This is me eating real covrigi for the first time. YUMMY!
- We went to a couple of churches on Friday. We visited the biggest Greek Orthodox Church in Iasi. We stood in line to kiss a dead saint's hand. Her name is Sfanta Parascheva and supposedly if you kiss her hand, your wish will come true. I felt a little awkward because I am not Greek Orthodox but with was a neat experience. I also wrote a prayer to give to the priest. Later, we walked by the Roman Catholic Church. It wasn't open for us to go in but it was a beautiful building. We ended with visiting the Mormon Church. Good News!! The Church has filtered water which was a lifesaver after we had been walking around in the heat. Also, we had our first gypsy encounter. This woman came up to us while we were getting Betty Ice (yummy ice cream) with her little boy and told us she was hungry. It was the hardest thing to refuse her.
Greek Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
Look behind the two girls and you can see the gypsy
- After our tour of the Churches, we went to the piata, or the outdoor market. Alexandra, a Romanian who has befriended the Mormons and the BYU girls even though she isn't a member, went with us and told us to watch our bags. That made me nervous....I held on to my bag super tight but nothing got stolen. It was an interesting experience buying things off the street. I was buying oranges which cost 2.50 lei. All I had to give the lady was a 50 lei. The lady tried to pretend that I only gave her a 5 lei and only gave me 2 lei back. I am so proud of myself for not letting her take my money. I demanded she give me the rest of the money which she eventually did. Then we went to buy bread which is like $0.30 American cents. The men, however, made fun of us. We have had a couple of run ins with some Romanian men that have been less than stellar. I think they know what makes the American girls uncomfortable and they try as hard as they can to make us so.
The best picture I have to the piata.
- Friday night we made dinner as an apartment. It was a great attempt using things that we can read labels on. It was some sticky spaghetti noodles and bread that we "toasted" on the stove. It was interesting.
Leigh and Camille just "toasting" some bread
- Saturday was interesting, We walked forever and I almost died while being out in the heat. We walked past the university and ended up at this garden called the Tree Park. There were beautiful flowers and trees.
Aimee, Riley, Chelsea, Kelsey, and Leigh
Just like Mary Poppins...
Some cool building
- We then walked to Kaufland's or a European grocery store. Sorry but I don't have pictures to show you. I tried to take one and this man came out of no where and started yelling at me! He was speaking so fast and all I couldn't say is "I don't speak." He stood over my shoulder until I deleted the pictures.
- Sunday was great! We went to church which was a little overwhelming. Of course we walked there. It was in in Romanian and missionaries were trying to translate. I just got all confused between the missionaries whispering English and the Romanians giving their talks but it all worked out. I already love the people of the branch. They are so welcoming and sweet even though I can't speak to them in their own language. I am excited to go to church there for three months. I am excited to be among the Romanian people. Oh my goodness though, I need to work on my Romanian!!
- We start working tomorrow. I get to go to the orphanage in the morning and the hospital in the afternoon. I am so excited but I am so nervous. It is finally coming real, I think. I am excited to get to work! I hope you are doing well. Sorry this is a forever long post. Love you all! La revedere!
Oh my goodness it sounds like you're having quite the adventure :)
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