Test Results - Swearing-In - Leaving Targoviște - Arriving in Severin - Vacationing in Timișoara (BUSY!!)

I did it!  After A LOT of sweating over this damn language test, it’s finally over and I got my Intermediate Low score!  It was such a stressful week leading up to it.  After the 25 minute test in which I had to sit with an instructor and have a conversation in Romanian(!) I burst into tears!  Good grief!  There’s no crying in Romania!  She must have thought I was insane...I was just so stressed, that the relief of it finally being over was too much!  So...that part is done...but, the real learning of the language has just begun.  Now I will find a tutor and keep the studying going - but at my own pace now!  Phew!

Official swear-in was on 7 July in București.  It was quite an event - held at the Ambassador's home.  What an amazing place!  It's a huge compound with an enormous yard, perfect for parties!  The day of swear-in was HOT, which seems to be normal lately, and sunny.  They set up tents outside for the event and there were many TV cameras in attendance, as this is the last swear-in Romania Peace Corps will have.  After many speeches, we took the official oath, in which we all swore to uphold the constitution, etc.  It was pretty cool, actually!  Made the impact of what i am doing set in.  Even though we are volunteers over here, we are also representatives of the USA and must uphold what that means!  There was a nice reception afterwards and we were treated to hot dogs and soda WITH ICE!!  Awesome!

The coveted Peace Corps pin!!

 Hanging with the U.S. Ambassador...

And with the Romanian PC Country Director

 Beautiful "back yard"

Sitting at the Ambassador's desk

After spending a few last days with my Gazda in Targoviște I set out for Drobeta Turnu Severin!  The train system in Romania is vast and very reliable...but in the hot summer months, sometimes the trains run slowly.  So... a trip that in a car would have taken only about 4.5 hours took me almost 10!  It's nice, though, to travel by train, as you can see the countryside.  On the way to Severin it is interesting to see the land change from flat, enormous fields of sunflowers (which are beautiful!) to the hills of Romania and Serbia hugging the Danube River.

Saying good-bye at the train station

I arrived at my new apartment and basically collapsed in a heap falling asleep on the living room sofa!  The next day brought to light some small problems with my apartment, and I have moved out to allow the landlady to fix things.  So, in the meantime I have been staying with Florintina (Flori).  She and her husband don't speak a speck of English.  They are in their 50's...she is a teacher of Romanian, and he is a judge.  They have been so very welcoming to me, it's almost embarrassing!  I was told that she loves to treat people and this is true.  She brought in a massage therapist the other day and treated me to a two hour massage and a facial.  Then last night I had a manicure and a pedicure.  She has given me three pairs of earrings and a pair of shoes!!!  It's crazy...she just keeps giving me things.  And, of course, I try to tell her it is enough, but the language barrier makes it hard.  I was told from another teacher that this is just how she is...she has the money and loves to share with others.  Wow!  Later she is taking me to visit her daughter and son-in-low in Timișoara - a wonderful, large city about 150km west of here.  We will travel by train (also her treat) and stay for about 5 days!  I am excited to go as this is supposed to be a beautiful city!  

It is HOT here!  Each day it is at least 100 degrees.  There is a lot of “siesta'ing” in the afternoons, as it's just too damn hot to go outside.  The Romanians have an issue with "currant"...it's considered bad to have moving air on your body.  This means, no cross drafts allowed.  It's okay to have a window open, but not if there is a window or door across from it.  It's okay to have a fan, but you can't point it towards you.  The air conditioning is fine, but you can't have it on at night as it's bad for you.  Ugh!!!  What I would give for central air right now.  I walk around with a hand fan and am constantly fanning myself furiously!  Even at night I keep it on the pillow so when I wake up, sweating, I can give myself a few "fans".  You all know how I love the heat, so this is probably the hardest part thus far!  Each evening Flori and I go for a walk with her friends at around 10pm, when it's cooler.  Her friends are all in their 50's and 60's - and of course, don’t speak English.  It's totally weird as they remind me of family at home; aunts and great-aunts.  Totally strange, and somewhat comforting!!!  It's good to walk with them as it makes me practice my Romanian.

Flori is the 3rd from left - our walking buddies are the other three women in the middle

Today, Claudia (one of the teachers I will work with) took me on a walk throughout the city and I saw the local library, Art Museum and the History Museum, which has lots of old Roman ruins around it...it's amazing to think of the age of these ruins!  I am excited about the library!  There are so many opportunities to use it with the kids, both this summer and when school starts.  The US Embassy here just made a huge book donation!  I am thinking of starting a little book drive for all my family, friends and faithful blog readers at home...maybe together we can make a nice donation to my school libraries while I am here!  More to come on that later - once I find out what the real needs are!!!

Library

 I love this building!

 Flori's husband works here!

Romanian's LOVE watermelon!

One of the teachers, Gabbi, and her husband took me to a neighboring town, Orșova, for a day trip.  He drove like a maniac...but we made it through the twists and turns of the road next to the Danube.  It was beautiful.  Along the road we would stop to see little churches, or just really amazing views of Serbia.  We stopped for ice cream at a lovely small hotel and then drove UP a hill to a quiet monastery.  Words cannot truly describe how peaceful and beautiful it was.  The next day they took me to a local, private pool...it was heaven!!!  We stayed all day, swimming, b-b-q’ing, sleeping in the sun.  What a life!!

 Can I look MORE like Mom???  ;)

 You can rent these little houses and stay over night!

Update:  I’ve spent the last five days in Timișoara...a large city in the south-west of the country.  Flori’s daughter, Linda and son-in-law, Cristi live here and we’ve come to visit!  The city is beautiful and it’s been a wonderful, relaxing visit.  Of course, the heat is still sweltering and every night when Linda and Cristi go to bed, the air conditioner is turned off...Ugh!!! (I know...it could be worse.  I could have been sent to the depths of Africa with no thought of air conditioners.) 

In the last days we’ve walked through the old city, eaten wonderful Italian food, shopped at a huge mall (!), gone to the cinema (Harry Potter!!!), and walked to markets!  The interesting thing in Romania is that you walk everywhere.  If you want to go to the mall, you walk to the nearest bus station (over a mile away in this case) and then take the bus to the mall.  If you want to head to the market, you walk there.  Some people have cars...but even then, you walk whenever you can.  Gas is expensive and feet are free!!  

Opera House

Orthodox Cathedral

Tomorrow (Thursday) we return to Severin.  I will move back into my place on Friday and then I plan to get with my counterparts and the Library and start some projects for the summer!!  I am very ready to be in my own place.  I have not completely unpacked since I got here in April...I can't even remember what I brought!  Sorry this was so long.  And...I didn't even get to that history I promised...next time!

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.

Bună Seara, Targoviște

Friday night, after spending another fun evening with my PC cohorts drinking “Orsus” beer and eating very good pasta & pizza, I strolled home.  It was after 9pm and the sun was just setting.  It was somewhat cool out with a nice, easy breeze in the air.  The flowers and trees smelled sweet and along the way street-dogs were napping on the sidewalks.  Lots of people were out walking and couples were snuggling on park benches.  

When I got near my bloc I could hear traditional accordion music and singing coming from a little bar nearby.  (I find that I like the traditional Romanian music.  It is very “folksy” and easy to listen to.)  There was a party going on in the bar with two men playing accordion and one singing.  Who knows what the celebration was for...could have been a name-day party, a birthday party, or just because it was Friday and a lovely evening.  It was one of those moments where I though, “Wow...I am over here in Romania and it’s pretty damn cool!”