Home Sweet Home

Prepare yourselves. This post is going to be long. I am finally home from Romania. It only took THREE days of flying, spending the night in an airport, two epic taxi rides, my luggage not coming with me, and complete exhaustion to get home. Before I tell you about my adventures getting home, here are some pictures from our last days in Iasi.

This is Hala Centrala. It's right across the street from us and there is a grocery store inside. We went here a lot and I always knew that if I ever got really lost, I could just get in a taxi and say, "mergem la Hala Centrala." That was comforting. 

I absolutely LOVE these girls. I was so blessed to have amazing roommates this summer. I will miss living with them so much and miss laughing with them every night. Good times! This is our last covrig. I will miss eating them. They were so yummy. 

This is my bloc. Our apartment is the balcony above the balcony with the black sign on it. 

We left Iasi on Sunday and flew to Bucharest where we had to spend the night in a hostel. Oh, but in order to spend the night you have to actually find the hostel which Leigh, Camille and I had trouble doing. Here is what happened:

We ran into this nice man who gave us some advice about the taxis at the airport. He told us the best thing to do is go to departures and hop in a taxi that someone just got out of. That is exactly what we did. We handed our taxi driver the address that one of our girls had written for us. This hostel was suppose to be only 2 km from the airport. So we start driving and keep driving for a long time. We asked him if he knew because this was a lot longer than 2 km-he said yes...So we arrive at this street in the middle of a neighborhood in the middle of Bucharest. And there is no hostel. The taxi man is yelling at us in Romanian and we have absolutely no idea what to do. He kept asking us where are you going to go and what are you going to do. It was traumatic. Then we finally told him that it was okay and that he could leave. We didn't want to get back in his taxi. He took us to the wrong place anyway. So we started walking with our luggage through this random neighborhood. We were sweating like crazy. I mean dripping in sweat. We had no idea what we were going to do. We had absolutely no way to contact the other girls in our group and it was extremely stressful. We had to laugh because I think we all would have cried otherwise. So we are walking and we have no plan. We knew if it came down to it that we could find a hotel. We were just worried about having no contact/having to pay for another hotel. Anyway, so we decide to say a prayer. Camille said it out loud while we were walking because we didn't want to draw attention to ourselves in some random neighborhood. Right after we said our prayer, we developed a plan. We would ask a couple of other taxi drivers and then if they didn't know anything then we would find a place with internet. So we walked to a busy road and a taxi stopped, we asked him and he kept telling us that it wasn't in Bucharest. He even looked it up on GPS. So we decided to walk along the street until we found a place with internet. So we were walking and this other taxi stopped and yelled at us in ENGLISH, "where are you going?" It was a miracle. We almost walked away but we didn't. We decided to ask him if he knew where it was. He called someone and they told him where to go and we ended up on the same random street the other taxi took us to. We told him that we already went there. He could tell we were way stressed and he told us to calm down, it will be alright. He called someone again and then our first taxi pulled up and parked. It was so awkward. He got out of his car and walked up to our car...we were all dying laughing and trying to hide. He starts arguing with our current taxi driver about how the hostel isn't in Bucharest. He came back for us which was very nice but he is getting mad because we didn't tell him that it wasn't in Bucharest. Our taxi driver told him that we didn't know and it wasn't our fault. Thank you for defending us. He finally got directions to the hostel. Don't worry, it was right by the airport...gosh. That taxi driver was so nice. He just told us to relax and that we would find it. He was our hero of the day. God answers prayers.

So we spend a pretty uneventful day in Romania. My last meal was McDonald's. Ironic, huh? The dang roosters woke us up at about fur in the morning so we all got a super early start. On the flight to London, Camille and I had the pleasure of sharing one and a half seats while an arm rest dug into my back. It was rough. Thank goodness it was only three hours. But now I have to fly standby to America. Now I don't want to sound ungrateful because flying for free is an amazing blessing but gosh sometimes I wish I just had a dang ticket. I had once shot to make it to Atlanta. ONE. Otherwise I was spending the night in some airport. Well, guess what y'all? I did NOT make it on the Atlanta flight. I had to hurry to the bathroom so nobody would see me cry. I just wanted to be home plus I was already exhausted so tears weren't a surprise. I did get on the flight to JFK and I did get to sit in Business class which was a plus.

Leaving Iasi. I don't want to go.

Lost...

Lost some more...

Last roommate picture (minus Chelsea-she already left us). I miss you girls!

So I get to JFK and find out my bag is still in London and that I have to get myself to the Newark Airport. I may have given into the tears in the middle of baggage claim. Of all the taxi rides I took this summer, that was by far the most expensive. So the Newark Airport became my home for the night. I got there at like 11 p.m. and my flight left at 6 a.m. I found a spot for the night and this lady sits down right beside me. She asks me what I am doing in a thick accent. I told her I was on my way to Georgia and that I had to spend the night in the airport. She told me she was going to stick with me. Her husband was hours late picking her up. She kept going on about how crazy he is and how she has no idea what to do. She then asked me where I lived. I told her I had spent the last three months in Romania and then to my surprise, she started talking in fluent Romanian. What are the chances? She wouldn't let me sit on the floor because some of the Romanians believe that it will make you sick and infertile. I thought I had left those ideas behind. Ah! I just wanted to lay down. I didn't get any sleep that night. As soon as I got on my flight to Atlanta, I was asleep. I didn't wake up again until we landed. My parents were waiting at the top of the escalators with a sign, flowers, and REESE'S. And again, I cried. I must have been exhausted because I didn't cry this much during the entire summer. 

It is amazing being home especially after three days of travelling. My mom has gotten me all my favorite foods, taken me to get a manicure and pedicure, and let me caught up on my sleep. Sleeping. however, is difficult. I tend to wake up really early...like 4 a.m. but then falling asleep at like 8 p.m. I need my body to adjust like NOW! I am in Utah now surround by family. I can't express how much I love them and how much I am grateful for them. They are amazing. I LOVE being home but I miss Romania already. I wish I could go back every single day. I think about Romania all the time!! I miss those little kids and I dream about them. People just don't understand nor do I expect them to. I see the boredom in people's eyes when I try to show them pictures or tell them about some of my kids. I feel like I am forcing people to look at pictures that they don't want to look at. I don't blame a single one of them, though. It doesn't mean anything to them. I know I would act just like them. It's just hard to accept that this experience that changed me so much and is such a huge part of my life isn't important to everyone else. They didn't know these kids. They didn't grow to love them. Romania will always hold a piece of my heart. It already seems like a dream. Did I really just live there for three months? I don't think so...I miss it so much. I wish more than anything I could be with those little kids and holding those little babies. There is a whole in my heart.

I have learned so much this summer. I learned about family, about the love of God the purpose of life, and about the atonement of Jesus Christ. Family is essential to this life. Cherish yours whatever it might be! I am so very blessed to have the family that I do. My siblings chose to keep their kids. I know that might sound a little funny but it's true. I worked with kids every single day whose parents left them because they didn't want to care for them or they didn't make the correct life decisions to keep their children. My siblings are dang good parents who sacrifice so much for their kids. I also have fantastic parents! They have supported me 100% throughout this experience and my entire life. I have never once doubted their love for me. That is a huge deal to me after working with kids who don't even know their parents. Not only do I know my parents, I know that they love me!

I have felt the power of Heavenly Father's love for His children countless times throughout the summer. It is complete. It is whole. It is perfect. I know my Heavenly Father loves me but whenever I felt the strong presence of His love this summer, it wasn't ever for me. I felt the love of God for these little kids. I felt surrounded by it on multiple occasions. It was incredible. I also know without a doubt that those kids are never alone. Angels comfort them. Christ is near them. Heavenly Father's love surrounds them. I have no idea why these kids have such hard lives but I do know that God is very much aware of them. I thought about this over and over again while I was in Romania, Christ knows the pain that each of these children experience. He understands their sadness and heartache. He understands more than anyone. He also suffered and died so he could understand. Because of His sacrifice, those little kids will one day be healed and complete. Because of His sacrifice, those little kids will know true joy. Because of His sacrifice, those little kids never ever have to be alone.

I am so grateful that I could be a part of their lives even if for just a couple of months. They taught me more than I ever helped them. That's something I have had to come to terms with. I went to Romania with the idea that I was saving the world. In a way, though, those kids saved me. They taught me about love and about patience. They taught me about kindness and about God. They taught me that life isn't fair but we can still be happy. I am so grateful for the love and support I have received from each of you. I couldn't have made it without you. Romania will always hold a piece of my heart. Those kids will always hold a piece of my heart. I can't wait to see them again even if it's in the next life. I love you all! Thank you so much for your love and kindness. La revedere for the last time.

Oh, My Bags are Packed. I'm Ready to Go...with a very broken heart

I am not quite sure how to write this blog post. I want to share with y'all exactly how I feel but I am afraid that I won't find the words to express my feelings clearly. You see, yesterday was my last day of work at the orphanage and hospital. I don't think I fully understood how hard saying goodbye to those little kids would be. I think I overestimated my excitement to go home and underestimated my attachment to these kids. I love each of them so very much. When I walked out that door yesterday, I left my heart with those kids I have worked with and grown to love over the past three months. Yes, my heart is broken. I know that other interns will come and love them. I know they will be okay. I just don't know if I will be...

Saying goodbye is never easy but it is even harder to leave those who you love so much. Those were some of the hardest goodbyes of my life yesterday. I tried to keep myself composed for the time we were there. My kids needed a normal day. All I wanted to so was hug them and smother them with kisses but they didn't need to see me bawling my eyes out for three hours. There were moments during the day when I would tear up but I regained my composure pretty quickly. Well...at least until we had twenty minutes left. Chelsea, the girl who works in my room with me, and I kept looking at each other to see if the other was crying. I was determined to not cry if Chelsea wasn't. My resolve was gone when one of my little boys came and sat in my lap. I started bawling right then and there. Chelsea was a goner as soon as she saw me. You should have seen us...eyes all red and puffy.

Our workers tried their best to comfort us and I am so glad they were there. They were so sweet to hug us and tell us that everything would be okay. I felt like my mom was there even though she is thousands of miles away. Chelsea and I had to make the rounds at lunch where we hugged and told our kids we loved them one last time. It was hard. I saved this one little boy for last. He asks me every single day if I am coming back tomorrow. I dreaded the question yesterday. I knew it was coming and I knew I had to tell him no. I told him that I loved him and then he asked me, "mâine, Selsey, mâine?" I told him no and on of our workers helped me explain that I would wouldn't be back the next day. The last thing he said to me was "nu pa, nu pa" or no bye bye, no bye bye. He kept gesturing with his arm for me to come sit by him. I had to leave him. I think that was the hardest moment of my summer. Forget the heat, endless walking, being sick, the sleepless nights, and the discouragement from the things I had seen. That goodbye was harder to endure than any of that.

I leave Iasi on Sunday. My bags are packed and we are cleaning our apartment but more than anything I want to be with those little kids but I can't. My experience is now done and if I can't be with those kids then I want to be home. I am ready to see my family but I am leaving my heart behind. I will always remember these children. They will forever hold a piece of my heart. My mom told me that was okay because as we love more and give more of our heart away, it grows bigger and has a greater capacity to love more people. It is okay that those kids will forever have my heart. I will miss them so very much. They have been my life this summer. They are the reason I am here in Romania. They are Romania.

Here Comes Goodbye...

So I had an amazing week that ended with an amazing weekend.  Work was fantastic this week.  We started working at a baby clinic with these precious little toddlers.  They are so cute but the clinic is way harder than the hospital.  There are only three workers for 55 kids.  How in the world can that possible work?  It doesn't...The little kids we work with are dirty and smelly.  I feel so badly for them every time I walk into their room.  I wish there was more we could do for them.  They all have attachment disorder and it's super sad to watch.  The little babies just latch onto you which is super cute but hard because that's not suppose to happen.  Those seven little kids bring so much joy into my life.

We had a little girl leave our room but she went back to her foster parents. YAY!!  I am so happy that she could go live with the people who love her and truly care for her.  She was only in our room for a month but I was still sad to see her go.  I had a hard time with her sometimes but one day I had a strong impression that she is a child of God and that God loves her very much.  Of course I knew this already but the reassurance helped me work with her.  It didn't make things immediately better but I had more patience with her after that.  We did, however, have one little boy come back to our room.  I missed him so much and am so happy that I get to spend my last week with him. 

Yes, I have began my last week as a BYU intern.  It's already a hard week and it is only going to get worse.  I was saying goodbye to one of my kids today and he was like "tomorrow?" He asks me every day if I am coming back tomorrow and every day I get to say yes. On Thursday, I will not be able to say yes.  Do you know how much that breaks my heart.  I almost started crying  while he hugged me goodbye today.  I can't imagine leaving these kids.  I want to see my family so badly but we are these kids' families here in Romania. So many goodbyes.  I hate goodbyes. 

On a happier note, guess what, y'all?  I spent the past weekend at the Black Sea!!  I can check that sea off my list, along with the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.  It was so much fun to spend the weekend there.  It was nice to relax right before we are going to have such a busy week.    I didn't even get too burn.  For y'all that know me, that is a huge accomplishment! I am the most tan that I have ever been in my entire life!  It was fun to spend a stress-free relaxing weekend with these girls who I have grown so close to over this past summer.  I will miss them each so very much.  Thanks girls!!!  Here are some pictures!  La revedere!

 This is a sleeper train.  It is terrifying sleeping on that highest bunk.

 I love these girls.  Me, Michelle, Chelsea, Megan, Angela, Leigh, and Camille

 Just me!

Frutie Drinks...YUM!

 Camille and I

 Me and Leigh

 Proof that I have in fact been in the Black Sea. 

First steps in the Black Sea...It's like 8 in the morning.

 Here we go!!

 The Black Sea

 Megan, Me, Leigh, Michelle, and Angela

Our rescue man...we wanted him to take us on his boat.  He wouldn't...

Little Moments...

Oh goodness.  Can I just tell y'all how happy I am?  Every week is better than the week before it.  This past week was one of my favorites so far.  Nothing spectacular happened but the little things are what matter most and bring the most joy in life.  That is one of the most important lessons I have learned in Romania. So many things that I thought were so important seem trivial now.  Other things that I brushed over and often forgot about are the things that matter most in this life.

The orphanage was great this week.  My little kids got to go swimming and they LOVED it.  It makes me so happy that they find so much joy in just going swimming.  It's such a simple activity that we all take for granted.  Yes, little kids everywhere love swimming but the looks of wonder on my kids faces makes it a special experience.  One of my little boys had his birthday this week.  He had no idea and the look on his face was priceless.  When we were singing the Romanian version of Happy Birthday, he started clapping and singing along.  Chelsea even asked him if it was his birthday and he straight-up said no.  It was about the cutest thing I have ever seen.  He didn't even know the giant cake was for him.  I am so grateful that I got to share that experience with him.

I also got two new boyfriends this week at the hospital.  Yeah, one is 12 and the other is 14.  They were studs and knew how to get the ladies. Ask Rylie and Nicole.  They were patient with our Romanian but no worries...we taught them to say "I love you" in English.  I call that a success. One of my favorite experiences of the week happened when I helped the 14 year old boy back to his room.  He got pulled by a horse and his whole body is torn up.  It was easy to see that he was in some horrible pain.  Anyway, I wanted to make sure he got back to his bed alright.  When he was about to sit on his bed, he stood back up and threw his arms around me and gave me one of the best hugs I have ever gotten.  I almost started crying right then because I knew I would never see him again.  Experiences like this one are the little moments that I will remember forever.

Chels and I were the only ones to go to the hospital on Friday.  It was a little rough doing both wings on eight floors but it was one of the best days at the hospital ever.  Neither one of us had a complete scrub set.  We complete each other...AH!  This made an exhausting day a little more enjoyable. 

As y'all all know, Wednesday was the 4th of July.  Guess what???  Romanians don't celebrate this holiday.  Yep, I worked all day.  It was a hard day.  I think that the Fourth of July is the epitome of the American Summer.  I wanted nothing more than to be at home watching fireworks and eating watermelon with my family.  No worries though, we went to the only "American" restaurant in Iasi called Little Texas.  It was decorated for the Fourth of July and it felt like a little piece of home.  We ate "American" food but Romanian style.  It tasted like American food, just really bad American food.  It was still nice to feel, act, and be American for a night.

 Brownie and Ice Cream

 Apple Pie

I have the best roommates in the world! 

Aislynn, Camille, Me, Chelsea, Leigh

Relief Society at the Branch.  These ladies continually amaze me with their faith and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are some of the sweetest women in the world.  Thank you to the Soras of the Iasi Branch for welcoming us and helping us while we are in Romania.  They treat us like family even though we are here for such a short time.  

This week was fantastic but it was hard.  Chelsea and I have to start telling our kids goodbye.  We work with the older kids and some of them understand that we are leaving.  We just want to prepare them so we don't just disappear from their lives.  We told one of our girls and it pretty much broke my heart.  Chelsea and I were both sitting there with watery eyes while the girl asked us the names of the new girls coming in the Fall.  It was hard to endure.  She was excited that new girls were coming while Chelsea and I were heartbroken that we are leaving.  It is going to be harder than I ever imagine to say goodbye to these kids.  

Life is great here in Romania but I leave in just two weeks from today.  I can't believe that time has flown so fast.  I am sooooooo conflicted, though.  I don't want to leave my kids but I know that I have too.  With this knowledge, I almost wish the end would just come.  I don't want to tell everyone goodbye.  I am so excited, however, to see my family.  I have realized more than ever that family is essential to life.  I am so grateful for mine.  Love you all.  Oh and it's my little nephew's, Max's, birthday today.  He is nine!  Can any of you believe that.  I was there the day he was born.  Thank you all for your support!  La revedere!

So Much to Do But So Little Time

I have to warn you straight-up that there aren't any pictures in this post. Sorry y'all but I didn't take any this week. I feel like I haven't really focused on the work I am actually doing here. Instead I feel like I have focused on the cool things I get to do outside 9 to 6 everyday. This week's post is different. I want y'all to really understand that my experience here isn't seeing Romania and having epic adventures. Yes, that is part of my experience but it's a small percentage of my life here in Romania. I don't think my blog has really reflected that. Hopefully, this post will clear everything up.

Confession time: Last week was really hard. We went back to work after taking a week off and Chelsea (the other intern who works in my room at the orphanage) and I had a rough go in the beginning of last week. Nothing in particular happened to make it hard. Our kids were particularly whiny but it was so good to see them. I missed them all week. I think it was hard because we felt like our kids lost some of the progress they've made during the two months we have been here. It was hard to see some of our kids slip into old habits when we were only gone a week. I felt like we had to reform bonds with some of our kids. That's hard to take after spending everyday with them for two months. I worry about the months between the time we leave and the time the new group comes. Sorry, I don't mean to depress anyone but I am just telling y'all the truth.

The week got much better though. It was still hard but things got better towards the end of the week. The kids in my room are about the cutest little things on the planet. They make me smile everyday even when they are hitting me or pulling my hair...well maybe not in those particular moments. I have a little boy in my room that I absolutely adore. He is my little mini-me and he loves to follow me around. I wish I could bring him home. I make him work on pronouncing words while we play. He loves to show off the words he knows now. We will be swinging and then he is like "Selsey, maşină." Then he just smiles and wait for me to say Bravo. These little moments, however, make the heat, not having ice cubes, not understanding the language, and not having Reese's worth it.

The hospital was hard this week too. I am in love with this little baby boy there. He is about seven months old and is probably the cutest little boy I have ever seen with his four front teeth. I just pick him up and he just melts into me. I could just sit there holding him forever. But there is another little boy that pretty much broke my heart on Friday. He is brand new and just had surgery on his back. He also has hydrocephalus. We walked into the room and he was screaming because he was in so much pain. We weren't allowed to pick him up but we had no idea how to comfort him. We tried everything without being able to pick him up. He just kept crying. I almost started crying myself. That little boy was in extreme pain but unlike most other kids, he was in a room with another little orphan girl with no one else. They have no one to sit there and rub their backs. They have no one to sing to them. They have no one to love them. I struggled that day. I just don't understand why these little babies have no one on this earth who loves them. I just have to take comfort that God loves them, that Christ knows how they feel, and that angels of God are surrounding them.

I go home in just three weeks. Can y'all believe that. This is where I take a ride on an emotional roller coaster. I am super excited to come home. I can't wait to take that escalator at the Atlanta Airport up to my waiting parents. I can't wait to sit in my air conditioned house. I can't wait to eat a hamburger. I can't wait to go to Utah three days later to see my siblings and more importantly my nieces and nephews. Yes, I can't wait for all of these things, but what about these kids! I can't leave them. They need me!! I can't even think about saying goodbye to them. They need people to love them. I start feeling guilty about going home to my loving family, my nice home, and my American life. How can I have so much and they so little. This is something I have struggled with. I just know that one day it will all work out. It's just hard to deal with the now. I can't wait to see everyone but I am sad to leave. La revedere!

Backpacking, Hostels, Wonderful People, & Beautiful Places

This past week, we got a break from work to go on a week-long trip around Romania.  We started out in Bucharest and then headed to Brasov and Sighisoara.  It was a fun but long exhausting week. I stayed in hostels for the very first time which I must say I didn't particularly enjoy.  Here are the pictures and stories from my first "backpacking" trip.

Guess who didn't get us sleeper trains?  Oh right, that was me.  Sorry guys.  It was a delightful night...Leigh wasn't too happy with me but I found the situation funny.  I had to laugh because otherwise I would have been crying.

Bucharest

I have officially been to the Hard Rock in Bucharest...to be honest the food wasn't that great but guess what? They asked me if I wanted ice cubes. Hello, heck yes, I do. Those were the first ice cubes I have had in months and they were absolutely delightful.

The church building is Bucharest.  Sunday ended up being my favorite day on the whole trip.

This is Sora Gabriela Terbea and I at church in Bucharest.  As many of you know, my my sister, Shelly served a mission for the Church in Romania about eight years ago.  She spent a year of that mission in Bucharest.  I was super excited to go to church there because that is where my sister spent a year going to church.  Shelly asked my to look up Sora Gabriela when I went to church.  So when I got to church, I asked the sister missionaries if they knew who she was and if she was there.  They had no idea who I was talking about but said one of the missionaries should know who she is and that I should ask another elder.  So after Sacrament Meeting, I asked a different elder and he also had no idea who she was.  At this point I was getting pretty discouraged but he said that he would check to see if she had moved or if she still came to church at all.  He went and checked and came back right before Sunday School to tell me that Sora Gabriela was indeed still active in the church and just wasn't there that wee.  I was super disappointed that I missed her.  So during Sunday School, while I couldn't understand anything because it was all in Romanian, I decided I would write her a note.  Right as Sunday School ended, I turned around to ask an elder if he would give the note to Sora Gabriela.  I was in the middle of talking to him, and the elder who had helped me before walked up and said, "Kelsey, this is Gabriela."  I had no idea what to do.  I threw down my stuff in my lap and hurried over to her.  I almost started crying at this point. She told me immediately that I looked just like my sister.  I was able to talk with her for a good while and sit by her in Relief Society.  It was so weird, though.  While I was sitting beside her, I couldn't help but think that my sister did this exact same thing in this exact same place eight years ago.   This experience has been one of the highlights of my experience in Romania.  I can tell you that I was meant to meet Gabriela Terbea that day.  I think it is a miracle that we met especially because none of the missionaries (A.K.A the only people I could really communicate with) knew who she was.  It definitely was a tender mercy from my Heavenly Father.

 Now, this wonderful lady is Sora Gorzo.  She, like every other person at church, welcomed us with wide-open arms on Sunday.  She kissed our cheeks and hugged us multiple times.  She is so sweet and invited us to lunch.  She feeds the missionaries every Sunday and takes care of all of them.  So Cortlandt, Rachel, Leigh, and I found ourselves sitting in a small apartment, with many missionaries, eating a very traditional Romanian meal.  Sora Gorzo's generosity astounds me.  This lady is extremely poor but she is so generous to everyone.  I felt blessed to spend only a couple of hours with her.

Church is Bucharest was one of the Sundays I have had while in Romania.  I love church in Iasi where I live but last week was a very special Sunday for me.  From meeting Sora Gabriela, to being welcomed be every single person in that branch ( I don't know how many times I got hugged and kissed on the cheek), and to eating at Sora Gorzo's, I will cherish this Sunday for a long time.

My mom will be so proud!!

The Palace of the People. This is the 2nd largest building in the world.  Does anyone know the biggest?

From the balcony of the People's Palace

 Bucharest

This is the Bucharest Train Station.  For some reason I just love this picture.

BRASOV

Welcome to Brasov!  Does anyone else find this funny.  Copy much?

 This is the entire city.  If you look super close you can see the different sections of the city.  On the right, there is the old Romanian town.  In the middle: Old Saxon Town. Left side: Communist Romania. 

 Leigh and I got free bikes for a day because we are students.  We just rode around the old cities and almost died a couple of times.  We either almost hit people or cars would almost hit us.  We did not know the protocol for biking riding in Romania...

 Leigh, Cortlandt, and Rachel hiking to the Brasov Hollywood sign.

 View from the top

That's me in the B! It was terrifying getting there and terrifying to take the picture so y'all better enjoy this picture. :)

 Panoramic view from the top of the mountain.

 Me :)

 Our new Moldovian friend, Virgilo,  He walked down with us and then proceeded to invite us to stay with him in Moldova (the tiny country just Northeast of Romania)

 Castle Time: We went to Peles Castle (pictured), Bran's Castle, and the Rasov Citidel

 Romania is beautiful

 Sighisoara

 Does this look familiar to anyone?  Yep, my mom has painted this exact picture.  I just wanted to prove I was there. We went to Sighisoara for the day!  It was actually quite the adventure.  As you can see below, our train was not very comfy or clean but Sighisoara was beautiful.

 The Gypsy Train...but for real...there were a lot of gypsies on the train.

 I think the train ride home is in competition for one of my worst traveling experiences.  It was so hot, the train went so slow, it stopped at every little village known to the Romanian man, and the best part is the ear-wrenching screeching we heard every time it did stop at every single village.  I felt so gross and sweaty by the time we got back to Brasov.

 Need I explain this picture...

 Rope Street: One of the narrowest streets in Europe.

 Our tour group!  It's the first time I have officially met me an Australian!

 yes, this explains how I felt all week.

 Aislynn!  Our facilitator's name is Aislynn (said Ashlyn) but everyone here pronounces it Aizlan.  So know we just call her Aslan, the lion for the Chronicles of Narnia.  Here she is! I found her at the castle.

 Climbing yet more stairs...This was at Bran's Castle, or "Dracula's Castle."

 Romania is BEAUTIFUL

 This is Alina, me, and Olimpia.  We became good friends with Olimpia and Tom from Australia.  Leigh and I are going to visit them next summer.  Surprise, Mom and Dad!

These next pictures are just the amazing views I saw while climbing hills and stairs in Brasov and Bucharest.  Romania is gorgeous.  I can't believe I live here.

It was quite the week.  I am grateful for the chance to see more of Romania.  It is a beautiful country.  Y'all should all come visit me or just visit Romania.  I will post more pictures of my whole trip on Facebook, so y'all so check it out.  

I am excited to return to work tomorrow.  I miss my little kids.  Part of me needs another day to recoup from my vacation. Y'all know how that goes.  Everyone needs a vacation after their vacation.  I didn't particularly like living out of a book bag or sleeping with strangers in my room but I guess that all just adds to the adventure. I am happy to be back at home.  

I can't believe I leave Romania in four weeks from today.  I am excited to go home but I will miss Romania more than I ever thought.  I am so excited to see my nieces and nephews...sorry to my brother and sisters...but I just want to see those precious little kids.  I also have started a list of American things I need my mom to have ready for me when she picks me up from the airport.  I never knew I would miss things until I didn't have them anymore. I just want a hamburger with American ketchup.  Anyway, I hope you enjoyed all the pictures.  Sorry I didn't write much about my work but I just didn't work this past week.  Love you all and am grateful for your prayers and support.  La revedere!