Weekend Adventures

This is going to be a long post so prepare yourselves.  Just so much happened this weekend and trust me...it's all very entertaining.  First, I just want to talk about what I good day I had in the orphanage today.  It took a month but one of the little boys learned my name today.  I almost cried when he finally said it!  It was a long month of him yelling the wrong name and expecting me to answer.  Yes, can you believe that I have been here a month already.  YIKES!  Another little boy, who is deaf (let's call him Jack), likes to push the kids in wheelchairs around but today he accidentally tip one of the kids over and the little boy in the wheelchair (let's call him Sam) hit his head.  Chelsea and I weren't fast enough to catch Sam.  The deaf little boy looked very concerned about Sam and one of the workers brought us a wet, cold cloth to put on the large goose-egg forming on the Sam's head.  Jack walked over timidly and helped hold the washcloth on the other little boy's head.  It was so tender to see Jack be so sweet.  I was very proud of him today.  I also love the workers in my room.  They care about the kids and I love watching them interact with the children.  Sometimes, they can be intimidating because I don't speak the same language as them and communication is sometimes difficult but I am always amazed at the patience and understanding they have.  I am grateful for each one of them.

Back to this weekend.  We took our first trip out of Iasi!  I am so grateful I got to see more of Romania and the region we visited was absolutely beautiful.  All 14 of us hopped on a train and traveled to Maramures which is the Northwest region of Romania.  The train rides were long and we were all exhausted by the time we arrived but it was am amazing weekend full of culture and adventure.  I love Romania so much more now.  So here begins our adventure....

We left Iasi on Wednesday and caught a train to a small town called Dej Calatori and had a two hour layover there.  We then caught another train to Baia Mare where we spent a couple of hours exploring the city.

 Roommates!!!

 We are excited for our first ever legit train ride!

 Our sleeping compartment

We were suppose to catch a bus from Baia Mare to Vadu Izei, the small town where our bed and breakfast was located, at 9 am but the bus didn't end up leaving until 2 pm.  We were able to explore the city of Baia Mare instead.  

 I was grateful to be off the train!

 This cute man that Aislynn is walking with us is our bus driver.  He let us keep our bags on the bus so we didn't have to carry them with us all day long.  he was super sweet and decided that he needed to help us find our way in the city.  I wish you could have all witnessed 14 of us following this one little man, who by the way looked like the man from the movie, UP. He helped us buy a map and find a place to eat. 

 We spent some time in the Center of the city and it was beautiful.  I don't think these pictures can do it justice.

 Roommates!!

 This is the biggest chicken I have ever seen.  I mean look at it!  It's like a killer chicken.

Some of us went to a village museum and this is the picture from the top of the hill.  

Then we got on the bus.  Man, I thought I wasn't going to survive that bus ride.  Like I mentioned earlier, the bus driver took extremely good care of us but his driving terrified me.  First, he played the same four Romanian songs loudly the entire two hours we were on that bus.  Secondly, he was at the front of this huge bus dancing and it's a stick-shift bus!!  Then we started going up the mountain that we had to come back down.  he took corners so fast that I thought I was going to die!!  I was so grateful to arrive in Vadu Izei.

 Camille and I were bus buddies.  We tried to sleep but that was basically impossible.

 Straight from the 70's

So on our way, we passed many villages and beautiful country side.

Our bed and breakfast was in a small town called Vadu Izei.  I felt like I was on parade while walking through the town.  People would come out of their house and just watch us pass.  Some of them would ask us where we were from and get really excited when we said America.  I guess the people don't see fourteen American girls traipsing through the middle of their town very often. We made it to our bed and breakfast but there were already some guests staying there for the night so four of us had to go stay at another place (which I do believe was the bed and breakfast's mother's house).  It was this random house in the downtown of Vadu Izei.  I thought maybe we would never make it back to our group.  The lady was very nice and kept offering us things and among them was Tuica (homemade Romanian alcohol).  We tried to refuse but she wouldn't take no for an answer...No worries, we DID NOT drink it.  

 Isn't it beautiful?!?

 Very deceiving because it was in a water bottle....

The next day, we decided to walk to Sighet which was like 6 km away.  I walked like 4 miles...I am very impressed with myself.  We went to a Anti-Communism Museum and then hopped on this bus with a bunch of teenagers to visit the Merry Cemetery.  The teenagers loved us and I have never felt so popular in my life.

Sorry but I don't have any pictures from the Merry Cemetery but basically the headstones are colorful and the inscriptions on the headstones are funny.  Here is a picture of Angela and I in the church located next to the cemetery.  We wanted to buy and light a candle at the church.  There was a box of candles, some matches, and a bowl for money.  We looked at the sign and I convinced Angela that is .50 lei for the candle and another .50 lei to light the candle.  If you look at the sign this makes perfect sense.  Pret Lumanari=Price to light the candles and Candle's Price=the Candle's Price.  Angela was like are you sure?  I told her that I was absolutely positive but then proceeded to ask her if she could lend me the money because I didn't have a lei.  She put 2 lei in the bowl and we talk our candles.  We are walking out the church to find someone to take a picture and we run into Aislynn and Cortlandt.  They wanted candles too so we take them back inside and I explain to them that it is 1 lei because it is .50 lei for the candle and .50 lei to light the candle.  They both just looked at us and then proceeded to point out that the sign was in English and Romanian and said the same thing in both languages.  As soon as I realized our mistake a I started laughing so hard that I cried...I made everyone in our group come look and I learned that Angela and I aren't that stupid.  I was telling the story and people were like I don't get it...it is 1 lei for the candle and to light it.  Then I watched my group, one by one, understand the sign.  I know it doesn't sound as funny to you but it made me cry because I was laughing so hard.  Don't worry...Angela took back a lei.

The Merry Cemetery was located in this tiny village that we had to take a bus to.  We had no idea when a bus would come back through the village so we just had to wait and try to flag some kind of bus down.  Aislynn had tried to flag other buses down but the drivers would just wave and keep driving.  Then this large blue and green truck stops to let people off and I just see Aislynn running towards it.  The next thing I know she is waving us over and we are all running towards this random truck (she later told us, she thought it was a prison truck...thanks Aislynn).  We hop on the "bus" and it is all these delightful old men coming in from the fields.  We successfully hitchhiked. The picture above is me on the truck and the two picture below show you what the "prison" bus looked like.

Later that night, we got invited to learn Romanian dances and so we headed over to Ramona's house.  We danced the night away to Romanian music with the whole neighborhood.  I felt like I was in the movies.  Things like this don't happen in real life!  It was so much fun and the perfect ending to an epic day!

On Saturday (bless your heart if you are still reading this!), we had to travel home but on our way out of Vadu Izei we stopped at a little grocery store for ice cream.  The owner had met some of our girls a couple of days earlier and invited us to come get ice cream.  We walked in and she refused to take any money for the ice cream.  She gave all 14 of us a FREE ice cream sundae.  Her and her children talked with us for about an hour while we waited for our bus.  She gave us each a lighter that had her store name on it so we would always remember her.  

 Me, Michelle, and Meghan with our yummy ice cream!

 So on our way home we rode in a Maxi Taxi built for 13 people.  There were 25 of us in there.  Joy! As you can see Leigh had the privilege to ride between the driver and passenger's seat in a dinning room chair. 

On our way home! Meghan Cortlandt, Nicole, Angela, Michelle

Oh my gosh!  We got through that!  Sorry it was such a long post this time but the trip was pretty unforgettable and I didn't want to leave anything out.  I am overwhelmed by the hospitality we received while traveling this weekend. Romana and her family, the owner of Gabimoni, a random police officer, the bus drivers, the men on the "prison bus", the couple who owned our bed and breakfast...so many people showed generosity and kindness towards us!  I want to thank all of them.  I wish I had picture of these people but they are other girl's cameras.  When I get them, I will be sure to post them so you can put faces to all these wonderful people I just told you about.  They are people I will never forget.

I am grateful for all of your prayers in my behalf.  It's been a challenging week and I am sick again.  SURPRISE!  I do believe this is the third time in the month I have been here.  It's just frustrating because I have to stay home and even when I go to the orphanage when I am sick, I can't give my all to my kids.  Anyway, I am doing well besides a sore throat and cough.  Love you all!  La revedere!

  

Dancing the Night Away!

I have decided to only blog once a week.  It't too much to keep y'all updated more than that.  Sorry!  This week was much better than last week in regards to working.  I feel like I finally got the hang of things and know how to work in my room.  I don't feel awkward when I walk in the room or with my workers anymore and I know my kids in my room better.  It has been a little hard this week because they all have been sick and they have been whiny/grouchy as a result.  Our workers totally like us better because Chelsea and I gave them hand sanitize from Bath and Body Works.  The workers have been much nicer to us ever since.

This week we got stuck in a huge thunder storm.  It was crazy.  We were at institute and the storm was so loud we couldn't concentrate/hear the lesson.  It has been a crazy week.  It's been so rainy and cold some days which is so nice after the heat wave we have been suffering through.  When it isn't rainy, it gets hot and sticky.  Last night the thunder was so loud, it startled me awake.  There was a man with a rather large camera filming the storm while we were walking by.  Who knows, maybe I was on the Romanian news....

  Camille, Leigh, Me, Chelsea, and Aislynn

Yesterday was Rachel's birthday!  Happy Birthday, Rachel.  We went to dinner at this Arabian Restaurant and it was AMAZING.  Can I please eat there every day????  We had pita bread, humus, pizza, little mixtures of goodness, and french fires.  I thought I died and went to heaven.  I can't believe it took us four weeks to eat there.  Thank you to Rachel for choosing to eat there for her b-day!  

Today was a great day.  We didn't do much this morning but the rest of the day was great.  We went to a baptism at the branch.  I haven't been to a baptism in almost year.  I love to see the Church growing.  Today, the missionaries shared the First Vision in Romanian.  It was amazing to still feel the spirit even though I couldn't understand.  I have a confession though...(my dad won't be pleased but it's to be expected) I bought two shirts on the way to the baptism.  It only cost me $15 for both shirts.  You can't be that! Also, there was a cat just chilling in the dressing room.  I didn't know if it was real or not until I saw it blink and then I jumped sky high.

 We like to pretend to pose for pictures so we can get pictures of other people behind us.

 This is quite the Gypsy skirt

Tonight, we went to an arts & crafts fair tonight.  It was way cool to see all the traditional crafts of Romania!   I spent way too much money today...Don't tell my parents.   We joined in the traditional dancing too! This might be my favorite experience of the week. It was so funny but everyone gathered to watch the American girls dance with the Romanians dressed in traditional clothing.  While we were dancing in a group, this random man grabbed me and whisked me away.  I had no idea what was going on!  Don't worry, there is a video for you enjoyment.  La revedere, y'all!

 Cultural Palace

 Camille, Me, Leigh, Nicole, Aislynn, Chelsea

 We bought corn husk dolls! 

Chelsea, Camille, the Artist, Me, Nicole, Leigh

 This man really liked us.

Happy Mother's Day

So today is Mother's Day and I wish more than anything that I could be home to celebrate with my mom today but I am here in Romania.  It's funny how you begin to appreciate things when you don't have them close by. That is how I feel about my mom right now!  We are thousands of miles away from each other but I think I love her more now than I ever have in the past.  These past couple of weeks have reminded me about the importance of family and motherhood.  Everyday, I work with children who do not have mothers.  For one reason or another, their mothers can't take care of them or didn't want to take care of them.  These children do not have mothers to comfort them or to love them.  It makes me the saddest when I am in the hospital.  The kids who are in pain do not have anyone there to hold them or love them.  I am so grateful for my mother.  I am grateful that she choose to be a mother.  Of all the things my mom could have done with her life, she chose to have and raise me and my brothers and sisters.  She raised me in the gospel and taught me about my Savior.  Thank you to all the mothers who love their children.  Thank you to all of the mothers who have chosen to be moms and raise their children in loving and caring homes.  I am so grateful today for my mother!  Love you Mom!

A Week in the Life of Me!

I know I haven't posted in awhile.  Sorry about that, y'all.  I get so exhausted at the end of every day.  I just don't have the energy for it.  This work is harder than I ever expected.  I tried to tell myself over and over again that it would be hard but I wasn't at all prepared.  I am physically exhausted from the walking, the heat, and working with the kids.  I am mentally exhausted from trying to speak/understand Romanian.  I am emotionally exhausted from the general strain of the experience.  Does that make sense?  It's been a hard week.  From getting yelled at to getting my hair yanked from my head, I am ready for the weekend.  Most of you that know me pretty well probably have noticed that I lack patience in life.  I am fully aware that this is one of my weakness in life. But don't y'all worry because my patience has been tried here more than the rest of my life combined (This might be a slight exaggeration but it sure doesn't feel like it)!  God is trying to teach me something!  Also, I have gotten used to being laughed at during the past week.  People laugh at us when we try to speak to them.  I tried to give one of my workers a gift and she had zero idea what I was trying to say... People laugh at us when we sing to the kids.  This especially happens in the hospital or when the workers command us to sing.  People laugh at us when we just are walking down the street because we are American.  I no longer get embarrassed by it! :)

Since I have had one full week of working with my assignment, I thought I would share how my typical week goes. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I don't get home until nearly seven.  I get done working at 6 p.m. but then have a 20 minute bus ride and then a 20 minute walk. It makes for really long days.  Here is how a typical week goes for me:

Sunday: Church from 10 to 1.  We usually don't get home until 2ish because we fill up water bottles at the Church.  They have filtered water that's free! Then I usually take a nap.  I don't think I would survive the week without a nap.  We have group dinner at 6:30 and then we have a meeting every week about the internship.

 Roommates: Chelsea, Leigh, Aislynn, Camille, and Me :)

Rylie, Chelsea, Leigh, Aislynn, Camille, Me, and Aimee

Monday: Orphanage from 9 to 12, lunch, then a kid's apartment from 3-7 (really I work at the apartments from 4 to 6 but with travel time it ends up being longer).  We have FHE at seven at the Church and we, the BYU girls, are in charge of it. Then home at like 8:30ish.  Camille and I tried Shoarma for the first time.  It was so good!!

 Me and Camille

Old men playing chess in the park!  Love it!

Tuesday: Orphanage from 9 to 12, lunch, then hospital from 2-5,  I get to come home on these days to eat dinner before rushing off to the Church.  We have Institute on Tuesday nights, which I really enjoy.  For those of you who don't know, Institute is kind of like Sunday School but during the week and we focus on one general topic for a couple of months.  Right now we are studying leadership.  The lesson, however, is given in Romanian so we have to have a translator.  Sometimes I get a little lost trying while something is translated from Romanian to English, then someone answers in Romanian and that has to be translated, then we answer in English and that has to be translated back.  (I bet y'all just got lost trying to follow that sentence!  Now imagine how I feel when it actually happens!)  Half the time I have forgotten the question because so much has happened since it was asked.  This Tuesday, Camille and I attempted to make brownies but we have yet to figure out the Romanian ingredients.  They were interesting...You would think that flour, sugar, vanilla, etc would be the same but not according to how our brownies tasted.  Oh well.

Wednesday:  Orphanage from 9 to 12, lunch, then a kids apartment from 3-7.

Thursday: Orphanage from 9 to 12, lunch, then hospital from 2-5.  This Thursday, we went to a festival just right down the road.  It was a lot of fun and just might be my favorite night so far in Romania!  This festival was the Beer Fest but it was basically a fair.  There were tons of families there and activities for children.  We ate the food which consisted of a chicken kebab and french fries.  I was super nervous about eating something off the street but I didn't get sick so I guess it was okay...We dance to the Romanian music for awhile.  One thing I learned: Romanians don't really dance until they are pretty drunk.  Don't worry, we danced anyway and people laughed at us and stared at us.  Oh well, I had fun.

 Cotton Candy!

 Super delicious bread!

 Chelsea just sword fighting the little boy

This took a lot of work but Camille finally got on Chelsea's shoulders!

Friday: Orphanage from 9 to 12, lunch, then a kids apartment from 3-7.  We usually go out for dinner as a group on Friday nights or do something fun. Yesterday, we went to the mall.  I had KFC in the food court but the ketchup was so spicy!  I almost died.  Michelle and I shared the mean and both of our mouths were on fire...Most of the girls found something cute to by but my dad should be very proud of me!  I didn't buy a single thing!!

Saturday:  A day OFF!!  We get to do whatever we want on these days!  I can't wait to explore the city some more.  Today, we have a branch activity at a lake.  It should be fun.  The branch wants to get to know us a little better which makes me a little nervous...Oh well...

I having been feeling like I don't really have a purpose here this week.  I go to the orphanage, the apartments, and the hospital asking myself if I am really making a difference.  I have zero idea how to relate to these kids and I just feel like I get in the way sometimes.  I know it will get better with time...patience.....geez.....I just have to say that I have been relying on my Savior, Jesus Christ this week to help me and to guide me.  Prayer brings about miracles.  I know this because it has happened in my life.  Sorry for writing so much today.  I just had so much to share.  I love all of you and miss all of you!!  La revedere!