tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66463031602461503152024-03-05T05:05:37.180-08:00When in Romania...Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-10484685210765360942013-01-13T06:35:00.002-08:002013-01-13T06:37:58.689-08:00Moving on<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been several months since I last posted on this blog
because it has been several months since I left Romania. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When in Romania…” served a number of
purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With it, I was introduced to
blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In forcing myself to write at
a pretty consistent rate of 2 posts per month a pretty good-sized summary of my
experiences over the last few years has been produced. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to share these experiences with
friends and family but also to create a log that I can look back at, enjoy, reminisce.
Overall, it was a positive experience but one which as come to an end and it is
time to move on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since this blog is a record of my experiences as a Peace
Corps volunteer in Romania and I am no longer holding that position, I have
decided to retire the blog. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
experience of blogging itself has been a rewarding one and I have decided to
start a new blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My experience
traveling in Romania and in Europe has significantly changed my perspective on
the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contrary to my pre-Peace
Corps perspective, other countries and cultures close and far away, seem much
more accessible; the world seems much smaller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The name of my new blog is “<a href="http://smallworldlife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Life in a small world</a>”. Feel free to stop by. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-88829614686145588642012-09-25T07:33:00.000-07:002012-09-25T07:33:54.998-07:00La revedere Romania<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a long three years and from day one it was clear
that Peace Corps wasn’t going to be one of those experiences that would just
“fly by”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days are long when you’re
struggling to find out what is going on around you, days are long when you roam
around a large city with a 50 pound backpack, days are long when you’re
standing in front of 15 kids who think and know they can do whatever they want
and you can’t do anything about it, days are long when you see what you think
is the top but when you reach it you realize that there is much more climbing
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience over these past
three was surely a long one and it did not fly by, instead I would say that it
kind of dragged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say that time
flies when you’re having fun but I no longer agree with that statement
100%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the good times and the
bad, the challenges and the accomplishments, the experience was surely a fun
one, but it did not fly by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 1: PST</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This blog was started shortly after my first chapter in
Romania ended, Pre-service Training (PST).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>PST was 11 weeks of intense technical and language training that took
place in Targoviste, the old Romanian capital just 1.5 hours north of the
current one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PST is a time of training
but it is also a time when a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) gets to know fellow
group members, members of other groups already in-country, and Peace Corps
staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also a time to begin
working on integration into a new Romanian community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All trainees live with hosts during PST where
they must address both communication challenges as well as challenges adapting
to a new place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most nerve racking
experience of my life was the morning when I met my host and I’ll never forget
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once my host came and sat down in
the seat across from me my emotions were eased as she was a young student
speaking English, leading her brother and her mother through the experience of
hosting a volunteer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her brother, taller
than her but younger, stood next to her wearing corn-rows and a hip hop t-shirt
added some comedic relief to the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those three, led by my host sister Denisa, took my hand and
helped me through my first integration experience in Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They taught me so much about life in Romania
in such a short time and I’ll never forget our experiences hiking through the
field behind the house, visiting grandma in the next village down the road, or
sitting on the terasa eating dinner, a snack, or just chatting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PST Thank yous:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to my host family, Ofelia, Denisa, Iulian senior and
Iulian junior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to my fellow
volunteers who I kicked it with at the old man bar after sessions, to language
staff for making lessons fun and engaging, to training staff for all of the
planning and understanding when we fell asleep during sessions, to the PCVLs
and other PCV trainers for sharing their experiences and helping us through our
first weeks, and to the CD for his inspiring words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 2: Petrosani</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The stars aligned and I arrived in Petrosani.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t have conceived of a more fitting
location for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The small mining hub in
the west of Romania welcomed me in to its valley surrounded by beautiful
mountains following an exciting cruise through a winding gorge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Jiu valley is known throughout Romania as
being a pretty depressed region but it is known throughout Peace Corps Romania
as being an especially hospitable region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even though school was difficult at times I always had things to look
forward to in Petrosani, whether it be my English club on Tuesday or a nice
hike in Parang on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to
know the region well by kicking around it with my community member and maybe
even a few students or friends loyal to the idea of getting up kind of early to
have a good time on a Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
teaching English to students of Dimitrie Leonida those same students where
teaching me how things work in an industrial school in Romania, life in the Jiu
Valley, and how to motivate students in the classroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Petrosani is my second home and I will always
be looking forward to my next visit back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Petrosani Thank yous:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks to Ester for bringing me there, Anca and Zina for the
first welcome, and the rest of my colleagues for having me in their cancelaria,
chatting with me and having patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks
to Joel for being like an older, wiser brother showing me the ropes and introducing
me to some great people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to Leddy
and Dan for making me a part of their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Damians for all of the great conversation and practice, during and
after the tutor sessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sanda for the
Romanian help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alin, Arpi, and Amanda
for carrying our English club activities into friendships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last but most certainly not least, thanks to
Ernest for guiding me through life in Petrosani from start to finish, all of
the help, the daily coffees, good conversation, and for making this an
unforgettable experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 3: Bucharest</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After such a great time in Petrosani and progress with the
language, a one year extension was in order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The desire for something new led me to a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader
(PCVL) position at the Peace Corps office in Bucharest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This position gave me the opportunity to work
in an office, train fellow volunteers, work with a local NGO (MaiMultVerde),
and so much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In just one year I
feel like I accomplished much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
position as a volunteer coordinator at MaiMultVerde allowed me the opportunity
to meet volunteers, young and old, get to know them, and develop relationships
with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if I was only there for
just one year, those relationships made leaving Bucharest difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Peace Corps office was a great place for
me to sit around and chat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to know
the staff so well, see how things run at that level and also have time for some
volunteer support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though so much
hanging around and chatting goes on at the Peace Corps office, I felt that I
was working with an extremely professional group of people who are the best,
and do the best job that they can in the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned so much about work relationships at
the Peace Corps office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bucharest Thank yous:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PCV’s for your good conversations and telling me stories
about what’s happening at your sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The program team for always being there to help me with things that I’m
doing, questions that I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manuela
for the sweet sounds soothing me into an afternoon work jam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks to Courtney for sharing the experience
with me and being a great friend. Thanks to Sheila and Erin for the chatting
and guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally to all other PCRo staff
for doing what you do so well and welcoming me into the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All MMV staff for making me feel like part of
the team and for working so hard on projects that get Romanians out, lending a
helping hand for their environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
MMV volunteers for taking time out of your week to work a bit for a better
Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are all very special
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally thanks to Mihaela,
Flori, Tataia and Mamaia for welcoming to their family and making my Bucharest
a much brighter place for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Multumesc
pentru tot ceea ce ati facut pentru mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">O sa imi
fie dor de voi. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">Mai vedem
in curand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;">La
revedere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgvPKzbS_m1mLsm1yYQwGJ3FYmr6CF5xhuIWBt5FJ0uzqEYTeCEa4XWenlaUca1nAQplmY1TlF70sMBLhJYoWJ7pG6UKvS_m0gQcJlxbOsSKC-esxdcvJgn3ofcHU5T0KV0TWeMWJJalo/s1600/310820121338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgvPKzbS_m1mLsm1yYQwGJ3FYmr6CF5xhuIWBt5FJ0uzqEYTeCEa4XWenlaUca1nAQplmY1TlF70sMBLhJYoWJ7pG6UKvS_m0gQcJlxbOsSKC-esxdcvJgn3ofcHU5T0KV0TWeMWJJalo/s400/310820121338.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="PT-BR" style="mso-ansi-language: PT-BR;"> The crowd at the Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert on my last night in Romania. Thanks MMV for the tickets. A special and unexpected ending to a special experience. </span></div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-56897840064508829972012-08-21T14:40:00.000-07:002013-01-19T08:08:27.746-08:00Festival Season <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ten years ago it was the warped tour, five years ago it was
the Finger Lakes wine festival, and last weekend it was AdFel, a festival of
unconventional advertising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In between,
some of my personal favorites included Bonnarroo, grassroots, and Jazz
Freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summer time is festival time
and since the warped tours of my teenage years, summer festivals have always
proved to be unique experiences that produce some lasting memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though my favorites always seem to be the
music festivals (warped, bonnarroo, peninsula) there are other types of
festivals that I have also enjoyed over the years (harvest festival, wine fest,
beer fest, adfel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whatever the reason for celebration, summer seems to be the
time to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up until this year I never
really noticed that summer time is the festival season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the time I moved to Bucharest in
September 2011 I have been constantly keeping my ears and eyes open, searching
for fun things to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly it was
kind of slow at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know where
to look to find things that I would find interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When summertime came suddenly there were
always things going on and everything lasting more than one day was called a
festival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Adding to the excitement of summer and upcoming festivities,
a large part of my position as volunteer coordinator at MaiMultVerde (MMV) was
to actually work at some of those festivals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This perk to my job at MMV was a pleasant surprise when the warm weather
started rolling around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered a
desire I used to have to work for free festival tickets as a volunteer at
Bonnarroo and here I was, doing just that, at festivals in and around
Bucharest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was responsible for
arranging and coordinating volunteers at a MMV stand at four festivals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the stand we gave away some of our annual
reports, sold greeting cards to raise funds for a tree-planting activity, and
at times we rented out bicycles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling
from MaiMultVerde’s large community of volunteers I was able to schedule shifts
at the stands so that not only did we sell stuff and promote MMV, but we all
had opportunities to walk around the festival and enjoy what others were
offering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2pbMp1GW4wRTdsBCXpTm2X1HduXXMcsyDqBuAT5wC3Kj1m4zRlkTNMCVwEHB4Ke-HUF00EvG3vIlG6Jtd3j-Qv-AiXxFqZANEm4snS5ErzVZUU7-7zNpa0QZ2pBC16SM4DzYjsyifgKA/s1600/DSC04626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2pbMp1GW4wRTdsBCXpTm2X1HduXXMcsyDqBuAT5wC3Kj1m4zRlkTNMCVwEHB4Ke-HUF00EvG3vIlG6Jtd3j-Qv-AiXxFqZANEm4snS5ErzVZUU7-7zNpa0QZ2pBC16SM4DzYjsyifgKA/s320/DSC04626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our stand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Festival season began with Femei pe Matasari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matasari is a street in Bucharest known for
its shady characters and prostitution. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the story goes, a local photographer moved
into a house on the street and wanted to bring attention to the situation there
in a positive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing this he
started the festival Femei pe Matasari which means “the women on Matasari
street”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival itself is a kind
of an art festival bringing together local artist exhibiting and selling their
goods, and NGO’s recruiting people and gaining support in the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A stage was located at the end of the street
as each day’s activities culminated in a musical performance after the sun went
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The MMV stand had prime location
across the street from the festival house, under a wave of suspended umbrellas,
and next to a large patch of grass brought in for relaxation purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://www.cicloteque.ro/" target="_blank">cicloteque</a>
bikes were the hit of our stand but we did end up selling quite a bit with our
prime locations in a high-traffic area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recicloniada was a hot Friday afternoon under a small tent
spraying cool mist over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok that
wasn’t it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet again we had our annual
reports and greeting cards laid out next to our plastic collection container
resembling a tree trunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat there
with Elvy, an active MMV volunteer and good friend since my early days at the
NGO and Cristina, a fresh new face on the MaiMultVerde volunteer team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A chat about Zdob si Zdub commenced soon
after I noticed her strong Moldovan accent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We sat, awaiting customers that for the most part didn’t come, and of
course a concert that I had to miss for previous engagements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evening replacements actually made for a
fairly successful Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival
itself was put on by the organization leading Romania in its efforts to collect
recyclable material, Eco-Rom Ambalaje.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
free, day-long festival in the middle of Bucharest featuring some pretty well
known bands was there way of getting the word out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, I can’t say that the show was
free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entrance fee was 10 recyclable
items making for a clean old city center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz4VbVPOkO7ykyriMv75RjYbqwWUCONleetdQHDaX2yO6TPNJlIADaFWeYXlXevzPUc9Cu7k41YIsCOzzf_XiQoLBGCZO0FsxArZ-VVveDPvY4SCxWh4gxSjsJ9z9iakTduYZoV-5Krqv/s1600/DSC04781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRz4VbVPOkO7ykyriMv75RjYbqwWUCONleetdQHDaX2yO6TPNJlIADaFWeYXlXevzPUc9Cu7k41YIsCOzzf_XiQoLBGCZO0FsxArZ-VVveDPvY4SCxWh4gxSjsJ9z9iakTduYZoV-5Krqv/s320/DSC04781.JPG" width="240" /></a>B’Est Fest stands for Bucharest Fest and it is in its third
or forth year at this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could
possibly be the largest music festival in Bucharest even though this year it
wasn’t exactly in Bucharest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tunari, a
small village just beyond the northern boundary of the city hosted the festival
this year and a tent there hosted yours truly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>MaiMultVerde was located in Green Village at the festival, though few
would know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green Village, within sight
of the main stage, was not necessarily within sight of the spectators who
strolled by without noticing the stands, bright colors, bikes, and green of the
tent off to the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organizers of
Green Village attempted to attract attention to the area by setting up an
autograph series there but the only musician to actually show up when they were
supposed to was a friendly young singer named Millow who gained his fame from covering
a Justin Timberlake tune.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The long
festival hours over the course of several days allowed for much participation
on the part of MMV volunteers and during the few-day festival I had a chance
not only to work with some volunteers that I knew well from previous
activities, but also some new faces that will hopefully continue to take part
in MMV’s actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the weak
traffic at our stand the volunteers were determined to get the word out and
they took materials out of our tent to the crowds of festival goers to make the
weekend’s fundraising a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Music
highlight of B’Est included Garbage (never-ever thought I’d see this band),
Subcarpati, and Caro Emerald (great show).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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Adfel Festival is a festival of unconventional
advertising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The festival itself was
quite unconventional as it took place at a restaurant/club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MMV was located off to the side in the sandy
kids play area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though at times it
seemed like a location off to the side and out of sight, with a little help
from the organizers and some determination on the part of our volunteers we
ended up succeeding with raising some funds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our stand made a strong call against the desertification of Romania by calling
on the public to help us plant trees in order to avoid the looming threat of
water shortages and sandstorms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
process they could take a picture as a Bedouin with his camel to try and
foreshadow the unfavorable conditions if we continue cutting down trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found the whole bit to be quite nice and
fun especially considering our location in the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to the conditions, a co-worker of
mine invited his fire throwing friend by our stand to put on a pretty neat
show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Check it out below</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And so went festival season 2012 until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From what I hear there is a strong
possibility for some more festivals to pop up after my time here expires,
namely NGO Fest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally I am not an
effective salesman, never was, and never felt comfortable doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe this is why my great volunteer colleagues
and friends were more effective at selling greeting cards and trees than
I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I could sell and actually enjoy
selling are ideas that I believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>MaiMultVerde is one of those things that I believe in that I don’t mind
selling at least a bit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do I mean
by selling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw my job at the stand as
a promoter and recruiter of volunteers for the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My line was usually something to the effect
of “o and by the way, we’ll send you an invitation to come plant the tree that
you donate”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rewarding experience
for me is getting out and taking action, more so than dropping money into an
envelope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is that rewarding
experience that I think can make the lives of our supporters more rich and
exciting, while creating more involved and dedicated volunteers for
MaiMultVerde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I had the
opportunity to check out these cool summer festivals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com5Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074913500000008 25.451919899999996 44.800508500000007 26.742813899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-75923287933809576552012-07-31T11:58:00.003-07:002013-01-19T08:09:51.581-08:00VamaFrom day one the words were whispered through the training site halls. Those volunteers who had been here some time, who had traveled the country, who knew most of the other volunteers, were uttering the phrase. It could have either been the making of plans or the envious gossip but for a trainee just entering the country the words "Vama Veche" held a mystery and excitement in those first weeks of summer 2009. The mystery remained as so until last weekends long awaited jaunt to the seaside. <br />
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Over the past three years I've heard many mixed feelings about the beach-town Vama Veche but the opinions started flying from the very first week in the country when some group 25 volunteers were planning a repeat trip to the southern most village in Romania. "O Vama's crazy" they would say as I began asking about it. "What happens in Vama stays in Vama," they said as they continued to tell me their stories that probably should have been forgotten on their long road out of the sea-side village. Either way I had to find out more and after asking several people about it I continued to receive conflicting reports: "It's a rocker beach", "It's a hippie beach", "It's a nudist beach"; "It's too commercial now", "It's not commercial yet"; "you must go there", "you don't want to go there". It wasn't until recently that I realized the main deference between those reports that I was hearing: 100% of the positive opinions about vama veche came from people who had been there while nearly 100% of the not so positive comments were spoken by people who had only heard about the beach town. Those that had the experience were promoting it while those that hadn't had the experience somehow had it in their heads that its not a good place to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFct0vekTYCSMR7KPYSMXuMiRlaq2vC9uta6FZ033pND0uUx9Qyjqqp99JLYfL0hN3XUYnRG9kIANehKkKCsAZfrsJ5sKrGGYBBtINLlNyNUXK_2M-SSMYASeFYKlcAgHb0eonhFnDeLI6/s1600/DSC04851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFct0vekTYCSMR7KPYSMXuMiRlaq2vC9uta6FZ033pND0uUx9Qyjqqp99JLYfL0hN3XUYnRG9kIANehKkKCsAZfrsJ5sKrGGYBBtINLlNyNUXK_2M-SSMYASeFYKlcAgHb0eonhFnDeLI6/s320/DSC04851.JPG" width="240" /></a>Situated at the south-eastern corner of Romania, Vama Veche is a small Black Sea beach village bordering Bulgaria. Its location on the border saved it from the communist sea-side resort developments of Ceausescu's time that its planet named neighbors to the north went through (Neptune, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn). As the village gained notoriety throughout the 90's, partially for its nude beach, a campaign arose to keep it as it is. The Save Vama Veche campaign addressed tourist developments seen in the late 90s-early 2000's by hosting a protest concert, Stufstock, in 2003. The campaign has proved effective as local laws were passed halting any new major developments including the repairing of roads, and to this day Vama Veche remains free of large resort-style hotels blocking the view of the sea from the fields beyond the town.<br />
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Vama was all that I was hoping for and more. Its a true beach town with its vendors lined up pushing a bunch of all the same, walk-in fast food joints on the main strip, beach-side bars of all sorts, and beach chairs lined up at certain parts. The couple of the things that set it apart from typical beach towns are the reasons why people go to Vama. These include the lack of high-rise hotels, the numerous tents situated on the sand, the naked people down at the end, and the wide variety of people roaming up and down the main strip. Vama isn't a place for rockers like some say it is, its a place for anybody. At Vama you'll find rockers, nudists, normal families, people relaxing, people partying, music festival goers, early-risers, and all-night partiers. We found a nice spot to lay the tent, way up at the northern corner of the beach just beyond the nudists section. It was there where we could get just a bit of privacy. It was far enough from the town that we didn't hear any of the noisy beach-side bars when we were trying to sleep but it was still a pleasantly short walk in to the sandier part of the beach, restaurants, and the music festival. It was there that we made our home for a couple of nice cool nights on the seaside. <br />
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A festival is what we were after but it was only a small part of what we got there. Music is a great reason to get down to Vama as there are all kinds of music festivals there throughout the summer. We managed to catch the Jazz festival. Though I have seen jazz from time to time I have never been to a jazz festival. We saw some really great acts but the ones that impressed me the most were the Romanian acts that closed out the nights. The Romanian music wasn't so much jazz as it was jam. The sounds of the rapid pounding <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDw8yGJ34J4&feature=related" target="_blank">tambal</a> mixed with the legendary drums of Ovidiu Liviu Tandarica to produce some "wake-up" music as it followed some soothing jazz that nearly put me out. Despite the great music my old age got the better of me and I decided to call it a night at 2ish rather than to stay for the entire show. Walking past the tent we passed "The Stuff" a club on the sand pumping out loud music and good times for some. As for me the loud music fainted as I slowly approached the tent and my bed for the evening.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY2xHn0FX1oavLJQvuLIbc-lZFS4DLKTd5jwOA_macDUOIxg8Curw4Bx68oAl7LcebOQf_MWGgMPyikKmbvC_IWrPR6S6KkQLr7BIcH7gUTJhDErdSwvK50go0sCo-nK5bivWjf4-kcBW/s1600/DSC04842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY2xHn0FX1oavLJQvuLIbc-lZFS4DLKTd5jwOA_macDUOIxg8Curw4Bx68oAl7LcebOQf_MWGgMPyikKmbvC_IWrPR6S6KkQLr7BIcH7gUTJhDErdSwvK50go0sCo-nK5bivWjf4-kcBW/s320/DSC04842.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
The days were spent on the beach in all meaning of the phrase. Laying out, reading, swimming through waves and against currents, and of course putting down some cold refreshing beers were all main activities of the day. I remembered when I was little and I went to the beach with my family. Knowing that it would be the only couple of days that year that I would see the ocean, I took in all of the wonderful sights, sounds, and especially feelings of the beach. Feeling the wind against your bare chest, the sand through your tows, and the waves crash into you. The waves of the Atlantic always seemed much larger than these at the Black Sea. Is it the difference in size of the body of water or the person standing in it? Just like those times when I was at the beach as a kid I had to leave eventually even though I didn't want to.<br />
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The trip back to Bucharest was a tough one. Sunday evening is not a good time to leave the beach mainly because it is the time that everyone wants to leave the beach. After spending a couple of hours on a hot mini-bus in traffic we switched to a hot, overcrowded train to add another 3 hours to our trip. Factoring in the travel time there and back I wouldn't go to Vama without staying at least two nights, which makes it necessary to take off either a Monday or a Friday. I wonder if I'll be able to get back down there one more time before I leave Romania.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XV20dMwM30U" width="420"></iframe>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com3Vama Veche, Romania43.7529244 28.5725486999999743.7070449 28.491867699999972 43.798803899999996 28.653229699999969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-47856530427852193682012-07-11T10:18:00.005-07:002012-07-11T10:18:56.701-07:00In directIts not a Peace Corps volunteer's job to be in the spotlight. If anything it's a PCV's job to not be in the spotlight, to sit back behind the scenes and work with host country nationals at host organizations to empower others to make positive changes in their communities which, at times attracts some spotlight to the organization. That spotlight is seen as a good thing. If you've ever seen the Michael Moore documentary "Bowling for Columbine" then you realize that its much better for NGO's, school teachers, religious organizations and even large corporations to be shown in the media doing good things in their communities than the constant violence and scandal that we see so often view in news, shows and movies today. The good deeds represent a breath of fresh air and a small 30 second break from the much larger advertizing breaks convincing you to consume, and news program filled with negativity. I knew that moving to the capital city would get me a bit closer to the media hoopla but I never imagined that people would one day be coming up to me telling me that they saw me on tv. <br />
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In previous posts I have spoken of the reoccurring instances of a volunteers having to step out of their comfort zones where they end up learning more about themselves and potentially contributing to positive change in the process. Often times volunteers end up in news clips speaking both about Peace Corps and about their individual projects. I believe for the most part that the awareness and consciousness that the media provides in this case is good, if not only to give the viewer a sense that there are good things happening aside from the violence and scandal that they would normally be viewing. <br />
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Despite the occasional PCV making their way in front of a camera I never really saw myself managing well in such a position and during my first two years of service in Petrosani I managed to avoid it for the most part. Working for a pretty high-profile NGO in the capital hasn't afforded me the same level of comfort. Since being in Bucharest I can count a few instances where I could have been seen by the masses. A couple of Fridays ago I found myself speaking in front of a camera twice in a day. The first instance was an unexpected interview at a recycling event where I explained some of the goals and projects of the non-profit that I work for. The second instance was a nerve-racking spot on a nationally televised tv program entitled "Trezeste Romania" which translates to "Wake-up Romania". The goal of the program is to show Romanians that make a positive difference in their communities. Though I'm not a Romanian making a positive difference in my community I was there to support my host organization in promoting volunteerism for the environment, their mission statement. <br />
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I went to the program in a van filled with some of our most active volunteers, people who give up their weekends to help my host organization, MaiMultVerde, effectively conduct large scale tree-planting activies or help us raise funds for such actions. Just minutes before the program began I was notified by the host that I would only have to answer a couple of questions easing my nerves just a bit. Regardless, the setting of bright lights pointing in every direction, numerous cameras moving around the room, and the thought of speaking Romanian to a national audience boosted my anxiety as the moment approached. <br />
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The experience was one that I won't forget but one that I despise watching. I was once before on a different program and I couldn't bring myself to watch it. This time I did take some minutes to watch the program the following day and I realized that it was the first time I have ever heard myself speaking Romanian. Now I realize why so many people make fun of my accent, which is something that I can laugh about.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJ5hFzaXUZCwkePRxYsELrC4RI0uLxey-rdOPBH6TVQ0GuzL5XzRebAANtJq5SsszYaWghy7J6MZj8su7HOizg3bYZAUnQmLlW9A8lv11tzmEicGLnVJ8TwDXSEJRWxpxmO_x-kNPlxxm/s1600/mmvteam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJ5hFzaXUZCwkePRxYsELrC4RI0uLxey-rdOPBH6TVQ0GuzL5XzRebAANtJq5SsszYaWghy7J6MZj8su7HOizg3bYZAUnQmLlW9A8lv11tzmEicGLnVJ8TwDXSEJRWxpxmO_x-kNPlxxm/s640/mmvteam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MaiMultVerde team with the host of Trezeste Romania</td></tr>
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You can see the program in the link below but keep in mind that the program is in Romanian and I only say a couple of phrases. Aside from speaking to MaiMultVerde, the host presented a Romanian peace-worker and a rugby player who lost the use of his legs in a tragic accident on the field. The rugby player's story of perseverance in working to regain as much mobility as possible inspired a stranger to present a pretty meaningful gift on the show. <br />
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http://www.realitatea.net/emisiuni/trezesteromania.html#emisiune29Iunie2012-2100Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-55415539634253501042012-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:002013-01-19T08:12:18.820-08:00KotorDescending from the clouds at a forty-five degree angle, first white rock, then green grasses until the landmass, one of the many ridges, disappeared into the gray waters of the Bay of Kotor. Following the closest ridge up from small city uncommon structures appear in the hillside. Uncommon only in shape next to the craggy rock landscape, the first church appears up on the mountain. Yes that's right, a church, "we're in Christian country" I thought, when aren't we in Christian country. <br />
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First built by the Romans and later governed by Serbia, the Republic of Ragusa and Venice the small medieval city is now a part of one of the newest countries of Europe, Montenegro. The language once spoken in this hidden town on the Adriatic coast was Dalmatian, the romance language that at one point most closely resembled Romanian but now it is a dead language. Nowadays you hear mostly Serbian echoing through the narrow streets but English, Italian and German are also common tones. The Vrmac tunnel completed in 2007 gave the town access to the Adriatic coastal route making it easy to ship foreigners in by bus, at least the ones that can't afford the Adriatic cruise liner. Despite the easier access, Kotor is a breath of fresh air next to Dubrovnik. Tour groups stroll the streets in the morning but on a May evening the terasas are filled with empty seats, giving the wandering backpacker a romantic sense that they found the gem they had been looking for after much time on the road.<br />
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Years ago I saw a poster on a wall with an image of a place where the mountains met the sea. The picture could have been taken in one of many locations throughout the world and though that particular place isn't something that stuck so well in my mind, the idea of it did and it became a dream of mine. If given the choice between the mountains or the sea I would choose the mountains, but knowing that there are places where both wonders exist and mesh together so well I decided that someday I would be there, at least to see it. Kotor was that place where I could both see and enjoy it.<br />
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Rising high above the barely coastal town is Lovcen, a national park of high mountain peaks where the poet and national hero Njegos peacefully rests. A full day of hiking will probably get you to his burial place and back to Kotor before nightfall during peak summer hours. The nicely, beaten down shepherd road will take you through a series of switchbacks rising quickly out of town until you reach a forest partly shielding you from the beating sun or unexpected storm. Another hour of climbing and you arrive at the road winding along the mountainside as it connects the bay with the old capital city several kilometers inland. The hike is intense and physically straining but you're reminded of its value each time you stop and take a look around you.<br />
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The bay is full of wonders from the steps of the fortress walls high above the city of Kotor to the steps of the island church Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rock). Its an artificial island off the coast of the small fishing village of Perast. They say that there used to be an annual tradition in the village to row out to a certain point in the bay and through a rock in. Eventually the rocks piled up to make a small island where the church now stands. Though the islands are the main attraction, an easy stroll through town is the unforeseen wonder of Perast. Small boats line the water's edge with old stone buildings situated across the only drivable street in town. Locals struggle to keep there boats from violently crashing against the concrete walkway after a cruise-ship out in the bay slowly crawls along trying to find its narrow exit. The tiny town is starting to see some of the effects of tourism, both positive and negative. <br />
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Its those places that you never heard of or thought of going that hold some of the greatest secrets. I'm sure that the Bay of Kotor holds many secrets and three days is hardly enough time to uncover them. Kotor itself appears to be a secret just recently uncovered. Looking at Kotor from high above the bay you can see that it is tucked away in the bay's most secluded corner, hidden from the vastness of the sea. After visiting such a quiet old city you're glad that the secret was uncovered just enough for you to discover it but hope that word doesn't reach the masses. I didn't see a single highrise there, and I hope I never do. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKN9SEb1zLTSYgCEOrS2HHe1IZ84kinn5kxwtrCz2P9x0hAN1vsDBONq6RYk3c8dD7062S1oq0nNzn-oeqNj3hW4b0HGtBvv2NgKb7X14Ij8A3lgsT3HYBftddh6OAcV-HZL-s4r1BArt/s1600/DSC03867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKN9SEb1zLTSYgCEOrS2HHe1IZ84kinn5kxwtrCz2P9x0hAN1vsDBONq6RYk3c8dD7062S1oq0nNzn-oeqNj3hW4b0HGtBvv2NgKb7X14Ij8A3lgsT3HYBftddh6OAcV-HZL-s4r1BArt/s640/DSC03867.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perast and the two islands in the bay, the Island of St. George and Our Lady of the Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqxNfmvAIFc1u5MFNpEdE5XhXfT1ccV2T9i-1bHdYyvdujt4qkgPev2Tv7P7yZrHgvRaGcc_Zu1yPBeKvtNGPvhvYSl_W2eLBSS8Au0cp9Q8rwjnPIK_VG5NvFuQ_qOKVv4OUcfuBs1bu/s1600/DSC03964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqxNfmvAIFc1u5MFNpEdE5XhXfT1ccV2T9i-1bHdYyvdujt4qkgPev2Tv7P7yZrHgvRaGcc_Zu1yPBeKvtNGPvhvYSl_W2eLBSS8Au0cp9Q8rwjnPIK_VG5NvFuQ_qOKVv4OUcfuBs1bu/s400/DSC03964.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A walk through the village of Perast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The switchback leading up the mountain and out of Kotor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view looking down on the bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small church on they way up to the fortress above Kotor</td></tr>
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com2Kotor, Montenegro42.5740261 18.64131450000002142.1990961 17.995867500000021 42.9489561 19.286761500000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-11656090796166866302012-06-26T09:19:00.000-07:002013-01-19T08:13:35.780-08:00PIFFAt the beginning Peace Corps seems like one big step outside of your comfort zone. You ship off with a bunch of new people to a place where you are injected into the local culture and you are supposed to adapt and get used to it, a thing they call integration. The idea is that after you're integrated you can effectively function at your site and the pain of that step outside of your comfort zone wears off. It turns out that it doesn't stop there. In fact, that big jump out of your comfort zone is followed by a series of smaller yet similar steps out. Maybe it is the desire for a PCV to keep things fresh or it could be the "Yes Man" philosophy to integration that pre-service training pushes. Whatever it is, after over three years in Peace Corps this past weekend I found myself yet again stepping outside of my comfort zone to present selective collection workshop at an international film festival. <br />
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The name of the festival is the Pelicam International Film Festival (PIFF). The title combined the word "pelican", representing the festival's nature theme and its location at the entrance of the Danube Delta, and te work "camera", indicating its focus on film. Weeks before I received a message from my colleague with the offer to go and present, as a MaiMultVerde (MMV) representative in Tulcea. I jumped at the chance, knowing that Tulcea was on the edge of the Delta, a region that I have yet to visit. As the event slowly approached my emotions gradually lifted and I spent the four days leading up to the event studying selective collection and MMV's stance on the issue. Taking on this particular responsibility was a jump out of my comfort zone for a few reasons. - 1) I am no expert on the topic of collective selection but I will probably be seen somewhat as one. 2) I'm not a great public speaker and though I can usually handle myself in front of a crowd its a different story in another language(that being Romanian). 3) Though I found myself on a bus to Tulcea with a bunch of other "invitees" I did not know any of them. 4) Finally, I prepared a nice presentation that included a short documentary produced by MMV in 2010 but it was supposed to be a "workshop", not necessarily a presentation, whatever that means. Despite these measures that worked to raise my level of anxiety I knew one thing that I have realized more in PC than anywhere else which is that "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger" and I figured that the experience would be a valuable one that I would learn from. <br />
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It was the first edition of PIFF and after arriving, getting settled in, visiting the venue and speaking with the organizers I had the sense they were quite nervous about how everything would come off. Despite this sense of nervousness, from the beginning the festival seemed well organized. There was a photo exhibit in the lobby, there was already information available about the festival and its program, there were posters all over town, I was able to get into the workshop room a day early to check out the room and test the equipment. Already, after the first couple hours of being in Tulcea I felt more comfortable about presenting and I felt honored to have the chance to be a part of the festival. That evening I attended the opening of the festival where a great movie about the Bolivian water wars, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422032/" target="_blank">Tambien la lluvia</a>, played to mark the start of a nice weekend of films highlighting environmental issues. <br />
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Tulcea is an old port city on the Danube dating back to 7th century BC. It is the take-off point for anyone wanting to venture into the UNESCO world heritage site, the Danube Delta. Tulcea is also quite a diverse city with Romanians, Turks, Russians, Roma and other minorities present. Near our hotel in the center of the city I found a set of three statues including a Ukrainian, a Romanian, and Ataturk. The walk along the water is not an extremely pretty walk but its usually nice to be by the water watching the boats and checking out the restaurant boats parked along the water's edge. I used the word "usually" because I found out fast on my Friday evening stroll along the water that the place was swarming with mosquitoes, so much that I preferred to retire early to my hotel room. If you go to Tulcea in the summer, limit your nice water-side walks to early mornings when it is cool and there are not so many mosquitoes out to eat you up. The following morning I walked up to Independence Monument which provided a nice panoramic view of the city. The monument was erected for the soldiers who fought to free the country from Ottoman rule from 1877 to 1888. Other highlights of Tulcea include an aquarium/museum, a nice center square which hosted a concert, a film viewing from PIFF and a farmers market where I bought some smoked cheeze, and a lake on one end of the city where fishermen gather along one side and swimmers gather along a beach on another side. Surely I took advantage of most of what Tulcea had to offer. Unfortunately it's main attraction, the Danube Delta, I had to put off until my next visit.<br />
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The films that I caught where both entertaining and relevant. Aside from the opening film, I caught an Austrian documentary called "Plastic Planet", my second viewing of "Gassland", a film about the wild horses of the Delta called "Gone Wild", and a short film about the disappearing Aral Sea. The documentary "Plastic Planet" nicely followed my presentation on selective collection and it comically showed the impact of plastic in our lives by having people take all of their plastic items from there homes and put them on their front lawns. The image of a family sitting in plastic lawn chairs surrounded by everything from toys to clothes to household appliances remains in my thoughts a week later. I guess that's the purpose of a documentary. I chose to see "Gassland" a second time because a debate/discussion followed the viewing focusing on the status of fracking in Romania and Europe. It was so interesting to me that such a heated topic in my home on the other side of the world has become the same here in Romania. Finally "Gone Wild" was shown as the festival's closing film and it highlighted a phenomenon close to home in Tulcea with the wild horse population growing in the Danube Delta. <br />
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Once again I find myself taking a step outside of my comfort zone and not only learning and growing from it but also experiencing a new place and new people. My emotions subsided as I had some time to chat with the small audience before beginning my presentation. A couple of guys in the audience were especially active with their comments which led to an overall constructive discussion regarding the status, opinions and education regarding recycling in Romania. The festival organizers were especially friendly and they helped me to get to know and get along with the other invitees as we hung out and talked until early morning hours after the festival's closing celebration. Looking back I realize that in order to have these nice, memorable experiences you not only have to accept those invitations to step outside of your sphere of comfort but you have to also invite those invitations. If I never let it be known to my colleagues that I would like to get down to the Delta sometime I wouldn't have experienced PIFF.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com4Tulcea, Romania45.179932 28.8063389999999845.135161000000004 28.725657999999981 45.224703 28.887019999999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-50813359472670914832012-06-12T11:52:00.001-07:002013-01-19T08:14:39.901-08:00iRAF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As we strolled into the venue I was taken back to the first time I laid my eyes on such a scene. It was a dusty gray yard surrounded by red brick buildings degrading in front of your eyes. The level of activity on the ground was far less then the speakers would care to indicate as they were pumping out tunes from Romania's oldest DJ. This was the opening scene of a festival much like one I attended at the very same venue months before. Looking out from the stage the performer sees a medium sized field of grey dust, the remains of the degrading foundations surrounding the area. One of those very foundations toward the back was where some other concert goers happened to be waiting, eating, drinking. Atop the foundation to the right is a brick building with a much larger whole in it than what I remembered from my last visit. The main permanent feature of the grounds is a large brick tower in the center whey they were serving beer in September but since then they must have realized the roof could come down at any moment because this time the beer was located under a tent next to the tower. The grounds were dead but it was only the beginning and we knew it would pick up once the DJ exited stage right to allow some actual musical instruments to tune up and get the show started. In the meantime I decided to look at a photo exhibit installed on some graffitied walls to the left of the stage. <br />
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The photo exhibit was enough to get me into the cultural event at hand, more so than the film it followed anyway. The day began with a showing of a film about the Roma Holocaust. The topic of the film was more interesting than the film itself and I blame that on the setting. The viewing took place an hour late in an dark underground bar on a nice summer afternoon. Subtitles in English didn't exist and the ones in Romanian I couldn't see anyway as the statues of my eyesight continues to degrade, especially in dark places. The photo exhibit on the other hand was located out in the sun where I could actually read its good amount of text. The photos depicted a group of nomadic Roma from Transylvania. If you've ever seen Roma in movies, pictures, or listened to songs romanticizing their life then these are probably the ones you've heard of. <br />
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Vojasa, pronounced voyasa, was the first band to go on and from the start they proved not to disappoint beginning the show with just two of there members on stages playing a unique percussion opening. From start to finish the container playing musician spat beats into the microphone bringing back memories of Ternipe on the same stage in September. The music, very similar to Ternipe, consisted of traditional Roma tunes with more of a rock feel supporting it from behind. Suddenly the dust pile in front of the stage was being kicked around by a good sized crowd unable to stand still in the presence of such an energetic sound. By the end of their show, a word unknown to much of the ex-pat crowd, "Vojasa" was being chanted loudly throughout the venue.<br />
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The energy was pushed up a notch by the nights headliner band out of Belgium, Antwerp Gypsy Ska Orchestra. A couple of days earlier I listened to one or two of their tunes online and I wasn't all that impressed by the music but I could see the energy they brought to the stage and knowing a bit about ska music from my younger punk rock days I was confident that in the moment I would dig it. Sure enough the music just intensified my own dancing and the entire group I was with moved right up to the stage to get the full effect. The combination of the brass section, dancing onstage, and the charismatic front man made for a show that you want to last all night. Unfortunately they were cut off shortly after 11. <br />
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Once again Roma music at Gradina Uranus proved to be a great show and a great experience that I hope to catch at least once more before I leave this part of the world. Last year's <a href="http://wheninromania-andy.blogspot.ro/2011/09/festival-balkanik.html" target="_blank">Balkan Fest</a> was in September and in the September to come I just may be roaming back through the area to catch round two of that show. Either way I am sure to be bringing this music along with me wherever I go as music by bands like Ternipe and Mahala Rai Banda never fail to put a smile on my face and a jump in my step. <br />
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074913500000008 25.451919899999996 44.800508500000007 26.742813899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-33660607394163262012012-05-31T11:43:00.003-07:002012-05-31T11:43:35.083-07:00“Lets do it” round 3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
“Lets do it Romania” has become the national day of picking
up trash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, May 12<sup>th</sup>,
was 2012’s “Lets do it Romania”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
the past two years the event has been held in September but the date, and even
the season, was changed this year so that it would coincide with the same event
in some of the other countries in the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In one day volunteers throughout Romania, the Republic of Moldova,
Bulgaria, and Turkey picked up trash out of rivers, streams, forests,
roadsides, fields, or wherever they saw large amounts of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does it work?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jZYprsA-tDJYFMD_qUsj3ltsYUbKqWDxWkrpskFxwiHkvZ2-ncugRuLEMoy0p-8f-GFZOEyt6YvxeAHdIcgDjdGrwq1XqSJnh8MF8x_DS-7MpghjgtkF1kEk6IjCoAmOYmIItrY0rfJx/s1600/Lets-do-it-Romania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jZYprsA-tDJYFMD_qUsj3ltsYUbKqWDxWkrpskFxwiHkvZ2-ncugRuLEMoy0p-8f-GFZOEyt6YvxeAHdIcgDjdGrwq1XqSJnh8MF8x_DS-7MpghjgtkF1kEk6IjCoAmOYmIItrY0rfJx/s320/Lets-do-it-Romania.jpg" width="227" /></a>“Lets do it Romania” is registered as a non-governmental
organization (NGO) in Romania but it is also affiliated with “Lets do it
World”, organizing on an international level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the months leading up to the event anybody can contact the NGO and
report a location that has a lot of garbage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They report the coordinates, information about the terrain, and roughly
how many bags of garbage that can be cleaned up in the respective zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The locations are registered on a map and in
the weeks leading up to the event team leaders register their team and choose a
location that they will be responsible for cleaning on the national clean-up
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Team leaders are volunteers and
they lead teams of volunteers to clean up the zone that they choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also in the weeks leading up to the event a
marketing campaign is launched which includes commercials, celebrities,
posters, and other various marketing strategies both on-line and off in an
effort to gather a large amount of volunteers for the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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On the national clean-up day teams gather, they either
provide their own supplies or receive supplies (gloves and garbage bags) from
the NGO or local authorities, and they set off for a few hours of picking up everything
from old cloths to plastic bottles to spare bike parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the even volunteers are urged to get
online and officially state that they volunteered for the event, and to
register the amount of trash bags that they filled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The numbers are important in that they help
to measure the impact of the action which in turn justify funds for future
“Lets do it Romana” events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Need:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After being involved in the activity 3 times now I have had
a lot of opportunities to reflect on what we are actually doing when we pick up
the trash, and why the need for a national clean-up day exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trash that volunteers pick up each year
is trash thrown down by other people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both
last year and this year I found myself in an area with a lot of trash concentrated
in one location, essentially someone’s personal dump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed that in areas outside of cities and
towns, in villages and also at construction sites further from town you find
piles of waste, weather it be single-use bottles or unused construction materials
literally just thrown in a pile and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I suppose it is much easier for people to find a place close-by and
somewhat hidden to dispose of their waste than to rent a dumpster, or somehow
transport their garbage to a place where it can be collected and disposed of in
a designated landfill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a couple of things that need to change in this
situation and the local authorities are responsible for both of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There shouldn’t be a need to gather up people
on a single day during the year to pick up after others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off, local governments need to provide
a trash pick-up service to their citizens and to the citizens on the edge of
town or even in nearby villages that don’t necessarily have the resources to be
able to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, the local
governments need to consider littering a police priority at least until the
mentality about littering changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
need to target those people and companies doing the most littering and impose
heavy fines that will in-turn fund the trash-pick up service and police
salaries of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Impact:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Lets do it Romania” activates thousands of volunteers in
all regions of Romania and as a volunteer activity it does help to encourage
civic responsibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The event also
does much to actually clean up the country as thousands of bags and I don’t
know how many tons of trash are collected from areas where the trash would have
otherwise remained for years to come polluting both the view, and the ground water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion the largest impact that “Lets
do it” has is awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Littering is a
problem that everybody knows about but without “Lets do it” I’m not so sure
that anybody would do anything about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve seen people complaining about their dirty town and then later on
throwing their trash or cigarette butts on the ground, contributing to the
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though volunteers from all
age groups volunteer for the event the event’s advertizing is certainly
targeting a younger generation, mostly adolescents and college aged
students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Targeting this younger group and
teaching them these values through volunteer activities helps to ensure a
cleaner future for Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past 3 years “Lets do it” has been growing in
Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started off on the right
foot with an aggressive marketing campaign in the first year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second year I saw more benefits for
volunteers (t-shirts, materials) encouraging participation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third year I saw a “Lets do it” make a
small push for selective collection, making the activity a bit more difficult for
the volunteer but with an increased educational and environmental impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the nature of the event is advocating for
a cleaner future, the logical next step for “Lets do it” is to get involved and
encourage its volunteers to get more involved in advocacy for a cleaner
environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this I mean putting
pressure on local authorities to make better decisions so as to help eliminate
the need for a national clean-up day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
this point in Romania it is financially a better option for construction
companies to leave all of their waste in one place rather than rent a dumpster
for proper disposal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is financially a
better option for individuals to throw their garbage in a nearby forest than to
transport it to a place that will dispose of it properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The need for a national clean-up day won’t
dissolve unless this is addressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Companies need economic benefits for proper disposal whether it is a tax
break or avoidance of a fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Individuals need a better option, a garbage collection service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If these changes aren’t made, a national day
of some citizens cleaning up after others will turn into a sad tradition that
will only frustrate the public rather than the hopeful volunteer action that it
is today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-20320449678133672202012-05-31T11:22:00.000-07:002013-01-22T15:21:05.676-08:00Primavara in Petrosani<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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A travel opportunity arose as worker's day rolled around
in Romania as well as probably all former communist states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worker’s day is the first of May and a national holiday. This means that its an official day off in Romania and many people go to the
seaside as it marks the opening of the season there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my understanding that if you’re Romanian
and you don’t make it to the seaside on the first of May then you probably have
a picnic or a barbeque if the weather is nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I decided that instead of descending to sea level like many people from
Bucharest are doing I’d climb in elevation and head to the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Former Peace Corps Volunteer Leaders have
taken time on a monthly basis to make it back to their Romanian homes where
they lived and worked their first two years of service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I have not followed the trend
and finally I took the chance to make it back to
Petrosani for the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The decision to revisit Petro City seemed almost
destined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After visiting a few weeks ago
with Wes in a depressing rain, my desire to hit the mountains only
deepened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bitter-sweet event that is
the COS conference took place in the days leading up the beautiful 1 May
weekend in Petrosani and it happened in Cluj.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The location worked out perfectly as I could easily take a longer but
still direct route back to Bucharest while stopping for a couple of days in
Petrosani.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday being an extra day off
leading up to the first of May and making for a 4 day weekend was the third
major reason to return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally the
“cherry on top” was the weather, forecasting sun and warmth during the entire
weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been a crime for
me to sit around in Bucharest in such conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Cascada Lazar</div>
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<br /></div>
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The best days are the discovery days and this was one of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one of those days when you
wake up in the morning knowing “x”, have had these “y” experiences until now
and thinking “z” about what there is to come, and when you go to bed that
evening all of those values have changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The destination was talked about a bit,
documented a bit, little more than a rumor, certainly unplotted and it was
the day’s goal to find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time
this happened I found myself in a field of thick evergreens pulling myself
along, struggling to find a way. Eventually the way was found, the day was complete
and it remains unforgettable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6646303160246150315#editor/target=post;postID=259889832784214896" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">See Lacul Burtan</b></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time the destination was a waterfall and
though it didn’t require the same amount of struggle as Lacul Burtan, the mere
fact that it was unmarked added to the adventure, which might end up preparing
me a bit for those unmarked high peaks in the ADK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waterfall is Lazar Falls and it is
located in the mighty Retezat Mountains of Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOISCnGumhyOun9AHNlpNpJjDds2vFqZKHItMP-wFZp8J47lEb-yNG8NW6GcqPJy15CHnXu3APxdTSMb4JePqVwgQZ5U690qX63XkOWe0hJVN9btiTNhWzxMmkBbSQ3D2Z-wtW_soORl0X/s1600/DSC02593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOISCnGumhyOun9AHNlpNpJjDds2vFqZKHItMP-wFZp8J47lEb-yNG8NW6GcqPJy15CHnXu3APxdTSMb4JePqVwgQZ5U690qX63XkOWe0hJVN9btiTNhWzxMmkBbSQ3D2Z-wtW_soORl0X/s320/DSC02593.JPG" width="320" /></a>Ernest, Doamna Grecu and myself were back at it again like
we were during so many weekends when I was residing in the small miner/mountain
region of Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time Doamna
Grecu’s son who has a passion for photography joined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t hard to find someone in the Jiu
Valley that has a passion for photography as there are countless places and
moments in nature there that you simply must immortalize in a digital
file.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See the “stories in picture form”
link list to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last major
hike took place in the same region, the southern edge of the Retezat
Mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though they are not the
highest peaks in Romania or even in the region, some of the most beautiful sights
that I have experienced have happened there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The snow-covered peaks shined brightly in the morning sun but where soon
forgotten when the road thinned out and we were following a stream up through
thick forests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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The central point of the hike was a grass covered bridge
that somehow had a boulder fall down on it, taking a large chunk out of its far
left side making it impassable by car and leaving the upper half of the road
just for those on foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only there
were more bridges like this one that the mountain declared war on, leaving even
more wild places for those willing to get out of their mobile rooms and feel
the rocks under the soles of their shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Throughout the day the bridge served as a resting spot, a water refill,
a seat, a kitchen table, a bed and a crossroads.</div>
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<br /></div>
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First we crossed the bridge choosing the path that led us to
our destination, Lazar Falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
waterfall was about 15 meters high and after a short struggle we found a good
spot to take some photos from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the
other guys where taking photos I decided to explore the area in search of an
overhead view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The view I didn’t really
find but I did make it to the other side of the waterfall where the trail
seemed to end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided that there
must be more but maybe in another direction so we returned to the grass covered
bridge to eat lunch and consider another route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After lunch we headed up another stream by the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That stream took us over some rough terrain
and before going too far we found a small waterfall to rest at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group decided to call it quits there,
rest and head back but there was talk of a higher waterfall somewhere in the
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my experiences with waterfalls
in the great finger lakes region of New York State, you might find a couple
small ones here and there but if you keep heading up the river it is very
possible to find a large impressive one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw a curve in the river not far up and while the others were resting
I decided instead to explore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
beyond the curve there was a series of 3 small waterfalls with a fourth large
waterfall following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After catching a
closer look I noticed that the forth one, though hard to get to, was even
higher than Cascada Lazar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is
what others on forums called Cascada Maria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz2P-5nIzNCpuY2gJl61UGWQGNdYQwTOFUz6wieQ9FG67VbDEqGgSmrSGyFzs9mMFWzf2G0QG6W0iHrmAf8bw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following my discovery I returned to the group to report the
findings but eventually we ended up descending down to the main road to end my
first of three hikes this springtime in Petrosani.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cascada Lazar was on a Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday and Monday I participated in hikes
that I have done before but really enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sunday hiked in Parang on one of my favorite trails which took use to a
ski area, a large rock where I took a nap and a descent past sheepfolds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The views of Parangul Mic
from Partia Slima on a sunny spring day are amazing when the top of the snow
capped peak shines against the light blue sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Monday’s hike took us to up to Straja with a decent down Braita.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a few locations along the trail downed
trees presented an obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These trees
along with the steep descent, uneven trail and heavy leaf coverage made for a
slow, exhausting hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite our
challenges it was a great day of hiking through the forest alongside waterfall
after waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We exited the forest
joining the number of groups of barbequers out to get a tan and spend some time
in nature on their day off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the
Monday before May Day, a long weekend and a beautiful day when we stopped for a
much appreciated beer at a small cafe just off the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhPyQKo_BqtWojvTNTpLR9AmWMLMvCVLOHoMRBQUjrRBFwLhDx0NO9TXO-sB1J8qkDqgQC69WI8WIj7U7QDqvUnsmlunwjzbReJuVG2Mm9ttzMCdiaXg4awQDPdgvu39MSSy1EmZMUYWA/s1600/DSC02757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhPyQKo_BqtWojvTNTpLR9AmWMLMvCVLOHoMRBQUjrRBFwLhDx0NO9TXO-sB1J8qkDqgQC69WI8WIj7U7QDqvUnsmlunwjzbReJuVG2Mm9ttzMCdiaXg4awQDPdgvu39MSSy1EmZMUYWA/s640/DSC02757.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once again springtime in Petrosani doesn't fail to impress me making springtime my preferred season of the year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Câmpu lui Neag, Romania45.3019444 23.04138890000001545.2572699 22.960707900000017 45.346618899999996 23.122069900000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-36095922310217692462012-05-14T11:42:00.000-07:002013-01-19T08:17:41.622-08:00Spring Riding<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITWEdHXs8YB4vbvN0qBwTbaPbqUS92O55X4To-me9tHfkSrEMVvIT7BAbKYAclvAKIcnCXlM-4zo0xhY7ADTmoi95OgU7GWNUyfFoTAcK9X4WIsPK_5L8j9Btpejc-QA-0bgO1TF7fQWb/s1600/DSC02541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITWEdHXs8YB4vbvN0qBwTbaPbqUS92O55X4To-me9tHfkSrEMVvIT7BAbKYAclvAKIcnCXlM-4zo0xhY7ADTmoi95OgU7GWNUyfFoTAcK9X4WIsPK_5L8j9Btpejc-QA-0bgO1TF7fQWb/s640/DSC02541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Four hours of almost continuous riding can tire you out on a
nice spring day. Sunday presented me
with the opportunity to get back out on the town discovering. First off, I was finally in town for an
entire weekend and secondly the weather turned out for me. What more was there to discover? After looking at the Bucharest map I noticed
that even after living here for several months there are still large sections
of the city that I have yet to wander around.
Sunday’s main goal was to see what Lacul Morii is all about.
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Getting out the door took a while as there were things to do
around the house. Regardless, the
continuously changing sky of the morning began calling from the first wake up
call at 6 am continuing until it was shedding its light equally on each street. It was then when the bike and I took our
first steps of the day down the stairs of the block and out the door. After making a couple of quick notes in my
journal we were off to the sun overhead rather than behind us like I would have
preferred. </div>
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Part one of the ride took me through parts of town both
familiar and unfamiliar. Following the
mighty Dambovita River from Piata Unirii I passed some of the nice downtown architecture
and main boulevards. Pedestrians and
fishermen accompanied me along the route.
I temporarily veered off course when I saw the College of Foreign Language,
Engineering and a few other things. It
looked almost like a park but one whose grounds keepers had taken a 5 year
vacation. People were running through
the green, tree-lined lane which opened up to a large courtyard where students
were resting and reading on benches surrounded by graffiti painted campus
buildings and signs falling off their posts.
After making it back to the main route I continued up the river in search
of the lake. Before finding the lake I
was caught in a dead end at one point and on the other side of the tracks at
another point. These hold ups added some
time to the trip but not a single bit of frustration. It was one of those Sunday drives in which
getting lost and finding your way is not only permitted but welcomed. After riding slowly through a packed park and
up a dike I arrived at the lake, Lacul Morii, with its winds nearly blowing me
over. </div>
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Lacul Morii looks large on a map and looks large in real
life but it only takes about an hour to ride around slowly on a bike. There is a small island just off the coast of
the lake with a bridge leading to it.
The island features a gazebo, a non-functioning fountain, an over-grown
landscape and several picnickers. Just
beyond the north edge of the lake there is a landfill while the western edge
includes a residential area, a small wooden church and many fishermen. The western edge is the only part in which
the road tracing the perimeter of the lake is broken and I was forced to ride
into the residential area twice before completing my tour of the lake. </div>
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From Lacul Morii the traffic, honking, asphalt, traffic lights,
shops and crowdedness led me astray on my course to arrive at Herestrau
park. After ending up in Victoria square
I could get back on track with hopes that eventually the largest park in
Bucharest would act as a refuge from the overwhelming city elements closing in
on me. So it turned out, entering the
large park was more like entering a mall on black Friday. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6uqbCSLcgVG9TIZ95-C-_n7HozijWFZv9n4zPQYqeUoanbd0gj2y3FtexQePO8IGe1W0o0Uppy5oIFUzsfLe9Xyv5tkcQzHKM3ZJiFDpZREH8fDOUxSqpDDCg1wmtGnKxXxsN4AHWKUq/s1600/DSC02559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6uqbCSLcgVG9TIZ95-C-_n7HozijWFZv9n4zPQYqeUoanbd0gj2y3FtexQePO8IGe1W0o0Uppy5oIFUzsfLe9Xyv5tkcQzHKM3ZJiFDpZREH8fDOUxSqpDDCg1wmtGnKxXxsN4AHWKUq/s200/DSC02559.JPG" width="150" /></a>The lanes were loaded with people walking, couples walking,
and groups of people walking. They were
walking alone, walking their dogs, or walking their toddlers. Meanwhile there were bikes weaving in and out
of the people in what appeared to be a somewhat dangerous fashion even though
miraculously I did not see any accidents.
It is Bucharest’s largest park with decently wide walkways but with the
traffic it received on one of the first Sundays of spring you would hardly
notice. The main walkways feature a
bright green lane lined in yellow with a white bicycle painted in the middle
every 10 meters or so. The bright green
color of the bike lanes in Herestrau set it apart from bike lanes in other
parts of the city. Being that the park
houses 2 bike-sharing programs and the popularity of riding in the park has
been rising over the years, the realization and respect for the bike lanes are
all the more important for the safety of all park users. With the walking traffic that I saw in the
park on Sunday the bike lanes might as well not be there. They were not respected and they couldn’t
have been respected with so many people in the park. </div>
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As I was riding along I heard someone yell out
“Maggie”. Immediately, knowing who it
must have been I stopped, turned around, and saw the country director of Peace
Corps Romania. Right, we both live in
the same city but I was still quite surprised that with all of the people out
that day I ran into someone that I knew.
After slowly creeping along having to get off and walk my bike in some
parts I stopped and sat down in the grass next to the lake. Despite their being so many people around you
can stop, sit down in the grass, and when you see the view of the lake on a
nice day it is actually quite easy to forget about the crowds of people passing
along the asphalt walkway behind you.
For a short moment I admired a boat passing by and in the background an
impressive example of communist architecture, in free press square.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzG-cln0TU8dSHC2FXcxWSUFJ-riFNxyT1nDEN1suabIjk2utKyfO9FNZHJjh2DjtdpuzKiu8PPKe7Nu6Hj0PDbIodLKGTMrB3KZJa9vIVOhQDlY6n-UnVtcnq3rz3W_BQtvcu_pKlBoS/s1600/DSC02562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzG-cln0TU8dSHC2FXcxWSUFJ-riFNxyT1nDEN1suabIjk2utKyfO9FNZHJjh2DjtdpuzKiu8PPKe7Nu6Hj0PDbIodLKGTMrB3KZJa9vIVOhQDlY6n-UnVtcnq3rz3W_BQtvcu_pKlBoS/s200/DSC02562.JPG" width="200" /></a> </div>
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My time was winding down and for various reasons I had start
heading back to my place. A 30-45 minute
ride across the center of town awaited me.
I imaged the small streets that I would soon be riding on, Ioanei,
Tamnei, Austriei, Carol 1, Dacia, Mihai Eminescu, ect. After living here for just 8 months I know certain
parts of the city like the back of my hand.
During that ride back I reflected on the newly discovered parts of the
city and realized that my last few months in Bucharest are looking to be full
of similar bike rides over previously unknown streets. </div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074913500000008 25.451919899999996 44.800508500000007 26.742813899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-39972105149244485822012-04-22T00:37:00.002-07:002013-01-19T08:20:41.193-08:00Discover Transylvania 2012<br />
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Transylvania is a true gem in Europe. The word means “the land across the forest”
and this could refer to its geographical location as a plateau nestled in the
backwards “L” shape that the Carpathians make.
The highest range of the Carpathian Mountains (Fagaras Range) makes up
much of Transylvanian’s southern border but the region’s eastern, northern and
western borders are all defined by high peaks.
It may be that Transylvania’s folklore and its popularity in Bram
Stroker’s Dracula are what bring tourists to the area, but what those tourists
find there is much more. They find
beautiful villages nestled in valleys between hills or mountains, old cities
with medieval architecture, fortified churches and friendly, easy-going
people. When I was presented with the
task of showing Romania to one of my best friends, Transylvania was,
hands-down, the region I wanted to display and at the same time, revisit. </div>
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Day 1</div>
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The early morning train wasn’t all that early. The plan was to catch the 6:30 Regio to
Sinaia but in the morning the later 11:50 InterRegio seemed like a more
attractive option. The train slowly crept
out of the city past the long lines of identical blocks and walls decorated in
the same graffiti that was there 3 years ago.
The country-side quickly swallowed us whole as we passed by villages
with their houses, courtyards, dogs, dirt roads and villagers. Poverty is easy to see when just leaving the
city. Houses nearly falling over situated a stones-throw away from the brightly
colored walls surrounding a large home and a Mercedes. These scenes display poverty not only in the
lack of material wealth but also in the lack of class. Somehow we barely noticed passing by our
first stop, the large city of Ploiesti with its oil refineries situated to the south
and east of the city while the north of the city looks toward the foothills of
the Carpathians. This city was once the
target of a major bombing campaign by the Allied forces in WWII called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tidal_Wave" target="_blank">Operation Tidal Wave</a>. Suddenly our faces were glued to the window
as faces tend to be when you’re in a train and the mountains begin to rise up
around you. Soon we were at our stop,
Sinaia. With our large packs we made our
way off the train into a chilling mountain air.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SjlxK254rhxsPlFrkP_5Ti1xKPys78PpMy4BW9hYyc8Et_XMflh8I9dqguTd2vYgf52sdYEtG4c2xQDDFr70SFDqi9PF2RVaxWMi5dysMDUCJP76my9QrRtVFySbCsc1zAMWbepOsJnv/s1600/DSC02057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8SjlxK254rhxsPlFrkP_5Ti1xKPys78PpMy4BW9hYyc8Et_XMflh8I9dqguTd2vYgf52sdYEtG4c2xQDDFr70SFDqi9PF2RVaxWMi5dysMDUCJP76my9QrRtVFySbCsc1zAMWbepOsJnv/s200/DSC02057.JPG" width="150" /></a>Sinaia, though a beautiful location, was a bonehead decision
by the trip’s planner (myself). Sinaia was chosen
over it’s neighbor Busteni because it features one of the nicest museums in
Romania at the best preserved castle in Romania, Peles. Busteni, on the other hand, features some
great hiking with incredible views. The
bonehead decision was that the trip’s planner deciding Sinaia because of the
museum, disregarded the fact that Day 1 fell on a Monday when all museums in
Romania are closed. Either way the short
hike up to the castle allowed for some nice views of the town’s architecture
and monastery. We were able to hang out
in the courtyard of the castle for a while and walk around its grounds before
retreating back down the hill with a bar of nuga and a beer waiting for
us at the bottom. Following the beer we
made our way back to the train station for the day’s second leg to Brasov. </div>
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After passing by the beautiful Busteni the mountains the train began to descend until finally we entered the city of
Brasov. Hungry and with heavy packs we
hustled around town searching for hostels.
The two hostels we had written down on paper were disappointments. Both hostels were located in the center and both
offering not much other than a number on the door. Finally after doing some more searching I
looked in my pocket to find a flier that one man at the train station shoved
into Wes’s hand as we quickly passed him.
It was the flier for the hostel Kesmet Dau. We were in luck as the hostel had cheep beds and
one free drink included. </div>
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Day 2</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdSk9d-sD3hKJE3q-_reOe0pSneImsLgOYXeUt3B4o88k5-e_1X0enQjB4zvVkK44Eeieo_j4b9VHlSOvsp4NTktqYx5v_frK1xvkTQCV4VgD1lrBgn8zdOzJqY4y7B9EaU5gpmmHLZdk/s1600/DSC02081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdSk9d-sD3hKJE3q-_reOe0pSneImsLgOYXeUt3B4o88k5-e_1X0enQjB4zvVkK44Eeieo_j4b9VHlSOvsp4NTktqYx5v_frK1xvkTQCV4VgD1lrBgn8zdOzJqY4y7B9EaU5gpmmHLZdk/s640/DSC02081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The second day began with a nice conversation about
traveling and being in foreign places with our fellow hostel goers. A couple of Canadians, Americans, a Brit and
a lone Swedish gal made for good morning conversation before heading out. The days discoveries began with a hike to
Tampa, the peak that rises sharply out of old town Brasov that takes you up to
the cities very own version of the Holleywood sign. Views from the peak reveal Brasov and beyond
on one side and the snow covered Carpathian peaks on the other. The hiked looped back down the hill through
the forest ending at one end of Brasov’s southern wall were our old city walk
began. That walk took us to the major
sites of the city gates, rope street, the square of advice, the black church, the
northern wall and finally lunch at a basement restaurant. From there we returned to the hostel to grab
our bags and move on to the next point of interest, Sibiu. </div>
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Day 3</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoP5PGlYjeV25v-rS7yWRYUmqa6XVI-TjgFAg1JeDsJdhO28qs9R3BGai7Pv__F7ptToC1uLM2jeDfsdyww8N5TSneunZMqtgy3SEtSKh5hZG4iIaP6ucs7L2fR__fGxMh11Muu1zudsA/s1600/DSC02150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoP5PGlYjeV25v-rS7yWRYUmqa6XVI-TjgFAg1JeDsJdhO28qs9R3BGai7Pv__F7ptToC1uLM2jeDfsdyww8N5TSneunZMqtgy3SEtSKh5hZG4iIaP6ucs7L2fR__fGxMh11Muu1zudsA/s200/DSC02150.JPG" width="200" /></a>Our host gave us some great advice the night before which led
to my favorite part of the trip. It was
the second to last nice day of the trip and we spent it walking from village to village over
beautiful Transylvanian landscapes.
Starting in the nearby city of Cisnadie we perused a couple second-hand
stores and made our way to the center of town where we circled the beautiful
fortified church. An old local man led
us to the edge of town showing us the old dirt road to our next
destination. Passing a flock of sheep
through an orchard we spotted the next fortified church in the distance. The fortress at Cisnadioara is situated high
up on a steep hill at the edge of a small village. On our way up the hill we spotted some deer
and at the top of the hill we spotted an amazing landscape viewing Cisnadie in
the distance and the mountains to the south.
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After asking the locals for directions to our next
destination we were sent up an old wagon road that was hard to follow at
times. Just after crossing the hill’s
peak we could see Rasinari, the dream site of a fellow volunteer. On our way down the hill we spotted some
donkeys grazing and a hawk swooping down by the forest. The town was pleasant to walk through with
its dirt road splitting the bright colors of the houses lining it. We met with the volunteer in the center of
town were we picked up some lunch supplies.
After a good chat and some grub we decided to take off back to Sibiu
where we hung out with our great hosts at restaurant in the beautiful small
square. </div>
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Day 3</div>
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Tour of Sibiu. It’s
high walls, old churches, squares large and small and rich history we filled
our day which included a trip through the Birkenthaul museum where our host was
working. What’s Europe without visiting
at least one museum? The day was
pleasant but you could feel it getting colder and cloudier. The next day we would be back on the road
after three nights in Sibiu and we were hoping for some decent travel/hiking
weather. </div>
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Day 4</div>
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Decent weather we did not get as we woke up to snow and then
heavy rain. The weather stalled our
departure from Sibiu but eventually we got out the door and on the road to Deva
where you can see the fortress on the hill shooting up out of town. The fortress was nice but the burrito at
Pizza Grande was better. I was quite
familiar with Deva already being that it was my transportation hub for traveling in the
northern and western parts of Romania for the two years of staying in
Petrosani. The maxi-taxi ride that I’ve
become so familiar with put me to sleep and suddenly we were surrounded by
mountains again descending switchbacks, back home in Petrosani. My good buddy Dragos picked us up at the bus
station and we spent that evening first getting some food with some of my best
friends in Petrosani, Leddy and Dan, and then returning to Dragos’s for a good
evening’s conversation. Unfortunately,
visiting was the extent of our trip to Petrosani. The weather hindered our main purpose for
visiting my second home, hiking in Parang.
Due to the weather we cut our Transylvanian adventure short a half day
by taking the day train back, but not before we took some time to visit with
Ernest. Six hours of train and we were
back in Buc to meet some friends out for a nice night in Lipscani. </div>
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Conclusions:</div>
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Transylvania is a pretty face of Romania but not the only
face of Romania. Traveling through
Transylvania was a good idea and it showed my buddy a great/beautiful part of
Romania. We hung out with some friends,
met some interesting people and talked to quite a few Romanians that had some interesting
things to tell us about the history of the country. Despite all of this, it was great that
Transylvania is not the only part of Romania that I was able to show my
friend. Spending a couple days at the
beginning and end of the trip allowed us to do some discovering in Bucharest as
well. I’m sure that Wes learned a bunch
about Romania and saw many new things but I also learned quite a bit as this
was the first time I took a look at both parts of my Peace Corps service:
service as a PCV in Petrosani and service at a PCVL in Bucharest. </div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Sibiu, Romania45.787441 24.14325899999994445.610263 23.820535499999945 45.964619 24.465982499999942tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-15413757879308693832012-04-21T23:52:00.000-07:002013-01-19T08:37:34.765-08:00St. Patricks Day 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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“Everyone’s Irish on St. Paddy’s Day”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people love this saying and some people
hate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the not so Irish or
partly Irish like myself love it because it gives them an opportunity to
celebrate, whether it be by gathering together with family at grandma’s or with
friends at the pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be that the
one’s that despise the phrase aren’t Irish and therefore they don’t find that
they have a reason to celebrate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
heard people in this bracket complain that people say they’re Irish on St. Patrick’s
Day just for another reason to get drunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The others that I could see disliking the above mentioned expression are
the actual 100% Irish who might see the current and sometimes belligerent
interpretation of their national holiday as an attack on their culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While perusing facebook on the greenest day
of the year I noticed that a friend of mine, whom I respect, posted a comment
that showed his discontent of the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His comment made me think and examine why it is that I celebrate St.
Paddy’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I’ve determined
that the answer to this question more about where I come from than where my
great great great grandparents came from. </div>
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Corning NY is a small town in upstate New York where workers
once immigrated to the area to work in the glass-factory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now scientist, engineers and business-men
come as all the laborers are now in China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is undoubtedly an Irish presence in Corning weather it be in the
names of my classmates and friends (O’hare, Stack, O’Laughlin ) but maybe more
evident when you see the names of some of the older bars in town (Maleys,
Murphys, McKlintock).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When listening to
the attendance called out in school you hear some Irish names but it by no
means dominates the list like the Italian names do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, one of the neat things about
Corning is that today, like many years ago, you find people from many different
backgrounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For being a small conservative
town a stone’s throw away from the middle of nowhere it does have some surprising
diversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose a lot of small towns
in America is like that. </div>
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I first learned about St. Patrick’s Day at home, secondly in
the church and lastly in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are two things that I remember most about St. Patrick’s Day celebrations long
ago and they have both been present in my last couple of celebrations, the
color green and the film Darby O’Gill and the Little People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right, I didn’t say green beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking long ago when someone, maybe at
school, introduced me to one of my all time favorite Disney films.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check it out if you haven’t yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t go on reminiscing about St. Patrick’s
Days without mentioning my Great Grandma Mertson who when you walk into her
house on the special day it’s like a new green starburst, flavor explosion for
your eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, the
traditional corned beef and cabbage is served at her place and it really makes
you feel Irish, whether you are or you’re not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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Finally we get to the part where booze is involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will admit that green beer, Jamison and
Irish car bombs took a pretty central role in my St. Patty’s day celebrations
of my 20’s but looking back, those were relatively few up until I came to
Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Romania they don’t really
celebrate St. Patrick’s Day so the last couple holidays I spent explaining who
St. Patrick was to my students then going home to watch Darby O’Gill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things are a bit different in Bucharest and
this year I was able to have a much more thorough celebration of the Irish
holiday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Zqs6cHJDMVTz_YwYR0aB8Hl8BRKJkvxjCOLjLFjLD7i2IW3EXVPegNSeX7C-_wVHnGsZmA43zy26NKXGakzw6Rg-ZszrVdwqEj6yd00r9C3zIINc81wfvu3yjQ7cNviASAwx5DXzUhqK/s1600/DSC02018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Zqs6cHJDMVTz_YwYR0aB8Hl8BRKJkvxjCOLjLFjLD7i2IW3EXVPegNSeX7C-_wVHnGsZmA43zy26NKXGakzw6Rg-ZszrVdwqEj6yd00r9C3zIINc81wfvu3yjQ7cNviASAwx5DXzUhqK/s320/DSC02018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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First off, there are Irish in Bucharest and one of them
happens to be my boss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Peace Corps
Romania St. Patrick’s Day party kicked off the holiday with some old-school
Irish tunes playing on the radio, learning to sing one and of course, pin the
shamrock on the leprechaun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though this
last part is probably not traditionally Irish, it was fun and it got people in
the spirit of celebrating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following
day the Irish Embassy scheduled a music event in center of old town featuring
an Irish people-pleaser band called the Amazing Apples and a couple of other
Flogging-Molly style Romanian bands (literally covering Flogging Molly songs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the show, traditionally dressed
bagpipers toured old town with a drummer, guitar player and mandolin player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They played their instruments, sang and
danced on the floors of bars throughout old town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This part of the evening was surely a
treat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later on my friend Mihaela and I
went to an Irish pub we haven’t been to yet to pack into the crowd for an
extended evening with the Amazing Apples playing not only Irish tunes but also
crowd pleasers like their Lady Gaga/MGMT mash-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it wasn’t much like my old-time
favorite Corning celebrations of St. Patrick it was still a great time and it
did include that good traditional Irish music that you usually hear playing on
my computer and ipod during the 5 days leading up to the holiday. </div>
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To those who can’t stand the saying “Everybody’s Irish on
St. Patty’s Day” my advice to you is to live and let live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right, people do use it for an excuse to get
drunk sometimes but lets be honest, if St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t an excuse to
get drunk something else would be (Friday, happy hour, over the hump, ect.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, I believe I read somewhere recently
that the Irish are the second largest immigrant group in the United States to
the Germans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe all those people
saying that they’re Irish actually are, at least a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes the US so unique is that it is a
country of immigrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in Romania
we celebrate Romanian holidays where we eat Romanian food dance the traditional
Romanian dances and partake in some, at times strange, but interesting Romanian
customs that go back centuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
states you find people from all different backgrounds who celebrate in the way
their parents taught them which is where they come from and may be quite
different from how you were taught to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of the beauties of the US. </div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074903000000006 25.451919899999996 44.800519000000008 26.742813899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-61256199331081714632012-03-22T14:20:00.002-07:002013-01-19T08:39:43.495-08:00One World Romania<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmPai3JUK44KnzR-TVo0qDv9JI67Q5bdMiM8Q8TEo2RSomofzpPWj7u8opyKMTAD8sIKpCFFCw1pJkxFcBCEmSWvxS_UhtMCStR0BGySrjr06-pX4n9zZ_mSFWWGTJDZfJfCZTccczDkU/s1600/one-world-romania-2012-120217032746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmPai3JUK44KnzR-TVo0qDv9JI67Q5bdMiM8Q8TEo2RSomofzpPWj7u8opyKMTAD8sIKpCFFCw1pJkxFcBCEmSWvxS_UhtMCStR0BGySrjr06-pX4n9zZ_mSFWWGTJDZfJfCZTccczDkU/s640/one-world-romania-2012-120217032746.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Put on by the Czech Center, this international human rights
documentary film festival reminded me of one of the positive aspects about
living in a capital city, the cultural events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In its fifth edition in Romania, the festival displayed a number of
films addressing a large variety of topics related to human rights throughout
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nine films I saw
addressed topics from hip hop music to escaping communism, to genocide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The topics for the most part were hard to
deal with and for that reasons the films main image was made to be one hard to
deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an image of a women
and a man wearing expressionless faces with an old-style shaving razor being
held up to their manually opened eyes as if they were drones being forced to
watch something that would painfully change the way the see the world around
them.</div>
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The festival opening featured a band performing various
styles of music interpreted by a diverse group of youth criminals who had to be
police escorted to and from the stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The feature film was rather uplifting as it documented the beginning of
hip hop music as the form of political protest that it once was and its
disbursement in this form around the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Furious Force of Rhymes: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnNGO_MOkUg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnNGO_MOkUg</a></div>
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The following evening hosted a number of films but I chose
to attend the free one, not only because it was free but also because it was
the most relevant film of the festival in the context in which I worked for two
years in Romania and in which many of my colleagues work at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That context is the Romanian educational
system and the documentary entitled “Our School” documented the attempt for the
EU to desegregate Romanian schools by integrating Roma into classes with
Romanians, the attempt for the teachers to handle the changes in their
classrooms and the attempt for the kids to go to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very sad film but one that should
probably be watched by teachers all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our School: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiujVekWkuQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiujVekWkuQ</a></div>
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“Our School” was shown in the New Cinema of Romanian Directors
located at the Peasants museum. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
major aspects about this cinema set it apart from the other three main festival
cinemas; it is located quite far from the very center of town and entrance was
free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, Thursday evening I
went for the free choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O the life of
a PC volunteer in Bucharest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though
I didn’t see all of the other films airing that evening I would say that I made
a good choice catching the only showing of “Albanian Special”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Albanian Special was a series of three short documentaries
made by students of an Albanian film school that has faced its own struggle
with oppressive authorities over the years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the films the director of the school
came out to answer “questions” about the films and the struggles that his
school has had to go through over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I put “questions” in quotes because there may have been only one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The talked through the entire discussion time
only answering one question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way
I give him credit for being the only Albanian that I’ve heard of that can speak
decent Romanian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Friday offered up a two-for-one special at Cinema Union with
“A Murder Revisited” about a male homosexual killed in Serbia followed by the
light hearted story of an old Czech man traveling through Russia. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an odd mix but the discussion following
the second film was almost as entertaining as the movie itself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The film followed the helmet and track suit
wearing Mr. Triska around Russia following his father’s old war tracks to
Siberia while actually probing the Russian public he interviewed for thoughts
on politics, life in Russia and the recent disappearances of journalists. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoyed the feature so much I decided to
stay for the double feature that followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mr. Triska Epoch Making Trip to Russia: <a href="http://vimeo.com/21815503">http://vimeo.com/21815503</a></div>
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I went on to see two more films that week wishing that I had
the chance to see the rest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="http://www.realsocialnetworkfilm.com/">http://www.realsocialnetworkfilm.com/</a>,
<a href="http://skylightpictures.com/film/site/about/">http://skylightpictures.com/film/site/about/</a>).
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the festival posters suggested they
were truly eye-opening films and in some ways, like the posters suggest, their
subject matter cut like a knife. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
last weeks film festival I was happily reminded of one of the positivies about
living in a large city. </div>
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One World Romania- <a href="http://oneworld.ro/2012/l/ro/">http://oneworld.ro/2012/l/ro/</a>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com1Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074913500000008 25.451919899999996 44.800508500000007 26.742813899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-2175153459262485392012-03-05T23:10:00.002-08:002013-01-19T08:40:43.552-08:00Martisor 2012<br />
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On the first of March each year Romanians celebrate
Martisor. My first Martisor came as a
surprise. I was not forewarned of the
customs until about a week ahead of time when I asked my colleagues why there
are stands up throughout the city selling decorations and flowers. My second Martisor was spent presenting on
the topics of Peace Corps and volunteerism to a small group of bright
young individuals at a library in Craiova.
This past martisor was spent at yet another Peace Corps event hosted by
the Gender and Development Committee helping with set up and looking on while
art projects where displayed and awarded in their portrayal of this year’s
theme, “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”.
March first has turned out to be a very important day in my Peace Corps
service but what exactly does Martisor mean and why is it celebrated?</div>
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In trying to steer clear of the textbook/Wikipedia answer I’ll
try to give a PCV perspective on the local holiday. A week or two before March first, stands go up
around town and the people standing behind the table are selling small gifts or
flowers. You walk down the street seeing
table after table filled with little white boxes that say “1 MARTIE” in red at
the top of the box. Each little box has
a small window revealing its contents which may be a 4-leaf clover, a chimney sweeper,
a flower, or a number of other symbols. A
friend of mine even found a martisor that looked like a salted pretzel. The one thing that each martisor does have in
common is the red and white string attached to it. There are various explanations for what each
color represents but one explanation is that the white represents winter while
the red represents spring, and the fact that the colors are woven together represents
the transitions from winter to spring. Looking
back over the three different Martisor celebrations that I have had,
though I’ve participated in 3 different activities in 3 different locations,
there has been this one constant of season change. Now when I think of the first of March, like
most Romanians, I consider it the beginning of spring. </div>
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Martisor 2012 presented an opportunity for me to get
together with good people and get crafty.
My host country organizations MaiMultVerde (MMV) decided that it would
be nice to gather some materials from around the office (materials that would
have probably been otherwise thrown away or recycled) and make something nice
out of them. This year, instead of
spending money on cheap, plastic gifts probably made in China, I spent hours
with fellow MMV volunteers cutting paper, gluing various things together, and
tying red and white strings around them.
I even learned some origami which is something that I wouldn’t mind learning
more of if I have time. The result was
great. Some of the gifts were sold to
the GAD committee for their event while others were sold to MMV supporters. The money that was raised will be used to
support a tree planting activity that will take place in April. </div>
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One quick fact that must be mentioned about March 1st is its
intimate connection with Peace Corps.
Like all things super important there is a day dedicated to them. Mothers are super important so there is a
mother’s day. Human Rights are super important
so there is a Human Rights day. Fooling
people is super important so there is a Fool's Day. Well Peace Corps is pretty important too, and
so on March first we celebrate Peace Corps Day.
Though, in Romania, Peace Corps Day is usually overshadowed by the local
Martisor celebrations it is no small matter.
March first is the day that President Kennedy officially established the
Peace Corps. Happy Birthday Peace Corps!</div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074913500000008 25.451919899999996 44.800508500000007 26.742813899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-24903930746723571952012-02-16T22:24:00.000-08:002013-01-19T08:47:18.327-08:00Cod Portocaliu<span id="internal-source-marker_0.21837959972544108" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bucharest,
and all of Romania, got hit with a hard winter so far this year. It
all started in late January with snow blanketing the city. There was
so much snow actually, that all US Embassy and Peace Corps employees had
a day and a half off while in some Romanian counties students had the
better half of the week off... “SNOW DAY”! It didn’t stop there. The
first storm of pretty steady snowfall lasted three or four days and was
followed by georgeus days if you’re seeing them from a warm place with a
hot cocoa. The sun was shining bright and the air could freeze your
lungs. That period was followed by another two or three days of snow,
and another period of nice, then the last major snow came again at the
beginning of this week. The weather ahead looks sunny for quite a
few days and people are beginning to recover from the storms. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If
you’re reading this and you’re not Romanian then you are probably
wondering what “Cod Portocaliu”, the title of this post means. In
Romania, and I believe throughout all of Europe, there is a color code
describing the severity of weather conditions and "Cod Portocaliu" meands "Code Orange" in English. Its kind of like the
terror threat scale in the US. News flashes of the Secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security would flash across the screen and you
would hear the anchorman/woman spouting code yellow or code orange
meaning that we should all be oneshade darker frightened. The Terror
Threat (TT)advisory code (which was phased out in 2011) is actually very
similar to the weather advisory code in Romania. Today is code green
and no one seems to know or care. Code green is not spouted over the
news because code green means that you don’t have to be alert for any
weather-related hardships today. Code green is also the TT level that
you never really heard of because it actually meant that there is no
threat. In the TT code there is also a blue (guarded) but after
blue the threats follow the same succession as the weather threats in
Romania, yellow (watch out), orange (you’re already buried in snow), red
(I don’t want to know). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My
personal experience through a good chunk of the 2012 snow extravaganza
of Bucharest took place in my small studio apartment as I was sick for all of last
week. Luckily, before getting sick I had the chance to get out and to
“dau cu punga”. “Dau cu punga” translates word for word to “give with a
bag” and while all you language learners out there know that you
usually can’t translate word for word you can probably figure this one
out by the context; sled riding with a plastic bag instead of a sled.
Now, if you have ever been to Bucharest you may be a bit confused. Many fellow volunteers have asked me “You can sled ride in
Bucharest, isn’t it flat there?”. Well Buc is pretty flat but there is a
perfect sled riding hill in Parcul Tineretului, large enough and steep
enough to catch some speed but still easy to climb up, allowing the
maximum number of quality runs in an evening. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Now
that my cold has passed I have gotten a chance to get out in the city,
walk to work, and view the destruction. The main streets are in good shape
for cars but walking is a workout regardless of
how far you have to go. Some sidewalks are clean but most are not and
walking means trudging through soft wet snow. Its a similar feeling to
walking through sand and personally I prefer running through it. Its on
the smaller streets that the negative effects of the snowfall resist. By this
time, a few days after the last snowfall, there are paths or some clean
sidewalks on the side, but in classic Bucharest style usually you’ll find
a car parked on the sidewalk forcing you to walk in the road. This is
where it gets tricky. On the small streets, the normally narrow two
lane road becomes a one lane road after a snow storm. Even though its a
one lane road many people still use it as a two way road and you often
see two stubborn drivers facing each other honking there horns refusing
to give way. If one driver decides to let the other driver pass how
does that driver do so? They either must back all the way up to the
last intersection they crossed or risk getting stuck trying to turn
around. Lets say you’re forced to walk in this area where the cars go.
You must walk in the middle of the road through snow that once again,
give you the feeling that you are walking through sand. Its enticing to
walk through the car tracks where the snow isn’t as deep but if you
dare put two feet down in that area then you are falling. The tracks
consist of a thin layer of snow covering several inches of thick uneven
ice. I’ve gone down twice so far, once in then middle of an
intersection. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Day
one of walking to the Peace Corps office this week I took a new,
beautiful route to mix things up. Along my route I saw many picture
worthy moments of buried cars, cars on sidewalks, nice winter
city scenes. I also ended up helping to push three cars that got stuck
on the small streets. Day two of walking to the PC office I decided to
bring my camera and here are some of the shots. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKlqAWFj9VCfDEiPP4SNhgT0wRd41VbefDL7xXy3hfrhwTpEcQnJyuOblYO2MPTrhpRnJkcEE7bD6DdEtrVyfQXU1TN38DyrLfO-_9vbUEXdcvVkTxua2vw7XpD8kGW7buEHNS-ts_8Nb/s1600/DSC01852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKlqAWFj9VCfDEiPP4SNhgT0wRd41VbefDL7xXy3hfrhwTpEcQnJyuOblYO2MPTrhpRnJkcEE7bD6DdEtrVyfQXU1TN38DyrLfO-_9vbUEXdcvVkTxua2vw7XpD8kGW7buEHNS-ts_8Nb/s400/DSC01852.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyxbO-JH6KTaKO6HViVQkq7txepu8MVpe2jH0Jb4q4fDk-lTmA3D63WKa34-B4x-escUisvJghG-ndPNOf9MsYkP0fhgNZmMjiD9R4uyLWdOekY390X5pMl7QUgS-X67G9ysRr-v7e7Vm/s1600/DSC01861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyxbO-JH6KTaKO6HViVQkq7txepu8MVpe2jH0Jb4q4fDk-lTmA3D63WKa34-B4x-escUisvJghG-ndPNOf9MsYkP0fhgNZmMjiD9R4uyLWdOekY390X5pMl7QUgS-X67G9ysRr-v7e7Vm/s400/DSC01861.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2zjrVuWkYAVDdMMnsTBRSjxyxwuI_e1BgtorkkLsfwGCD1HYogKhvqoNdwmZQrAYTNxkmVUtW6SL6ycRG1TJwnKO_CQhqjAzCBWaBkYg7T1Af61m_g1zAz3ND3LTgnv2cYUr9JZbjgnR/s1600/DSC01855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2zjrVuWkYAVDdMMnsTBRSjxyxwuI_e1BgtorkkLsfwGCD1HYogKhvqoNdwmZQrAYTNxkmVUtW6SL6ycRG1TJwnKO_CQhqjAzCBWaBkYg7T1Af61m_g1zAz3ND3LTgnv2cYUr9JZbjgnR/s400/DSC01855.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Valentine's Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCugb96LQDFLV1fQivZAPpGrqXgkq05JNWChCb62C8npzddJMipR7OtXEpdhRJtImxyJQHIWfSL8JPBjvFN19abZFN3SSzU9w8lkgg41DzpK4LHASBckuPCLANiaFVigHMl_u7SHE738QC/s1600/DSC01846.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCugb96LQDFLV1fQivZAPpGrqXgkq05JNWChCb62C8npzddJMipR7OtXEpdhRJtImxyJQHIWfSL8JPBjvFN19abZFN3SSzU9w8lkgg41DzpK4LHASBckuPCLANiaFVigHMl_u7SHE738QC/s400/DSC01846.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhBhyphenhyphenZtUaD0JS1_sNglgWMhJoBl25Q4IybQhr4kDDTlUECrPfp3VxpQTTNshp5ZQU3paMZqO1AY5FSogm0Tr9N1xE-d8HJzKAQC2xxqvaYyXnZPooxPu4vg9id-JebB5_l9XH2k4O2M0O/s1600/DSC01851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqhBhyphenhyphenZtUaD0JS1_sNglgWMhJoBl25Q4IybQhr4kDDTlUECrPfp3VxpQTTNshp5ZQU3paMZqO1AY5FSogm0Tr9N1xE-d8HJzKAQC2xxqvaYyXnZPooxPu4vg9id-JebB5_l9XH2k4O2M0O/s400/DSC01851.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The frustrated walker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqPpqAmE1n7TGuztlaNMebxWeSXHvYnMeSW_wSavboqOLVXWiDmwwabVwcYUCP_XvcIj_rPrTnfiWkMaVPmWdqKeAGy2mQtgBa35o6UM5_vmOvAgUpXHx_RgJCRIhGgAQdK1hKa7x-Dg0/s1600/DSC01831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqPpqAmE1n7TGuztlaNMebxWeSXHvYnMeSW_wSavboqOLVXWiDmwwabVwcYUCP_XvcIj_rPrTnfiWkMaVPmWdqKeAGy2mQtgBa35o6UM5_vmOvAgUpXHx_RgJCRIhGgAQdK1hKa7x-Dg0/s400/DSC01831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piata Alba Iulia</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ztfQ3tt1nrh0BPrXuKoTHao0_IUyKuNXtBGuYGLEw8T9VOIl5Wo1neh1SjmAEHoO6lMhUrKsOKjQKxWYa2c4dCV7JCPoLnamYA-mqMXxfyYISh8PH-YlmqfFh53fjpc74Hz3SQZoEoRy/s1600/DSC01839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ztfQ3tt1nrh0BPrXuKoTHao0_IUyKuNXtBGuYGLEw8T9VOIl5Wo1neh1SjmAEHoO6lMhUrKsOKjQKxWYa2c4dCV7JCPoLnamYA-mqMXxfyYISh8PH-YlmqfFh53fjpc74Hz3SQZoEoRy/s400/DSC01839.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-12762790454195987972012-02-11T09:13:00.000-08:002012-02-11T09:31:05.100-08:00Podcasting courseWhen in Romania I'm continuing to learn new things. Over the past five weeks I have been periodically tuning into an online course that I decided to join. My program manager at Peace Corps found out about it somewhere and sent out a mass email to all PCRo volunteers about it. I happened to be the only one of us that decided to sign up and it ended up being a pretty good decision. <br />
<br />
The course was entitled "Podcasting for the ESL-EFL classroom" and though our moderators were based in Venezuela, participants tuned in from all over the world. The course covered the basics of podcasting from the free audio-editing software to the publishing online. The course also covered useful ways to use the podcasting in an ESL-EFL classroom. Participants had to draw up a project outline that they can use in a classroom setting. That is, a hooked up classroom setting with computers, headphones, internet and freedom to download the necessary software. Finally the participants had to present all of there work on a blog that they themselves designed with the guidance of the moderators. <br />
<br />
Below is a list of the tools we used and learned about:<br />
<br />
yahoogroups<br />
WIZIQ<br />
Glogster<br />
Podbean<br />
Podomatic<br />
Audacity<br />
Blogger<br />
Free Music Archive<br />
Audioboo<br />
Vocaroo<br />
Chirbit<br />
Pixlr<br />
VoiceThread<br />
Virtual Presents<br />
<br />
and many more mentioned in the required readings. <br />
<br />
Many of these tools offer great ways to integrate technology into the classroom. <br />
<br />
My final product is a blog named AndyCasting which includes all of the podcasts that I recorded for the session as well as the project that I came up with. <a href="http://andycasting.blogspot.com/">Click here</a> to check it out.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-8421624068756442162012-01-27T05:02:00.000-08:002013-01-19T08:46:45.073-08:00NYE- Krakow<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdqelK0zO9PpNcwy8RrkykxRqyhIoMn2TxrPxdvXhkWXIq3Hq2v7Ifj7q0jsDjW2vb3YkznM-Pv8AidfoLxFgtDJ-sqJ9e5mGvKLPvW6C9mdogW0wNHqJbSshU12e0q63mS093eEcnYQr/s1600/DSC01637.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdqelK0zO9PpNcwy8RrkykxRqyhIoMn2TxrPxdvXhkWXIq3Hq2v7Ifj7q0jsDjW2vb3YkznM-Pv8AidfoLxFgtDJ-sqJ9e5mGvKLPvW6C9mdogW0wNHqJbSshU12e0q63mS093eEcnYQr/s640/DSC01637.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In classic New Years Eve fashion I found myself in yet
another new place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My past five New
Years Eve celebrations have popped off in classic all-night party fashion, all
in different parts of the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
latest of the five celebrations rang in the year 2012 in a country that, until
this past summer, I never really saw myself visiting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ended up being a great decision with all
the fun and interesting travel experiences included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Krakow, Poland is pretty interesting old city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one time it was the capital of Poland but
it is now better known in as their beautiful old medieval city; a place you
want to go if you’re into the history and want to see the sights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little did I know before taking the old town
tour, it is also pretty well known throughout Europe for its particularly rowdy
soccer fans as the city includes two rivalry teams. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So rowdy I’m told, that Poland decided to exclude
Krakow from hosting any Euro 2012 matches. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The clean, pristine old town with the Wowel
castle at its head looking out over the Visla River is surrounded by a band of
parks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crossing that band will take you
out of the medieval city and onto streets lined with 18<sup>th</sup> century
buildings including some traces communist architecture popping its head out
from time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly walking the
old town is a pleasurable experience with its churches, large square, and small
intimate store fronts, but even outside of the old town roaming can be a
pleasurable experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymLocXt0Z23DVXS0gWKPe21kyFBkNMh5g_Z2FbNSF6_U9mfiRjsIxHWwJSOAPJqdJgDnacnIDs6ikAiL__IH2UjY8e_jbApn1GXo4yFeYdHjoIGvC6X23cbBeP-tnpE4ShHMvULOhD6xU/s1600/DSC01504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ieo52XVT9q6O61RNHsRc-Xoblb34opcEKa_HgKQj7cAuC3IXnq9pd1C_UKQ2kroDkAzzlga-SBc3rARytWjMZfOx5hpIRYMVaIHdwttwPHK4SHfTfJY4qOv2Dsue5nj1RE4rLPf1UcG8/s1600/DSC01501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ieo52XVT9q6O61RNHsRc-Xoblb34opcEKa_HgKQj7cAuC3IXnq9pd1C_UKQ2kroDkAzzlga-SBc3rARytWjMZfOx5hpIRYMVaIHdwttwPHK4SHfTfJY4qOv2Dsue5nj1RE4rLPf1UcG8/s200/DSC01501.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Goodbye Lenin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The New Years Eve celebration was in itself a pretty great
time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first face I saw when entering
the hostel was that of my brother Nate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
before entering I figured that he had probably showed up and left the hostel
already, getting out on the town to see what the next few nights have in store,
but to my surprise I caught him just before going out to pick up some beers so
I had him pick up a couple for me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Goodbye Lenin Hostel rocked from the people working there to its convenient location
next to the Jewish quarter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace Corps
Ukraine represented about half of the guests at the hostel. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a slight exaggeration but there was a
very large group of volunteers from Ukraine present for the NYE celebration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was lucky to have had the chance to meet,
hangout, and have extended chats with many of them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again I’ve realized that the really great
times that you have when traveling happen when you’re around like-minded people,
open to new experiences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re all just
having a good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
A trip to Krakow isn’t complete without getting out of the
city for one of those days and checking out Auschwitz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good part of the 2<sup>nd</sup> of January
was spent bussing it to the camp and roaming around the grounds with a tour
guide. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s an informative museum at
Auschwitz I with some pretty intense displays and the sheer size of Auschwitz
II was imposing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Images from Schindler
List flashed through my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following day was Nate’s last day in the Krack. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent the day seeing more of the city including
the National Museum where we pretended to be WWII soldiers and an English book
store where I finally acquired some reading material for the trip (I had left
my apartment to travel alone to Krakow without a book!). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had decided to stay in Krakow until the 5<sup>th</sup>
instead of heading right back to Warsaw. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After seeing Nate off at the bus station on
the 3<sup>rd</sup> I had a couple more days of roaming around on my own seeing
more of Krakow and then a bit of Warsaw. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It poured those last couple of days dampening the mood that was
already dampened when Nate and the rest of the PCU volunteers left to go back
to their sites. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time this happens;
the first couple of days following a nice long get-together you feel more alone
than you’ve ever felt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it
rained, I took the chance to put a good sized dent in the rather large book I had
just purchased (The Shock Doctrine-Naomi Klein, you should read it if you haven’t
already) while enjoying coffees or food in small cafés. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also took the time to go through the museum
of Nazi Occupation in Krakow which was located in Schindler’s factory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While walking through that museum I realized
that in the 2.5 years I’ve been in Europe I have only been to a few
museums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 5<sup>th</sup> was a long
day of walking around the amazingly rebuilt old town of Warsaw to conclude my
Polish NYE adventure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYYyKbd1MWRDL9kaJ2p37tzeDZbK4ivmxbfqAKZXnXedNcsGmIN-Jo39snTfZkQHMVTarGOwHFEZgAxXXJBpw6tuEzi0CmjptiKn66K9Xe1ez72l3HkVbLszqy5xCvd5HqRg_lZqOgnry/s1600/DSC01664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYYyKbd1MWRDL9kaJ2p37tzeDZbK4ivmxbfqAKZXnXedNcsGmIN-Jo39snTfZkQHMVTarGOwHFEZgAxXXJBpw6tuEzi0CmjptiKn66K9Xe1ez72l3HkVbLszqy5xCvd5HqRg_lZqOgnry/s640/DSC01664.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UNESCO Site, the Old Town Square in Warsaw rebuilt after being destroyed by the Nazis at the end of WWII</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After three NYE celebrations, in three different European
countries I’ve realized that they’ve all followed a pattern. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time I have seen new places, met new
people, hung out with good friends, enjoyed the travel, but all centered around
a big, all-night party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On our tour
through the old town I actually chatted with some people who recognized me from
the hostel in Budapest for last year’s NYE celebration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not bad, the only question is, where to ring
in the year 2013?</div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Kraków, Poland50.064650099999987 19.94497990000002149.901506099999985 19.622256400000023 50.22779409999999 20.26770340000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-70390489210167873192011-12-27T13:15:00.000-08:002013-01-19T08:46:15.502-08:00Christmas EveTo celebrate Christmas this year I decided to prepare some traditional Romanian food, salata de boeuf and sarmale. While chopping vegetables on Christmas eve I heard some loud noises coming from the street behind my block. I quickly grabbed my camera and headed to my balcony to film the scene below.<br />
<br />
Part 1:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4GJGE1vy7PM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Part 2:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/239ZQ0U859I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas!Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-85070992751435849172011-12-27T12:59:00.000-08:002013-01-19T08:49:10.482-08:00Ignat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>It’s that time of the year
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The city is lit up, the nighttime
air is spiced with cinnamon and cloves as the steam rises out of the warm
glasses of wine, venders all around town are pushing goods of all shapes and
sizes into the faces of eager consumers, and in the thousands of small villages
peppering the countryside of Romania, pigs are dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ignat” takes place on the 20<sup>th</sup> of
December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word “Ignat” is actually
the Romanian version of the name Ignatius and like most things Romanian, the 20<sup>th</sup>
of December has religious significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even though the 20<sup>th</sup> is the feast day of Saint Ignatius of
Antioch the word is synonymous with the annual pig slaughter because of its
convenient timing, 5 days before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s just enough timing in between Ignat and Christmas to get the
meat checked and ready to feast on after the long Christmas fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the busy week schedule, the onrush of
capitalism and the slow fading of tradition, the annual event of “Ignat” no
longer actually takes place on the feast day of Ignatius, unless of course that
day falls on the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This past
weekend was the weekend before Ignat, and even though blood was spilled the
courtyards of many country homes, good food and drink were offered in remembrance
of the pig freshly slaughtered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was
about 9:30am on a Sunday morning in a small Romanian village that bears the
name “Valley of the Monks” when three PCVs stumbled into Nico’s courtyard
awaiting the feast day’s events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The PCV’s
were late and they had missed the actual killing of the pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They halted shortly after entering the gate
with eyes fixed upon the scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was an older man and a younger man each with torches in one hand and a knife in
the other, burn scrape, burn scrape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite their seemingly carelessness of where they set down their
torches, it was clear that this wasn’t their first hot dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were pros, and this was just one of
their many pig slaughters of the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon after arriving, our host, busy with preparations of sorts, came out
of the house with a large welcoming smile across his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one hand he was holding a steaming pot and
in the other he had a large tray with mugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After clearing off a spot on the nearby table he began to pour the not
so clear liquid into the mugs and handed them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A morning cheers quickly followed and then we
drank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been two years since I had
tasted tuica fierta and I had forgotten how much I had actually liked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last taste of the drink took place at the
same time of the year, while watching another pro clean a recently butchered
pig, several hundred kilometers to the west.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Meanwhile, looking around the group I noticed that the one of the men
working on the pig put his scraper down for his glass of tuica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tuica in one hand and a torch in the other,
drink, burn, drink burn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo148eBce4xUzAoPYCRGHXMG-FFgR4VDlG5Oyt0pr7axcEPxRaPWdhHxRQuBrHbbaQQjrU1uQ14fVN2utuh7z9SuXtX1tOgttT8B9Ci8OnK5onsJNW9iTwm_1fVMPN4lWQCVoqIDGvAzIR/s1600/DSC01368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo148eBce4xUzAoPYCRGHXMG-FFgR4VDlG5Oyt0pr7axcEPxRaPWdhHxRQuBrHbbaQQjrU1uQ14fVN2utuh7z9SuXtX1tOgttT8B9Ci8OnK5onsJNW9iTwm_1fVMPN4lWQCVoqIDGvAzIR/s320/DSC01368.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma cleaning out the intestines.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
burning the hair off and cleaning and salting its skin, the men methodically
began taking the pig apart starting with the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first cut was the traditional cross cut
in the head of the pig, reminding those present that they are thankful to God
for the large healthy pig on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pig started as a 200+ kg mass on a table and in about a half hour
all that was left on the table was one last flat slab of flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched them pull the different parts of
the pig off while standing next to my friend Jeremy who has a passion for
food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they pulled off each part he
explained what it was and what it is used for in the culinary world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For him, knowing his way around food, it was
obvious that seeing the slaughter was an interesting experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile my other friend Aron was carefully
documenting the activity by taking pictures, and our host Nico was lending a
helpful hand to the professionals cutting the pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, it was all his meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from the group, we were accompanied by
some entertaining animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between
watching the butchers and chatting with Jeremy I was noticing the cats roaming
around the scene slopping blood up off of the cold concrete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite how domesticated an animal can be
there are still instincts that kick in.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgme9_XQketCcHVnZyxm9yfplL8xLB08vKzmhH7lxDL8flc0mYiRrBdWT9c9hOaYmJ0nGIvZJqzWQt91bw5I7WX_kbMiX6odV7WqZEsJTC3_obkCDEP4Vgsbds_qMrNnHh7JenPnYeRdYQL/s1600/DSC01350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgme9_XQketCcHVnZyxm9yfplL8xLB08vKzmhH7lxDL8flc0mYiRrBdWT9c9hOaYmJ0nGIvZJqzWQt91bw5I7WX_kbMiX6odV7WqZEsJTC3_obkCDEP4Vgsbds_qMrNnHh7JenPnYeRdYQL/s200/DSC01350.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
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Pomana porcului was the culmination of the day’s
activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pomana porcului is the meal
that the host offers those present who helped out with the slaughter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though we didn’t help out very much we
were guests and therefore we became direct beneficiaries of the delicious food
served. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meal consisted of some of
the meat taken from the pig recently killed fried in fat from the pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was also mamaliga, tuica and wine
served, all products produced by the host. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the cold, the meal was served at a
table in the courtyard. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After enjoying
the meal we continued to sit and enjoy the day and our great host Nico who
brought out a pair gloves that he used to box with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in the day Nico was one of Romania’s star
boxers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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For me, the event acted as a reminder of the beauty of the
countryside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After spending so much time
in the city sometimes I forget how much I enjoy the fresh air, traditions, and
hospitality that can be found not far beyond the limits of the city. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some cases these traditions can also be
found within city limits. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
walking to school on a cold morning before the winter break began last year and
seeing torches lit in between city blocks at my old site. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though last weekend may have marked my
final pomana porcului, it will not be the last time I make the trip to spend
the day in the beautiful Romanian countryside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In so many places in Romania the beauty of the
countryside means incredible mountain scenery, rivers and lakes, but in so many
more places in Romania the beauty of the countryside means much more than that.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the tradition, stories, and
hospitality of the people who reside there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Romania, te iubesc!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com1Valea Călugărească, Romania44.962482 26.1527220000000444.917537 26.072041000000041 45.007427 26.233403000000038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-64298715090126756122011-12-16T10:35:00.000-08:002011-12-16T10:35:18.845-08:00Planting Season<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Planting season has come and gone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the past several weeks I have been
assisting in the planning and implementation of the fall series of tree
planting projects that my host country organization puts on each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the tree plantings started, my host
country organization <a href="http://www.maimultverde.ro/">MaiMultVerde</a> (MMV) organized a course to train volunteer
coordinators in planting projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
course gave its 40 participants the skills needed to plan and implement a tree
planting on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also expanded
the pool of coordinators that MMV utilizes to assist in their own
plantings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The planting projects offered
by MMV give those coordinators some practical experience in conducting a tree
planting activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The season started
with a bang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Three tree plantings were scheduled for the last weekend of October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a small one in Bucharest on Friday,
a larger one in Ploiesti on Saturday, and the largest was held on Saturday in a
small village called Lesmir in Bihor County.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxYBkB_QvbVqEeoUR0J7Y2_jUf36eXrAecj9zq-91vJq3ketv36v7a_ELArZuyOYOl5jJ_aQKtieEgWr1lLBcZcY4LRpWgzMm85HXLhRls-MOMiI7cJnRXJIGoN7Z0N-JC7SrQ9vp1pPb/s1600/DSC00612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxYBkB_QvbVqEeoUR0J7Y2_jUf36eXrAecj9zq-91vJq3ketv36v7a_ELArZuyOYOl5jJ_aQKtieEgWr1lLBcZcY4LRpWgzMm85HXLhRls-MOMiI7cJnRXJIGoN7Z0N-JC7SrQ9vp1pPb/s400/DSC00612.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panorama from the top of the hill at the planting in Lesmir</td></tr>
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The Lesmir planting was set up on a bare hillside for the
purpose of helping to prevent future landslides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The MMV team along with the coordinators made
the 10-12 hour trip by van to Marghita where they stayed and commuted to
Lesmir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a beautiful area of Romania,
but as you looked out from atop the steep hill where the planting was to take
place, you saw a number of towers in the distance poking up out of the foggy
haze which had settled in the valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
were in oil country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those towers were
oil drills and our tree planting activity was one of the many projects funded
by “Tara lui Andrei” the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility">CSR</a> branch
of Romania’s largest oil company, Petrom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On Friday the Petrom coordinators set up the location to receive
volunteers while the MMV team and coordinators set up the planting area so that
when the volunteers arrived the next day it would be easy for them to know
where and how to plant the “puieti” (young trees).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hard work setting up the terrain and
early morning wake-up time the following morning, put the MMV team and
coordinators to bed at a decent hour, eagerly awaiting the next day’s
events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The team was up and out the door into the cold morning by
6:30am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun had not yet risen and
the sharp sting of the cold northern air was enough to wake up each member of
the team as they all piled into the vans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The warm air circulating through the vans discouraged them from exiting
once at the planting site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minor morning
preparations had to be made in order to be ready for the four hundred
volunteers who were about to show up ready to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The volunteers consisted of children from the
local schools with their teachers, nearby community leaders, and Petrom
employees with their families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
split into four teams with two of MMV’s coordinators helping each team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with all of the season’s plantings, the
first several minutes are the most hectic and crucial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Volunteers come ready to start and tend to
rush into things rather than patiently and attentively listening to
directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the first half hour of
planting the coordinators must make sure that the volunteers are doing it
correctly and in an organized fashion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After that first hour things seem to go rather smoothly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Unfortunately, for the coordinators of the two blue teams,
things didn’t go so swimmingly that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The day before, we identified one of the yellow sections to be the most
difficult because if it’s steep grade and tricky terrain, but the blue section
ended up being by far the most difficult because of its hard soil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soil in the yellow teams’ section was
much more sandy and easy to dig, but the soil in the blue teams’ section was
difficult to break and volunteers lost their patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After giving some instruction, handing out
some water, and getting dirty a bit, the blue team coordinators got through the
lengthened first half of the day which ended in an awards ceremony for the hard
working volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second half of
the day consisted of cleaning up the planting terrain after the volunteers left
and then heading down to the small village of Lesmir to eat and drink with the
locals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly that evening the volunteers
and some of the coordinators continued celebrating back at the old hotel in
their host city of Marghita.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next
day came early but much less taxing as the group only had to pile back into the
vans to embark on another 12 our trip back to the capital. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdpWhk8c0qLgJDnpguyZxBE13NG4oj6dRf2kwHiBYsp4-TxXp9CtPEURl5FWLe8QJeCvCF1i2AI0FfLttZQkf34sRM1Kg1TrHsslNFBTGY54aJ-5Hgm9YIQw43iQ7LJC2s7I0ArdG4TOu/s1600/DSC00709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdpWhk8c0qLgJDnpguyZxBE13NG4oj6dRf2kwHiBYsp4-TxXp9CtPEURl5FWLe8QJeCvCF1i2AI0FfLttZQkf34sRM1Kg1TrHsslNFBTGY54aJ-5Hgm9YIQw43iQ7LJC2s7I0ArdG4TOu/s200/DSC00709.JPG" width="200" /></a>The Lesmir trip was only the start of the planting season and
it created a team that would come back together as a whole for the final planting
in Marsani. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the Lesmir
coordinators were involved in the plantings in between the first and the last
as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, MMV organized seven
tree planting activities in the fall of 2011 addressing one of their goals of
the reforesting Romania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the final
and largest planting of the season an impressive 37,000+ trees were planted in
an area that you could play beach volleyball on. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not planting in soil, it was
sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding the bus away from the
planting site you could see large plots of trees planted in the same ground a
few years earlier taking nicely to the soil. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, the trees planted were one of my favorites
found in Romania, the acacia tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing
the before and after, and the realization that a forest was just planted was a
very rewarding aspect of the project, but certainly not the most rewarding
aspect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meeting, working with, and
getting to know the coordinators was by far the most valuable reward that I
gained in this project. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that I thank
MaiMultVerde.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the coordinators themselves,
maybe it was the trees and realizing the positive impact that they can make,
maybe it was the smiling faces and the interesting stories of the volunteers
they coordinated, or maybe it was getting to know the other coordinators a bit
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one of the coordinators
happens to read this I kindly ask them to leave their perspectives in the
comment section below. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6Lb9LuHZ3-cS_ozbfbhHDYeWAWtW6rsQkIYQqWE3_jUmsSrlXDK5BPiRi4J-udgBQViH06RSRMasZg8PX6o9MXZi_emxCOEfDvTbLu5t0DCrmV-7ieYljq3-4RkkM-RGvGfMJQY5njdF/s1600/DSC00851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6Lb9LuHZ3-cS_ozbfbhHDYeWAWtW6rsQkIYQqWE3_jUmsSrlXDK5BPiRi4J-udgBQViH06RSRMasZg8PX6o9MXZi_emxCOEfDvTbLu5t0DCrmV-7ieYljq3-4RkkM-RGvGfMJQY5njdF/s200/DSC00851.JPG" width="150" /></a>If you wish to donate to future tree plantings you can
donate <a href="http://www.maimultverde.ro/sustine">here</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten RON ($3) plants 1 small
tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-48196961453543663002011-11-22T12:22:00.001-08:002011-12-27T13:22:45.051-08:00Capturing Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx0nt95J44oaUwYywZy2XHcBYXfLIVgysxC117vPcwvMjnbtu2Qa83BK2qFQCuYbIimAKFA7h2h9yXUc0y_8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>
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<b>The above video was prodused by Totoran Bogdan, a student in the the school where I worked in Petrosani, Colegiul Tehnic "Dimitrie Leonida"</b>. <b>The pictures used in the film were taken by a former colleague and great friend Ioan Ilea Ernest. </b></div>
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It used to be done by raking leaves into a big pile next to
a tree, climbing up in the tree, letting yourself go and enjoying that feeling
of being in a cloud. Evidently we grow
and that pile will no longer support our weight but we still manage to capture
the magnificence of fall. Whether it be
the bright colors popping out in the landscape, the crumbling of leaves under
your feet (or rake), the taste in the air when the first cold separates the
seasons, or one of the early games of the highly anticipated football season,
fall is a season highly anticipated by many and at times seems all too
short. </div>
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The Romanian fall of 2011 came like a slap in the face. Rain had totally held off in the two months
leading up to the abrupt changing of the seasons, making a difficult living for
the buretar (mushroom picker). Suddenly
the weather changed from t-shirt to hoodie and beanie, and a couple days later
clouds rolled and the rain began to fall.
Unfortunately for the runners of Bucharest, the Bucharest International
Marathon was scheduled for that first day of cold rain. Despite the gloomy weather I had to leave the
apartment early that morning to catch the start of the race as it took place in
the closest square, a two minute walk away.
Seeing the runners warming up in their spandex get-ups and their skimpy
shorts took me back to that one year, in eighth grade, when I captured the fall
by running cross-country. The air in
Bucharest had the same bite to it, the same taste as those cross-country meets. I remembered the warm-up exercises, the black
Lifa beanie handed down from my older brother, and the skimpy shorts that we
had to wear. Since those first few days
of the 2011 fall I’ve been taking any chance that I can to appreciate the
season, knowing that the leaves fall in the blink of an eye and that a cold,
dark, but beautiful winter will soon descend on Romania. </div>
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In the past three years capturing fall for me has taken
place through a camera lens. I’m no pro
at taking pictures but I like to do it and it gives me one more excuse to get
out and appreciate my surroundings regardless of the season. I was recently looking through the only
pictures that were ever on my ipod, which consisted of pictures taken during my
last fall in the states. They include
some pretty rockin Halloween pictures of Jay and Silent Bob but also some fall
shots of the finger-lakes region of New York.
The colors on the surrounding hills created a scene that I thought I
might have to give up for a couple of years while I’m abroad. It turns out that those beautiful fall colors
were very present and even more vibrant in the region of Romania where I was
placed. Walking through the Jiet Canyon
or the Jiu Gorge the bright colors of fall surround you on all sides and at
times seem to cover you. The best time
to take shots is when you see those great colors with the perfect blue
background of the sky on a clear sunny day.
As that cool wind blows by your cheek you’re reminded of the beauty in
the changing of the seasons, a feeling that can’t be captured by even the
greatest camera lenses. </div>
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Living in the big city now, I knew that I would experience a
different kind of fall season. Rather
than beautiful rolling hills surrounding me every day, I have concrete blocks,
streets, cars, and too many people to appreciate. Luckily for me I live in a pretty green
city. There are still trees in between
the blocks, beautiful parks, nice architecture and opportunities to get out and
see the countryside. For a couple nice
sunny weeks October and November the wind would blow leaves into my path while
riding my bike to work in the morning. The
major highlight of this fall was having the opportunity to join a dedicated
group of environmental volunteers in planting more trees so that future
generations can experience the joys that I have experienced in the past and
will continue to experience in years to come. </div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-84459450072019026432011-11-08T13:11:00.000-08:002011-11-08T13:11:39.334-08:00November Riding<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After one of my later days spent at the office I headed home
to find a number of hazards on my way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hazard
number 1, my confidence:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the
past couple of rides home I have chosen to pick up my cell phone and
return calls that were missed earlier in the day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the safest thing to do while cruising
down somewhat busy streets with parked cars lining both sides at night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hazard
number 2, the door opening:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
evening was my first experience of this but I have heard some horror
stories. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re riding down the
street, following the rules, maybe going a little fast when… the driver’s
side door of the car on your right opens, you hit it, and you go flying. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hazard
number 3, pedestrians:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re all
just trying to get where we need to go and with the hap-hazard parking of
the wonderful drivers of Bucharest we just have to come out of nowhere at
times skirting our way between vehicles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hazard
number 4 and by far the most dangerous in my mind, dogs:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Night has fallen and that normally
peaceful street with the school on the corner turns into a hunting ground
with packs of dogs searching for food or maybe just some excitement to
pass the time, something to chase before it gets so late that they have to
chase themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
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Well soon after successfully dodging hazards number 2 and 3
as they came within seconds of each other, I chose to give up on talking on the
phone, putting a temporary end to hazard number 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I tend to ride rather slowly around
town it was easy enough to dodge 2 and 3, but being my first “opening door”
experience I was a bit shocked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiet7Cmo3kYBVErlqe5YzzD_Tl_E_acr1RTfGYHymMTdAhjhSHZfmsvoOHvyvZ23qVgFh1hFjlo3vnRezgBb0MJWC7-ltXmD31KH14z05xcbO7MOqN126UET_7oJdeI9Mo8Tox5usmqxx-C/s1600/mean_dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiet7Cmo3kYBVErlqe5YzzD_Tl_E_acr1RTfGYHymMTdAhjhSHZfmsvoOHvyvZ23qVgFh1hFjlo3vnRezgBb0MJWC7-ltXmD31KH14z05xcbO7MOqN126UET_7oJdeI9Mo8Tox5usmqxx-C/s1600/mean_dog.jpg" /></a>The slow riding ends when approached with hazard number
4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since bike riding began in
Bucharest hazard number 4 has haunted nearly anyone who dares to take to the small
streets on two wheels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There came a
point when I finally found my perfect route to work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The route took a relatively straight path, it
stuck to the small streets, and it kept me out of high traffic areas, both foot
and vehicle traffic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one thing that caused
me to change that perfect course was that one dog, near that one block, always waiting
there to chase me down the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily
I found a decent detour that allows me to avoid the dog without significantly
changing my course. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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</div>
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A lesson learned almost two years ago in Petrosani was that
at night time in Romania those peaceful streets can turn ugly with the barking
beasts hot on your trail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After slowly
passing the general school I began to hear barking that I thought was safely
contained behind a fence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From 5 to 7
angry barking dogs ran out from under the barrier and come after me nearly
surrounding my bike as I began to speed up down the street. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such moments are the most dangerous on a bike
here because when you are thinking about the angry barking dogs inching closer
and closer to your ankles you’re not thinking about cars pulling out or the
intersection up ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess you don’t
really have to worry about dodging other pedestrians though. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After getting through a ride home like the one I had this
evening, many cyclist would be proud of themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They just managed to skirt disaster coming at
them from a number of angles without really even trying. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sweat, “floare la ureche” as the Romanians
say. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me it was quite a humbling
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My slow cruising of the
small streets method has been reinforced as well as the need to have a heightened
sense of awareness after darkness falls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now that the clocks have changed, these new lessons will come in handy
on a daily (nightly) basis either until springtime comes or until the snow
drives me off the roads. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-60320000015651438472011-10-07T13:29:00.000-07:002013-01-22T14:40:25.682-08:00ScorotaMy return to the mountains has come. Remembering late last winter, there had been a three week period away from the mountain and I was itching to get back up for a hike in Parang. Last Friday it had already been almost two months since my last mountain excursion. It had to happen and it seemed to be my last chance before the cold moves in. So I made my return Petrosani but not really. I was in Petrosani to drop my bags off and sleep. The rest of the time I spent like many of the weekends I spent when I lived in Petrosani, outside of Petrosani. Excited to here about the weekend's activities, I committed to making the trip on Friday afternoon when the plan was to hike to cabana Buta. I had only been there once and though I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed one year before to do the hike there were no regrets. It was a great hike and it ended in a delicious meal made primarily of wild mushrooms. Knowing what kind of scenery was in store I psyched myself up for the hike, but we never made it to Buta.<br />
<br />
On one hour of dirty train sleep the night before, I found myself yet again struggling to fully doze off on public transportation next to my hiking buddies and a group of young mountain enthusiasts heading uphill. We exited the minibus but only for a minute as we discovered that on demand of the large group of student customers it was heading even further up Basescu's road. Suddenly plans changed from Buta to Scorota, from familiar and exciting to unfamiliar and even more exciting. What is more exciting, adrenaline-pumping, fearful, extreme, than the unknown? To me it was unknown; to my hiking buddies it was a bit more familiar. I was in good hands. <br />
<br />
We quickly left the group, so we thought. Thirty minutes of hiking and we were out of woods with cliffs rising up on our left. Thinking it was a good time for a first break we allowed the students to catch up to us and we ended up even with them until the early snack break at Stana Scorota. It was there that we split, my group to the right and straight up the wall while the students took their time snacking. By the time we reached the top of the first climb (not even close to our highest altitude) the group of students was still packed together at the table outside of the stana. They looked smaller than a group of ants crowded around a small piece of lollipop. We continued on, finding bright fall colors surrounded in evergreen, endangered wild-flowers (edelweiss), more climbing, and more students. A large group of students were coming down as we were heading up. They were students from the same Petrosani high school as the students we met on the way up. Imagine having monthly mountain trips in a high school club. Do these kids have a clue how lucky they are? Does anybody?<br />
<br />
Eventually we reached the highest point of the day at Varful Puiule but not until we saw an amazing view of the Retezat high peaks. The descent consisted first of beautiful views of a lake in the distance, vibrant clouds, and steep rocks rising on our right. Unfortunately the trail was poorly marked and there was a section where the attentiveness of three hikers was necessary to keep it, until it was lost. After it was lost we bushwhacked down a steep, fairly dangerous slope through the woods to some water and eventually a forestry road. The bushwhack descent at the end of the hike sucked. Mental note... don't expect people to "leave no trace" if you can't manage to mark a trail. The wonders of the hike as a whole farley outweighed that last miserable hour.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcl55b6F9QpdHIRHzQW618jihS6eUpVb1ajvMd7xw55kwB3M2hSyRp5lSbF2TN4cYUt5quNcxFpZfDioUO__0DmTbum8S6cTNtzm2VCcw-8teBbPuiZtPk0hpLYXxjyZ7VMm2cBPBlvmE/s1600/DSC00411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcl55b6F9QpdHIRHzQW618jihS6eUpVb1ajvMd7xw55kwB3M2hSyRp5lSbF2TN4cYUt5quNcxFpZfDioUO__0DmTbum8S6cTNtzm2VCcw-8teBbPuiZtPk0hpLYXxjyZ7VMm2cBPBlvmE/s640/DSC00411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The combination of a sleepless night followed by a 10 hour hike led to a great nights sleep only to lead into yet another amazing day of hiking in the Parang Mountains. Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Câmpu lui Neag, Romania45.3019444 23.04138890000001545.2572699 22.960707900000017 45.346618899999996 23.122069900000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6646303160246150315.post-20123250028368063792011-09-28T23:04:00.000-07:002013-01-19T08:41:57.500-08:00Festival Balkanik<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
From what people have told me, living in Bucharest has its
positives and its negatives. They told me
that it would seem really crowded, and it does.
They told me that it would be harder to get to know people, and it
is. They told me that it’s much hotter
in the summer time, and so it is. They
also told me that there are fun things to do, and I found that one out this
past weekend. As a PCV in a new and
strange place I try to keep my eye out for any possible sign that could lead to
something positive. One of those signs
in my first week here happened to be advertising a Balkan music festival. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ever since hearing Shatel in Zeynep’s car during my first
trip to Turkey I’ve been a fan of the style.
Since then I have gotten into a couple other bands including the
Hungarian band Ternipe. When I saw them
on the band list for Saturday I had to tell Courtney who is also a big
fan. From then on there was no question
of whether we would go or not, just when we would get there. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The festival opened at two and the music began at six. Various cultural elements were promoted on
the festivals website so we decided that arriving at two and getting the full
feel of the atmosphere before the music started would be the best idea. Ternipe’s day on stage happened to be the
same day of “<a href="http://wheninromania-andy.blogspot.com/2011/09/lets-do-it-romania-round-ii.html">Let's do it Romania</a>” another activity that was a must do for the 24<sup>th</sup>
of September. The plan was to get to the
clean-up activity in the morning and finish it with enough time to make it to
the festival by 2. Of course rarely do
things ever go exactly as planned.
Dragging ourselves out of the house late in the morning and the unexpectedly long
transportation process left us with a re-worked plan to get picked up at the cleaning at
2. This meant that we (Aran and I) wouldn’t end up getting back to the house to get ready for the show until 4. Yes, I guess it takes
that long to get into the center of Bucharest by two buses and walking. Aran and I ended up arriving at the festival to
meet Courtney, Dave, and Veronica with minimal time to check out the venders
before the music started. I did finally
find out how much one of those awesome Roma skirts cost, 400 lei, yikes. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Festival Highlights:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Ternipe with their quick footed dancing man, charismatic style, and background: “hop hop” “diggi do diggi diggi do” throughout many
of their songs. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwVoWUCT5s-QEQEE4f1an78RXVj2H6ZOXqTkWLu11LlS7gOiVs_Xu3-p0r25LExj_irTF3F6W7r_b4v3GvAZw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
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The long haired dancing man in the crowd that we swore was
American by the 1960’s hippy style dance he was showing off but ended up being Romanian. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Getting spotted by a TV camera while holding a cup in my mouth
so I could take my own video of the performance. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mahala Rai Banda with their 14 band members packed on the
stage, large horn section, and feet-moving music. By that time the crowed had swelled to the
perfect amount of people, packing the venue but you were still able to move
around easily. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHzi9IjNYndCg-8rh3yAmebg49Rls8WB69aVqUSs5dMV6ko8KdyzeBudK_7saY0PsVB0Fk9G7TSsDkHuQuJc-gZ9MKAHs3sFAyCWR7nXWUfn8v7LBvstmWa7YkMw2kqZ719vFal_Kmzv4/s1600/DSC00284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHzi9IjNYndCg-8rh3yAmebg49Rls8WB69aVqUSs5dMV6ko8KdyzeBudK_7saY0PsVB0Fk9G7TSsDkHuQuJc-gZ9MKAHs3sFAyCWR7nXWUfn8v7LBvstmWa7YkMw2kqZ719vFal_Kmzv4/s640/DSC00284.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Finding Nick there and hanging out with him and his gazda
from Targoviste. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aran’s continuous come and go as he met a group of fun
people up in the front of the crowd. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Baba Zula the mysterious headliner of the festival wearing a
beanie, aviators, and a cape while playing the saz. This music probably could have put me into a hypnotic
trans if I was paying better attention
to it. </div>
Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17687338557597039202noreply@blogger.com0Bucharest, Romania44.437711000000007 26.09736689999999744.074913500000008 25.451919899999996 44.800508500000007 26.742813899999998