Finally...some updates!!

Scenery & Playing Around

I wish I could send scents across the internet.  The flowers in Targoviște are amazing!  As you walk down the street the smells just surround you.  I am so thankful that I don’t seem to be allergic to any of them!!!

My group is full of wonderful people.  I am having such a good time getting to know them and learning their “stories.”  We have a lot of fun and go out after class every Friday.  Of course, I’m home by around 10 and they stay out until all hours of the morning!!  (Guess my age is showing!!)  Usually on Saturday, or Sunday anyone who wants to meets at the nearby park and just hangs out - pretty idyllic!

Language Training

This is NOT the easiest language to learn!  There are entirely too many damn verb conjugations to try to remember!  We have been plugging away for weeks now and two weeks ago we had an official “assessment,” and since Americans LOVE to be graded, they did so!  It was a bit daunting, to say the least.  There were six different stations: 

1. Eating Out
2. Shopping
3. Family
4. Socializing
5. Post Office
6. Transportation

We had to individually go to each station and pick out a piece of paper which had a particular scenario written on it.  Then we had to have an actual conversation with the teacher about our scenario.  Everyone was pretty nervous, to say the least.  One of my fellow PCT’s (Peace Corps Trainees!) put it in good perspective when she said, “If we could video tape this and send it to our friends and families they would be amazed...we are actually understanding and being understood...after just 6 weeks!!”  She was right of course...it is pretty amazing that we’ve learned so much!  So out of a possible A, B, or C my grades were as follows:  B+, B+, B-, A-, B, B.  I was pretty darn happy with that.  I felt like I was a pretty strong B, and it turns out I was!  They told me I’m doing well, but need to work on my verbs...of course!  Damn verbs!  In two weeks and a few days we have our final test.  This will be something like a 30 minute conversation with people from the language team.  Ugh!!!  Send me good vibes!!!!

Site Announcement & Visit

For the next two years I will be living in Drobeta Turnu Severin (Severin from now on).  Severin is situated along the Daube River in the southwest of the country.  It is a harbor town and when you look across the river you see the beautiful hills of Serbia.  There are around 125,000 people in Severin and it is a beautiful city!  I think I accidentally joined the Foreign Service, as this is not quite what I anticipated my Peace Corps life to be like.  I must admit that I was a little jealous of some of my counterparts assignments as they will be in much more “traditional” settings - in the mountains, lots of horse & carriages, sheep, cows, etc.  But, I was reminded that we are here to teach English and it’s not important where that happens.  Knowing me, I would tire of that village life pretty quickly, so maybe it’s good that I’m in the city!  I am a city girl at heart!!!!!

So, I spent a wonderful 4 days in Severin last week with my two counterparts.  They took me to their schools and hosted me in their homes.  They really are nice and will be easy to work with over the years.  I will be teaching at two different schools;  two days at one, then two days at the other.  I will have a mix of 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade classes!  After talking it over with my counterparts the initial plan is to start English book clubs, movie clubs and drama clubs...I am going to try to bring volunteerism into each of these clubs, as that is a somewhat foreign concept to many here.  The kids in these schools are WONDERFUL!  So full of life and excitement and a true love of learning!  They, along with the other teachers, seem so very happy and thankful to have me with them for the next two years.  As many things here have been, it’s a bit humbling.

I was taken to see my new apartment.  It overlooks a really cool, modern, water fountain in front of a beautiful old theater, with the river view in the background.  There is a fabulous park across the street and many cafe’s and restaurants, shops and more.  Luckily there is a little store across the street and a small restaurant that serves traditional Romanian food for a good price.  Even though I am living in a somewhat “fancy” town, I still have to live on my Peace Corps salary...which is NOT much!  I’ve told my PC friends that when they need a break from their village life to come visit me in the big city! 

Speaking of being humbled...my apartment is being paid for by THE PARENTS of the kids in both schools.  Wow!  The families and teachers in Romania feel so strongly that by learning English their children will have a better chance of success in the future.  I hope I can have a part in making that true!!! 

So, now we have about 2 weeks of language training left, then our big test, and finally our swearing-in ceremony, at the Ambassador’s house in Bucareșt, on 7 July!  On 8 July my Gazda brother is having a big birthday party and then I leave for Severin on the 9th!  I will be attending a two week summer camp in the mountains with a few other PC’ers and then will settle in my new digs to start preparing for the upcoming school year!  Time does fly!  Pretty soon I’ll be packing to come home!  I told someone yesterday that two years just isn’t enough.  It takes one year just to figure things out and then you hardly have time after that to make a change!

Okay...I truly am rambling!  Sorry this was pretty long, and not overly exciting.  I want to take the time to write more about the history of Romania and Severin...I know when I get to site I will have time to do that.  So, if you’ve read all this, maybe you can wait to read the more interesting stuff down the road!  Love to all!!!  :)

My New Town!

My New Apartment

 View from my window

Living Room...love that red wall!

 My tiny kitchen

 Bathroom

 Fancy bedroom

A visit to the mountains and a natural spring!

 A map of the village!

 A small Catholic Church (on the right)

 The best, coldest water ever!

 This statue was built by a man who jumped in the River, right at this spot, to swim to Serbia during Communism.  He survived (a lot didn't!) and after he came back in the 90's he built this as a remembrance to those who died.