1/29

Hello all! It has been a while since I have posted on here, so I figured now would be a good time to do it. I dont really have too much to say other than I am starting to get into the swing of things here... I now have a somewhat normal routine that I will follow from week to week. Plans were made definate, and I will be working with the pre-schoolers and their families, as well as with the special needs program! I am very excited and nervous to be working with both of the groups. I really don't have too much to say right now... I am trying not to miss home too much! :) I will try to write more later, as things come to me.

la revedere!

Tuesday Morning

I cant believe it has now been a week since I left the states... wow... it feels so much longer!! Sunday I attended church in Sighisoara, and later at night in Tigmandru. Both services were wonderful! I loved being in both places, and i love churches that are bilingual.. i dont mind people translating as much as I thought i would. I thought it would be distracting, but it isnt... it helps me focus on what i had just heard.

On Monday, we had our usual 8 am language class followed by some time with Dorothy and teh girls. After that we went to lunch at the family center and ate wtih some of the elderly people here. Monday was my first day to start visiting programs, so I visited the special needs program which i absolutely loved! One of the people in the program-Alex, painted a picture for me of a house with ducks, and a well in front of it. It is great- it now lays above my bed, next to juniors picture :)
After going to the program, I met one on one with Dorothy to discuss details of my practicum. We decided that I will be helping in the special needs program, as well as with the preschool. The Preschool meets 4 days a week 8 am -12, and the special needs program meets 2 days a week 12pm-3pm. I am very excited! After I write this entry I am actually going to be attending the preschool program to make sure that is what I want to do. I am very excited for what is in store for me.

After the program yesterday, I went to Dorothys house to help prep dinner. Every monday night Dorothy has all of the American volunteers over her house for dinner and a cultural history lesson. After this I went home and showerd and read a ton of my book! I have to go now! I will try to write later! l revedere!!!

I miss you and love you all!

Saturday Evening

Sorry I havent written in a few days.. I have been a bit preoccupied! (sp) Lets see... not yesterday, but the day before that I had a little scare.. I was waiting outside the gate of my home for the two girls from Olivet to swing by and we could walk together to the House on the Rock (where we have language lessons and classes).. and as i was waiting this man walked up to me, so I said Buna(hi) to be nice, and he grabbed me and started to pull me with him. I kept telling him Nu(no), but he didnt listen so i eventually had to like pry his hands off of me.. kinda freaked me out! Apparently this is an extremely rare circumstance in Sighisoara, so I am not too worried that it will happen again! I told Dorothy about it and she said not to worry, so I am not going to dwell on it. Later that day we had some more orientation and it went very well. Yesterday we had devotions at the HOTR (house on the rock), and then went to dorothys for more orientation.
After orientation Jessica ( another Sr SW major from Indiana Wesleyan) and I went for a walk around town where we ventured, almost getting lost. I found this great store that sells just fruits and veggies and juices... im in love! After that we went to the family center and set up for lunch. We sat with this adorable woman named Anna. With the little romanian we know, we told her our names, wherer we were from, that we were students, volunteers and that we were 21 and would be here for 3 months!! Thats so much, and so little at the same time! I asked her if she had any children. She told us that she had 3 boys that each had families of their own-she also told us that she was 64 years old and had lived in Sighisoara her whole life.. she was a Saxon. That is quite impressive! There arent many saxons remaining here in Sighisoara-she is one of the few. She didnt know any english, but she helped us with our Romanian numbers! It was wonderful.. in situations like these, a smile really CAN go a long way! :) After lunch we had a meeting with the 3 social workers at Veritas and were able to talk to them about how/why they went into Social work, and what they do within the Veritas program.. I cant wait until monday so I can visit each group! After that, the girls and I went to dorothys, then I went back home and watched an American movie with Damaris! :) The family I am staying with is WONDERFUL! They are such wonderful people, even if we can only say a few words to each other! Today I went on a hike with all the girls, and the girls thatare here for Jterm.. It was great.. It was kind of steep in some parts, and it was REALLY foggy, but we made it and had some coffee at the top! :)





It was a great bonding experience for the girls in our group.....Afte rthat we all went to the HOTR and watched "Youve Got Mail" and just hung out together... It was very nice! Now I am at my home, and just had a very nice shower after a long, wet, muddy, sticky day! :) I will be going to the Nazarene Church tomorrow, and I cant wait! It is one of the only bilingual churches around here in Sighi! Go Nazarenes! Haha.. Hopefully tomorrow night I will be going to Sigmandru to the other Naz church ... Sigmandru is a very por village outside of Sighi, and Roberta preaches there as well!..... I have to go for now! La Revedere!

Buna!-Hello
Buna Dimineatsa- Good morning
buna ziua-good afternoon
buna seara- good evening

Eu Sunt Katy- my name is Katy
eu sunt studenta- I am a student
eu sunt din America- I am from america
eu sunt volunteera la veritas!- I am a volunteer for Veritas

Hi! I am back... although i cant quite remember where i left off.... Well today we started out with language class in teh morning and proceeded to go into town to the bank so some girls could exchange money. After that we went to the family center to eat lunch. After lunch i went with some of the girls into the center of town to buy phone cards. After doing so, we went to Dorothys house for some more orientation to the program. After that I walked home and I was reading for alittle while, and now my host family is at their church meeting for the evening while i finish up some hw and other things... I am not quite sure what my day will be like tomorrow, but i am pretty sure that I am going on a hike Saturday morning.... mornings are rough here in Romania because it is SO dark! :) It really is n ice over here... nicer than i expected i guess... i have to run., but i will write more later....

La revedere! - goodbye!

Sighisoara

Hi! I am here!!! Romania is beautiful! Not nearly as cold as I expected!! Id say it is similar to Boston.. possibly warmer :) My flight from London to Bucharest was delayed a bit, so i arrived a little bit later than anticipated. I am getting settled into my new home and Sighisoara itself. The walking is crazy here... I have to climb alot of steps to get to the House on the Rock-where my language classes are held. We had our first language class today, it was great! I love learning the new language, but i am HORRIBLE at remembering how to say things... I think the fact that I amrealizing more and more that i am a visual learner. okay. i have to go. i will finish this later!!!!

Almost there...

Its about 10 past 1am here in the U.S.... I can't seem to fall asleep due to the excitement of tomorrow(rather, todays) travels to England, then on to Bucharest Romania. Once I finally arrive in Bucharest it will actually be Tuesday! We will then drive from Bucharest to Sighisoara :) I am so excited and nervous at the same time! Although i feel very nervous, I know that this is what God wants me to do and that this is where I should be for the semester. I pray that God uses me in ways that I never would have expected- and I hope to get a decent grade in the process :) haha... okay... I am off to bed* tchau*