Sorry I've been M.I.A. for the past couple weeks. Between learning Romanian, planning lessons and actually teaching children, I did not have the time nor energy to write. However, tomorrow is a big day in my Peace Corps journey. I find out where my site will be for the next two years. Tomorrow I will learn which community I will integrate into and call my home.
Therefore, I decided today would be a good time to reflect on my experience in Romania thus far. I have learned so much about the culture, the people and about myself in the last month and a half. People here continue to surprise me. I have been welcomed into a home and am treated as a daughter. The host families of my friends here have also welcomed many of us into their homes to share meals. The hospitality here constantly astounds me.
I am already experiences bittersweet feelings as the end of training looms. In a little over 4 weeks, my group will swear-in as Volunteers in Bucuresti and truly begin our service. I am looking forward to settling into my new site, but I am wary of no longer having the safety net of 43 other Americans. I have met some extremely intelligent and courageous people and made some wonderful new friends.
Since landing in Bucuresti, I've learned that I can, in fact, teach children English and I can communicate with someone without sharing a common language. I think the most important lesson I've learned so far is that it really isn't as scary to put yourself out there. You can't get anything you want unless you are willing to fall trying to get it. This experience is forcing me to push myself in ways I certainly didn't expect it to. Some things I thought would be difficult have been relatively painless so far. Other things surprise me in how I am affected by them. I am so grateful for every experience I've had and I hope to keep growing as this journey continues.
