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 […]
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.
on the job: Emi & Mada
The blog’s been quiet on the work updates, I know. It’s not that we haven’t been working; we’ve just been in the groove which I guess is to be expected in year 2 of service. Tonight we met with Emi and Mada — we’re doing adjective opposites. Emi’s a studier and an aural learner. Mada’s […]
in the community: our saturday walk
With the beautiful weather, we’ve been heading outside more often. This past Saturday, we meandered around town. Here are a few pictures from our wanderings. A local cemetery where we head for some quiet and shade. A guy, a bike, and a goat. Our main man, Stefan cel Mare (a statue in an overgrown park) […]
on the road: recap of Pisa, Italy
We started our Italian adventure in the city of Pisa. And it’s a fabulous sleepy city. Practically speaking it has cheap airline tickets to get there (woot Wizz Air!), an airport close to town, everyplace is within walking distance. From a visitor’s perspective, while it has its touristy hotspot, there are small streets to meander […]
on the road: Easter in Italy
Two weeks ago, we left for our “Easter in Italy” adventure. We got back to our Romanian apartment yesterday – freckly, tired, vacation-ed out, and in love with Italy. It was great — a great country, great weather, great travelling companions, great events, great food, great, great, great. Slowly but surely, I’ll be pulling pictures […]