September 11, 2011
I Have Gained a Romanian Family
These past ten days (Has it only been ten?!) have been packed full of extreme felicity. I’ve taken a giant-sized bite out of Romanian hospitality; and I am better for it.
With my last update, I left you hanging on a short few sentences about my new family. And what can I say now that I’ve spent ten days with them? They are wonderful. Sure, Matei and Timotei run around like wild banshees until eleven o’clock at night, Alex doesn’t speak much English, and Anca is always trying to get me to eat more bread because I eat “puţin” (little)… But these are all minute threads in a stunning tapestry that is my new family. We are very active: playing volleyball, going on walks, talking late into the night, visiting any one member of the large Trifan Family (whom Katie Wallin now belongs to), etc.
My glorious family started these few weeks out with a bang! The weekend of September 3rd and 4th were spent at Cinciş Lake. We spent our relaxing hours by swimming, eating, riding in a big swan boat, sleeping, and lying in the sun. It was just what the doctor ordered. When Sunday afternoon rolled around and we were already headed back to Lupeni, we stopped in Hunedoara at… get this… a castle. It was marvelous. My lifelong dream at becoming a princess was rekindled.
Classes officially started this week. We have been bombarded by the Romanian Language in the dimineaţa (morning), and have spent three days going through a crash-course in Community Development followed by two days of preparation for our Retezat (a National Park in Romania that has mountains) in the afternoons.
These evenings have been full of the aforementioned activities. I have also gained a set of Grandparents, a Great-Grandmother, and scattered cousins. Awkward? Yes. But such an unexpected surprise.
This Saturday and Sunday were also full of activity. On Saturday us girls were taken to a farm outside of Lupeni to make Zacusca! This wonderful Romanian food is a vegetable spread for bread. It is made with eggplant, peppers, onions, salt, pepper, and oil. (I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but you get the idea.) I would recommend it to any and all. Sunday included a celebratory meal for a new baby in the Trifan Family. I made some American Pancakes to share with the Romanians (they were a hit). And we got to eat a rabbit that I had watched be skinned by Tată Trifan two days prior.
Life Is Simply Beautiful
Sarah Jean
September 20, 2011
Living in a Fairy Tale
I just spent six days in the Romanian Wilderness of the Retezat National Park… Which is in the Transylvanian Alps!
Our adventures there included: hiking for hours on end with 5000 in3 (+) packs on our backs; setting up and breaking camp in record times; fighting “ye old” outhouse every morning and evening; avoiding treacherous rocks or roots that like to jump up and grab feet, sending a poor homosapien to the ground; figuring out how to cook a two or three course meal and a hot drink in one pot before all extremities freeze off; seeing spectacular trees and rivers and mountains every inch of the way; hiking up one of Romania’s tallest peaks, Peleaga (2509 meters); sharing life stories each night; spending six hours in solitude to read, pray, meditate, nap, wash clothes, sing, paint, journal, and refresh the soul; taking 327 pictures; becoming closer to my sisters; sleeping on the impossible-to-ever-be-comfortable ground; and craving a big juicy Hamburger with French Fries, side Salad, and Ranch Dressing.
I learned a lot on that backpacking trip. God spoke to me in many ways. Now I know that the seemingly impossible can be accomplished by the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.
Until next time.
Sarah Jean
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