Clean up, Clean up...Let's Do it Romania!

 

Today was the national clean-up day here in Romania-or "Let's Do it Romania" to be exact.  Started in 2010, it's a day where almost every county in Romania gathers it's citizens to picks up trash.  

The day started in the park where I met up with around 60 students and some teachers. We split into teams (Team Rockstars here) and walked to different areas to clean.

The entire group before we started cleaning.

Plastic bottles everywhere!

Crazy goat.

Can of beans anyone?

Part of Team Rockstars.

His shirt inspired the team name.

Sweet Marita pickin' up trash.

Silvia, coordinator extraordinaire.

Break time!

Nothing like finding a jaw bone.

Team RockStars with our 35 bags of trash!

It was SO HOT outside but the kids were great, working hard to collect over 125 bags of trash throughout Recas. I was so happy to see that after doing this three times in Recas, the amount of trash we found was significantly smaller than when we started cleaning up 2 years ago. The first year we collected over 400 bags of trash, so 125 bags today-PROGRESS!

Great way to start my weekend.

Friday Phone Booth Fun.

While looking over my pictures today I realized I have quite the "Photo Booth" collection. It all started when I was teaching in Guatemala-I had a few extra minutes at the end of a class and my students and I spent it taking fun pictures with my Mac's Photo Booth.

Double the Trouble in 8th grade.

Nice Teeth. And Chin.

Oh yes--the black glasses/dark hair phase...

Fun!

When I first arrived in Romania-I introduced Vali to Photo Booth and hilarity ensued. 

Woah.

This might be my favorite.

Ew. You're basically looking up my nose here...I apologize.

Mouse Mouth.

And recently, I introduced it to my 8th graders. I don't think I've ever heard them laugh so much.

Flavius on the left...those eyes!! Hahaha.

He might be growing horns.

Johnny Bravo? Jay Leno?

They are best friends...clearly.

With a sticker on his head.

I have a horse face on the right. LOOOONG.

Happy Friday Ya'll!

I'M BACK!

I can't believe I haven't posted in WEEKS. Sorry to all of you who are actually still following me (I wouldn't blame you if you stopped!!) but I'm finally back at site after a whirlwind of a month and I'm ready to update you, pictures and all.

Last you heard from my I was in London with my parents, finishing up our 9 day trip with an Easter Church service. Well, I came back to Romania, re-packed my suitcase and headed to Maramures (northern Romania) for a traditional Romanian Orthodox Easter. Matt came with and we did things like drive a horse carriage, make traditional breads (well, we tried) and dressed up in traditional outfits. It was a great experience and I was happy to finally make it up to that area.

Matt and I driving the "caruta" or horse drawn carriage.

Part of the wooden Monastery in Sapunta, Maramures.

Dressed in traditional clothing from Sapunta.

From Maramures Matt and I met up with two other volunteers, Nick and Jessica, and we set out for an adventure in Austria. We spent a few days in Salzburg (Beautiful!) and then hit up Vienna for two nights. Great company, delicious food, and gorgeous sites=one amazing time.

Olives in Salzburg

Our view for lunch. The Hills are Alive in Salzburg

The famous "pus finger" sausage. Filled with cheese and when you cut it, the cheese runs out...like PUS. Lovely.

Most beautiful mountains I've ever seen.

Jessica and I standing on the Alps.

After Austria we went our separate ways and I headed to Cluj for my LAST Peace Corps conference, the "Close of Service" conference. It was surreal as we attended sessions on "Life after PC". The US Ambassador and his wife were in attendance as well, and at the end of the day we all went to see "Sound of Music" at the Cluj Opera House. On Friday morning we all said a sad goodbye, knowing that the chances we would ever be all together in the same place again were slim.

Mr. Ambassador addressing the group.

Ahh Cluj...I love ya.

The Opera House.

Freya and I getting ready for the Sound of Music

Just some lovely PC ladies ready for the opera!

From COS I headed to Matt's place in Tulghes. We went on a fantastic hike with his counterpart and friends and spent time just relaxing at his site. We had a long weekend (Monday and Tuesday off from school!) and spent it hanging out with his neighbors and playing skip-bo...lots of skip-bo. :)

Matt and his adorable neighbor. Just look at that face.

He was able to try one of my marshmallows for the first time.

Playing Skip-Bo on the front stoop.

At the beginning of our trip up the mountain-these cows were coming home a bit too early. The owner came outside and turned them around so they were heading towards the pasture...ha.

Deep in the forest.

Taking a breather...so hot, and so steep.

Making our way to the top-Matt and Alex.

We made it!!

The view from the top.

 From Matt's, I went to work at an English competition for 6th-8th graders deep in Hargita county, whose population is mostly Hungarian. With 6 other volunteers we ran the camp for about 60 kids and it was very successful-who doesn't love old fashioned spelling bees and relay races in English? The village (Ocland) was beautiful and our host was an amazing cook. 

The walk to the competition from our village.

Where we stayed.

Working hard to create stories.

The competition-at least my room.

I then set out on a 12 hour adventure to get back to my site where I arrived last night around 10:00PM. And here I am, exhausted but back.

More to come tomorrow!

Easter Thoughts.

Happy Easter!

I spent the morning with my parents at a great church in London-Trinity Church. It was really contemporary, complete with a rock worship band and a coffee bar. Instead of listening to a sermon by the pastor, there was a reenactment of the moments and events after Jesus rose from the dead. And I was able to have communion for the first time in almost 2 years.

And everyone sat on mats on the floor.

Which I loved.

 

Amazing.

 

I found myself drawn to the music, the atmosphere, and the parishioners...who were kind and welcome. I felt relaxed and at ease.

Which is actually a big deal.

 

You see, after my horrific experience doing mission work teaching English in Guatemala with a "Christian" organization (more like a cult...) I haven't had the desire to go to church. I didn't want to be associated with a group of "Christians" who acted like the people I worked for. If those people called themselves Christians, I wanted nothing to do with it. They were judgmental,  Biblically legalistic (living by the law of the Old Testament), and downright hypocritical.

 

For example,(and this is just one of MANY) one day I was called into a three hour meeting with the organization's "Church Leader" who proceeded to tell me how immoral my tattoo was. MY BIBLE VERSE TATTOO. (It says Philippians 4:6 and I got it after a rough period in my life so it has great significance to me).

He opened the Bible and for THREE hours read me verses about tattooing ones skin and prayed for my great sin. Over and over again.

 

What was I supposed to do about the PERMANENT tattoo located on my wrist? COVER it of course, at all times. In scorching heat. He didn't want the kids to see it and think it was OK.

After 6 months of being emotionally broken down day after day and feeling like the worst Christian in the world, I left Guatemala early and returned to the United States. Even though I knew of Christians who were good people and even still considered myself a Christian, I was so turned off by anything associated with it after that experience. I left broken, disheartened, and empty. 

 

And I wanted nothing to do with the Church.

But today, three years later, I realized I miss it.

I miss going to Church, the worship music, and the atmosphere. The community.

 

 Today was the start of something good, I felt it.

"…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4

Newness of life.

One step at a time.