Goodbyes are always hard. They were especially hard since I was bidding goodbye to the people and places that I had grown up around and just taken for granted would always be around me.
Nevertheless, I was excited about the trip. The plane ride was amazing, though I was sad watching my last view of America fade.
When we landed in England, we were worn out and tired. We tried to catch a few precious moments of sleep in the busy airport. I almost forgot--listening to those accents was great!
The second plane ride was much shorter. We could see the path of the airplane on screens, but best of all was looking out of the window as we neared Romania. The tops of the highest Carpathian Mountains' peaks stuck out of the blanket of white clouds.
In no time, the ride was over and we were already landing. The first thing that I saw outside was the Romanian flag, waving in the wind. I was a little nervous, meeting relatives that I don't remember. Our uncle drove us from the airport. Wow, did we sleep! When we weren't in the Land of Nod, it was exciting looking out of the windows. Night started to descend as we traveled to our new home.
Over the next few days, I noticed many differences between Romania and America. If anyone walks along the street, it would be amazing if he did not see at least one dog. Stray dogs are abundant here, and they may follow people (looking for food!) and occasionally bite them.
Living in the city in general is different. Along the sidewalk, there are huge gates connected to the sides of the houses that face the street. Usually, to get inside, there is a smaller opening that people walk through to get inside their yards. Often there are more buildings / homes behind the one that faces the street. Behind these are gardens, barns, sheds, and animal pens - my grandparents keep chickens.
Some of the roads here are nothing but mud and rocks. Walking on them... when it is raining... with my church shoes on---not a very good combination! Once we were driving on a "main road" in a village and saw two cows lumbering along, in the middle of the road! My uncle jokingly asked if any of us would like hamburgers.
One of the things that I will most definitely miss are "No Smoking" signs. Besides the airport (which is in the capital) I have not seen any such signs! Every government building that we entered smelled of smoke, because the people working there smoked constantly on the job!
I was surprised the first time I went into the grocery store close to where we live. It is a big store compared to the ones that line the streets. Anyway, this grocery store has at least two security guards patrolling inside!
An obvious change that I had anticipated, but had not thought would be this hard, was the language. When we first arrived, I thought I understood so much! But I had yet to learn that it is not that easy. Day after day, in social situations (especially church) people would recognize my parents and talk to me in Romanian. It is very awkward to say, "I don't know what you're saying" in English to someone who doesn't understand what I was saying!
Churches was a major change. In most Romanian churches, women sit on one side, and men sit on the other. Older women usually wear a head covering. Also another note for women: when going to most church services (especially on Sundays), you must wear a skirt or dress! Services on Sunday mornings are 3 hrs, and evening 2 hrs; other services (such as Christmas day, or second day of Christmas, services are 2 hrs as well. What impressed me about the church, though, was the devotion and offerings of the young people. Young men around 20 or so stand up and give short sermons. Little children (from about 3-12) prepare a song to sing together, and sometimes a verse or poem. The choir sings regularly.
Well, Alex and I went to youth group for the first time and I was amazed at how different it was. Everyone gathered in the sanctuary, and started out with announcements. They asked a little about us, and sang songs. Then leader quizzed everyone and they had to answer word-for-word a random verse from a passage (about a chapter) they were supposed to memorize. All the youth stood up to pray, and each one of them prayed.
The Carpathian Mountains look so close, especially when it is snowing on them. If I want to see them, I can just walk right outside of the house!
In the main square of Cisnadie (the town where we live) stands the biggest Christmas tree in Romania. Apart from the big cathedral opposite from it, that tree is the tallest thing in town (at 41 meters, we are told it is the second tallest Christmas tree in Europe).
Since my grandparents own chickens, we get to eat some fresh meat. One morning Mom called Alex and me to watch Bunica (grandma) kill a rooster for dinner. Alex watched the actual thing... I couldn't. But we all helped pluck its feathers. Negruț, the cat, watched all the while, meowing for some meat.
A wonderful thing here is the food - especially the desserts. There is always homemade jam in stock, and because it is Christmas time, cakes are abundant. The slogan is "Please, eat more!"
Nevertheless, I was excited about the trip. The plane ride was amazing, though I was sad watching my last view of America fade.
When we landed in England, we were worn out and tired. We tried to catch a few precious moments of sleep in the busy airport. I almost forgot--listening to those accents was great!
The second plane ride was much shorter. We could see the path of the airplane on screens, but best of all was looking out of the window as we neared Romania. The tops of the highest Carpathian Mountains' peaks stuck out of the blanket of white clouds.
In no time, the ride was over and we were already landing. The first thing that I saw outside was the Romanian flag, waving in the wind. I was a little nervous, meeting relatives that I don't remember. Our uncle drove us from the airport. Wow, did we sleep! When we weren't in the Land of Nod, it was exciting looking out of the windows. Night started to descend as we traveled to our new home.
Over the next few days, I noticed many differences between Romania and America. If anyone walks along the street, it would be amazing if he did not see at least one dog. Stray dogs are abundant here, and they may follow people (looking for food!) and occasionally bite them.
Living in the city in general is different. Along the sidewalk, there are huge gates connected to the sides of the houses that face the street. Usually, to get inside, there is a smaller opening that people walk through to get inside their yards. Often there are more buildings / homes behind the one that faces the street. Behind these are gardens, barns, sheds, and animal pens - my grandparents keep chickens.
Some of the roads here are nothing but mud and rocks. Walking on them... when it is raining... with my church shoes on---not a very good combination! Once we were driving on a "main road" in a village and saw two cows lumbering along, in the middle of the road! My uncle jokingly asked if any of us would like hamburgers.
One of the things that I will most definitely miss are "No Smoking" signs. Besides the airport (which is in the capital) I have not seen any such signs! Every government building that we entered smelled of smoke, because the people working there smoked constantly on the job!
I was surprised the first time I went into the grocery store close to where we live. It is a big store compared to the ones that line the streets. Anyway, this grocery store has at least two security guards patrolling inside!
An obvious change that I had anticipated, but had not thought would be this hard, was the language. When we first arrived, I thought I understood so much! But I had yet to learn that it is not that easy. Day after day, in social situations (especially church) people would recognize my parents and talk to me in Romanian. It is very awkward to say, "I don't know what you're saying" in English to someone who doesn't understand what I was saying!
Churches was a major change. In most Romanian churches, women sit on one side, and men sit on the other. Older women usually wear a head covering. Also another note for women: when going to most church services (especially on Sundays), you must wear a skirt or dress! Services on Sunday mornings are 3 hrs, and evening 2 hrs; other services (such as Christmas day, or second day of Christmas, services are 2 hrs as well. What impressed me about the church, though, was the devotion and offerings of the young people. Young men around 20 or so stand up and give short sermons. Little children (from about 3-12) prepare a song to sing together, and sometimes a verse or poem. The choir sings regularly.
Well, Alex and I went to youth group for the first time and I was amazed at how different it was. Everyone gathered in the sanctuary, and started out with announcements. They asked a little about us, and sang songs. Then leader quizzed everyone and they had to answer word-for-word a random verse from a passage (about a chapter) they were supposed to memorize. All the youth stood up to pray, and each one of them prayed.
The Carpathian Mountains look so close, especially when it is snowing on them. If I want to see them, I can just walk right outside of the house!
In the main square of Cisnadie (the town where we live) stands the biggest Christmas tree in Romania. Apart from the big cathedral opposite from it, that tree is the tallest thing in town (at 41 meters, we are told it is the second tallest Christmas tree in Europe).
Since my grandparents own chickens, we get to eat some fresh meat. One morning Mom called Alex and me to watch Bunica (grandma) kill a rooster for dinner. Alex watched the actual thing... I couldn't. But we all helped pluck its feathers. Negruț, the cat, watched all the while, meowing for some meat.
A wonderful thing here is the food - especially the desserts. There is always homemade jam in stock, and because it is Christmas time, cakes are abundant. The slogan is "Please, eat more!"
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