Update by photo...

I have been a horrible blogger lately.  Life has just been so busy over here.  I guess that's good...but...it's exhausting!  Here is a photo update from October.

Halloween Party at School 14 with about 130 kids and lots of dancing!

I asked her to draw a picture of a witch for "Pin the Wart on the Witch."  She came back with this painting!  I told her it was too nice to play with and it's now hanging in my hallway!  She is an amazing artist!!

Sweaty 6th & 7th grade boys...

Pics from a special project called "Mind the World" at School 14  For the whole month of November we're presenting evening sessions about America.  Below are some photos from opening night and other events.  I presented sessions on "Cincinnati" - "English Club" - "American Classical Music" - and "American Tall Tales."  It's been wonderful!

Halloween Party at School 3 for the 2nd graders.  They are SO cute and loved the costume parade!!

This little guy cracks me up with his chicken head!

Teaching the kids to sing "My Darling Clementine" at a Mind the World event.

Autumn arrives in Drobeta Turnu Severin!

A day spent in the country with my friend, Flori!

While in the country we attended a religious ceremony to bless food for the living and dead.  It happens that I attended this on the same day as Gran's funeral, so it was very special!

Flori!  She's now my new Romanian tutor!! 

Another "Mind the World" event.

So there you have it.  The past few months in a handful of photos.  Things here are good.  The kids are amazing and I'm becoming, slowly, more adept with the language.  Tomorrow I head to Bucuresți to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Ambassador's home with other Peace Corps volunteers and State Department/Foreign Service folks. 


I wish great blessings on everyone back in the USA.  I am so thankful to have you all in my life.  Thank you for your support and friendships!!!  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The last month in photos!

HANGING WITH 7TH GRADERS:  I spent an afternoon with some of my students.  First pizza and then shopping at Carrefour!

They met me at my apartment

Walking to pizza...it was a beautiful day!

Lots of ketchup on the pizza!

The pizza in Romania is GOOD!

Please ignore my very, very messy hair...I had no idea!
Oh, and the bottom of my t-shirt says, "...not War!"

The kids in front of our school!

We had to take a "play" break on the way to the store!

Relaxing inside Carrefour!

MY BIRTHDAY:  Here are the English teachers I work with at Școala 14...they bought me a cake and a gift for my birthday.  How nice was that??!!  

Flowers from ONE class (the 3rd graders below!)

PROTECTION IN NUMBERS:  The cats are all bundled up together, you can tell it's getting cooler outside!

WATCHDOG:  This is one of the MANY dogs that live next to my bloc.  This particular dog often sits and "watches" as you come and go...it's a little freaky!

WHAT A DEAL:  I bought all these veggies at the Piața - all organic, all fresh, and all for around 20Ron (the equivalence of about 7 bucks!)

They were even better after being slow roasted!

OASIS IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS:  The streets of București are like any big city...crowded and noisy.  As I was walking through town I heard some chanting in the distance and went to investigate.  Just a block from all the frenzy I found this little oasis where beautiful chanting was being broadcast outside, people were sitting, leaving flowers, and praying, and you couldn't hear any traffic at all.  I sat down, closed my eyes and just relaxed...it was heaven!

BUCUREȘTI AT NIGHT

IKEA:  Need I say more?!

Grant and I went to Ikea while in București.  This included:  a walk to the metro, a ride on the metro, a 30 min. bus ride - overall, about an hour to get there.  Which, surprisingly, is almost how long it would take me to get to Ikea in Cincinnati, by car...go figure!
While there Grant bought me a YUMMY lunch for a late B-Day gift.  Doesn't matter where you are, those swedish meatballs are fabulous!!!

MY APARTMENT:  Meg stated she would like to see more recent photos of my place.  So, now that I've made it mine...here they are!

My bedroom

Desk area in my bedroom - I sit here A LOT!

My bathroom

My kitchen

My living room

A TYPICAL EVENING:  I have become obsessed with the following dish:  onions, garlic, butter, white wine, chicken, pasta, peas and parmesan cheese.  Seriously...how will I ever lose weight eating this all the time??  It is SOOOO good though!

WASHING CLOTHES:  Doing laundry here is a bit of a chore.  Since I have no washing machine or dryer it's all done by hand.  For those of you who know me, I have always hated doing laundry, under the best circumstances.  I have been known to go out and buy more underwear to avoid doing laundry. (sad, but true!) Alas...now I have had to create a routine of weekly washing...by hand!  It's actually not as bad as I thought it would be...I'm building up strong arm muscles!!  Sheets are a bitch, though!!  Now that it's a bit cold I've moved my drying rack into the living room!  :)

FALL IN DROBETA TURNU SEVERIN!

The theater is finally painted - it looks great!
The inside is still under renovation, though.  :(

Usually these are filled up with people...you can tell the weather is turning!

Even in the cooler weather, there are roses blooming!

A park near one of my schools...
I was sitting on a bench relaxing before classes and was struck by how lovely it was.  The big church is also under renovation, but every night at 6pm I can hear the bells ringing throughout the city!