Learning a new language is hard! We were given 10 simple lessons with Romanian words and phrases to learn before we arrive. I can now count to 100 and request a beer...that's about it! It reminds me of when I went to Denmark as a young AFS'er. I was supposed to learn some basics prior to going and all I could say when I arrived was "This is a radio, not a hat" and "I'm not that kind of girl". The sad part...I didn't get to use either phrase the whole time I was there! Bah!!
So...I made out all my little flash cards, and go over them (somewhat) regularly...but it does not seem to be sticking. It's like my brain is a sieve - everything that goes in just leaks out. I'm sure it's because I have too much other stuff on my mind right now: what to pack, what to box up and send later, whether or not I can sell my condo-or rent it, what papers still need to be notarized, insurance decisions, when to sell my car...the list goes ON AND ON!
I'm sure when I am there...in Romania...studying language with the rest of the crew and focusing on that alone, I will be able to retain something... anything! So... Romanian men, just wait...soon I will be able to tell you that "I am NOT that kind of girl!"
27 March 2011
07 March 2011
Home...
I'm sitting at Starbucks creating a Mid-Term exam for tomorrow night (Intro. to Homeland Security - woohoo!), listening to Billy Joel sing "You're My Home." This song always makes me feel calm (which is nice because I have not felt calm in a while). There's a section in the song when he talks about where home can be: "Home can be the Pennsylvania turnpike, Indiana's early morning dew, high up in the hills of California..." It makes me think about where my home will be for the next few years, as well as making me sad about leaving my current home. (I know...the song is actually about a couple, but today it's making me think of the physical location of home...not the lovey-dovey home!)
I have always been a "nester" with a great need to create a home, wherever I may be. For this reason, I am sure I will be able to find comfort while in Romania. It's in my genes! It's the other aspect of home that I will miss. The comfort of having family and friends near you; whether to talk to on the phone, run errands with, eat meals with, head to the movies, lounge around and watch TV with, laugh with, cry with, fret with...that is what I will really miss.
The Peace Corps cares a lot about how their volunteers will handle this issue. It's brought up in the application, interview, medical clearances, and final interviews. They want to know what you will do to combat the lack of friends/family...how you will handle the emotional aspect of leaving all that you know. I have thought a lot about this and know that it will be difficult - at first. As with many aspects being human, we can get used to pretty much anything. I know this will be hard but, I also know that I will create a new "home" in time - in every aspect of the word. I bet that when I am ready to leave, I'll be writing the same things here, but about leaving Romania!
So, today, a lot of thoughts of home. 46 years in Ohio - a home of amazing family and friends. Now it's time to venture out and nest in a new home!
I have always been a "nester" with a great need to create a home, wherever I may be. For this reason, I am sure I will be able to find comfort while in Romania. It's in my genes! It's the other aspect of home that I will miss. The comfort of having family and friends near you; whether to talk to on the phone, run errands with, eat meals with, head to the movies, lounge around and watch TV with, laugh with, cry with, fret with...that is what I will really miss.
The Peace Corps cares a lot about how their volunteers will handle this issue. It's brought up in the application, interview, medical clearances, and final interviews. They want to know what you will do to combat the lack of friends/family...how you will handle the emotional aspect of leaving all that you know. I have thought a lot about this and know that it will be difficult - at first. As with many aspects being human, we can get used to pretty much anything. I know this will be hard but, I also know that I will create a new "home" in time - in every aspect of the word. I bet that when I am ready to leave, I'll be writing the same things here, but about leaving Romania!
So, today, a lot of thoughts of home. 46 years in Ohio - a home of amazing family and friends. Now it's time to venture out and nest in a new home!
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