Things I love about Romania...

I love the fact that I can look out my bedroom window and see the Danube River.

I love lying in bed at night and hearing the deep horns from the barges going down the river.

I love that late, late at night I can hear the trains rumbling down their tracks.  

I love the fact that when faced with a flooded kitchen, it was cleaned up and fixed within 24 hours!

I love the kids I teach...especially the noisy 2nd and 3rd graders!

I love the fact that my 7th grade class sang Happy Birthday to me and showered me with flowers and gifts.

I especially love that one of the girls wrote “Happy Birthday, Barbara” in flower petals on the desk!

I love walking to school every day - I know...amazing!

I love that the teachers I work with are so welcoming and helpful.

I love my apartment...it’s so comfortable and homey!

I love that I have parks across the street from my apartment.

I love that I can hear the beautiful fountain every day from my bedroom window - until promptly 11pm, when it’s turned off.

I love that there are TONS of buckeyes all over the ground.

I love that I can walk to the official post office in 15 minutes - that’s a big deal!!

I love that there is a super Carrefour a short 45 minute walk away!!

I love that every day at 6pm I hear the church bells ring.

I love the fact that it has only rained one (1) day since I arrived in Severin.

I love the fact that even though it has not rained very much, all the trees and grass are green - they take such good care of the public space here.

I love that every morning when I walk to school I see men and women throughout the city sweeping the sidewalks and streets (reminds me of Russia!)

I love the fact that for a brief moment in time my hair matched the large majority of Romanian women over the age of 50...very red!!  :)

I love that everyone is (acts) surprised when I tell them how old I am!

I love the language...even though I don’t speak it very well (yet) it is beautiful!

I love taking the train...to anywhere!  Train travel is great!

I love that I am teaching again.  I had forgotten how much I liked it!

I love the fact that I’m a better teacher than I was 20 years ago...amazing what a little time and maturity will do, huh?!

I love all the other volunteers in my group!  They are all so supportive, helpful and just fun!

I love the fact that this country is never ending!  Their history is one of non-stop existence...even when everyone and their brother was trying to come in and take over.  It is a country of people who will always persevere and work to be the best they can be!

I love being able to tell Romanians how great their country really is...they often act surprised!

I love hearing Romanian music...traditional and current.  I especially love Taxi’s “Cele Doua Cuvinte.”

And finally... I love that I’m done planning tomorrow’s lessons.  I’m going to bed to read!  :)