails, talk with some other volunteers, and relax. Now I am here writing my update.
So I always talk about what I do everyday, and I try to include how I am feeling. Generally I am feel pretty good here, some days are more dificult than others, but you find that everywhere. The people in Romania are generally very kind and hospitable. I am enjoying my time here very much. I have learned a lot already without even realizing it. For example, we are very luck to have stoves which we don't have to light with a match, they light themselves. We are also very lucky to have water that runs all the time. I don't have running water during the day here, and while I have learned to live with it, and it is fine, we are still lucky to not have to worry about it. I know that we also complain about the gas prices a lot, but we are very fortunate to be able to have cars of our own, and though it may cost a lot of money to keep our cars, we always find a way. Here many people have to get around with the use of carts and horses...not because of their lifestyle choice...that just is the way that it is. I am not complaining about anything, in terms of the PC lifestyle...I am extremely fortunate. I never thought that I would be sitting in my apartament, with electricity, updating my blog on the Internet. I always imagined myself in a hut in the middle of Africa, fighting off bugs and maybe other creatures. Just goes to show you how different life can be. No matter where life takes you, we always need to remember to count our blessings, we will always be watched over and we need to be thankful for what we do have...not always wishing for what we could have. I know I am thankful for everything that I have had, and for what I have now...I am truely blest...always :)
Well as for my adventures...that is all for now....hopefully I will have some more to post soon, but we shall see. Oh and I have an address now, so if you would like it please let me know and I will get that right to you :) I love and miss you all. You all are in my thoughts and prayers, and please keep me in yours :)
~Until later
Sarah B.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Unexpected Adventures
So life in Trusesti has been interesting so far. Just when I think it is getting dull, something new and interesting comes along. So yesterday I was just taking some time for me...again, as we all know I can be the queen of procrastination and wasting time. I decided that since my garsonera (studio apartment) was clean and the laundry was drying outside, that I would go for a walk. So I left in my oversize T-shirt and shorts to go for a nice walk. I had every intention of being back in about an hour to Skype with a friend...but of course this is Romania and you never know what is going to happen.
As I was walking I ran into my director's son, so he asked if I wanted to go talk with his mother. This was my perfect opportunity to speak in Romanian, so I was going to take it, I had been waiting for the chance to speak with her! I really actually missed speaking in Romanian. So I went up there and she was making lunch, so of course even though I was not hungry because I had already eaten lunch, she made a plate for me. I ate a little bit, but was full very quickly! It was great to have a chance to talk with her, because she is very patient with my limited Romanian skills, and she is very good with simplifying things. We talked about Trusesti, her job, the other saturi (villages) in the communa, a little bit about her family, the American economy (that one was tough!), how to make cheese, how to make bread (I learned the word for yeast (drojdie), which was interesting because since I had never seen yeast before I did not know what it looked like, but her description was great and I got it!) We talked about where to buy vegetables, why the smaller magazines were better than the supermarkets, my counterpart and my visiting her in Botosani, just a lot of little things, but it was really great to have a conversation. Then when we were sitting in the kitchen chatting, we heard music, there was a wedding party going by. She asked if I wanted to go to the church to see the ceremony, so I instantly said yes, because I was curious! I told her I would go home and change, but she said not to worry just to go as I am because she was going to go as she was. Alright I thought, why not, well she drops me off with another Romanian, and she goes home, because she isn't dressed appropriately! As if I am, lol...oh well that is Romania! Well the woman she left me with, (an employee at the school) said the same thing in not to worry, so I didn't even though I felt entirely underdressed, but it was still interesting. The church was beautiful, and the service wasn't too long, but everything is repeated 3 times. Even though I did not understand anything, I still understood the ritual, like when they exchanged the rings, when they took their first walk together, when the priest made a sermon, etc. It was interesting, because unlike in American weddings, their are no actual vows, the bride and groom do not actually say anything during the ceremony, it is only the priest that speaks. The next time I go to a wedding, I will try to take pictures of the various rituals and then post pictures with explanations of them.
So the wedding was beautiful and interesting. After the wedding, they of course gave me tuica (plum brandy), because what is an encounter with a bunch of cool Romanians without tuica! It was strong stuff, and I felt very odd drinking it in a church, but the preist said that it was okay, yes I met the priest in my nice apparel. Oh well what are you going to do. Nobody really seemed to care, so it was all good.
So after that I went to the apartment of the high school math teacher because she is my age and learning English. My motive for going there was to speak in Romanian with someone my own age, and to ask her to be my tutor while I am here. Since she is my neighbor and she wants to learn English it seemed very convienent, especially because in my lessons, we will have to focus on Romanian, and in her lessons, we will have to focus on English, so hopefully each of us will leran better! I offered to pay her as well, because the Peace Corps gives us money for tutoring, but I don't know if she is going to take it. One of the reasons I also thought she would be a good choice is since I will not be able to give her much, maybe I could make up for the lack of that with free lessons in English and we would be about even.
Oh and the reason that Catalina (the math teacher) wants to learn English is because she wants to do a teacher exchange program in the states. So she would go there to teach Math for a few years and a teacher there would come to Romania to teach math for a few years. It would be a really awesome opportunity for her, and she has always wanted to go to the States, so I hope that I can help her learn more English in the next 2 years that I am here so she can obtain this dream!
So after that, I was exhausted, 6 hours of Romanian is a lot, so I decided to go home and relax. I read for a while, putzed around on the Internet, and then noticed that my dear friend Susan from PST was online. So we Skyped for an hour and a half, it was so nice to talk to her. P.S. Lizz if you are reading this we need to make a Skype date! So that was nice and we got to catch up and see each other, and the best thing is is that it is free! I love the Internet when it is free!!!
Let's see I think that is about it for yesterday, I did start up a random conversation with one of my neighbors when I was walking to the store in the morning, that was nice because she understood me, and I understood most of what she was saying. I really need to work on my comprehension, but it is so easy not to listen and to tune things out when you don't understand. I will work harder on listening to everything however :) In time I will learn, that is what everyone here likes to say, and I know that it is true, but we all know how patient I am when I want something, I want it now! LOL :)
Alright, that is all for now, I will be going to Botosani tomorrow, so hopefully I have some fun stories to share about that. I love and miss you all and I hope that all is well. I love getting pictures, so if you want to share any that would be great. I think that I have my address, but I am just waiting on verification, I want to be sure that it is right, it just seems to short right now, before I share it, but I will get that to all of you who want it ASAP.
Va Iubesc si va pup, la revedere si o zi buna! (I love you all and kiss you all, bye and have a great day!)
~pana mai tarziu (until later)
Sarah B.
As I was walking I ran into my director's son, so he asked if I wanted to go talk with his mother. This was my perfect opportunity to speak in Romanian, so I was going to take it, I had been waiting for the chance to speak with her! I really actually missed speaking in Romanian. So I went up there and she was making lunch, so of course even though I was not hungry because I had already eaten lunch, she made a plate for me. I ate a little bit, but was full very quickly! It was great to have a chance to talk with her, because she is very patient with my limited Romanian skills, and she is very good with simplifying things. We talked about Trusesti, her job, the other saturi (villages) in the communa, a little bit about her family, the American economy (that one was tough!), how to make cheese, how to make bread (I learned the word for yeast (drojdie), which was interesting because since I had never seen yeast before I did not know what it looked like, but her description was great and I got it!) We talked about where to buy vegetables, why the smaller magazines were better than the supermarkets, my counterpart and my visiting her in Botosani, just a lot of little things, but it was really great to have a conversation. Then when we were sitting in the kitchen chatting, we heard music, there was a wedding party going by. She asked if I wanted to go to the church to see the ceremony, so I instantly said yes, because I was curious! I told her I would go home and change, but she said not to worry just to go as I am because she was going to go as she was. Alright I thought, why not, well she drops me off with another Romanian, and she goes home, because she isn't dressed appropriately! As if I am, lol...oh well that is Romania! Well the woman she left me with, (an employee at the school) said the same thing in not to worry, so I didn't even though I felt entirely underdressed, but it was still interesting. The church was beautiful, and the service wasn't too long, but everything is repeated 3 times. Even though I did not understand anything, I still understood the ritual, like when they exchanged the rings, when they took their first walk together, when the priest made a sermon, etc. It was interesting, because unlike in American weddings, their are no actual vows, the bride and groom do not actually say anything during the ceremony, it is only the priest that speaks. The next time I go to a wedding, I will try to take pictures of the various rituals and then post pictures with explanations of them.
So the wedding was beautiful and interesting. After the wedding, they of course gave me tuica (plum brandy), because what is an encounter with a bunch of cool Romanians without tuica! It was strong stuff, and I felt very odd drinking it in a church, but the preist said that it was okay, yes I met the priest in my nice apparel. Oh well what are you going to do. Nobody really seemed to care, so it was all good.
So after that I went to the apartment of the high school math teacher because she is my age and learning English. My motive for going there was to speak in Romanian with someone my own age, and to ask her to be my tutor while I am here. Since she is my neighbor and she wants to learn English it seemed very convienent, especially because in my lessons, we will have to focus on Romanian, and in her lessons, we will have to focus on English, so hopefully each of us will leran better! I offered to pay her as well, because the Peace Corps gives us money for tutoring, but I don't know if she is going to take it. One of the reasons I also thought she would be a good choice is since I will not be able to give her much, maybe I could make up for the lack of that with free lessons in English and we would be about even.
Oh and the reason that Catalina (the math teacher) wants to learn English is because she wants to do a teacher exchange program in the states. So she would go there to teach Math for a few years and a teacher there would come to Romania to teach math for a few years. It would be a really awesome opportunity for her, and she has always wanted to go to the States, so I hope that I can help her learn more English in the next 2 years that I am here so she can obtain this dream!
So after that, I was exhausted, 6 hours of Romanian is a lot, so I decided to go home and relax. I read for a while, putzed around on the Internet, and then noticed that my dear friend Susan from PST was online. So we Skyped for an hour and a half, it was so nice to talk to her. P.S. Lizz if you are reading this we need to make a Skype date! So that was nice and we got to catch up and see each other, and the best thing is is that it is free! I love the Internet when it is free!!!
Let's see I think that is about it for yesterday, I did start up a random conversation with one of my neighbors when I was walking to the store in the morning, that was nice because she understood me, and I understood most of what she was saying. I really need to work on my comprehension, but it is so easy not to listen and to tune things out when you don't understand. I will work harder on listening to everything however :) In time I will learn, that is what everyone here likes to say, and I know that it is true, but we all know how patient I am when I want something, I want it now! LOL :)
Alright, that is all for now, I will be going to Botosani tomorrow, so hopefully I have some fun stories to share about that. I love and miss you all and I hope that all is well. I love getting pictures, so if you want to share any that would be great. I think that I have my address, but I am just waiting on verification, I want to be sure that it is right, it just seems to short right now, before I share it, but I will get that to all of you who want it ASAP.
Va Iubesc si va pup, la revedere si o zi buna! (I love you all and kiss you all, bye and have a great day!)
~pana mai tarziu (until later)
Sarah B.
Friday, August 21, 2009
My Journey continued
So, to continue on with my story, I was taken on a picnic. So when I heard the word picnic, I assumed an afternoon in the forest, maybe 3 hours at a maximum, well I need to remember that I am not in the US anymore, and I am in Romania now, a picnic here is an entire day in the forest. We left at around noon and arrived home at around 8. I slept well that night at least. It was funny when we were going there, we first turned off of the paved road onto the gravel road, and then off of the gravel road and onto the grass, I had no idea where we were going! It was sure beautiful there though, it was so nice to see the rolling planes of grass and the beautiful trees of the forest! I really liked it there a lot, even though I was tired. It was funny there were a bunch of cows grazing in the pasture and there was a small lake there, when I was walking around with my directors daughter-in-law, we saw a cow just swimming across the lake, it was the funniest thing I haved seen, it was completely submerged in water! I was entertained at least!
So after that we ate lunch, we had mici (a sort of sausage), chicken, french fries, tomatoe salad, soda, sarmale (ground up meat and rice in a cabbage roll) and of course bread, that comes with everything as does potatoes! The food was all really good though, and they make the fire in the ground, which was also really neat. So after lunch we sat around for a little while, and everyone around me was talking very quickly in Romanian, so I did not understand much as I was extremely tired as well, so I actually ended up falling asleep on the blanket. When I woke up, we were surrounded by cows, that's right cows. The cows that were grazing, came to see what we were up to. They weren't there for long, because the boys that were herding them steered them away from us, but it was strange to see them so close to us, especially since I didn't know they were there until I woke up. Then I tried to stay awake for a while, we drank some coffee, and I listened to them talking some more. After that we went fishing for a little bit. There was little luck however because there was too much crud in the water, it was difficult to find a decent place to throw the line. It was fun to go anyway and my director's daughter-in-law caught a fish, she was really excited about that.
After fishing, we went back to eat some supper, then talked some more, they gave me tuica (plum brandy), and then we cleaned up and went home. When I arrived home, I read for a little while and then fell asleep, it was so nice just to relax and sleep in a nice comfortable bed. I actually think that it was still light out when I did get to sleep.
Let's see that was Sunday, then on Monday I wondered around town with my director's son, hung out at their place for a little bit. After dinner, we went to the house of the high school math teacher, she is learning English and is good friends with the high school English teacher, both of who are around my age, so hopefully I can develop a friendship with them, that would be nice and we had a lot of fun talking, so we will see. I still have to find a tutor, so maybe the one who is learning English can teach me Romanian and I can teach her English, that might be cool :)
So then I arrived home late as has been usual since I arrived here, and I was awoken at 6:30 on Tuesday morning by a phone call, my mom and dad! It was so good to hear from them, especially since it was a suprise! I love suprises that are pleasent like that. Well I had not had much sleep, only about 6 hours and since I was so excited, I could not go back to sleep, so I decided to take a walk around town for a little bit, that was nice and I found a really nice place that I will probably go to sit and read sometime. It is a little bank alongside the river and it was just so peaceful, and of course along the path that lead there, cows were grazing, that is a given around here :)
On Tuesday I got the Internet, so I was spending a lot of time on there, trying to catch up with things. It is so nice to finally have unlimited access to the Internet. We had access in Targoviste, but I felt so bad for spending any length of time on the computer, because there were so many people who wanted to use it, and everything that I wanted to do took time. I did go to cafe's from time to time, but it is so much nicer just to sit at home and work, and besides my computer is rather heavy to lug around. We did actually end up getting wireless at school, but we didn't have more than a half and hour at a time to work on things, and seeing as I had a lot of catching up to do, that wasn't much time to work. I made it through however, and these past few days I have sent a lot of e-mails, figured out a lot of thiings, and gotten hopefully reconnected with everyone that I can! So after that I took a nap for a little while, called a friend, and then walked around town with some new friends for a little while.
That brings me to Wednesday, on Wednesday I chilled out at home a lot, did some more work on the Internet and then in the evening I went to Lake Prud. This is the lake that divides Moldova and Romania. We actually camped out there, it was really nice, the sunset was absolutely beautiful and the scenery is beautiful as well (all of these pictures are posted to my facebook page). I simply love it there. So we had a gratar (BBQ) out there that night, I watched all of the crazy kids being crazy fun kids, I tried to speak in Romanian, but did not do so well, and we slept out there. It was cold at night, and not very comfortable, but I made due. On Thursday we went swimming, well I should say I only went swimming on Thursday, some of the others went the night before when it was really cold, but I opted not to! That was fun and we layed out on the beach for a while and relaxed. My back burned a little bit, but not to bad, I am not quite as white as I was before. So when we returned home I took some more time to catch up on the Internet (noticing a pattern here huh) and read and relaxed for a bit.
That brings us to Friday, I walked down to the piata (the local market) as it is held on Fridays, and apparently I only saw half of it, but it was crazy. My little town holds the piata every Friday, so people from the smaller villages in the communa, come to Trusesti for things, there were people and horse caruta everywhere! I have never seen so many people before. I wanted to take a picture, but I was afraid that I would be in the way of people, maybe I will try next week :) The fresh vegetables there are amazing though, and those are available everyday, on Fridays they have clothes, macaroni, rice, cheese, meat, honey, jam, everything that you can think of, so I am going to have to really check it out next week!
After that I went to school for a while, I checked out my classroom, I was going to try to start organizing it, but that didn't work so well because there is so much stuff in there right now, so I am going to wait until later to see what is mine and what is not and what will be there and what can be moved. I was able to talk a little bit in Romanian however, and that felt good, when I have no other option but to speak in Romanian I do a lot better, since I don't have a fall back, but I really do enjoy the language! So after that I returned home to change and then went fishing for a little while. One of the guys I was with caught a fish, but I did not catch anything...oh well that is life! :) Then I returned home to relax and study a bit, and now I am here updating my blog so you all know how I am doing!
Just so you all know, I am doing really well, I truly like it here and I am looking forward to starting work. I think that I will be traveling a bit and I truly want to see the rest of the beautiful country. I do miss my new friends that I have made through PST, but thanks to the technology in Romania it will be easier to keep in touch with not only them, but also all of my great family and friends at home in the States. I hope to see the mountains sometime soon, and also to travel to the Black Sea, maybe next summer, there is just to much going on right now to do so. I also hope to travel outside of the country as well, when in Europe, you might as well travel when and where you can! I am currently working on obtaining my address, items for me will probably be sent to the school, more than likely in my name, but we are working on that and as soon as I get that to those of you who want it I will send it on. Other than that life is good, I have not started working yet, but I am sure once I do I will have some interesting stories to tell you! Thank you all for all of your support, always feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you have any specific questions that I am not answering, or to tell me what is going on back home because I am really interested in your lives as well. I know you all have great and interesting stories to tell me as well and I want to hear them!
Alright well I hope all is well, I think I have given you all enough to read for now! Se Iubesc si cred despre voi in fiecare zi! I love you all and think about you everyday!
La revedere!
~Until later
Sarah B.
So after that we ate lunch, we had mici (a sort of sausage), chicken, french fries, tomatoe salad, soda, sarmale (ground up meat and rice in a cabbage roll) and of course bread, that comes with everything as does potatoes! The food was all really good though, and they make the fire in the ground, which was also really neat. So after lunch we sat around for a little while, and everyone around me was talking very quickly in Romanian, so I did not understand much as I was extremely tired as well, so I actually ended up falling asleep on the blanket. When I woke up, we were surrounded by cows, that's right cows. The cows that were grazing, came to see what we were up to. They weren't there for long, because the boys that were herding them steered them away from us, but it was strange to see them so close to us, especially since I didn't know they were there until I woke up. Then I tried to stay awake for a while, we drank some coffee, and I listened to them talking some more. After that we went fishing for a little bit. There was little luck however because there was too much crud in the water, it was difficult to find a decent place to throw the line. It was fun to go anyway and my director's daughter-in-law caught a fish, she was really excited about that.
After fishing, we went back to eat some supper, then talked some more, they gave me tuica (plum brandy), and then we cleaned up and went home. When I arrived home, I read for a little while and then fell asleep, it was so nice just to relax and sleep in a nice comfortable bed. I actually think that it was still light out when I did get to sleep.
Let's see that was Sunday, then on Monday I wondered around town with my director's son, hung out at their place for a little bit. After dinner, we went to the house of the high school math teacher, she is learning English and is good friends with the high school English teacher, both of who are around my age, so hopefully I can develop a friendship with them, that would be nice and we had a lot of fun talking, so we will see. I still have to find a tutor, so maybe the one who is learning English can teach me Romanian and I can teach her English, that might be cool :)
So then I arrived home late as has been usual since I arrived here, and I was awoken at 6:30 on Tuesday morning by a phone call, my mom and dad! It was so good to hear from them, especially since it was a suprise! I love suprises that are pleasent like that. Well I had not had much sleep, only about 6 hours and since I was so excited, I could not go back to sleep, so I decided to take a walk around town for a little bit, that was nice and I found a really nice place that I will probably go to sit and read sometime. It is a little bank alongside the river and it was just so peaceful, and of course along the path that lead there, cows were grazing, that is a given around here :)
On Tuesday I got the Internet, so I was spending a lot of time on there, trying to catch up with things. It is so nice to finally have unlimited access to the Internet. We had access in Targoviste, but I felt so bad for spending any length of time on the computer, because there were so many people who wanted to use it, and everything that I wanted to do took time. I did go to cafe's from time to time, but it is so much nicer just to sit at home and work, and besides my computer is rather heavy to lug around. We did actually end up getting wireless at school, but we didn't have more than a half and hour at a time to work on things, and seeing as I had a lot of catching up to do, that wasn't much time to work. I made it through however, and these past few days I have sent a lot of e-mails, figured out a lot of thiings, and gotten hopefully reconnected with everyone that I can! So after that I took a nap for a little while, called a friend, and then walked around town with some new friends for a little while.
That brings me to Wednesday, on Wednesday I chilled out at home a lot, did some more work on the Internet and then in the evening I went to Lake Prud. This is the lake that divides Moldova and Romania. We actually camped out there, it was really nice, the sunset was absolutely beautiful and the scenery is beautiful as well (all of these pictures are posted to my facebook page). I simply love it there. So we had a gratar (BBQ) out there that night, I watched all of the crazy kids being crazy fun kids, I tried to speak in Romanian, but did not do so well, and we slept out there. It was cold at night, and not very comfortable, but I made due. On Thursday we went swimming, well I should say I only went swimming on Thursday, some of the others went the night before when it was really cold, but I opted not to! That was fun and we layed out on the beach for a while and relaxed. My back burned a little bit, but not to bad, I am not quite as white as I was before. So when we returned home I took some more time to catch up on the Internet (noticing a pattern here huh) and read and relaxed for a bit.
That brings us to Friday, I walked down to the piata (the local market) as it is held on Fridays, and apparently I only saw half of it, but it was crazy. My little town holds the piata every Friday, so people from the smaller villages in the communa, come to Trusesti for things, there were people and horse caruta everywhere! I have never seen so many people before. I wanted to take a picture, but I was afraid that I would be in the way of people, maybe I will try next week :) The fresh vegetables there are amazing though, and those are available everyday, on Fridays they have clothes, macaroni, rice, cheese, meat, honey, jam, everything that you can think of, so I am going to have to really check it out next week!
After that I went to school for a while, I checked out my classroom, I was going to try to start organizing it, but that didn't work so well because there is so much stuff in there right now, so I am going to wait until later to see what is mine and what is not and what will be there and what can be moved. I was able to talk a little bit in Romanian however, and that felt good, when I have no other option but to speak in Romanian I do a lot better, since I don't have a fall back, but I really do enjoy the language! So after that I returned home to change and then went fishing for a little while. One of the guys I was with caught a fish, but I did not catch anything...oh well that is life! :) Then I returned home to relax and study a bit, and now I am here updating my blog so you all know how I am doing!
Just so you all know, I am doing really well, I truly like it here and I am looking forward to starting work. I think that I will be traveling a bit and I truly want to see the rest of the beautiful country. I do miss my new friends that I have made through PST, but thanks to the technology in Romania it will be easier to keep in touch with not only them, but also all of my great family and friends at home in the States. I hope to see the mountains sometime soon, and also to travel to the Black Sea, maybe next summer, there is just to much going on right now to do so. I also hope to travel outside of the country as well, when in Europe, you might as well travel when and where you can! I am currently working on obtaining my address, items for me will probably be sent to the school, more than likely in my name, but we are working on that and as soon as I get that to those of you who want it I will send it on. Other than that life is good, I have not started working yet, but I am sure once I do I will have some interesting stories to tell you! Thank you all for all of your support, always feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you have any specific questions that I am not answering, or to tell me what is going on back home because I am really interested in your lives as well. I know you all have great and interesting stories to tell me as well and I want to hear them!
Alright well I hope all is well, I think I have given you all enough to read for now! Se Iubesc si cred despre voi in fiecare zi! I love you all and think about you everyday!
La revedere!
~Until later
Sarah B.
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