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!