Mini-camp in Agas

I have yet to fully acclimate to the Romanian system of knowing that everything has a way of working out. This mini-camp was a 3-day experimental exercise to test how kids (my students) would react to the types of activities we have planned for some week-long camps in the summer. The camps are being held in a little village, Agas, up the valley from my town. When another volunteer and her Romanian friend contacted me about approaching some of my students about a mini-camp, I immediately agreed, thinking about how fun summer camp seemed when I was a kid. Little did I realize how difficult it would be to encourage kids to attend the activities.


After two afternoons of team-building exercises and self-reflection, five students and I boarded the train early Saturday morning for the half-hour ride up the pretty countryside for a day of work on the farm where the camps will be located. A lovely breakfast spread was late out on our arrival and after enjoying some salata de vinete, snitel and juice (suc), we had a few warm up activities, including a water balloon toss. In keeping with our theme of working together in a rhythm, we worked in a team to paint fences, walls and doors as well as the pagoda that was being built especially for the camp. We were also able to create a dirt and stone path leading to the bridge that crossed the stream in the yard.


Spending a beautiful day out in the sun doing work in which you can see the outcomes of your effort, was almost as enjoyable as spending the day listening to and conversing with some of my teenage students. These kids amaze me every day. They are so full of life and energy and sometimes they have such insight that it reminds me that even from halfway across the world, we are not very different at all. I got to spend the past few days discussing books, music, television, family, self-image, teamwork, aspirations and goals with youth that come from such different life experience than I do. I hope they got as much as I did out of our mini-camp because they are truly what make my service worth every minute.

May Adventures

Excursion to Piatra Neamţ. May 4, 2011.
The first week of May, the high school where I teach hosted a group of students and teachers from all over Europe (Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and France). I was lucky enough to go on a day-trip with the group over to the next county of Neamţ. We visited Cetatea Neamţului, an old citadel, an animal park and three beautiful monasteries. It was so cool to see a new part of Romania as well as watch teenagers from six different countries and cultures interact.


Gabi’s Wedding. May 7, 2011.
My friend and fellow teacher, Gabi, invited me to my first Romanian wedding. It was such an event! First, I went to Gabi’s apartment where everyone had gathered. Gabi looked beautiful and so happy. Then everyone went to the town hall (primaria) where the civil ceremony took place. Immediately following that was the religious ceremony at a church in town. The church ceremony was much more casual than American ceremonies. The priest along with the couple stood at a table at the head of the church and all the attendees stood along the sides of the church. Both the maid of honor and best man (Gabi’s sister and brother-in-law) and the couple’s sponsors (naşi) joined the couple at the table holding very large candles. The reception seemed to be the main wedding event. Starting at 8 pm, three courses of food, hours of dancing (both traditional Romanian dances and modern songs), culminating in cake and removing the veil (the Romanian equivalent of throwing the bouquet) around 4 am. It was such a fun night! Nothing like a Romanian wedding to help me integrate into my community.


Train to Miercurea Ciuc. May 21, 2011.
A fellow volunteers suggested we make the trek over the Carpathian Mountains to the Hungarian town of Miercurea Ciuc. A beautiful early morning train ride later, it was almost like we were in a different world, or at least a different country. We found a cute little tea shop and then wandered around the town’s ethnographic museum; complete with mummy exhibit! Though it was rainy, it was a beautiful spring day. We had a fun time exploring the paiţa (market) and some second hand stores while trying to find locals who spoke Romanian to give us directions. What a fun day!

Easter 2011

My student, Flori’s, family was kind enough to invite me to their house in Apa Asau to celebrate a traditional Romanian Easter (Paste-Pah-shtay). They were extremely generous hosts as the four days I spent in the country with Flori and her family were filled with wonderful food and interesting experiences. On Friday evening I got to see where Flori’s family keeps their sheep in addition to watching the cows milked and chickens fed.
On Saturday, I chopped potatoes to make Salata de beuf and tried a piece of beef heart that was going to be added to the salad. Saturday at midnight is when the Romanian Orthodox church service is attended. Flori, her father and I went to the church and got candles to light for the service. The priest sang some hymns and said what I assume is a benediction while standing outside the church and then the entire congregation walks around the church. It was very interesting and I’m sure I looked a little concerned and very out of place.

Sunday morning, I was greeted with a hot cup of fresh milk and some cozonac (traditional Romanian sweet bread) made by Flori’s grandmother. When Flori and her brother woke up we washed our faces with water from a jug that had a traditional Romanian painted egg (red) and some change (bani) in it. It is for luck. Around 11, we had our big meal of the day, including beef stew, racituri (pieces of chicken in concealed pig jelly from the bones of the head of feet – sounds delicious I know), and grilled lamb.

Easter is a very important holiday in Romania and people also celebrate the two days after Easter Sunday, which led to more days off school! It was so wonderful to compare these traditions to my own and Flori’s family was also very interested in the differences between our two cultures.