I can not believe the year is almost over. It is true what they say I guess, the older you get the faster it all goes. Having just celebrated my 30th Birthday I guess that means things are just going to continue to speed up. For instance, just the other day I realized that for the first time in my life I have spent more time this year outside of the US than in it. And while I miss my friends and family in the states I know that the next year and a half will fly by before I know it. As I reflect back on my time in Romania thus far a flood of memories come back to me. Sufficed to say since joining the Peace Corps earlier this year I have seen and done things I could have only imagined a year ago. In my travels throughout this country I have stood on streets older than our country; found new friends in my fellow volunteers and Romanians. I have seen the effects of centralized planning and a command economy firsthand and the turning of a culture toward change. I have drawn on skills and knowledge that I learned in school and in business world. I am SLOWLY learning another language, and a different culture realizing that we have so much more in common than we may realize. To sum the year up I will adapt a line from a great Ray Charles song: “It was a very good year for new adventures”.
As a big fan of lists, I present you with my top five. When I started thinking about all I have seen and done these were the first things I thought of:
Standing atop a mountain overlooking Brasov (a city in the south of Transylvania), taking in the beauty of the Romanian countryside and the old town below. This was my first opportunity to see a true old city, with city walls etc….
4th of July in Ploiesti. Water Balloon fight, Cheeseburgers, potato salad and guacamole. 70 American’s trying to convey what the party is all about and just generally having a great time!
My first day at work (Oradea). I know this is a strange one, but the feeling I got arrived here, as if this place was specially prepared for me was one I hope I do not forget.
- Habitat for Humanity in Pitesti – This was 1st real opportunity to feel like a volunteer here in Romania. Up till this point we were learning about Romania, and Romanian and I had feeling of being at camp/high school more than being a volunteer. A good day of manual labor was just what the Doctor ordered at this point in my stay.
European Vacation (Dec 2006) – Having never been to Europe before arriving in Romania earlier this year I thoroughly enjoyed traveling Eastern and Central Europe and witnessing the history and architecture of the “old world” first hand.
I have seen and done so much more than this, and up till this point I have not done a great job of recording it all. I am committed to changing that, both for those interested in keeping up with me and for myself as well. I do not want to let the lessons I learn during this time of my life pass me by and become forgotten.
May your Holidays be merry and New Year bright…talk to ya’ll in the new year!
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