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”. 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. 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. They say that time
flies when you’re having fun but I no longer agree with that statement
100%. 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.
Chapter 1: PST
This blog was started shortly after my first chapter in
Romania ended, Pre-service Training (PST).
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. 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. It is also a time to begin
working on integration into a new Romanian community. All trainees live with hosts during PST where
they must address both communication challenges as well as challenges adapting
to a new place. The most nerve racking
experience of my life was the morning when I met my host and I’ll never forget
it. 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. 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.
Those three, led by my host sister Denisa, took my hand and
helped me through my first integration experience in Romania. 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.
PST Thank yous:
Thanks to my host family, Ofelia, Denisa, Iulian senior and
Iulian junior. 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.
Chapter 2: Petrosani
The stars aligned and I arrived in Petrosani. I couldn’t have conceived of a more fitting
location for me. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. Petrosani is my second home and I will always
be looking forward to my next visit back.
Petrosani Thank yous:
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. Thanks
to Joel for being like an older, wiser brother showing me the ropes and introducing
me to some great people. Thanks to Leddy
and Dan for making me a part of their family.
The Damians for all of the great conversation and practice, during and
after the tutor sessions. Sanda for the
Romanian help. Alin, Arpi, and Amanda
for carrying our English club activities into friendships. 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.
Chapter 3: Bucharest
After such a great time in Petrosani and progress with the
language, a one year extension was in order.
The desire for something new led me to a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader
(PCVL) position at the Peace Corps office in Bucharest. This position gave me the opportunity to work
in an office, train fellow volunteers, work with a local NGO (MaiMultVerde),
and so much more. In just one year I
feel like I accomplished much. 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. Even if I was only there for
just one year, those relationships made leaving Bucharest difficult. The Peace Corps office was a great place for
me to sit around and chat. I got to know
the staff so well, see how things run at that level and also have time for some
volunteer support. 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. I learned so much about work relationships at
the Peace Corps office.
Bucharest Thank yous:
PCV’s for your good conversations and telling me stories
about what’s happening at your sites.
The program team for always being there to help me with things that I’m
doing, questions that I have. Manuela
for the sweet sounds soothing me into an afternoon work jam. Thanks to Courtney for sharing the experience
with me and being a great friend. Thanks to Sheila and Erin for the chatting
and guidance. Finally to all other PCRo staff
for doing what you do so well and welcoming me into the office. 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. To
MMV volunteers for taking time out of your week to work a bit for a better
Romania. You are all very special
people. Finally thanks to Mihaela,
Flori, Tataia and Mamaia for welcoming to their family and making my Bucharest
a much brighter place for me.
Multumesc
pentru tot ceea ce ati facut pentru mine.
O sa imi
fie dor de voi.
Mai vedem
in curand.
La
revedere.
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.