on the job: getting started
As I mentioned, David and I have moved — from the northeastern part of Romania to the central part. We are living in a valley right south of the Carpathians. This is where we’ll stay for our third year of Peace Corps service. With a new site, comes new assignments. While our main job is […]
in the community: ne e dor. . .
We’ve moved from Targu Neamt, a small town in the Moldovan region to Ramnicu Valcea, a bigger town in the Oltenian region. We’re adapting and adjusting and missing… especially the Botez kiddos and their family. We chatted on skype with Emi, Mada, Marius and Claudia for awhile tonight and it was great. While we like […]
in the kitchen: new recipes
It’s been quiet around here, huh? There are bunches of updates to share, but I always seem to worry about things being chronological on the blog. I haven’t finished pictures from Italy in April, so I shouldn’t share pictures of Paris in June! But I know that’s kinda silly and I’ve been getting threatening messages […]
on the job: crafting with beneficiaries
Radu Update Radu has been regularly mentioned on my blog (here and here); don’t tell, but he’s a favorite. He’s the kid who’s really into crocheting and knitting on a loom. So much so, that he wants to crochet 24/7 — at home, at the center, in winter, in summer. I taught him to use […]
photo: iliuta and me
I’m working on taking pictures of each of my beneficiaries. Here’s one that Iliuta took of the two of us when we were being especially giggly and silly. It’s pretty great. Love that kid!
in the community: Jewish heritage
Romania used to have a rather large Jewish population and interestingly and to our surprise, our small town of Targu Neamt has both a well-preserved (and still functional) synagogue and a large old cemetery. According to online sources and local folks, the town used to have nine synagogues but during communist times, most of them […]
news from home: Wallow Fire in AZ
Every week, Big Picture puts up striking photo galleries related to world or current events. This past week Big Picture featured the Wallow Fire in Arizona and it hit home, not because I’m from Arizona, but because my brother, Erik is fighting that fire. Usually what he does (prescribed burning) is more ecological than newsworthy […]
in the community: my Lucian
It’s hard for me to think that in less than two months I’ll be saying goodbyes here in Targu Neamt. With my beneficiaries at the center, with some neighbor kids, with kids we tutor and with my favorite stray dogs, I’m starting what therapists call “termination.” Goodbyes need to be a process, in my opinion […]
on the road: Dear Paris
Dear Paris: Please don’t tell my husband, but I think I’m in love with you. At first, I wasn’t quite sure — you’re so big-city and posh and elite and I’m small-town and simple and such. I didn’t think we’d be a good match. But, I fell hard for you and your cheese shops and […]
on the road: view from the train
We recently went to Bucharest for our yearly physicals — 16 hours on a train for 3 hours of appointments. Asta e. Luckily this was our view from the train — rapeseed for miles. Spring has most definitely arrived.
