tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65063226195796489712024-02-19T17:33:37.163-08:00Oh Happy Day!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-51123536944308531782011-07-18T15:28:00.000-07:002011-07-18T15:46:47.017-07:00NEW BLOG ALERTHey everyone! Jake and I just created a new blog at <a href="http://j-cvellinga.blogspot.com">j-cvellinga.blogspot.com</a><br /><br />Feel free to switch over and follow us there :) Happy day to you all!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-14456015565327658012010-05-22T13:18:00.000-07:002010-05-22T15:28:45.969-07:00What is "normal" life anyway?<div style="text-align: center;">Hey, hey, hey! So, I know I promised pictures and posts about my many adventures, but have yet to find the time to do so. In the end the pictures are much more fun for me to see than anyone else, though if you'd like I can perhaps show you a few by request :). Or, if you feel like doing a bit of facebook/blog stalking, Erika has posted pictures of all the spots we went on her blog and on facebook, so have at it!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Now perhaps you're thinking "If you can't find time to post pictures, why are you writing on your blog at all?" That is an <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent </span>question! Well, I shouldn't be writing here at all. I have a lot of homework to do....I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">a lot</span>. By June 2nd I have....<span style="font-style: italic;">dun dun dun....</span><br />17 papers to write<br />6 interviews to type up<br />8 questionnaires to translate and transcribe<br />300 pages of reading<br />and 2 interviews with BYU staff.<br /><br />And it'd be nice to find a job in the process of all this work, so that come June 2nd there will be something left in the job market other than snow cones....though now that I think of it, I <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>that will be gone too. Snow cones are probably WAY up there on the fun scale. Mmm....I could go for a snow cone right now.<br />So now you're thinking "WOW, you're <span style="font-style: italic;">still </span>here?! Get to work girl!!" Here's the kicker, I've been sitting here trying to write for awhile now, and the only thing that's coming are conversation-like ramblings or rantings from a girl who's a bit stressed out. That's what brought me here, because I'm thinkin' I need to get a few things out and off my chest before any of the writing is going to happen, or if I ever expect my mind to stop wandering and focus on what I'm reading.<br />Here's what's on my mind then. Re-entry culture shock!!! I thought I was past it, actually I kind of stopped thinking about it altogether, only to find out that I am still struggling. To everyone it seems as though I never left, and in the past couple of weeks I've kind of felt that way too. And yet I did! I lived in Romania for four months, where I fell in love with nine children, five roommates, co-workers, branch members, and a culture. I was happy there, it was challenging and new, and I learned a lot about myself. Now of <span style="font-style: italic;">course</span> there's nothing wrong with that. I think what I'm really struggling with at the moment is trying to bridge the gap, to be the person everyone at home knows me as, while holding onto all that's new and good that came from the past five months (and much longer than that if you count preparation. Romania has been my focus for a <span style="font-style: italic;">long </span>time now). The predicament pretty much has me stumped! I know I've said this a thousand times, but I'll say it once more. Poor returned missionaries, they must experience all of this times six (24 months vs. my four) but I bet it feels like this times 1,000. I'll figure it out eventually, but here I am with almost three full weeks of being home under my belt, and not much to show for it as far as emotional stability (or homework.....). I think I'm ready to go back now, but at the same time I'm really not.<br /><br />The other thing that's been on my mind is the fact that I had a big disappointment this morning. I auditioned for Pirates of Penzance at Hale and it was the biggest crash and burn I've ever experienced at an audition. So, looks like no show for me this summer which I'm really bummed about. It's ridiculous actually, when did I become so shy? It's like I was a turtle and I just drew back into my shell the moment I stepped in that room. I had a friend tell me the other day "Oh Camille, I'm sure you'll do awesome. You're Camille Porter!" and thinking back on that now makes me chuckle. I <span style="font-style: italic;">am </span>Camille Porter, just a slightly different one. Still trying to figure her out completely actually. It's been too long since I performed, I'm way out of practice and it showed in every possible way at my audition. Oh well, guess everyone needs to completely bomb an audition once or twice in life! But even so, it was quite the bummer.<br /><br />On a much happier note, I spent this past week in California watching my niece and nephew! They may just be two of the cutest kids ever... I may be a biased aunt though....but no even then they're pretty much the cutest ever. Ethan is a handful though, he kept me busy and my respect for mothers continues to expand. Anyway, Cindy and I drove there, conquered the LA freeways, and spent a week together the majority of which was without internet (that made the homework situation tough). It was a fun week, though the fun was definitely lessened by the dark cloud of things to do lingering over my head the whole time. I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> the beach too, oh boy is that a wonderful place :). And I LOVE Cindy Clawson. That girl is just...oh don't even get me started on all I love about her. We had lots of fun!<br /><br />And last of all, one of my closest friends was married yesterday!! Liz Larsen is now Liz Sorenson, it's official! After staying up 'til three or so making a wedding video for her, I woke to Liz coming in my room for a chair at 6:15 am for hair and makeup (No, I did not do her hair, I can't even do my own haha). It was an early beginning to a long, but very fun day! Everything turned out great, and it was so fun to see her as a bride and be with her throughout her day. Emotional? Yeah, but like always, I couldn't be happier for them, they are perfect for each other.<br /><br />Well, I think this brings my random post filled with all that's on my mind to a close. Hope you made it through all that without wanting to throw something or take a bathroom break. "Party in the U.S.A" just came on shuffle...I remember feeling SO excited about really partying in the U.S.A. but man I miss dancin' with the girls in our tiny apartment in Iasi. So strange that only a month or so ago I was there. Wowzers. Ok I'm done, off to see if something other than random thoughts like these will flow out of my fingers :) Let the "All Homework and Nothing Else (except for some job hunting) Week " begin! Oh yeah, and I lose my teenage status that week too, but no time for any focus on that. La revedere!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-72507539919061846232010-05-03T16:50:00.000-07:002010-05-03T21:56:07.729-07:0028 hours of flying later....<div style="text-align: center;">Guess what, guess what, guess what?!?! I'M HOME!!!!!! And boy is it wonderful.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You know, traveling is awesome and it has been an absolutely incredible experience to see everything I have in the past week or so. Yet, after all of it, I can't even tell you how great it is to be with my parents again, and talking to all my family and friends! Turning on my phone again, weird! And entering an airport where <span style="font-style: italic;">everything </span>was in English... oh it was neat, and crazy. Culture shock much? YES. But I don't mind one bit, I was definitely ready to be home. After giving my parents and Brian and Ally the biggest hugs I could muster, I slept for oh, 10 hours? I saw my mountains today, and held my hand out an open window while wearing a seat belt (yes, funny that it would make me so happy to have a seat belt). I saw an American flag flapping in the wind, and was just giddy :).<br />Give me a few weeks or so and I'm sure I'll be ready to be back in Romania (I miss everyone there so much...), but for now the comforts of home are all I can ask for!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In case any of you were left off the band wagon (which is basically everyone but my parents...) we quickly threw together a trip and still got to do some backpacking!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So, beginning in Frankfurt we went to.....<br />Munich<br />Rome<br />Florence<br />Venice<br />back to Frankfurt<br />and finished in Paris!!<br /><br />It was quite the trip, and I'll hopefully have time in the next little bit to post at least a few pictures and things from each place I visited. But for now, I'll be focusing on catching up with many of you in person :) because I can now!!! I've been home for one day, and I've started losing my voice a bit from all the talking, and I'm loving all of it!<br /><br /></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-11401130918814786022010-04-21T13:38:00.000-07:002010-04-21T13:44:41.937-07:00Germany!!!!!!<div align="center">Hey! I'm first! Erika hasn't posted yet! Had to relish in that fact...for those of you who don't understand, Erika is a very good blogger, and many of my family and friends have resorted to her blog at times for an update. BUT NOT TODAY! :)</div><br /><div align="center">We are both happily in Frankfurt, with the wonderful Ninow family. We bought tickets for a 28 hour train adventure on a whim yesterday, with the idea that at the end, we would be in Frankfurt which was a lot better than the unsurety of the planes these days. Our awesome plan worked, and we're here! Boy was it a relief to see the Ninows waiting for us at the train station, we were gross and tired and they took us right in. We're thinkin' we're going to just stick around in Germany, traveling from city to city seeing the sights here instead of hopping countries like the original plan included. If there's one thing for certain, it's that there is definitely <em>plenty </em>of great things to do here. The train ride was long, but actually extremely beautiful. I mean, EXTREMELY beautiful. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Anyway, this is short and sweet. Thought I'd just fill all y'all in (Erika just informed me how to correctly write that) (yes she's sitting over my shoulder dictating parts of my blog post) (I STILL WIN!) </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Cu drag!</div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-39828508363241151402010-04-19T09:32:00.000-07:002010-04-19T10:56:23.112-07:00Yup, still here!<div style="text-align: center;">So, relaxing was nice, that's true!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJroXhyBhBskGIYoyDovo8nkj88ZkgW1DxzG165KWe_vF3g52OHVs7a7p6SRpyZ6Fc9VDzWUzxTLnZqFqgLH7_xOwaN8o4zmYTWpQE2g3vdTNtw7yMVA5mUvGDU4hxSyutSPGkjaoSV4A1/s1600/IMG_1946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJroXhyBhBskGIYoyDovo8nkj88ZkgW1DxzG165KWe_vF3g52OHVs7a7p6SRpyZ6Fc9VDzWUzxTLnZqFqgLH7_xOwaN8o4zmYTWpQE2g3vdTNtw7yMVA5mUvGDU4hxSyutSPGkjaoSV4A1/s400/IMG_1946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461817618086938882" border="0" /></a>But we quickly lost our sanity...<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWjW337tnR6a8k-nVoM5u5pWn0x7eLUW04ATVDEQ5bv-KauA7ES-XOpBzq9FSSJt4ADzJWU1I9UbFbaMb8Oyfw5aT0d4XS1tX2TUJ5GggpEGIpYR_L-7RVh9-o-HUlkj62Chnxjz3frJS/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWjW337tnR6a8k-nVoM5u5pWn0x7eLUW04ATVDEQ5bv-KauA7ES-XOpBzq9FSSJt4ADzJWU1I9UbFbaMb8Oyfw5aT0d4XS1tX2TUJ5GggpEGIpYR_L-7RVh9-o-HUlkj62Chnxjz3frJS/s400/IMG_1960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461817620988298226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdJ_-1UQcK4j1EuO5PdicU6HjrRTWjCUGrdf4Xr9sIGKiAWUWYf75omsILvMxwicoNXZDEuI_8YeCYLXGClrWqKPrWRSmOa7uxfofv14WDTnsf2FocKu48jKUZj_Ov-S_A-U3dE_7VkmU/s1600/IMG_1962.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdJ_-1UQcK4j1EuO5PdicU6HjrRTWjCUGrdf4Xr9sIGKiAWUWYf75omsILvMxwicoNXZDEuI_8YeCYLXGClrWqKPrWRSmOa7uxfofv14WDTnsf2FocKu48jKUZj_Ov-S_A-U3dE_7VkmU/s400/IMG_1962.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461817628114958898" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Only to be saved by some very nice elders,<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCQDiCSeqp7zEWoCDKWelhJ36Dyhbi28c0knN62RcN2ZrrX1dpA_O7mcVbLf3mgz2iLxsLppFNU_66GIYJPHmYninBzsX6OchsFZqWO_tQ-B597rQ1rKAC46q5nz0aFoDvm1mKneXwh4i/s1600/IMG_1970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCQDiCSeqp7zEWoCDKWelhJ36Dyhbi28c0knN62RcN2ZrrX1dpA_O7mcVbLf3mgz2iLxsLppFNU_66GIYJPHmYninBzsX6OchsFZqWO_tQ-B597rQ1rKAC46q5nz0aFoDvm1mKneXwh4i/s400/IMG_1970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461840309972143794" border="0" /></a>and a trip to one of my favorite places in the whole world!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1snjo0d03zbWCk6DxLAI_zD8B8oOgRQK2wj5FO2-oT8ZbpXqLL-WbCjIk37JcgIIapBj81nXJe1Ffooj9bRDU6aZviTwMPES3g7jJ4UBeOLr0QsJRuV7QMuUhklzVp8qMeN2q1fQcnCWB/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1snjo0d03zbWCk6DxLAI_zD8B8oOgRQK2wj5FO2-oT8ZbpXqLL-WbCjIk37JcgIIapBj81nXJe1Ffooj9bRDU6aZviTwMPES3g7jJ4UBeOLr0QsJRuV7QMuUhklzVp8qMeN2q1fQcnCWB/s400/IMG_1827.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461817614264993522" border="0" /></a>I went to church in a full out chapel for the first time in four months! And it was all still in Romanian!! I thought I'd said my last goodbye to church (and the hymns) in Romanian, but there I was. I was pretty much in heaven. Not to mention the fact that our lesson was on Joseph in Egypt and how he turned the irritations in his life into blessings. We all chuckled at how it was all so perfectly directed towards us. I'm truly blessed to have a Father in Heaven who understands me. Because, really I wouldn't say this has reached the full status of a "trial" or "affliction" really. Though the sight of the eruption is intimidating, I'm no where near it and I'm comfortably sitting in a hotel room chatting with family and friends. It's just a major irritation and frustration that our long awaited plans to see so much have been foiled. But, as our sweet primary teacher taught us (that's right, we were in primary because it's taught in English with all the Americans haha) that it's all about our attitudes towards those irritations in life. So I didn't get to go to Paris, Italy, Prague, or Switzerland...I suppose worse things have happened and maybe I will get another chance someday. There are some real pros to being here in Romania still. I've realized (though it was absolutely no surprise) that I really am not ready to be done with Romania. Then again, I'll probably never be. And though I'm turning a tiny bit green with jealousy that one friend of mine is still back in Iasi with all our friends, I am grateful to be where I'm at because reopening all of that would be tough. Saying goodbye once was hard enough. I suppose I'll never be done with Iasi, or Romania, so I'm glad for the chance to hold onto it all a little longer.<br /><br />The drive back to the hotel after church was great fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi626sUGtZ7SbmLhKWkf3Gie-I9R-nLzuB7LQlWfDy_FailvmioeF6vcKy92Lxj2L83JXQQfzhyRwixpy-SzoM-9elEPCcYCloq0WFtOs-osUZwMHLz5M-9LcUrwiWAA9bHiczkvkpfsr7y/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi626sUGtZ7SbmLhKWkf3Gie-I9R-nLzuB7LQlWfDy_FailvmioeF6vcKy92Lxj2L83JXQQfzhyRwixpy-SzoM-9elEPCcYCloq0WFtOs-osUZwMHLz5M-9LcUrwiWAA9bHiczkvkpfsr7y/s400/IMG_1849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461840295852122546" border="0" /></a>Every fountain had been dyed red in honor of "Hemophilia Awareness Day"...random.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YJwmxyc78a56hyphenhyphenrATuQsty2563vy1_Ms2YDMyOpAQHkmN7X13O5AkrERb5LIcqrAkwWLrepekzTCmFhyphenhyphenqxX83a44RkT23DxGACs3SPUT6_muAbRzHqYyAxJw8YwXaixF_omtg4_L2FQ8/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YJwmxyc78a56hyphenhyphenrATuQsty2563vy1_Ms2YDMyOpAQHkmN7X13O5AkrERb5LIcqrAkwWLrepekzTCmFhyphenhyphenqxX83a44RkT23DxGACs3SPUT6_muAbRzHqYyAxJw8YwXaixF_omtg4_L2FQ8/s400/IMG_1859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461840300361099522" border="0" /></a>Here we have the "Arc de Triumful" of Romania. A little fun surprise on the drive, Romania's own version of the famous Arc in Paris...glad I got to see at least one!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvbM4KC5wCHK2QRey_GL6RU1fKNuwMGs6tbV1I-1pVhzCp_z8z3UD1xl3dX6DxQr2qvYrFew1K5Gqi-OYk6ntR7bB0sezp196r5FCVqBoKO7PVSO9kZ7AexwuqlFp3-r9dl6wP4hftk5W/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvbM4KC5wCHK2QRey_GL6RU1fKNuwMGs6tbV1I-1pVhzCp_z8z3UD1xl3dX6DxQr2qvYrFew1K5Gqi-OYk6ntR7bB0sezp196r5FCVqBoKO7PVSO9kZ7AexwuqlFp3-r9dl6wP4hftk5W/s400/IMG_1853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461817628883938850" border="0" /></a>Isn't it just beautiful? Spring is definitely the best season of the year. While leaning over Erika to take this picture, she said "Camille, you always take pictures of the most random things!" My response: "LOOK at those flowers, and the green grass! How is that random at all?" I love all of the green everywhere, and wish I were closer to the city so that I could explore and go to the awesome park we passed.<br /><br />Anyway, we were also kindly fed dinner by an American family we met in the branch who have been living here for a few years. We ate such wonderful, American tasting food. RANCH DRESSING! And Oreos...oh happy day. They were so kind to us, and their kids were a ton of fun. I did have to stop myself multiple times from talking to them in Romanian though, seems as though I'd forgotten how to talk to kids in my own language haha. It sure was nice though at the same time. The whole night was a lot of fun, and the entire day I was so grateful to have friends anywhere in the world that I may be stranded.<br /><br />So, until further notice I am still in Bucuresti just trying to get the soonest flight out! We've accepted the fact that our five country backpacking trip is no longer a reality, and now are just focusing on getting to Frankfurt, where a good friend's family is ready to take us in. If all goes well we should be on a plane there tomorrow afternoon! Of course, the chances are still high that won't happen...and the 36 hour train ride it would take to get us there doesn't sound too inviting either. Plus, who knows if we could even book a train?<br /><br />Icelandic volcano...what in the world?! Crazy sauce. European travel is a battleground at the moment, I'm grateful to be here safe in a hotel with my friends!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-2818374624271030752010-04-17T05:35:00.000-07:002010-04-17T05:48:00.303-07:00Wait for it.....<div style="text-align: center;">Remember my earlier wish of not having time to post? Well, looks like I'll have plenty....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1IXfgSqxLzo_ajR2kRCw-du5afzakW-wWwYVn-tcOHyrb6MIUvk-KEWBhGeyfw2DM-a9pKonEoSGBF5ycylhl82cLt8kc6K-3seQsJoG2CxmrcKJMssewuNBzGNS7mwEtGqL_MGzGxT4/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1IXfgSqxLzo_ajR2kRCw-du5afzakW-wWwYVn-tcOHyrb6MIUvk-KEWBhGeyfw2DM-a9pKonEoSGBF5ycylhl82cLt8kc6K-3seQsJoG2CxmrcKJMssewuNBzGNS7mwEtGqL_MGzGxT4/s400/IMG_1952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461084628513226466" border="0" /></a>This was the lovely sight we were greeted with as we got the airport once again (the shuttle driver from the hotel knows us well, he laughed when he saw us waiting for him yet again). So, looks like we're not going anywhere until Monday, along with everyone else (except those going to Tel Aviv, I'm ready to backpack, we should have just taken that one!). And even Monday is up in the air. I should be in Paris right now, but I'm keeping it positive, I just took a really great nap :) My least favorite part of it though? Our friends at British Airways were no longer able to accommodate, because it's no longer their responsibility. So no more free hotel rooms, and the three of us decided to cram into one. PARTAY!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl93glcCQ1-fo7hyLH1DKfycrsyKxaMPzhHKPXdE3ZK1525epsfO7A_YBrkKgkJcdoaDvr061WVQg16-MIFsoScsrN-iL2rVigL1LNNWCwjSIr2cxHJaPiPHHtANxP8W6l6RpqmvHHjgGq/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl93glcCQ1-fo7hyLH1DKfycrsyKxaMPzhHKPXdE3ZK1525epsfO7A_YBrkKgkJcdoaDvr061WVQg16-MIFsoScsrN-iL2rVigL1LNNWCwjSIr2cxHJaPiPHHtANxP8W6l6RpqmvHHjgGq/s400/IMG_1959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461084637032124562" border="0" /></a>Erika's face is awesome... Man, a volcano. In Iceland. This is insane!!! Signs of the times, so I guess I shouldn't be so surprised but WOW!<br /></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-45302746763361744692010-04-16T22:16:00.000-07:002010-04-16T22:34:38.299-07:00I'm leavin' on a jet plane...train...nevermind.<div style="text-align: center;">Hello everyone! Wow have things been crazy or what? This past week has been insane, saying goodbye to the children, all my awesome friends, and then the city/langauge/everything I've grown to love about Romania was...rough. I never like goodbyes, and as our train pulled away from my new home in Iasi, I'm sure I was quite the ridiculously sad sight. Not to mention the fact that I was trying to eat a cold shaorma (an amazing Romanian sandwich I'll tell you all about) while struggling through my tears. I miss Iasi like crazy already.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yet, right as I've come to grips with the fact that I'm leaving Romania, and got a chance to really get excited about our 17 day backpacking trip, it seems that Romania isn't ready to say goodbye to me yet. Due to recent events in Iceland (what?!) I'm still here! They've shut almost all air traffic to northern Europe down and we are now enjoying free meals and accomodations from our friends at British Airways who have booked us a direct flight to Paris today. Cross your fingers! In four hours I should hopefully be on my way, but there is still a definite possibility I'll be here in Bucuresti even longer. I should have been in Paris right now, getting ready to go meet our friend Jen (our other friend we're traveling with) at the Arc de Triomphe. Crazy stuff! I know it will all make a really funny story to tell for the rest of my life, and I'm SO grateful for the rest I've been able to get here. Now I'm just really, really ready to roll! So anyway, thought I'd give you that little update on things! Pray that I get out of here soon!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">P.S. If you haven't already learned this trick, Erika Peterson's blog (which you can find a link to on the right, it's Livin' the Dream) is very well updated unlike mine. She posted a few pictures and a funny video of us in the airport that you can go look at! I love this girl, we're going to be connected at the hip for the next two weeks and I love her to death. Enjoy, and hopefully I don't get any more time to post before I'm back in the states MAY 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!</div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-61422159722866877962010-03-07T09:37:00.001-08:002010-03-17T08:48:32.440-07:00An Ode to Vanner<div style="text-align: center;">Hello again everyone! Wow, it's been probably too long since I last posted...but my time here is quickly running out and I'm trying hard to focus on really making my time count instead of being quite as diligent on keeping in touch. Hope you can forgive me. I'll be home soon enough with TONS of stories to tell. This last week and a half have been...incredible. Seriously, every single day here is different...a new adventure with another story to tell, even if it's a story of an overwhelming wave of sickness that through the power of the priesthood is healed. Those memories are just as important to me as the ones of the small town I visited, or the baby goat I held, and the sweet old women who kissed and overfed me. And I'm only going to keep racking up the stories, as this week I'm off to Moldova! But before that I get to spend more time with some of the most wonderful little kids in the world, and see some beautiful monasteries. And <span style="font-style: italic;">after </span>that? Oh boy, then I get to spend an entire week between the capitol of Romania, as well as a city filled with mountains and waterfalls and relaxation for six tired girls. I get to go HIKING! The only downfall to all of that is that I will miss 5 whole days with the kids. I'm trying hard not to think about how soon I will have to leave them, that will be yet another trying experience. I spent 2o minutes today having my hair brushed by a lego as I held the hand of a tiny toddler trying to walk and sang to the boy in the wheelchair who was holding my other hand while my co workers chuckled at the funny American girl. How could I not be in heaven? And yes that was a run-on sentence I know. Meh.<br /><br />And you know what else? I know I've only been here for a few months, and that I don't live a life hardly at all like what the missionaries do, but I really do feel like I understand why they act so funny when they come home! The idea of returning to normal life again, just weirds me out. Where not much has drastically changed in a few short months, and yet, I have changed. Maybe not <span style="font-style: italic;">drastically, </span>but enough to make going home feel a bit strange. Anyway, I'm rambling once again, it seems to be a talent of mine that certainly hasn't left me.<br /><br />So there's the short (that always turns... not so short) update on my life for you!<br />As for the rest of the post, I started this post a while ago and am only just now finishing it. It is, my friends, an ode to one of the best vehicles to have ever existed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVNHrmYb9jqmmo_8hERDERNFN9w6pK4qMMlP7s-Nd00iR94s0Q9fLDvM7Q0l4bub3kOOf-NN2Sw7Mc6-PO-NqH_bpHPI87sYvZt89DG_ZI5IPjeS0qxukru18T802WN9xs-AnP8u2qKHh/s1600-h/IMGP1831.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpVNHrmYb9jqmmo_8hERDERNFN9w6pK4qMMlP7s-Nd00iR94s0Q9fLDvM7Q0l4bub3kOOf-NN2Sw7Mc6-PO-NqH_bpHPI87sYvZt89DG_ZI5IPjeS0qxukru18T802WN9xs-AnP8u2qKHh/s400/IMGP1831.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445948246834243138" border="0" /></a><br />This is for you Vanner, you may be the only '87 Toyota Van who ever had an 18 year old girl cry over you as she said goodbye. You will forever be a part of my childhood, and I will always think of you as I see others all over the world....<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXoCJ1TZgGggThsQDUKyJ7Q2_DsyT5Q-jqHqZxKVF17t-8-LNA_98rADsy0m_PaArgL9zO2wgB9_wcJvye-bmlAY4R_YkEl3nBCv49fU8CeEcHSnLDwrhqwf3rQk6eQtqCqQJvZCOuhqd/s1600-h/IMG_0535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXoCJ1TZgGggThsQDUKyJ7Q2_DsyT5Q-jqHqZxKVF17t-8-LNA_98rADsy0m_PaArgL9zO2wgB9_wcJvye-bmlAY4R_YkEl3nBCv49fU8CeEcHSnLDwrhqwf3rQk6eQtqCqQJvZCOuhqd/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445948239861402034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbXvxMs4vU7m8gP56TOm32-5WIA2pnvrVjGzElIGKo886M3d7zd_GIzhay2OcEh3Ujl_1fk-K8OIAkag7GaXYkxVesK779CDqhgHV2JLa-evdN5VE59DmJge2Av25QxV7pYaOYZWY8wLT/s1600-h/IMG_0508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbXvxMs4vU7m8gP56TOm32-5WIA2pnvrVjGzElIGKo886M3d7zd_GIzhay2OcEh3Ujl_1fk-K8OIAkag7GaXYkxVesK779CDqhgHV2JLa-evdN5VE59DmJge2Av25QxV7pYaOYZWY8wLT/s400/IMG_0508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445948229376868226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8l7Ts1ENb1ksvFyQ_ShRIVkpd8zy2ZG-uR0exv0_Z6cQGVYtLIHZJiDkxXHPRUPUO1LnJzID8IZwBW7XhQ5CSeaSJpJ_ppvt6_gp_B40JwCQ5DWuLOU6XAOeLlBovueU_xaQpq9XM9iy/s1600-h/IMG_0206.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8l7Ts1ENb1ksvFyQ_ShRIVkpd8zy2ZG-uR0exv0_Z6cQGVYtLIHZJiDkxXHPRUPUO1LnJzID8IZwBW7XhQ5CSeaSJpJ_ppvt6_gp_B40JwCQ5DWuLOU6XAOeLlBovueU_xaQpq9XM9iy/s400/IMG_0206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445948224329612962" border="0" /></a>Good to know you can find vans like this in Romania too! I know that my family and friends will agree that Vanner held a lot of good memories and I can't help but smile every time I see one.<br /><br />Vanner and I, we had some seriously good times....<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizltkeJjttGQ7x_qK7FdmXEKNd5H-Bf-OzVGCjqhzkUxluaVqlU5GQfhyKc6LGTLRCnRbt8VT8cpl22H4nBAEmkedo3Sfw8rGnJfi2NBnx0hbPyiFhxSiKj1ILFz-Ml1m1Tw-JVbP8wt79/s1600-h/Vanner!.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizltkeJjttGQ7x_qK7FdmXEKNd5H-Bf-OzVGCjqhzkUxluaVqlU5GQfhyKc6LGTLRCnRbt8VT8cpl22H4nBAEmkedo3Sfw8rGnJfi2NBnx0hbPyiFhxSiKj1ILFz-Ml1m1Tw-JVbP8wt79/s400/Vanner!.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445948222583056386" border="0" /></a>So, there's my "Ode to Vanner." Feel free to leave comments on your memories etc. Those would be fun for me...and feel free to update your blogs or write me because I still love any news from home! Until next time (which might be a couple weeks) hope you're all well.<br /><br />V<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->a iubesc!<br /><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ></span></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-17601951198613199452010-03-07T04:07:00.000-08:002010-03-07T15:30:23.960-08:00Finally a little more like...me.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Primavera frumoasa!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwGLnaXtCLAWBOytp04YW-JNZZMb8t3lvw1V_pXQ8UNz5xhmrR1VnNp7wNfpEXSEn_lM2AeG-7pBcFU1JO_kqR4CzECq4cjbPtxlNAzE5WzJ5iRmQ94jdPCPbYwKzKy5ouo6uJdBj2Adl/s1600-h/IMG_0549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwGLnaXtCLAWBOytp04YW-JNZZMb8t3lvw1V_pXQ8UNz5xhmrR1VnNp7wNfpEXSEn_lM2AeG-7pBcFU1JO_kqR4CzECq4cjbPtxlNAzE5WzJ5iRmQ94jdPCPbYwKzKy5ouo6uJdBj2Adl/s400/IMG_0549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445919993198603250" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Primavera frumoasa is the first day of spring, which we celebrated on Monday here in Romania. The fresh market was jam packed that morning as we went with so many others in the city to get flowers for special people. The flowers were beautiful and the feeling in the air was so...springy! Which just happens to be one of my favorite times of the year. This week was also the week building up to the big day, March 8th which is Ziua Femeii<span style="font-style: italic;"> (Women's Day) </span>and it's really the Romanian equivalent of Mother's Day here. Those flowers above are the culmination of all of the flowers given to each of us girls and every woman in the branch today. We (the girls here) also gave our own little gift by singing "E Ziua de Mamico" for all the branch members. :) It's a fun little mother's song, feel free to have a listen to this poppy version if you'd like!<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xsueWarCmg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xsueWarCmg</a><br /><br />Needless to say it was a wonderful day at the branch!<br />As for the rest of this week....well I did a lot of this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha42GeEiKVSGfGf4USsO70u5pkJlFO3xtwWSBDGypZsA5_YbwnIH_bp2iBTaMKvyyaCvNijMTDAF0IgQ3jYp2TMAJchmN7-cRSWhgnzYy8930h7wYDN1zCwFXRl1sezS3iCTMfsrfnpbXc/s1600-h/IMG_0801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha42GeEiKVSGfGf4USsO70u5pkJlFO3xtwWSBDGypZsA5_YbwnIH_bp2iBTaMKvyyaCvNijMTDAF0IgQ3jYp2TMAJchmN7-cRSWhgnzYy8930h7wYDN1zCwFXRl1sezS3iCTMfsrfnpbXc/s400/IMG_0801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445921208350022338" border="0" /></a>Yup, I fell asleep at a church activity...toilet paper and all. I also did PLENTY of this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f91jd7DsN2WgXEHl1likbmbBA6pOQ_HlMhQupiv5eijzvprPFbNF9HoJ6EapOQhqp24YpByM46Xi2PIdINhr7-PUAtUQ2bwd5wt6Zwk_gJ0xB8GZ5ecxoKszVLCVrGer0v7gDUux333v/s1600-h/Snapshot+of+me+6.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 327px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f91jd7DsN2WgXEHl1likbmbBA6pOQ_HlMhQupiv5eijzvprPFbNF9HoJ6EapOQhqp24YpByM46Xi2PIdINhr7-PUAtUQ2bwd5wt6Zwk_gJ0xB8GZ5ecxoKszVLCVrGer0v7gDUux333v/s400/Snapshot+of+me+6.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445921205014154994" border="0" /></a>Yes, I did in fact get hit hard this week with something bad. It all started on Monday with a scratchy throat and has gone in a bell curve that I'm still definitely in. Wednesday was the peak, and I missed two days of work at Section 2 (which bothered me more than any nose blowing or coughing). Wednesday was pretty horrible, I was completely out of commission. What did I do that day? I watched three movies, slept, and took a very hot bath. I'm thinking the sickness came from a number of things.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1-</span> stress<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2</span>-the sudden change in the weather. It's been beautiful and warm for weeks and then that all changed in a flash!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3- </span>sickly children<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4-</span> stress.<br />Since my "recovery" and return to work on Friday, things have been a slow uphill incline. I did get to go out yesterday for some yummy Romanian food!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvDZt368IVjwV0mbyrMnXozgeTY6qxu7jc-N-UwlxtmQvvvTP3tNqeyVJ_EROwqL5-fR2RXKIFiO8pLCeX4tD1_wy2Yvo9PYjy27x0b6jku7TXrrO_Ozayzt7HxEuf4GlWoNMRXOUElF4/s1600-h/IMG_0843.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvDZt368IVjwV0mbyrMnXozgeTY6qxu7jc-N-UwlxtmQvvvTP3tNqeyVJ_EROwqL5-fR2RXKIFiO8pLCeX4tD1_wy2Yvo9PYjy27x0b6jku7TXrrO_Ozayzt7HxEuf4GlWoNMRXOUElF4/s400/IMG_0843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445921525023197282" border="0" /></a>...Ha apparently Abby didn't think it was so yummy. That same night we huddled close together to withstand the cold while waiting for a tram Saturday night at 10:00 pm :). Man it was COLD!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj7j4me7AmGQTMBunMbiyafHcmFLo-p1x09IcUv-M-pFs2PEMe_-UTX0cKDOQimd0rdMRD7yqvZYM-HdvUxljwdmdEuOQZ2gUWEsWHCZ-dK8TQoztR953UAdipcXmxVvOEcMuVvEKl0XQ/s1600-h/IMG_0545.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj7j4me7AmGQTMBunMbiyafHcmFLo-p1x09IcUv-M-pFs2PEMe_-UTX0cKDOQimd0rdMRD7yqvZYM-HdvUxljwdmdEuOQZ2gUWEsWHCZ-dK8TQoztR953UAdipcXmxVvOEcMuVvEKl0XQ/s400/IMG_0545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445919989013184498" border="0" /></a><br />So...I've sat and debated what to write for this week's post a lot...and had some misgivings as to what I should actually put down. I don't want to pour all of my heart, soul, and personal experiences onto here because, well, those are personal for a reason and this is the internet. That being said, I feel it's important to share how I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> am with my close family and friends who read this, and I'm also eager to share my thoughts and growing experiences. It's tough to find the middle ground. But my sister Lisa recently posted something that was more than just the "we went and did this..." and I've read it many times, grateful for the chance to hear a little more intimately how she's feeling at this stage in her life. I loved it sis :) and I've chosen to follow her lead (which has never taken me in a wrong direction yet...don't even get me started on how blessed I am to be the youngest in my family). So with that introduction, consider yourselves warned, and be prepared for a lot of feelings!<br /><br />For some time now, I've had a tiny identity crisis building inside of me. That all came to a head this past week, especially when the sickness hit because when I feel weak and sick, I feel it in every aspect. For weeks I've felt frustrated with what my role is here. The things I'm known for at home, those things that make me <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> seem to be different or at least feel different here. Am I here to serve the kids I work with? Yes! Yet every day I struggle as I witness their trials and attempt to make any difference I possibly can for them. In the end I recognize that it's more what they do for me than what I can do for them that will make the largest difference. Yet, the fact that I feel so helpless, lacking in the skills and the permission to truly make a notable difference in their lives has weighed down upon me more than I ever thought it would. Each day is different, I never know what to expect and neither do they. One day I'll have time to play and cuddle and teach. The next I hardly can get two minutes of quality time with any of them. The things I've seen, the heartbreak I've felt as I've been forced to look away as they cry and struggle with their own loneliness has left an imprint on me like nothing ever has before. I do my very best, but so often I don't feel like it's even close to enough, and that has caused a lot of frustration. I have no doubt that the stress I've felt from my constant struggle at work was a major factor in my crash in health this week.<br /><br />Am I here to learn and grow from my roommates and the friends I'm making here? Yes! But this also has added to my small identity crisis, because in my constant focus to see the good in others I suppose I haven't done so well at finding it in myself as well. It's very easy for me to see only my faults. And I suppose I've struggled with feeling unique, feeling like I have something truly my own to offer others... which sad to say may be tied to my pride. I know it sounds crazy! But I'm just trying to put into words the things that I've recently realized have been weighing me down. Constantly working to bridge gaps and accommodate differences seems to have tired me out a bit and maybe even suppressed my true self (which is my own fault, I know).<br /><br />So, overall I guess I've missed the things that make me <span style="font-style: italic;">ME, <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>because I've felt very disconnected from myself if that makes any sense at all. On Friday night I finally snapped out of this weird mind set I've been in, and reconnected with ME and I've felt so happy ever since. What happened Friday night you ask? I stayed home while the rest of the group went to see Alice and Wonderland at the mall. It was the first time I'd ever been alone in the apartment, and apparently it was exactly what I needed to "find myself" again. I spent two glorious hours cleaning the kitchen while singing to my show tunes, followed by homework and Julie Andrews :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_z0StFduPbHEvDQ1l3nndOWNuAHrkdRH75Wd-VtPbv0a7j5rCMkee2XaUwFj0mRdj3hfr5rc7zOYBW351tSvHNp8pq1h1HtpGw5t-kIrZ8RWSe15-yq7J_pqlriZC6w_0RZImjB_MH-x/s1600-h/The-Sound-of-Music-convert-photos-to-digital.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_z0StFduPbHEvDQ1l3nndOWNuAHrkdRH75Wd-VtPbv0a7j5rCMkee2XaUwFj0mRdj3hfr5rc7zOYBW351tSvHNp8pq1h1HtpGw5t-kIrZ8RWSe15-yq7J_pqlriZC6w_0RZImjB_MH-x/s400/The-Sound-of-Music-convert-photos-to-digital.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445921195659646962" border="0" /></a>Yes, I did in fact watch "The Sound of Music" all by myself, and it was the perfect thing to pull me back together. Just look at her! I completely lost myself in the movie. I laughed, cried, and sang along and loved every minute of it. Cheesy? YES! But it made me so incredibly happy. I finally felt like ME again.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7pI9zseISLB7Cuudz2g_EU5Qgw_dIQyy_eVVuZv2JHXQb65IPxvOGqvfCFRY4fw3lBWvkuP8WJYEnguU091fK-0xjRm1bmjC0RZg3_6F7ZhEUwOrzpEAZlkrCHct4ZQVUW4zblCL0PdS/s1600-h/Big!.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7pI9zseISLB7Cuudz2g_EU5Qgw_dIQyy_eVVuZv2JHXQb65IPxvOGqvfCFRY4fw3lBWvkuP8WJYEnguU091fK-0xjRm1bmjC0RZg3_6F7ZhEUwOrzpEAZlkrCHct4ZQVUW4zblCL0PdS/s400/Big!.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445954539805094722" border="0" /></a>Now I'm no Julie Andrews (not even close), that is NOT my real hair, and I have yet to visit the Alps...but I feel very content to be me, here having my own little European experience. It's obvious that I'm happiest when I'm being myself, with the people I love...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvu9SmRBadw_WJjq8LwSmgziJfQptoYN5O3UzUhwmTBmzW342GCsGwGHDinID2XcGqEcwoOaFn3es_zS3aqGT92FJrS2Mx2E9hOQjitKzz4x9tNTZhET4JbG1TVQHAnKd6I5QGDGDCy8g/s1600-h/IMGP3027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 334px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvu9SmRBadw_WJjq8LwSmgziJfQptoYN5O3UzUhwmTBmzW342GCsGwGHDinID2XcGqEcwoOaFn3es_zS3aqGT92FJrS2Mx2E9hOQjitKzz4x9tNTZhET4JbG1TVQHAnKd6I5QGDGDCy8g/s400/IMGP3027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445962892360272754" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bLl-kJxXYtJr45xOQx48lHqQPSmgZaXQCXpKwMbvtV8q4fpPhP8NcWLWDPaLpPQMtn3zVk5l90UcQ3JiIgnX2ax3f5TgyYNmV64RgdWFIE-C1dM6Pab3W-nyje-mFsy2kHDJ2r57xGyF/s1600-h/19350_249620816119_704166119_3922946_456750_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bLl-kJxXYtJr45xOQx48lHqQPSmgZaXQCXpKwMbvtV8q4fpPhP8NcWLWDPaLpPQMtn3zVk5l90UcQ3JiIgnX2ax3f5TgyYNmV64RgdWFIE-C1dM6Pab3W-nyje-mFsy2kHDJ2r57xGyF/s400/19350_249620816119_704166119_3922946_456750_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445960818785304962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWolpko9fR4xLhu-UfZ0RCyI6sOfsvpKJkP6sUcFHbQEnfW4Uw2bfnWSWjec7p44Sy-4gV4J9rUqsmuoohPU3hr_vKsmwwoogn2ZKiqpfeOMB4hc-0mKYBRRuwY-OjiIcnccqFM9cv4IGi/s1600-h/10727_179007572245_565042245_3745404_8281707_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWolpko9fR4xLhu-UfZ0RCyI6sOfsvpKJkP6sUcFHbQEnfW4Uw2bfnWSWjec7p44Sy-4gV4J9rUqsmuoohPU3hr_vKsmwwoogn2ZKiqpfeOMB4hc-0mKYBRRuwY-OjiIcnccqFM9cv4IGi/s400/10727_179007572245_565042245_3745404_8281707_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445960811417450562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U1xVh4HKpx3gQRolKWNnWShjW5-b4LtyVHzrrypZBp7BTj7SlgoXzNh7DvTfcGOMt3tPwMxMV2DjAYzfeO68tROu-Q0uv9UfZ5Tqjdat5mbJoOVh7MpOHDGV4ExfcgPqW_jNue5LRoZ2/s1600-h/n1066148683_2256446_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4U1xVh4HKpx3gQRolKWNnWShjW5-b4LtyVHzrrypZBp7BTj7SlgoXzNh7DvTfcGOMt3tPwMxMV2DjAYzfeO68tROu-Q0uv9UfZ5Tqjdat5mbJoOVh7MpOHDGV4ExfcgPqW_jNue5LRoZ2/s400/n1066148683_2256446_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445960801352008242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B-5MXNlFKZqH7uTprXdwFZI-z6BlHkZ8ueV0BX3flB90moi-3SC4ghzrhwfKAmf1vCJ36eZmQuJ_Y007_FTF09XCergON-Ove4BK_FGf8Pxra90Nz_5QrIv5ddKyCj9Zzgvdzo8ukkux/s1600-h/1128072129a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B-5MXNlFKZqH7uTprXdwFZI-z6BlHkZ8ueV0BX3flB90moi-3SC4ghzrhwfKAmf1vCJ36eZmQuJ_Y007_FTF09XCergON-Ove4BK_FGf8Pxra90Nz_5QrIv5ddKyCj9Zzgvdzo8ukkux/s400/1128072129a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445954525997920738" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPjfNWER13FUmbXgREfHSsvWyiOdgfKIFpkCr3SGjgdt2RzyEYDUd1AUMF3fTzXanbFTBshqop-LWAK3EntyKAg37-6DbOA8csck1AmH03-a6kkiReXw-dfFh-jUgqNPyB28fwOlSPGXr/s1600-h/IMGP3623.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPjfNWER13FUmbXgREfHSsvWyiOdgfKIFpkCr3SGjgdt2RzyEYDUd1AUMF3fTzXanbFTBshqop-LWAK3EntyKAg37-6DbOA8csck1AmH03-a6kkiReXw-dfFh-jUgqNPyB28fwOlSPGXr/s400/IMGP3623.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445954522506743970" border="0" /></a>And doing the things I love...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3eZWMkw3Mn_x5mzlrAz9hN1ZNfhhgwnDDhTNvX4RKHBOJFHByYu7WXVtUPenVv7oX63VwQosZdlxk-3hJ-P9nVzy9AHxsH8HiVJgzVOYZrMfIpr2yTPzkvHVCFxMJOk-ooBHKJ78S_A_/s1600-h/n1005889252_30205238_9083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3eZWMkw3Mn_x5mzlrAz9hN1ZNfhhgwnDDhTNvX4RKHBOJFHByYu7WXVtUPenVv7oX63VwQosZdlxk-3hJ-P9nVzy9AHxsH8HiVJgzVOYZrMfIpr2yTPzkvHVCFxMJOk-ooBHKJ78S_A_/s400/n1005889252_30205238_9083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445960803665346290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7Uh_6zPKxZ3-G35bhF-p1N39_Zh4R3pHi-sBzZC_TwAkXxS9Ci-4rkZeauELFrWSEV3Nedy5A9JvTqL3u2JnYwXLK06ouEpXs8VGdnFalkJf_E9DeexVGZu5YeD1jEb0sRJHlFTWt6FF/s1600-h/WyoRaft2008+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7Uh_6zPKxZ3-G35bhF-p1N39_Zh4R3pHi-sBzZC_TwAkXxS9Ci-4rkZeauELFrWSEV3Nedy5A9JvTqL3u2JnYwXLK06ouEpXs8VGdnFalkJf_E9DeexVGZu5YeD1jEb0sRJHlFTWt6FF/s400/WyoRaft2008+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445962887294518610" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yet, it seems I need to learn how to be that happy even when all that is so far away. There are no campfires in Iasi, only cigarette smoke. And those that I love and who give me strength are so far away. It's easy to be an optimist when life is a breeze...can I call myself a true optimist when things are different? That is the question, and I feel as though I can now say, 100%, YES!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The challenges of life are such a blessing, I feel so grateful for all that I'm learning here, even if it's the fact that I'm re-learning how to be myself. Being here in Romania gives me daily opportunities to be completely out of my element, to challenge my strength of character in so many ways. I made one of my favorite purchases yet the other day...4 lei (the equivalent of about $1.20)...and the cutest little thing I ever did see. It's a book of poetry by Anne Bronte, and it's about two inches tall...in other words heaven for me. In it I found a poem, that I've read so many times now. It may just be my favorite ever...I can't help but share it with you all and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do :) And yes, it's long but definitely worth it!<br /></div><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Oh, Youth may listen patiently,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">While sad Experience tells her tale;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But doubt sits smiling in his eye, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">For ardent Hope will still prevail!</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">He hears how feeble Pleasure dies,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">By guilt destroyed, and pain and woe;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">He turns to Hope and- she replies,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">‘Believe it not- it is not so!’</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">‘Oh, heed her not!” Experience says,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">‘For thus she whispered once to me;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">She told me, in my youthful days, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">How glorious manhood’s prime would be.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">When in the time of early Spring,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Too chill the winds that o’er me pass’d, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">She said, each coming day would bring</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">A fairer heaven, a gentler blast.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And when the sun too seldom beamed,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">The sky, o’ercast, too darkly frowned,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">The soaking rain too constant streamed,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And mists too dreary gathered round;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">‘She told me Summer’s glorious ray</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Would chase those vapours all away, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And scatter glories round.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">With sweetest music fill the trees, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Load with rich scent the gentle breeze,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And strew with flowers on the ground.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But when, beneath that scorching ray,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">I languished, weary, through the day,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">While birds refused to sing, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Verdure decayed from field and tree,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And panting Nature mourned with me</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">The freshness of the Spring.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">“Wait but a little while,” she said,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">“Till Summer’s burning days are fled;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And Autumn shall restore,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">With golden riches of her own,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And Summer’s glories mellowed down,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">The freshness you deplore.”</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And long I waited, but in vain;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">That freshness never came again, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Though Summer passed away, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Though Autumn’s mists hung cold and chill, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And drooping nature languished still, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And sank into decay.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Till wintry blasts foreboding blew</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Through leafless trees and- then I knew</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">That Hope was all a dream.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But thus, fond youth, she cheated me;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And she will prove as false to thee,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">A thousand ills will oft portend,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">That Providence may ne’er intend</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">The trembling heart to bear.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Or if they come, it oft appears,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Our woes are lighter than our fears,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And gently, gently die away</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Chilled by the damps of truth!</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Tell him, that earth is not our rest;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Its joys are empty frail at best;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And point beyond the sky.</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But gleams of light may reach us here;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">And hope the roughest path can cheer:</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Then do not bid it fly!</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Though hope may promise joys, that still </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Unkindly time will ne’er Fulfil;</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Or, if they come at all,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We never find them unalloyed,</p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Hurtful perchance, or soon destroyed, </p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">They vanish or they pall;</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Yet hope itself a brightness throws</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">O’er all our labours and our woes:</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">A thousand ills will oft portend,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">That Providence may ne’er intend</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The trembling heart to bear.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Or if they come, it oft appears,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Our woes are lighter than our fears,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And far more bravely borne.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then let us not enhance our doom;</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But e’en in midnight’s blackest gloom </span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Expect the rising morn.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Because the road is rough and long,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Shall we despise the skylarks’ song,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">That cheers the wanderer’s way?</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Or trample down, with reckless feet,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The smiling flowerets, bright and sweet </span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Because they soon decay?</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""> </span>Pass pleasant scenes unnoticed by,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Because the next is bleak and drear;</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Or not enjoy a smiling sky, </span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Because a tempest may be near?</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">No! While we journey on our way,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">We’ll notice <span style="font-style: italic;">every</span> lovely thing;</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And ever, as they pass away,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">To memory and hope we’ll cling.</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And though that awful river flows</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Before us, when the journey’s past,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Perchance of all the pilgrim’s woes</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Most dreadful shrink not ‘tis the last!</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Though icy cold, and dark, and deep;</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Beyond it smiles that blessed shore,</span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Where none shall suffer, none shall weep,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And bliss shall reign forevermore!<br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">None shall suffer, none shall weep... I'm here doing all that I can, and doing my best to love every minute of it. To notice every lovely thing and feel joy in all that I possibly can. It feels wonderful to have reconnected, to know even more surely that I'm in the right place, learning what I need to learn to progress on my own path. It feels good to completely feel like ME again :)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsE4iUPKyWIKCa1ehGDwp2TJgybqlrie4CaR2NDiP39dUoazmeHKplF4V2kpiQ2NJPtwwzmGfhRJG3CoMA8FPyqkDnR9pm7R-VL9wUmIbhwV64R1fi5ECmUfPJhL7EKfPTN2_DyADKHUy/s1600-h/IMGP1526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsE4iUPKyWIKCa1ehGDwp2TJgybqlrie4CaR2NDiP39dUoazmeHKplF4V2kpiQ2NJPtwwzmGfhRJG3CoMA8FPyqkDnR9pm7R-VL9wUmIbhwV64R1fi5ECmUfPJhL7EKfPTN2_DyADKHUy/s400/IMGP1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445943176585236066" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">P.S. I didn't really CRY while watching The Sound of Music ok? I wasn't quite that far gone...it's just an expression alright? Good, glad we have that all cleared up :) Have a great week!</div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-72384330838198051072010-02-28T12:14:00.000-08:002010-03-01T06:14:37.772-08:00Don't let the bed bugs bite...for reals people.<div style="text-align: center;">Oy! Bad news everyone, we've been attacked by fleas. And it's <span style="font-style: italic;">way </span>worse than mosquitoes, even though the bites are similar. They are worse only because they are in my bed. Every time I feel like a disgusting person, I try to remind myself (as Ally and the others have helped me) I am a very hygienic person. <span style="font-style: italic;">I </span>don't have fleas, the apartment does. Still, it's a bit harder for me to fall asleep at night with that knowledge. Good thing I can sleep through anything right? Oh man, just talking about this makes me itchy. We'll figure this out though, little itchy bites won't kill me...just maim. Kidding....kidding! Basketball does enough of the maiming for me... :)<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz8tyo-5Q3ZvSP9dwT34qN2sDzOJOCKWEY6T-nQHrqIVzeBjzdvdyfBk-9vb3VVDRSE-nNEaBYelF5bNDtIqBgonNkL0qU3rzSvpmZK1Mknh1qvBZImB2y7N-5jc8LwmLUD6bO-dnUJwh/s1600-h/IMG_1875.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 179px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443400015836961138" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz8tyo-5Q3ZvSP9dwT34qN2sDzOJOCKWEY6T-nQHrqIVzeBjzdvdyfBk-9vb3VVDRSE-nNEaBYelF5bNDtIqBgonNkL0qU3rzSvpmZK1Mknh1qvBZImB2y7N-5jc8LwmLUD6bO-dnUJwh/s320/IMG_1875.JPG" border="0" /></a>That's what I get for playing too hard on an asphalt court eh? I couldn't quite get all of the gravel out of it, so I may just bring that little bit of Romania home with me!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Alright, now that we've got the fleas etc. out of the way, and you still will all give me hugs when I get home, (remember, <span style="font-style: italic;">I </span>don't have fleas) on to other business. First I want to say that I am very grateful for the knowledge that Ryan and all of the other missionaries are safe in Chile. 8.8...wow. My prayers are with them...</div><br /><div>Aside from that very sad news, this week has been great. I finally got going with my research!! Thanks to an incredible woman I work with at Section 2 (not sure if I can say her name...) I have been able to get two interviews in this past week. For any of you that don't know, aside from working with the kids (which is wonderful, yet challenging, and oh so much more) I am here doing my own undergraduate research called "The Motivations to Nurse: A Study of Nurses and Nursing Students in Iasi, Romania." It's a professor mentored, university approved research project that stresses me out to the max! Anyway, that was such a relief to <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span> get to begin interviewing for my research :). Some other highlights of the week? We went to the Philharmonic to the "Seara de Balet si Opera" which was heaven for me! The music was incredible, plus they played excerpts from Offenbach, Carmen, and other classics and it was a lot of fun to get dressed up and go out to that!<br /><br />I also had my first opportunity to go on splits with the sisters this week! I loved it...though apparently sister missionary apparel likes to give me a hard time. We were laughing so hard!<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443399518807874258" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfN6JBLR9HdqVVv0eqPS3Qfu6y3rE0Ej_w_369CYLMG24vXsA8b7weIWXlqbhETIO2hoi4mEAXh2tL0V7Tq-iVxC5ZxTOblxBFL-od9DcGRvdttD6RX6HtDrjT5Ny8h6IvXWoz_vEOtxf/s320/IMG_0685.JPG" border="0" />It really was a great experience for me, and would have only been made better if I had actually been able to freely converse with people. Really, I would love to serve a mission! I still don't know if it's in the cards for me but I'm still 19 so there's time to figure that out I suppose :) Anyway, Sora Kimball and I spent a couple of hours knocking apartments, and I had so much fun. They would open the door and automatically I'd take it away with "Bună seara! Credeţi în Dumnezeu?" <span style="font-style: italic;">Good evening! Do you believe in God?....</span>wait for their answer and then let Sora Kimball take it away while I smile and nod. I've had quite a few people from home ask things like "So, are you fluent yet?" and my answer? No way! But I do alright, I get by. I'm pretty good at pretending that I know exactly what people are saying, and can say enough in response to make them think I know more than I do. Some days I do better than others :) I'm constantly learning, and it's a lot of hard work. I hope to know as much as I can before coming home, and I know that I'm capable of being fluent, time just doesn't permit. So I do the best with the time I can find and try to be happy with that. Wow, that was a tangent though! Basically, I loved playing missionary for a night, and have so much respect for what they spend each and every day doing. <br /><br />On Saturday we got the chance to go and visit the city of Bacau (ba-co), which is about a two hour train ride away from Iaşi. It was my first time out of the city officially, and my first time on a real train with compartments and everything! The Harry Potter nerd in me was really excited about it, although it was certainly no Hogwarts Express. Similar set up, just...lots older and much less clean. Still fun though! We went with the majority of the youth from the branch here in Iaşi, and went for a combined activity with the youth there! It was a long day, but lots of fun!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443398690257241026" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCC0L-3vOO62GJe3p26mmGNLmvj1vFTlFehvQkszOEYbYaGstxqRG5HLYhRtbF-OHF51_a14EBWVwjtJY8bdJDFsv07B0ZhTlmnbXsDgCLaRvvP1E3ytCOet4H8xSE7rdwFl62ALmetkp/s320/IMG_0418.JPG" border="0" />Here's a picture of the sign on the front of branch in Bacau, and I love the name of the church. Just try saying all of that five times fast!<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443398694728691122" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohlRmoqulFxcfjMuHe6MFvf8kDhyJDe4X0v6_7cD2RwVxFzGVU_OYBa6gHqFDy-xVh3jls27RI4D5-sxXH9VVTy3NdCuMfmSkcpfT4550PYI_UtoMClAMrT95Knn4aPoZepMKqX3QhlF0/s320/IMG_0361.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we have Erika, Radu, Mihai, our new friend Robby (who's here for a couple of weeks, he's come in the past with BYU but is now just returning to visit the kids), and Ally while playing a fun "Get to Know You" game. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443398682348798530" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WNk0Y_DNp-NhGnvq9zX8VKyazXVjYa-1H-bs3QPdym0E2bNhLx1QNVnGaDTXTvtgmkKiS6md5a42VRkmuh9qf8g0uHtKBLd0E4-5N4-WD8UOQGrDi5t6AiwCb3LrppAb3tgwFqC8zb2F/s320/IMG_0396.JPG" border="0" />Aurelia and I :)<br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px; display: block; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443398676921920546" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoMpw6NVexOi2xUsxDJVKF72pS9_aArM_kJJI9EBbtGH69nFI64XOOn6iZXwwXQC7SnZDipltzz-Pz-3WeJQvcImNqC7LJvdX4FVu6i8hkLc0IiphNiqsnmQUbX7qXTafrnO7uIDK72lnT/s320/IMG_0370.JPG" border="0" />Me, Elder Oberhannsly, Robby, and and others being very involved in a grueling game of balloon volleyball with a string for a net. After the activity we found ourselves with a lot of time to kill before our ten o'clock train ride home, so a few of us took a trip to the nearest grocery store to pick up food for the trip home and found a couple of treasures along the way. It was so foggy outside, the air just shimmered and it felt like I was constantly standing in a cloud. I was wet, but it wasn't raining, crazy! It made for some really great pictures, doesn't this just make you gasp?<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443399512114211010" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zauTLN5bEsPtwBwmz_umwznceLCVzN2y_g_eOH8vbqe1-CxHSWFdJ3w33Q9QEmRkICKy0hyphenhyphenhXkIcVhh_NiKFiJ4kaZX_g28INyH2FWGE3C30mCyI8ayyUOl_tZyJsQRlrjd6cY6ecHZC/s320/IMG_0485.JPG" border="0" />And then for the best find ever, they don't mess around with their playgrounds here! I was SO excited, I mean just look!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcigKe69tZHZk7DaOBmeYgH4d515vfTN1jQSfLnMs4_kGwLgskYT5Z9f_OraERVO-G2w2gC-dTSOu_Nv4kspQddYc4WROcZY5eVu26gTbgNoRRa5dbMMCIW0l5Iws2tAqrWJbjGGl8Ydb/s1600-h/IMG_0456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcigKe69tZHZk7DaOBmeYgH4d515vfTN1jQSfLnMs4_kGwLgskYT5Z9f_OraERVO-G2w2gC-dTSOu_Nv4kspQddYc4WROcZY5eVu26gTbgNoRRa5dbMMCIW0l5Iws2tAqrWJbjGGl8Ydb/s320/IMG_0456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443667934909050066" border="0" /></a>Yes, that's right it's a mini Farris wheel!! Those would so be in every way illegal and considered unsafe in the states, but it sure was a lot of fun!<br /><br />We summed up the week with a great time at church on Sunday, although we did have to say goodbye to Sora Jones, who's served her time and is going home. We will definitely miss her! I also learned today the full extent of why I am grateful for my trencher black coat. While hurrying to church in the morning, I had an...accident....<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443398671483911538" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVgs6tOxHwtG6HQWwPgatviJU5Nwkisyt99WhW7X0KR8UcgUR2ILADaVUmHRppJoZRucBN_HVILkpmzk2UmEXfxG0nSWNe28vrqtI4Noyk_A9UfOkGRpU8G3Iw3H_SNgQgeD35D0jT3oC/s320/fixed.jpg" border="0" />Kasey and I got our ab workout laughing about the fact that my skirt just randomly fell around my ankles! I couldn't believe it! And a Romanian man just happened to be walking past at the precise moment that it dropped and I yelped...awesome. Needless to say we got more than a few strange looks as I quickly remedied the problem. Once we were out of eye sight and could breathe again, Kasey just had to re-enact the moment for the camera and like I said before, I am truly grateful for the long black coat that has served me well :) Thanks for talking me into it Mom! It's been a great week, I can't believe I only have 47 days left!<br /></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-19678123913326884932010-02-21T09:57:00.000-08:002010-02-22T05:37:56.806-08:00My Week in Pictures!<div style="text-align: center;">Hello again from Iasi! Alright, I've been a bit of slacker lately with the blog, I know. Last week was Valentine's Day, so of course I spent that entire day having a grand ol' time with a fondue dinner here in the apartment. It was so great, everyone gave to each other in their own little way and we had a great day :) One of the many gifts given were long stemmed red roses from Kasey. Here we are being silly and taking pictures.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvowwGfQWGc4mGLfdgjSPp6t1HUObS15Mq8NHTAllCWKHbY-DS_UZpM6jSFKWzbEmRJF9tpYynBs-WAWTlUrU16nxDXF-KriFq65Ddi6uUuHNYW46R4byDtJT47lGR-cNSt0MhanbZTq0f/s1600-h/cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvowwGfQWGc4mGLfdgjSPp6t1HUObS15Mq8NHTAllCWKHbY-DS_UZpM6jSFKWzbEmRJF9tpYynBs-WAWTlUrU16nxDXF-KriFq65Ddi6uUuHNYW46R4byDtJT47lGR-cNSt0MhanbZTq0f/s320/cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440808538306387346" border="0" /></a>That was a great day, and as my last post said, I love these girls. Through the good and bad they are such a huge part of the learning and growing that I'm doing here. Since last Sunday, life has continued to be busy with Section 2, schoolwork, friends, and trying hard to make the most of my time here. It's so hard to choose what to share with all of you, I have so much I could say! So I decided to try and make a bit simpler for myself by doing a week of pictures, seeing how I haven't been posting too many of those :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Monday</span><br /></div>We host FHE for the branch every week, and this last week I volunteered to take the reigns and do a Valentine's party! It was actually an extremely stressful day for me, one of those "I have no idea how I'm going to get everything done" kind of days and when it was all over, oh what a relief! I spent the afternoon making sugar cookies and frosting to decorate which in and of itself is stressful...I miss my normal kitchen appliances...and normal tasting ingredients. Part of the adventure I suppose! But I wasn't too happy about the blister on my palm from the little whisk I had to use. That plus trying to come up with translations for all that I wanted to say in a lesson made for a very stressful but rewarding experience. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk9LC-2pj3jII0c0j_YMZxpj_CcmkzZ-xGm9SvPIjjagC5EJAqIWtD57C7awkJjoRti8ZO3ClZsrjfI56GE0-N-eJspwminXHuPBVkGqivN9iHWAOwV3vgFq2HE8qhscsN5AcfWeappHK/s1600-h/IMG_0563.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk9LC-2pj3jII0c0j_YMZxpj_CcmkzZ-xGm9SvPIjjagC5EJAqIWtD57C7awkJjoRti8ZO3ClZsrjfI56GE0-N-eJspwminXHuPBVkGqivN9iHWAOwV3vgFq2HE8qhscsN5AcfWeappHK/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440808261619608674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Tuesday </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Tuesday was a <span style="font-style: italic;">great </span>day! There isn't a lot that I can say about the wonderful kids I work with everyday, for confidentiality reasons I can't take pictures or use their names. But they fill my days with so much joy! I've definitely had my discouraging moments, when I feel at a loss, not knowing what I can do for them. They have been given their own set of trials, and it has been so hard for me to come to terms with their hardships. Yet I know that they do so much more for me than I can do for them in my short time here. I give them someone to cuddle, a loving smile, a song. What they give to me is so much more, something that will last far longer than the tickling or the dancing. And the boogers, bites, drool, and throw up too...who cares? These children are incredible, and I now understand why we need to wear scrubs while working :) I consider it a good day when my scrubs are yucky after three hours of work, that means I was able to do my job. We change each morning in this little room at Section 2.</span> I'm so grateful I have the opportunity to work with these kids!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFsycvwstuzbGMhSAiTjqVtCvVShI6DLKOJhL6ocOSNcUzGPkYLm-5pmNbuvRhZZEFnQu8tKHGmx24v5QeSu_q4Rn6ixxA2YcBaZNMYTXzNjc-dGa2y8me7v0zD_EahiKQHV9cN-070Hy/s1600-h/DSC00632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFsycvwstuzbGMhSAiTjqVtCvVShI6DLKOJhL6ocOSNcUzGPkYLm-5pmNbuvRhZZEFnQu8tKHGmx24v5QeSu_q4Rn6ixxA2YcBaZNMYTXzNjc-dGa2y8me7v0zD_EahiKQHV9cN-070Hy/s320/DSC00632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440808251333961618" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Wednesday<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">We try to make point of trying new things and getting out of the apartment. Wednesday was a normal day, finished off by an outing for something yummy. I found Romanian ciocolata calda... so think and good! This was our attempt to get a picture of me with a chocolate mustache but I was laughing too hard. Worth a shot though eh?<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLSPTHnZzCQ_NtzKoJEnouR_Q8-HuxFKGMw7y2Phw0lL-4IaFL4XvhQKtTQXC5OnQcJFr0DFyFRIVNtnbI9tD4zYOGAD0pea0CoyG3frj9uLB0UI5x9JyR1SICBzWv9E12vmLQvzwzkq5/s1600-h/IMG_0595.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLSPTHnZzCQ_NtzKoJEnouR_Q8-HuxFKGMw7y2Phw0lL-4IaFL4XvhQKtTQXC5OnQcJFr0DFyFRIVNtnbI9tD4zYOGAD0pea0CoyG3frj9uLB0UI5x9JyR1SICBzWv9E12vmLQvzwzkq5/s320/IMG_0595.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440808243964307602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yet again, another normal day! I thought I'd throw this picture of Erika in, I walked with her (since we're never allowed to be alone) to one of our favorite little shops so that she could get a yummy sandwich...man those things are good! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLILyldqaJbfp6h0mzfB1_MkTzTRXeWJJImymDgHaw5Ksa-wnMwpBmWKqhiyogb1wjDFgdJ1g4qTX2_7io7ItDbtrySzqnwbGanpdVitd6JLFlOKm2D6GkZ6BjLjlONJuu7LhPqYkpI1aZ/s1600-h/IMG_0600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLILyldqaJbfp6h0mzfB1_MkTzTRXeWJJImymDgHaw5Ksa-wnMwpBmWKqhiyogb1wjDFgdJ1g4qTX2_7io7ItDbtrySzqnwbGanpdVitd6JLFlOKm2D6GkZ6BjLjlONJuu7LhPqYkpI1aZ/s320/IMG_0600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440808236386350818" border="0" /></a>I finally got to talk to my sister Stephanie too, I don't know if I've said this enough, I <span style="font-style: italic;">love </span>my family! At home I certainly don't see them every week, but something about being on the other side of the world has made me miss them more than I ever have, and appreciate every little piece of home I can get. <br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</span></span><br />What a day!! Everything about this day was wonderful. The kids were all healthy and up (so many of them have been sick lately, which has been hard for me). Then after work I came home to the best surprise ever from Mario...MAIL!!!!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VkIxk3iWeJEGV7jVsgom74iWIoTDANFKWH42LuKzWv4jza6hxJ6DIAgUIRMVjm57KNoskyMdgfTBlOCHRQgfdrc1H9FWv4G6Q26_szKQQ4wgImQHdzFV2AuRp6YP5RkZNsMPUTNC1HnG/s1600-h/IMG_0338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VkIxk3iWeJEGV7jVsgom74iWIoTDANFKWH42LuKzWv4jza6hxJ6DIAgUIRMVjm57KNoskyMdgfTBlOCHRQgfdrc1H9FWv4G6Q26_szKQQ4wgImQHdzFV2AuRp6YP5RkZNsMPUTNC1HnG/s320/IMG_0338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440808232279434370" border="0" /></a>I got a letter from each of my two best friends in South America :)...I pretty much consider it a miracle that the letters even got to me because Shawn definitely didn't spell everything right. That was such a blessing, and the other girls got packages etc. as well. It was pretty much Christmas, we were all so giddy!<br /><br />The weather here has been incredible, very humid, and rainy. It feels like spring, and feeling the sun on my face puts an extra spring in my step as always! After the letter party with Mario, Christine, Ally and I headed to the basketball courts to enjoy the marvelous weather. It felt so good to be out and active! Only I missed my frisbee...Christine made it pretty obvious that I haven't played b-ball since I was 15. But it was great all the same! <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRNU3bf7LB_R3Mms6A1TQt4bnWX3g7NL-JoEuioyCHB1BZg1a_jUjDLBHPF-OC_dXSZmBlcmzB6AmWfuiebetQ6pGJpMVDFtr42e-hf3BlhnLfpfb9PdSEgrDIPLaYD1NGpd7DBjIKfAW/s1600-h/cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRNU3bf7LB_R3Mms6A1TQt4bnWX3g7NL-JoEuioyCHB1BZg1a_jUjDLBHPF-OC_dXSZmBlcmzB6AmWfuiebetQ6pGJpMVDFtr42e-hf3BlhnLfpfb9PdSEgrDIPLaYD1NGpd7DBjIKfAW/s320/cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440806644674374866" border="0" /></a>P.S. I definitely live in a big city, which is so strange still. Just picture those scenes in movies where the gangs meet up on the courts, with the cracked asphalt, graffiti, and chain-link fences. No exaggerations, that's where I live! I may miss my mountains, but there's certainly still beauty everywhere, you just have to look a bit harder :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YT8CPU8vCXTCbaEzc1ijFqcQDcgQidReL-yAWvENEEy5IKMZHBGit5vKi7fCihuuF-iUNVC9FF8IxOJa2dt5VlJyBYvHXZp_LVPoP4SzEzSlm2p6Oh1XjQ0bMqtwTl_2svqcfRupAU5w/s1600-h/IMG_1549.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YT8CPU8vCXTCbaEzc1ijFqcQDcgQidReL-yAWvENEEy5IKMZHBGit5vKi7fCihuuF-iUNVC9FF8IxOJa2dt5VlJyBYvHXZp_LVPoP4SzEzSlm2p6Oh1XjQ0bMqtwTl_2svqcfRupAU5w/s320/IMG_1549.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440806639450786898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span></span><br />What a great end to a great week! Mihai, our fearless and extremely helpful guide, cultural informant, and most importantly friend, took us out to visit another monastery: Biserica Manastirii Galata. Built in 1582-1584, this 500 year old building took my breath away once again. We didn't get to go inside this time though, so we'll try again another time. I love the peace and quiet, this entire afternoon was wonderful for me. Enjoy the pictures, I tried to capture everything that I could. The walk there, the dogs and their presents left behind, the beautiful old cemetery just outside the walls of the monastery, and the friends I was able to share it with. <br /><br />Green is coming!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxJOUc5oOQW5UyU3Duk0so3gOmWYpXE90jsr6rUXkmhLLoRHkCr_4jeGKlj8tlS8M9murM9_M4SSgVBIWUvF4zIaLNLldBX4jSlSxs1aTruBzefcVeEaueYlVNJEG9T_UKosrMuWVDHB7/s1600-h/IMG_0243.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxJOUc5oOQW5UyU3Duk0so3gOmWYpXE90jsr6rUXkmhLLoRHkCr_4jeGKlj8tlS8M9murM9_M4SSgVBIWUvF4zIaLNLldBX4jSlSxs1aTruBzefcVeEaueYlVNJEG9T_UKosrMuWVDHB7/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440806620665532802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt_zh2mYEFaE66kGFCSZQ12EHX61ZCe8u16rFWTh-mcZKT6shLyRA-JpeSEJfP-xHr0sRvn0VF19Uu4ely2Z3oumogup_kkjJ2ELxZ2kHQOh7_RXgMhTfyXwReiZvI2qPnPhirR80tfAT/s1600-h/IMG_0247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt_zh2mYEFaE66kGFCSZQ12EHX61ZCe8u16rFWTh-mcZKT6shLyRA-JpeSEJfP-xHr0sRvn0VF19Uu4ely2Z3oumogup_kkjJ2ELxZ2kHQOh7_RXgMhTfyXwReiZvI2qPnPhirR80tfAT/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440806614782905938" border="0" /></a>Dogs are <span style="font-style: italic;">everywhere </span>in the city...and I love them, so many are just adorable and so lonely. Christine gets upset with me because the dogs can tell that I love them, and they often follow me :)...she doesn't like that too much. With so many dogs there's plenty of...you know...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTeoZMb6Pn3nT9O5q00t5tGaHTfP_ThctgQqJWN9ZNLm-iVgB-6kvAlLhiYyG4XD52LaZn7FSZaa6t95HCY4nqDXDgiE1Fbmp0R15bpOjeFYYJjV83zPSq_8V_jA2GpjXQX2oggDYah7h/s1600-h/IMG_0295.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTeoZMb6Pn3nT9O5q00t5tGaHTfP_ThctgQqJWN9ZNLm-iVgB-6kvAlLhiYyG4XD52LaZn7FSZaa6t95HCY4nqDXDgiE1Fbmp0R15bpOjeFYYJjV83zPSq_8V_jA2GpjXQX2oggDYah7h/s320/IMG_0295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440804504101628978" border="0" /></a>Iasi in all its glory.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZFUb_VP7mALbgUg3kW2UlaBxxX76ihit2mgv9AYt-7JiOz1D1nFWfEhi21ml4u-Eo01OHm89D_5sjaTK9YxBDCErbs2_ygAwlSTLkoiP0CRtzbV4otMBO4GUO9Qu29M3Klglf8GS-slT/s1600-h/IMG_1614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZFUb_VP7mALbgUg3kW2UlaBxxX76ihit2mgv9AYt-7JiOz1D1nFWfEhi21ml4u-Eo01OHm89D_5sjaTK9YxBDCErbs2_ygAwlSTLkoiP0CRtzbV4otMBO4GUO9Qu29M3Klglf8GS-slT/s320/IMG_1614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440803341033225698" border="0" /></a>Pink bus!! And a lovely concrete apartment building...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j8wXn_PU53y-3n28YDxdAmF2dLeix6pGaqxNqSi_7s25VjFJnmyMNMAesXAH5HCMPuHKzaXr75xfs7d-yFibFVIlcgeq6em1kc20xvq91l0FCHOuzAr7typcrzP57cJ-S2XBx4eITxho/s1600-h/DSC00688.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8j8wXn_PU53y-3n28YDxdAmF2dLeix6pGaqxNqSi_7s25VjFJnmyMNMAesXAH5HCMPuHKzaXr75xfs7d-yFibFVIlcgeq6em1kc20xvq91l0FCHOuzAr7typcrzP57cJ-S2XBx4eITxho/s320/DSC00688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440803336923508674" border="0" /></a>And finally the moment you've all been waiting for...I'm so sorry but these pictures do hardly any justice. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghZsl_4MLBSC7GazzAUbrPrGJNSVTwferZ3yXCm8cuAgxEHQ1Z_9CFjdOPhUb48XiDo53r7Pr1HyVCbTR1Nk3O9ZZJv5e6RaHcEtAiay_4WNfkEnBKrJLiTdMpsug2b_QDlELlnlQo1z6/s1600-h/IMG_0296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghZsl_4MLBSC7GazzAUbrPrGJNSVTwferZ3yXCm8cuAgxEHQ1Z_9CFjdOPhUb48XiDo53r7Pr1HyVCbTR1Nk3O9ZZJv5e6RaHcEtAiay_4WNfkEnBKrJLiTdMpsug2b_QDlELlnlQo1z6/s320/IMG_0296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440804526547732402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbRnUmTyNnGVuQJGSngASQc3wdaVmGBFZ7FiGtu-3YcdPxyvnPl0ly22SJGU1rrEV_sqjnpWVMXVK1zky-DAcWKS2fD92HMF5Q2jajzd1ePT4b8o-M3PhGC-DAXTyuVVbwnKjtkxl6Puq/s1600-h/IMG_0297.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbRnUmTyNnGVuQJGSngASQc3wdaVmGBFZ7FiGtu-3YcdPxyvnPl0ly22SJGU1rrEV_sqjnpWVMXVK1zky-DAcWKS2fD92HMF5Q2jajzd1ePT4b8o-M3PhGC-DAXTyuVVbwnKjtkxl6Puq/s320/IMG_0297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440804528253411522" border="0" /></a>Classic Mihai.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaBPL1HjDxmHa_zYYNqzMcRvYKUWRG7GqlImiOxCgsneErQxBqjNlUyv_dNOQpJPNuFBmUKYfeBFNreNSOor8liq3PiU8LmTXbjv8P3TFylELbrFNP3DLQZ01PF4TgKe58BqL3eKDloJH/s1600-h/IMG_0298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaBPL1HjDxmHa_zYYNqzMcRvYKUWRG7GqlImiOxCgsneErQxBqjNlUyv_dNOQpJPNuFBmUKYfeBFNreNSOor8liq3PiU8LmTXbjv8P3TFylELbrFNP3DLQZ01PF4TgKe58BqL3eKDloJH/s320/IMG_0298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440804531531674114" border="0" /></a>And inside the courtyard you find...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gJfzZv0dhSFjJxlrGAeDOOA3tgIG__oD_ccq3lNfDt28HMc1n71xO80fDmJ7kLkEQ4F1IyM97H5QjyKiusZuIMm9O2VOm3OFceFnCIp11hVQwGkTU8N5Q9MP346iMCljQQExpxkRdkDS/s1600-h/IMG_0300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gJfzZv0dhSFjJxlrGAeDOOA3tgIG__oD_ccq3lNfDt28HMc1n71xO80fDmJ7kLkEQ4F1IyM97H5QjyKiusZuIMm9O2VOm3OFceFnCIp11hVQwGkTU8N5Q9MP346iMCljQQExpxkRdkDS/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440804541036637906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JkXpHTeZDx0e70cG9nPA_df0me9uO1NLt2nIWJv5dEe5VziHLca4EHyxm6UrxNrXlFEhmefb0IAQcgzFVM_tpOZv_5-eDcfCNc1Pw3iMkb_rgFzze3HNgi3ekbov7wGLmPrJewoKC1Jv/s1600-h/IMG_1690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JkXpHTeZDx0e70cG9nPA_df0me9uO1NLt2nIWJv5dEe5VziHLca4EHyxm6UrxNrXlFEhmefb0IAQcgzFVM_tpOZv_5-eDcfCNc1Pw3iMkb_rgFzze3HNgi3ekbov7wGLmPrJewoKC1Jv/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440803348294814258" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKnB5GsuHiBrPM_szXFwjs1JLM_aiN9-Hiza5rpsnv-JaWFUW62vTX96HfWzO75ITKMz_dIYglVZqWynanp5DGUo3aozxL4dVQAQdax0UdLLwTMC7UAXm40ofvGXGxiFGY6ZyegvuIcrS/s1600-h/DSC00664.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKnB5GsuHiBrPM_szXFwjs1JLM_aiN9-Hiza5rpsnv-JaWFUW62vTX96HfWzO75ITKMz_dIYglVZqWynanp5DGUo3aozxL4dVQAQdax0UdLLwTMC7UAXm40ofvGXGxiFGY6ZyegvuIcrS/s320/DSC00664.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440803325642364082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yaFvtbqchmi7oD_uEVlh9gRuXJ1AwsUgs3hKFQEHtYeb30vvTHiY1bAg9WluPlS52RV0Bw4Ppwm9leRdUbNxnkKiUTnHyJeoR4tO50RcyqWCZtSZq7TQOMloMW1KhDFDK37bih4AdN0t/s1600-h/IMG_0326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yaFvtbqchmi7oD_uEVlh9gRuXJ1AwsUgs3hKFQEHtYeb30vvTHiY1bAg9WluPlS52RV0Bw4Ppwm9leRdUbNxnkKiUTnHyJeoR4tO50RcyqWCZtSZq7TQOMloMW1KhDFDK37bih4AdN0t/s320/IMG_0326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440806629884827970" border="0" /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHJ3v40VzQy-jsF7ahvv1Tf5ckLSabYWv1XrOHJtpVJdMt3le-RxUmtxgwd085nIvQySkeyylXwXHyVxubvvV3P1MWT8VvRiW36ZQDOQMq53je5DOUuZbXT2ZOikJcQ_FPFzXRmA7aztr/s1600-h/IMG_0311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHJ3v40VzQy-jsF7ahvv1Tf5ckLSabYWv1XrOHJtpVJdMt3le-RxUmtxgwd085nIvQySkeyylXwXHyVxubvvV3P1MWT8VvRiW36ZQDOQMq53je5DOUuZbXT2ZOikJcQ_FPFzXRmA7aztr/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440803314722183778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx56kTHyHble8YuIKSmIAUmUTthPdrjfHmmcZfMdyfFntRxn7VB-aJJR9E_Z3mXsg4eqkrPo6Q38iHymuUzeTtxwUPdPLMlhdDY0rgmf5SlCVwdGmSj0eefqklMKZqE_ngwQO4djV2hra/s1600-h/IMG_1691.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx56kTHyHble8YuIKSmIAUmUTthPdrjfHmmcZfMdyfFntRxn7VB-aJJR9E_Z3mXsg4eqkrPo6Q38iHymuUzeTtxwUPdPLMlhdDY0rgmf5SlCVwdGmSj0eefqklMKZqE_ngwQO4djV2hra/s320/IMG_1691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440801537364607762" border="0" /></a>Needless to say, I was happily exhausted at the end of our trip. While enjoying the peace and beauty of the cemetery, I couldn't help but think...life is so short. Steph got me thinking about it the other night...her children are growing so old! To think I held my little niece Sariah, so tiny as a newborn, and in one week she'll be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Where has the time gone? There are so many people who have led good lives over the generations, all over the world. How grateful I am to know that life doesn't end in a cemetery, with candles and flowers and stone. <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKhSXu9cUmNPxFdzyK3sTQInMLgj5Xr8yd29mqqE6s8VAr3CrDKIzkVv85ePV4zLAdrsJJVqxWO2rN4EAQre1yDgRb4AV4j1XgspaFCYa3JQsSbzsePVV8NAhwJMd3hEHadDJg4eTdKCx/s1600-h/IMG_1708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKhSXu9cUmNPxFdzyK3sTQInMLgj5Xr8yd29mqqE6s8VAr3CrDKIzkVv85ePV4zLAdrsJJVqxWO2rN4EAQre1yDgRb4AV4j1XgspaFCYa3JQsSbzsePVV8NAhwJMd3hEHadDJg4eTdKCx/s320/IMG_1708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440801516533368098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-5hOL8LA_fGRMbTNUlv5UT67Q8lFWwdKWAPC_c2g5R0C_lF6BWCvsgUC7Kl7Zv1koH8wlOt4DuVJkl3WaCxEah9vrYDpQHJyXTZnq7GNJ2gxh1sYrA7ElrxPavVeHT1gXCnP-cmgrpyQ/s1600-h/IMG_1718.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-5hOL8LA_fGRMbTNUlv5UT67Q8lFWwdKWAPC_c2g5R0C_lF6BWCvsgUC7Kl7Zv1koH8wlOt4DuVJkl3WaCxEah9vrYDpQHJyXTZnq7GNJ2gxh1sYrA7ElrxPavVeHT1gXCnP-cmgrpyQ/s320/IMG_1718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440801510041904242" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrz3137HmZugBbUsozg3jq0wO3Kh1pUi07dealHx6vxzblB6wyhO0Hgye4rllPTLFPfagb3VLEEuIxaFotQZ8UnCiew0I4v2ZY9jHRrmHw5Wm_tl0SGnCoL4YxSB8mdwDC86LbXu7aQ8v/s1600-h/IMG_1736.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkrz3137HmZugBbUsozg3jq0wO3Kh1pUi07dealHx6vxzblB6wyhO0Hgye4rllPTLFPfagb3VLEEuIxaFotQZ8UnCiew0I4v2ZY9jHRrmHw5Wm_tl0SGnCoL4YxSB8mdwDC86LbXu7aQ8v/s320/IMG_1736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440801528147340658" border="0" /></a>I'm grateful for each day that I have to experience new things and grow. I'm already halfway done here in Iasi, wow...once again, how time flies!<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzk2npDB5Z6C4w-WXwJ5bT73kPRg9MyPEe8yXEcQgEtX49J1JHzizibDUVjjjsvrZxgIYMbp0P0rfDQfWLm75ekSgt9ZiUpszbp9n-SanGIJ9nZagF588zDFQE1IbF00XYcfkwUrQ7nYP/s1600-h/IMG_1689.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzk2npDB5Z6C4w-WXwJ5bT73kPRg9MyPEe8yXEcQgEtX49J1JHzizibDUVjjjsvrZxgIYMbp0P0rfDQfWLm75ekSgt9ZiUpszbp9n-SanGIJ9nZagF588zDFQE1IbF00XYcfkwUrQ7nYP/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440801503346632642" border="0" /></a> 'Til next time, vă îubesc, şi eu sper că sunteţi bine!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I love you all, and I hope that you are all well!</span><br /></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-51988120910188568652010-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:002010-02-07T14:09:59.608-08:00A Tale of Six Girls<div style="text-align: center;">Yup, it's still freezing here! It is definitely <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>much better than before though, plus I really do well with cold temperatures (unlike others in the apartment... cough cough) and we're learning how to keep warm Romanian style :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KxGW9u5ifkJcFlJ2ZJokkO15-Gz7HUhgFvBIGzPmcg8Dq_Rc-RyejaZBFhdmmlr1iB4UfCgHRAVVycCv-vBWuiYMmjymBQhoP2mcb5gPEMgibs1ptYBO9Ivb1Rpo0BZcCMk8aSAqCgGE/s1600-h/IMG_0391.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0KxGW9u5ifkJcFlJ2ZJokkO15-Gz7HUhgFvBIGzPmcg8Dq_Rc-RyejaZBFhdmmlr1iB4UfCgHRAVVycCv-vBWuiYMmjymBQhoP2mcb5gPEMgibs1ptYBO9Ivb1Rpo0BZcCMk8aSAqCgGE/s320/IMG_0391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435553049800284690" border="0" /></a>P.S. I want to throw a shout out to Lisa for the blue pashmina from London that has been my number one clothing article for years now, and you may have noticed is in almost every picture. Love you sis!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wow, what a week it has been! A wave of sickness hit us full force, I was the first last Saturday night when I was hit with a fever, and pretty much every person has had a roller coaster of a week with their immune systems. It was <span style="font-style: italic;">super</span> frustrating to miss working at Section 2 both Monday and Tuesday, because those kids are the most important thing to me. Plus, Monday night was so hard for me to fall asleep because I felt...unclean. I sleep on a floor, on a mattress with mystery stains and sheets, blankets, and a pillow that just aren't...mine, and have been used by countless people before me. But even that I've obviously overcome and had a "meh, I'm fine!" attitude towards the whole thing so far. What really got to me was...dun dun dun... the mold. Yes, I found mold in the apartment and I thought, "Holy cow!! This is why I feel terrible every morning!!" So falling asleep on Monday night was difficult because I couldn't help but stare at the little spores growing on the ceiling above my head...shudder. Tuesday morning after being told to stay home for one more day, Erika and I decided enough was enough and we went on a <span style="font-style: italic;">four hour</span> cleaning rampage. Here's a video Erika and I made of her jumping on my mattress trying to destroy the mold right above my bed.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxw9kNSLVdz0PW19klMwfJ0-DrfGDS12qQzWSiUqHhgGANW4k06iyzaOlcnQ0lL-5qh1gBNTUZ9qNREm2PM9g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />P.S. I always sound like a chipmunk when I hear myself on videos...do I seriously sound like that all the time? <span style="font-style: italic;">Anyway, </span>we couldn't get it all gone without completely taking the whitewash off of the walls, but after vacuuming my mattress, washing <span style="font-style: italic;">everything </span>I sleep with, and cleaning <span style="font-style: italic;">every </span>surface of the apartment, including all the mold I could see, I felt so accomplished and it was a wonderful feeling. I woke up the next morning feeling marvelous! Since then I haven't felt perfect every day but I am definitely past the killer bug that got a hold of me last week. Woohoo!<br /><br />So as I've thought about what I wanted most to share with all of you for this week, I thought about these five girls I'm living with. I can honestly say that being here with them has already taught me so much about myself, and each and every day I am filled with a bit more love for each girl individually. We are all <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>different, something that I think all six of us can agree has been the number one biggest challenge for each of us in this new environment. But we are gaining sisterly relationships (aka love each other even through the arguing etc.) that are really blessing my every day. So if you'll stick with me for a few minutes I'd like to tell you a little about each of these girls that are teaching me so much.<br /><br />First there's Erika, our very own Alabama girl. We're going to travel the world together!! Ok, we're going to backpack Europe which doesn't quite equal the world, but it'll be awesome all the same. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuy3iXw31vSbHd33FfMdhr8rCFXmktEKFcs9QsHAt4X2FFwwjB37ImI-tCmiKVw7m75m4ZnJ8G4yok22mwpO-WA8ZtOxcJlrFsJ1rG_o7Ycrc18xBuTni0VJ2uk_-rHQj4VcMi2UXXpNe/s1600-h/IMG_0969.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuy3iXw31vSbHd33FfMdhr8rCFXmktEKFcs9QsHAt4X2FFwwjB37ImI-tCmiKVw7m75m4ZnJ8G4yok22mwpO-WA8ZtOxcJlrFsJ1rG_o7Ycrc18xBuTni0VJ2uk_-rHQj4VcMi2UXXpNe/s320/IMG_0969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435572829822210578" border="0" /></a> I got to know Erika probably better than any of the others before leaving Provo and yet as we all know, you don't truly know a person until you've lived with them right? Erika is an amazing person! And genuinely obsessed with Nutella :) while looking up recipes she discovered that this week on February 5th is "National Nutella Day" and proceeded to make pretty much the most delicious cupcakes <span style="font-style: italic;">ever...</span>seriously.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitG0kvbE2frb9Lk6s7YzJMSOlB6cCAsUFhaWnc4fM4Ekyi6mSAmMvhAr2M6zMBluhgeO93hDTRVt50agU7qefspvka-Bm-rdZzXxul2fCuqBkNy7CSBuhgq2C9DtYdrMICtKN89QAptv4W/s1600-h/IMG_0416.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitG0kvbE2frb9Lk6s7YzJMSOlB6cCAsUFhaWnc4fM4Ekyi6mSAmMvhAr2M6zMBluhgeO93hDTRVt50agU7qefspvka-Bm-rdZzXxul2fCuqBkNy7CSBuhgq2C9DtYdrMICtKN89QAptv4W/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435558792401537794" border="0" /></a><br />I've also learned that Erika, with her "y'alls" and southern stubbornness (which I love, no way is that a derogatory title) is so good at enjoying life. The other day after our cleaning rampage she treated me to a gogoshi and we sat with the sun on our faces on a park bench and I just...love this girl. I think my favorite thing about her though is her love of her future profession. She is such a teacher in every way and the way that she loves the kids at Section 2, and the way I know she'll do so much good for so many in the future just makes me want to be better. She will make an incredible missionary come August. Love you Erika!<br /><br /><br />Next is Abby, or Abbster as I've often called her. Filled with fun and a classic Abby wink every time I make eye contact, this girl brings us all together for a lot of fun! I mean, take one look at this self portrait she made the other day, and you'll know exactly what I mean :) Oh man, I love this picture! It's just so...Abby!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAc9TvTFMSkyMLsuSijZyYohBDs3cAdWMnvHSY4NDE5YN6WDH_lbZSw30cbq_XK-W_ZMossCp9c5-64H9qd8RrVNFu6YKUCaZ55BYkKkw7aHf51ZHhNfaUL7Ug4-fplZpETL03-iibA_S/s1600-h/IMG_0333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAc9TvTFMSkyMLsuSijZyYohBDs3cAdWMnvHSY4NDE5YN6WDH_lbZSw30cbq_XK-W_ZMossCp9c5-64H9qd8RrVNFu6YKUCaZ55BYkKkw7aHf51ZHhNfaUL7Ug4-fplZpETL03-iibA_S/s320/IMG_0333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435558798099581090" border="0" /></a><br />Although Abby and I talked about how we sometimes hate to be stereotyped by our hometowns, I hope she'll agree that I love the California girl inside of her, and I agree that I'm definitely a Utah girl. Abby is her own person, but that Cali sun has helped make her what I'm so grateful for. What most people may not get to see about Abby is her incredible maturity. She studies harder than almost anyone I know, and has a way of connecting with anyone in any situation that is truly incredible! As Abby herself sings in the shower (in an awesome high pitched tone), "I wish they all could be California, Minnesota, Utah, Alabama girls!" :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj836o-EDG8NQdxqRvhfhzckxQKf1dKrQmSxVfYu1GZqJbSBe3vEK6yNE0GlExlvnOaHOvp-kHJV05cgXl8R2FeuG5QqUf3whOMMMQH1XxDO5XW7C8OCwO9CRUSyzRUEYrhPl-qMRazsJ/s1600-h/IMG_0300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj836o-EDG8NQdxqRvhfhzckxQKf1dKrQmSxVfYu1GZqJbSBe3vEK6yNE0GlExlvnOaHOvp-kHJV05cgXl8R2FeuG5QqUf3whOMMMQH1XxDO5XW7C8OCwO9CRUSyzRUEYrhPl-qMRazsJ/s320/IMG_0300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435558805706906050" border="0" /></a><br />Why yes, she is in fact wearing a diaper. We found adult diapers in the apartment that girls in the past have used at hospitals and <span style="font-style: italic;">of course </span>I had to put one on her! I'm grateful to have Abby there to listen to me anytime of the day, and give to me an encouraging wink when I look her way. Te iubesc!<br /><br />Seriously, I know six girls is a lot (trust me, we all understand how six can be an overwhelming number) but I have three more girls to write about. Come now, it won't take you <span style="font-style: italic;">that long</span> to read it, ha but I guess feel free to stop here. For those still reading, you won't want to miss hearing about my girl Ally!<br /><br />Allyson... wow this girl is... beautiful. In all that she does I see her enjoyment of the beauty in things that many others would never see. I absolutely love this picture of her, it totally encompasses her! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R-5r3O67qwPgqS-WiGi5vpyEDuvraf3tkMkUT8Axuzd7aqG5-4w70A1QZtxL2nunPWs4lm8PGSEb6ge8eodUhoVPiLE4RqUqMH2wnEE5GQ2IDzo8efCo0FplSl-fjBv-YpM8Gqnymkdq/s1600-h/allyclose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R-5r3O67qwPgqS-WiGi5vpyEDuvraf3tkMkUT8Axuzd7aqG5-4w70A1QZtxL2nunPWs4lm8PGSEb6ge8eodUhoVPiLE4RqUqMH2wnEE5GQ2IDzo8efCo0FplSl-fjBv-YpM8Gqnymkdq/s320/allyclose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435572822857542994" border="0" /></a>She's sitting at the desk she bought (yes she was going crazy without one) and chances are she's adding to the average ten page a day journal that she diligently writes. For her it's a release, and I'm working hard to love it as much as she does, she's a great example to me in so many areas. You will also notice the incredibly cute french beret. She's a french studies major, speaks fluently, and loves all things Europe/artsy. I want her to be my future children's french teacher because she will be wonderful at it! The way she cares about people and each of their stories is something I look up to. I can look at a person on the street, probably think about what they looked like as a kid or what they'll look like as an old person (I know, it's something weird I do in my head) and then hear her say "I wonder what her life is like, I wonder what her story is" and I can't help but smile. We've had a lot of fun one on one times, including getting lost on the tram together :) Ally, je t'aime!<br /><br />Then there's my Kasey. In the picture below she's hugging our tiny gas stove, but it's a good example of something she probably wins the prize for in the apartment, she's the ultimate hug giver and caring "mother." Ha, she is such a hoot, just the way she talks makes me chuckle because it's just so... Kasey! If you'll allow, I'd like to share a story about her that explains just how much this girl means to me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevpuZNIQlDEjoSbaJXOzczx_um8-ckpGo_xI0IFPbjEOjYxFUDV8eQRvjiXlH-p1qV6MGNAHVt9RdroBMFu_K2_xT1y09MkvyxQMhZp5-nq1gfeN1oEWX_EyZMsjc6-TEmPiRybUK3Az0/s1600-h/IMGP1164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevpuZNIQlDEjoSbaJXOzczx_um8-ckpGo_xI0IFPbjEOjYxFUDV8eQRvjiXlH-p1qV6MGNAHVt9RdroBMFu_K2_xT1y09MkvyxQMhZp5-nq1gfeN1oEWX_EyZMsjc6-TEmPiRybUK3Az0/s320/IMGP1164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435558801989680114" border="0" /></a>Last week when I came down with a fever, something I've dreaded finally happened. As most of you probably know, I've kind of chosen the "hippie" route as Kasey would call it. I don't like to use commercial medicine unless it's <span style="font-style: italic;">absolutely </span>necessary, which it hasn't been for me for almost three years now. Now, I know this is weird, and hard for people to understand at times. But it's who I am and it's something that can create awkward feelings for me when others offer me drugs when I know they just care and are trying to help. I won't get into all of my strong opinions about all of that now though, all you need to understand is that the girls finally found out that I really <span style="font-style: italic;">don't </span>take <span style="font-style: italic;">anything</span> if I don't have to, and needless to say I felt pretty attacked because they were all frustrated with me. I told them that I didn't expect them to understand or even like it, but I asked if they could respect me. That was a rough day for me, and missing church on top of all that really had me down. That same day when they all came home from church I found Kasey in her room furiously looking up "home remedies" for fevers online for me. She kept telling me "Camille, you can take a cool bath, and it says to drink lots of liquids, and I'm sure I'll find some other stuff too. I want you to feel better, I hate to see you sick!" and I left the room practically in tears. She hadn't told me anything I didn't already know but the fact that she had accepted who I was, and was trying to help in any way she could, reaching out to me even though earlier that morning she'd said something like "Camille I will be <span style="font-style: italic;">furious </span>if I have to take you to the hospital because you won't take something." just made me love her so much. It's hard to feel different, to feel like what you believe is strange and maybe even sneered at at times, but her love in that small action is something I'll never forget. Man, I love her!<br /><br />Last but certainly in <span style="font-style: italic;">no way </span>least is Christine!! This week Christine and I really got to know each other so much better, and it's been WONDERFUL! Here's a cropped picture of her that I love, her face is classic :) plus her hair is gorgeous as always. I'm growing my hair out of course, but so many times I look at her and feel an urge to cut it again. Plus she and Ally are teaching me to french braid like a pro so that if I have any little girls in my future, they won't have ugly hair. Wow, I get off topic fast! Back to Christine, I mean just look at her :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7l1jzsm46bXgOM1CRMWJYCs_JvTdEOPWiPXddz7KqbNUmDEonYvbtG4M83CctYP62h4od7XTcav3pY6kFEEyHy6NKw5bvwi3cVM7WgI-dU8IhQz7_1-5A1tFw4yzTA72o4-PtkfJfwbvX/s1600-h/Christine+fixed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7l1jzsm46bXgOM1CRMWJYCs_JvTdEOPWiPXddz7KqbNUmDEonYvbtG4M83CctYP62h4od7XTcav3pY6kFEEyHy6NKw5bvwi3cVM7WgI-dU8IhQz7_1-5A1tFw4yzTA72o4-PtkfJfwbvX/s320/Christine+fixed.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435572834510327490" border="0" /></a>I share the wonderful mattress on the floor with her, and can't even count the number of funny stories we already have chocked up. Seriously, I laugh my head off when she goes past the room silently jamming to her ipod as she folds laundry. And the things she says in her sleep (including the time she woke me up <span style="font-style: italic;">laughing </span>in her sleep)...priceless! Christine just has a way of making everyone laugh, and one of the greatest things she's taught me so far is not to be afraid of who I am because she is herself 100% and I love that about her. She also has a way of getting out her feelings that oftentimes I'm jealous of, I want to be able to communicate how I feel as well as she does. We have so many things in common, and we seriously have so much fun together, even if we are different in some very large ways. She'll make an incredible and FUN wife and mother someday, not to mention an incredible nurse. Christine, love you, you are truly one of a kind girl!<br /><br />So, this week I didn't recount a whole lot about my daily comings and goings. But those haven't been all too extraordinary, and these girls fill pretty much every moment of my day. Although I've only known them for a total of five months or so, I feel like I know them all so well already and can't wait to learn more. We may bicker (a lot) and are such a funny mix of people and personalities, but I love each of these girls like a sister, and am grateful to share this part of my life with them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGd1D9qss-zeH2oZbf5mcon14KmnEnshqiZIMM_cpEjb0pX04mdyy0lgODw6EBbVPODaqplpoFl_Do6jKj4s_CKbKhFVTHsVPnHZh7ediANAcjqyddXk09045ryDx3T9YRqIXmFmA1NA5/s1600-h/six+girls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGd1D9qss-zeH2oZbf5mcon14KmnEnshqiZIMM_cpEjb0pX04mdyy0lgODw6EBbVPODaqplpoFl_Do6jKj4s_CKbKhFVTHsVPnHZh7ediANAcjqyddXk09045ryDx3T9YRqIXmFmA1NA5/s400/six+girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435585067073772370" border="0" /></a>Classic picture below!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzr1mm_a-74J563ton7x4gCIYd5u5uqrFm0ObjqtQQa-wOgDknF0z3zRxZ345ePkFHxC28ZiiWm97cqf916YndWjYdDJwZKhTmUYDVkOamCB4MflLnMHQayKhDk3m86m5UZ3w1F5BI61G/s1600-h/IMG_0235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzr1mm_a-74J563ton7x4gCIYd5u5uqrFm0ObjqtQQa-wOgDknF0z3zRxZ345ePkFHxC28ZiiWm97cqf916YndWjYdDJwZKhTmUYDVkOamCB4MflLnMHQayKhDk3m86m5UZ3w1F5BI61G/s400/IMG_0235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435598438573031586" border="0" /></a>Long story short, <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >I LOVE YOU ALL!</span><br /><br />And to all of you back home, don't feel left out, I miss and love you too. Just be glad to know I'm so blessed to be here with these girls. 'Til next time, cu drag!<br /></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-85650406061265810782010-01-31T04:21:00.000-08:002010-01-31T12:45:54.397-08:00Story Time!<div style="text-align: center;">Hello again from Iasi! First let me say that this will be a long post. I have so much to recount, so much to share. Consider yourselves warned :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">This week, oh where to start? I finally began work at St. Andrew's/Section 2! Section 2 is an orphanage, where the majority of kids have handicaps or disabilities, but apparently here they feel the term "orphanage" carries a derogatory tone, so we call it Section 2. Anyway, we finally went for the first time on Wednesday and were given a tour. On Thursday we began our work. It was wonderful to finally meet the kids, they are the reason I am here, and I feel so much overwhelming love for them. There have been BYU students working at Section 2 for almost ten years now, with the exception of the last 4 months because of some changes BYU was making. Long story short, I felt like a million bucks when th e kids greeted us with so much enthusiasm. There are four of us working there, and we are each assigned to a specific room where we will be working. But on the first day we were able to spend time in every room to get a feel for where we'd like to be placed permanently and let me tell you, that was a tough choice to make. There's "Isolation" where the babies are (and there are so many that two of the four of us will work there), then "Mickey Mouse" and finally "Bambi." That first day was so hard on me though, seeing any child with a handicap is difficult, and there's just no way to give every child the attention they need. But we do our best. I almost broke down a few times as I was working with the babies in isolation though. I was holding one little newborn who was screaming and while trying to comfort her, three others began t o cry too (which I think may have been my fault, I was singing to the little girl in my arms). I was trying to comfort them, cradling the girl in my arms while bending over the other cribs too, to give attention and soothing to the other babies and I felt such a weight. It was such a difficult thing for me, but I know that I'm no superwoman and so I did the best I could. And of course there's no need to dwell on the hard parts, that first day of work was w onderful :) After we all talked it was decided that I would work with the Bambi kids (the boys specifically), who are anywhere from around 15 months to 8 years old. These are actually the highest functioning kids in Section 2, and I'm so excited to really develop a relationship with these kids. Plus it really pushes me to work on my language skills even harder, because when a three year old comes to you and with a huge grin asks you a question or points to something, it's pretty humbling and embarrassing to have no idea what they are saying. I've got a few things up my sleeves though :) they understand when I say "Hai, la mine!" <span style="font-style: italic;">Come to me! </span>or "Unde i gura, unde este ochii?" <span style="font-style: italic;">Where is your mouth? Where are your eyes? </span>or even "Nu fii rau, hai, te rog dat mingea la mine" <span style="font-style: italic;"> Don't be mean, hey please bring the ball to me. </span>And they know what I'm saying! Woohoo! Sometimes I do pretty well and I'm always learning. It's going to be great!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> Another fun adventure of the week. We learned how to make a traditional Romanian dish from Mihai called Ardei Impluti (Ar-day oom-ploots) or in other words, stuffed peppers! Man, they were so good! We got all of the ingredients together and went to the villa to use the kitchen there. Just getting the ingredients was an adventure. Ha as you can sort of see in the picture below, we didn't know how to get ground beef because the market where we can normally get it was already closed, so after struggling to communicate to the lady behind the counter that I wanted "normal ground vitel" ha..."Am o intrebare, voi aveti umm...normal....vitel?" we finally gave up and just bought some sausage looking stuff that was beef and pork. Abby and I are taking apart the sausages below :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE30j-A_6UJ70_c2Ce1u2FWPjPnlW9noO2wBhNU9L0ClcHNU_rNaAKO0uEwMRl84M_iLgzfNIPmXXeOk4_Gh8py6sV8JhUatR5lkbLqGRH4YVQIYNPm40OE7orM8zpBzlCb2vD8jIlNoNe/s1600-h/IMG_0360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE30j-A_6UJ70_c2Ce1u2FWPjPnlW9noO2wBhNU9L0ClcHNU_rNaAKO0uEwMRl84M_iLgzfNIPmXXeOk4_Gh8py6sV8JhUatR5lkbLqGRH4YVQIYNPm40OE7orM8zpBzlCb2vD8jIlNoNe/s320/IMG_0360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432995342593945410" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And here's Erika and Mihai working on the sauce...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GtOTVcx3hoHyogUioDPE8X5MfbpSdPtWvy3su4iKpdQn2bHUAiagGoMG0Gqp-RHdZ3yNUtgb1230K2Gxp03ge7f11pmJy5teve1S7TPWD1dLqHwCyF0tRyryUMAVDva0V3mFdvRjy9VD/s1600-h/IMG_0367.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GtOTVcx3hoHyogUioDPE8X5MfbpSdPtWvy3su4iKpdQn2bHUAiagGoMG0Gqp-RHdZ3yNUtgb1230K2Gxp03ge7f11pmJy5teve1S7TPWD1dLqHwCyF0tRyryUMAVDva0V3mFdvRjy9VD/s320/IMG_0367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432911880536386434" border="0" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Drum roll... the finished product! Ardei Imputi! Served with bread and sour cream. Good stuff.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4nvgwlDKYf5slb_BS1vfVmVQ82GlFFWIqWI502VfANMYpDvML3XuXNvSdnqNuQ_3KDl_vMO3CcRz3IZCny6AZTe2u5NkNOH4aNAoAD2pxJLzpbyVb_qoa-jaxUAcTuYvwXiiuYpCoMgE/s1600-h/IMG_0378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4nvgwlDKYf5slb_BS1vfVmVQ82GlFFWIqWI502VfANMYpDvML3XuXNvSdnqNuQ_3KDl_vMO3CcRz3IZCny6AZTe2u5NkNOH4aNAoAD2pxJLzpbyVb_qoa-jaxUAcTuYvwXiiuYpCoMgE/s320/IMG_0378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432911885979907906" border="0" /></a>And the last story for today... I hope I haven't put you to sleep quite yet! Last night (Saturday) Ally and I went out with Aurelia (our friend from the branch) and her friend Daniel. They took us on their own little tour of Iasi. Daniel has a car so we were able to go farther from our apartment than we ever have before. Part of that was a visit to Copou Parc, the largest park in the city. Once again I recognize how I am <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>a city person. My favorite thing about New York City? Central park! City life has been fun, and certainly an adventure, but oh how I love the trees and the natural beauty of the world. The park is seriously packed with trees, and all sorts of lovely things.<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"> Here is a picture of Ally, Aurelia and I in front of a beautiful monument (just one of many).<br />P.S. <span style="font-style: italic;">Look how long my hair is getting!!!!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtkKuNZo-A0aKeImZrx16H-_86c7tkkG612Nshr_c3lvJGX8a_Jv4K_b-q4GZzSmiYl3pEZZG1AQeO_fccMLw7svG0YUGWAOaCrExceI6R54umDp8OgGSe_B4pgdyyoxdzRNMS4Ff6yDR/s1600-h/IMG_1128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtkKuNZo-A0aKeImZrx16H-_86c7tkkG612Nshr_c3lvJGX8a_Jv4K_b-q4GZzSmiYl3pEZZG1AQeO_fccMLw7svG0YUGWAOaCrExceI6R54umDp8OgGSe_B4pgdyyoxdzRNMS4Ff6yDR/s320/IMG_1128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432911866343856818" border="0" /></a>After driving through the city some more (which is an adventure in itself...seriously), we drove up out of city onto one of the "mountains" cough...cough...surrounding Iasi and I had an experience I will never forget. Iasi is a religious center for so many people and it is surrounded by monasteries. This was one such monastery, and it absolutely took my breath away. The central building was surrounded by a stone wall and this...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bBdcdeNntVvL8eXrm6XhtuDJOzj0Oyamll2I8qJ5nI5BRbKqX0Zw_EhkH5NS6Ahc-0Xy9x0_UZXLWKhzdZjU5u6FNlaZ5auhU-3dC5brlKiRKm2svT7OMJX77o4Eaufvhz6VKq-ACCML/s1600-h/IMG_0138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bBdcdeNntVvL8eXrm6XhtuDJOzj0Oyamll2I8qJ5nI5BRbKqX0Zw_EhkH5NS6Ahc-0Xy9x0_UZXLWKhzdZjU5u6FNlaZ5auhU-3dC5brlKiRKm2svT7OMJX77o4Eaufvhz6VKq-ACCML/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432991633951244498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLSZ1tZIvdMg5uX94Sv9_Iz8wVWzl8RJf0LhCTBttVv1xuplpplj7MVg1iRDzS6_i2zRRVNvPKp8wV4JPVxS5nT0eWW99pBlBZ4853pXQx2VUprjiYNfHfYztp-OM91fZP3aReilCQEcs/s1600-h/IMG_1154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLSZ1tZIvdMg5uX94Sv9_Iz8wVWzl8RJf0LhCTBttVv1xuplpplj7MVg1iRDzS6_i2zRRVNvPKp8wV4JPVxS5nT0eWW99pBlBZ4853pXQx2VUprjiYNfHfYztp-OM91fZP3aReilCQEcs/s320/IMG_1154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432991641184067378" border="0" /></a>Every once in a while as I'm walking on the street, going to pick up groceries or whatever else it hits me. I'm in <span style="font-style: italic;">Romania! </span>In <span style="font-style: italic;">Europe...</span> I'm halfway around the world in a place so different from home. WOAH. This was yet another one of those moments, and I finally think I truly understand the draw of Europe. Yes, you read correctly on the sign. Built in <span style="font-style: italic;">1669</span>, this entire place was the perfect example of the beauty in history. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtic3RglGe8ZcJqYpdwJ98_EOjE81sWBAdfTPqUyVwRUp3QTZ9G5GWcDtAwhbVwSypSXvVykECXUHA6A8ybrPr0uV5j4B8fmSLhSaTP_Kd44tZYYc6uSXKy8jJ5HCnCePD9q5bNkHo_vLv/s1600-h/IMG_1159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtic3RglGe8ZcJqYpdwJ98_EOjE81sWBAdfTPqUyVwRUp3QTZ9G5GWcDtAwhbVwSypSXvVykECXUHA6A8ybrPr0uV5j4B8fmSLhSaTP_Kd44tZYYc6uSXKy8jJ5HCnCePD9q5bNkHo_vLv/s320/IMG_1159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432915591397324114" border="0" /></a>The chanting and singing of the monks filled the air as we walked up to the central monastery. It was an incredible sight. This is where the pictures end, we weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but even the doorway is breathtaking!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7JnsGK3xHOVPxDue8ySSNWYm9HvK7UIIM_fFP_6h4f9J33I2jdjp-NPDyeeKlvQrtLpf55sgrRKY7U5vHLji7JsWP0HSrFJwiW0cuEEBpRxenDHWYcsabaJga_cp4aTQu4-d041Z1WtQ/s1600-h/IMG_1180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7JnsGK3xHOVPxDue8ySSNWYm9HvK7UIIM_fFP_6h4f9J33I2jdjp-NPDyeeKlvQrtLpf55sgrRKY7U5vHLji7JsWP0HSrFJwiW0cuEEBpRxenDHWYcsabaJga_cp4aTQu4-d041Z1WtQ/s320/IMG_1180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432915601731755202" border="0" /></a>As we walked inside I had chills cover my entire body. Really, words can hardly express the many emotions that filled me as we entered. You could feel the sense of reverence, you could feel that people had worshiped in this place for centuries. Every inch of the walls and ceilings were covered in cracked and fading fresco paintings of saints and so many other beautiful things. Being in that building and feeling the reverence there filled me once again with thoughts of my love of religion, and what it does for people. The other day in Section 2 we were lucky enough to see a baptism of the same little baby I wrote about earlier (I can't use her name, for confidentiality reasons). I was <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>excited to witness that, it was something I've never seen before. And though it was strange and new to me, it was beautiful to behold. You see, over time I've learned that I am really a very religious person. Worship in almost any form is something that I love and respect. I know for a fact that if I wasn't a member of the Latter-day Saints I would still be a Sunday church goer. Yet always I feel as I'm watching others worship in their way that there is something missing. This baby, this beautiful child was being baptized, but before that could happen they needed to "cast out the spirit of the devil" and did a series of chantings etc. to do so. Although I understand, it's incredible to see so clearly how the truth has been so misconstrued after centuries of apostasy. There are pieces, bits and pieces of the truth and every time I see this I'm so grateful to have a full knowledge of Christ's church. Needless to say this Romania experience so far has made me want to serve a mission more than anything ever has before. But, I digress.... :) The monastery was incredible and I absolutely loved it there. I really think I could have sat there for hours, in this place where so many sought to find God for so many years.<br /><br />Well, that's it for today! I really could go on for so long about so many things, but those are the most important things I wanted to share today. I love and miss you all! Seriously...there are so many things I've taken for granted in my life, but I'm grateful to be learning and growing here.<br /><br />Cu drag!<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-5919259561975727742010-01-21T12:41:00.000-08:002010-01-24T12:36:47.150-08:00Here Comes the Sun....?About a month or so ago I was having an argument with a friend about how cloud cover keeps temperatures warmer. All I can say is, it feels good to be right! Saturday morning we woke up so excited, the sun had come out! It was the first time I'd seen any blue sky in Romania and we were so excited. So we headed out to take pictures and just get out of the apartment. I was outside for about five minutes and couldn't handle it any longer! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCig12ktMq86npPFDrKbLyWeu7itOpwi7c9EkzL8vJNepuSjXdhEqAaO1asMy-7XHILGgF2Z2cKiDU_YFFhAyesq_6KKaON5Mn2yA_AVMuFEkFUNFeae__XiknypZo9zik_97ENHanP5JB/s1600-h/IMG_0988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCig12ktMq86npPFDrKbLyWeu7itOpwi7c9EkzL8vJNepuSjXdhEqAaO1asMy-7XHILGgF2Z2cKiDU_YFFhAyesq_6KKaON5Mn2yA_AVMuFEkFUNFeae__XiknypZo9zik_97ENHanP5JB/s320/IMG_0988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430403351740495858" border="0" /></a>Here's a picture that Ally took of me, seriously frozen with a tiny scarf. After going back to the apartment and loading up on layers (the works, including long underwear!) here I am much happier in the same spot (that's our apartment building right behind me). But even with all of those layers, I still could only handle a little walk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDFi-7OHoND3SlsJdTFlCwbTK0the_P4k834tIzbtwobxN-QKmkM_meyEspExIdYxYJSg-DOvSe85ADkXFR9PCbLaxaSSz_00yzb-avHaVel9dPy47waF0crcHuICLuUatPbBv_A-ziwY/s1600-h/IMG_0991.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDFi-7OHoND3SlsJdTFlCwbTK0the_P4k834tIzbtwobxN-QKmkM_meyEspExIdYxYJSg-DOvSe85ADkXFR9PCbLaxaSSz_00yzb-avHaVel9dPy47waF0crcHuICLuUatPbBv_A-ziwY/s320/IMG_0991.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430403354012147506" border="0" /></a>Since then it's only gotten worse. We are experiencing the coldest temperatures in 15 years, and the warning color is orange. Orange!! They say you should only go out for necessities, food and water. Current temperatures are around -18 degrees and will reach almost -30 tonight. I have never felt cold like this before! This morning walking to church...oh wow it was crazy. Frozen nose hairs are only the beginning. The cold bites into you, every step I took it felt like tiny needles were stabbing my ankle bones. And get this; when the cold air hits my face my eyes water and I cry. It's been that way my whole life, only here it's the worst thing that could happen! The tears literally froze to my face this morning, and I had ice droplets on my eyelashes that I went and picked off in the mirror in the church. Talk about crazy! Remind me why I came here in the winter again? Nah, it's an adventure and now I'll forever be able to say that I've experienced weather so cold that when you look into the sunlight you can see the ice crystals in the air. It's beautiful, but a bit hard to appreciate when you can't ignore the fact that it's hard to tell anyone because your face is frozen. Good times! Oh, and the pack of dogs that walked to church with us this morning was pretty exciting too. No joke, there were at least 14 dogs! But that's another topic for another day. I'll post some more pictures soon :)<br /><br />Cu drag!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-48916719419260286042010-01-19T12:00:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:24:27.655-08:00Lost in IaşiI got lost in this city today, literally and figuratively :). It snowed all day, and look how beautiful!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I21G3jL0v3CvoVrEjiRO_OYn7leR29hmW8qBZ09C7cTV3T2ok3UnoFv9_1vOg6rkNXSvCOrZ3RgNoa4nAZbpc3BETwk2eJHCPb4tumn8nxEQVfjFdQOIUIRBxQtJ3xhxwwSU9mfvVP2O/s1600-h/IMG_0929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I21G3jL0v3CvoVrEjiRO_OYn7leR29hmW8qBZ09C7cTV3T2ok3UnoFv9_1vOg6rkNXSvCOrZ3RgNoa4nAZbpc3BETwk2eJHCPb4tumn8nxEQVfjFdQOIUIRBxQtJ3xhxwwSU9mfvVP2O/s400/IMG_0929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428547688266659858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWQRtxolD22Qr9g7jQu_hsTIucXdGf5f_eFh8kjtA5Bp_HJMjUjLcEJuUbYrpfvpOq8on7-IqZKq71zWDAAPkxS7VCfAt4RIH5A3565ADkscQTZB_xkYORgbKhOHPyimccts9O9lkF0V7/s1600-h/DSC00491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWQRtxolD22Qr9g7jQu_hsTIucXdGf5f_eFh8kjtA5Bp_HJMjUjLcEJuUbYrpfvpOq8on7-IqZKq71zWDAAPkxS7VCfAt4RIH5A3565ADkscQTZB_xkYORgbKhOHPyimccts9O9lkF0V7/s320/DSC00491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428551397368021794" border="0" /></a><br />Life continues to be an adventure here in Iasi! We've all been pretty laid back so far this week, just basically wandering the streets when we want to and working on homework at the apartment when we're not too restless. Basically we're all waiting for confirmations to begin working in our respective areas (St. Andrew's orphanage for me). I should hopefully begin work there by Friday! Cross your fingers. Until then I'm enjoying a lot of freedom in my days and the chance to get a lot of things checked off of my to do list!<br /><br />I have learned an important thing about myself, I am <span style="font-style: italic;">definitely </span>a morning person! Yesterday was a good day, but it took a long time to become one. Want to know why? I woke up at about ten thirty! I hate that! It doesn't matter how late I get to bed (which was too late on Sunday, my bad) I still need my morning time, especially when I'm constantly with 5 other girls in tight quarters. So for much of yesterday I was inexplicably quiet and felt sorta grumpy. It was frustrating for me. I think it's the idea that half of my day is now gone, just wasted. With this realization so many things now make sense! Long story short, this morning when I woke up at 6:30 and had a couple of marvelous hours of "me time" and a fresh start I finally understood just how important that time is for me. Guess that's what having a morning paper route for seven years does to you :)<br /><br />So back to current events, yesterday we spent most of the day with the missionaries as they went shopping for their p-day. They showed us how to use the tramvai (basically like trax) and we had lunch at an Italian restaurant. It was lot's of fun!<br />You have to punch your ticket every time you climb on, that's what Abby is doing on the left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZRSnACQETp6EZMesj-BVq6fbjrA6fVxzi6ZTRUL1lUmCFM7QE9HGfNl1QsKX8Rw7QLD5HC3uOP6FwvHrb3T7B9MtS0zPbAZJ0hcigEXEsfv3AFTr0iFkB9TvkipQyqqUscUeX8SJgXzs/s1600-h/IMG_0269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZRSnACQETp6EZMesj-BVq6fbjrA6fVxzi6ZTRUL1lUmCFM7QE9HGfNl1QsKX8Rw7QLD5HC3uOP6FwvHrb3T7B9MtS0zPbAZJ0hcigEXEsfv3AFTr0iFkB9TvkipQyqqUscUeX8SJgXzs/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428554830738334290" border="0" /></a>Mmm... Ravioli. I love the girls I'm living with, but three of them are only veggie girls and I am definitely not...yup definitely not. There was beef in my ravioli and I was happy :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM0bLBOQc5uJwX2yZHyNweKqnQtht4Cba1RJjqc_GvAjmJ9UgVhYkLWSZikpEaa8BTvce_l21mfqKbK2_fxr4gOqm9dPr5wR61oP1TblslT63rRJ5ADqEQzPdfVu_tgdNDV8qfCB8u6w4/s1600-h/IMG_0886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM0bLBOQc5uJwX2yZHyNweKqnQtht4Cba1RJjqc_GvAjmJ9UgVhYkLWSZikpEaa8BTvce_l21mfqKbK2_fxr4gOqm9dPr5wR61oP1TblslT63rRJ5ADqEQzPdfVu_tgdNDV8qfCB8u6w4/s320/IMG_0886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428554835015039522" border="0" /></a><br />It was sad to say goodbye to Sora Olsen, just right as we've had the chance to bond. She's on her way to Bucharest now so we'll see who replaces her. She and Sora Jones came and said goodbye today and after a lot of chatting and picture exchanging we took a few more goodbye pictures. Here's just a couple for ya. I love the sisters :)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon1Xf4cyPmj93VSUD6a0JuIh0R50UWOF0xAQPjgei_M9e1YiSEWr4ArMbhgZEFOiiQ0IvskvJxtqr4NS1KUS4y10OIISjp4ZebHFqK3apYO8dRn2sLtArwI5k9qggVQ9DLwaxtXMsBXIk/s1600-h/IMG_0292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon1Xf4cyPmj93VSUD6a0JuIh0R50UWOF0xAQPjgei_M9e1YiSEWr4ArMbhgZEFOiiQ0IvskvJxtqr4NS1KUS4y10OIISjp4ZebHFqK3apYO8dRn2sLtArwI5k9qggVQ9DLwaxtXMsBXIk/s320/IMG_0292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428558589850555314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK-sG8yStCRc6aZWhpo6o62Rq3C5qP70bQ2qh-xks4Si5Ix-WB3-oKLfRnt_OOHTJgvIESuSKkjCjuq5muiMeH-zefRnenUS92TkyhTUBhFqHuVIxKb5N7wfCI66Pal2mk4J-BVZrr7Rj/s1600-h/IMG_0288.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGK-sG8yStCRc6aZWhpo6o62Rq3C5qP70bQ2qh-xks4Si5Ix-WB3-oKLfRnt_OOHTJgvIESuSKkjCjuq5muiMeH-zefRnenUS92TkyhTUBhFqHuVIxKb5N7wfCI66Pal2mk4J-BVZrr7Rj/s320/IMG_0288.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428558599337351010" border="0" /></a><br />I love how Kasey is looking at Sora Olsen in this one. She's the one in the back in the middle. Awesome... :)<br /><br />Today Ally and I ventured out on our own, and it was a blizzard pretty much all day. We searched for a random place to buy lunch and found this adorable little shop. I can feel myself overcoming my barrier with the language, which is exciting! No, I haven't magically learned to speak fluently, I just think I've been humbled enough now that I'm not really afraid to say what I can and smile and say "nu inteleg" when I don't know what people are asking. Oh yes, and I thought I'd grown out of my clutzy stage but I may have reverted back. Sigh...On Sunday I slipped and obtained a few impressive bruises from the ice, I disjointed my pinky finger that night too. I <span style="font-style: italic;">do not </span>want to be known as the clutz like I was as a teenager (hey I'm in my 20th year). I fell a few times today though too, I'll be careful. Ally and I laughed our heads off telling each other "ai grijja!" (be careful) as we wandered. Today as a whole has been wonderful, and cold! The high for tomorrow is 19 degrees F. That's not including the wind chill...mi-e foarte frig! I love it though, and I love the city (me? Love a big city?! That's such good news!). It was our first day out on our own without any assistance though, and I felt so empowered doing everything on my own, even if Ally and I did get a bit lost and I lost my camera case and extra battery...nuts. Worse things have happened though. Well, that's about all I have! Or at least, I just need to go to bed. Noapte buna :)<br /><br />Cu drag!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-33802541583529736952010-01-17T08:42:00.000-08:002010-01-17T10:37:47.178-08:00Sigh... I love Sundays!Seriously, if every day of the week could be Sunday I would love that. I know, I know, work must be done and I'm sure in a world full of Sundays I would get restless and need to put myself to a task. But this day is such a blessing for me. I got to go to church in Romania for the first time!! It was wonderful, and I actually did better with the language than I thought I would. I'm not sure how today was different. Maybe I know the topic of discussion better, maybe they were speaking mai rar (slower). But my guess is that I prayed for help, and it was mercifully given. It was so fun for me, in Relief Society the ladies are so talkative and fun and as I worked to understand I could even laugh and follow along as they made jokes. Thankfully I had a sister missionary sitting next to me, and when I didn't understand a certain word I could lean over and whisper and she helped a ton. Her name is Sister Olson, she is so great. She's probably getting transferred this week. Sad. I still can't figure out how I know her, but when we met for the first time we both said "Man! How do I know you?" Someday I'll figure it out. If any of you know a Sister Olson serving in Romania please speak up! She's been out for about 6 months now. Here we all are in front of the villa, where the branch meets. It's not the entire building, just the second floor. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />From left to right: Abby, Erika, me, Allyson, Sora Olson, Kasey, Christine, and Sora Jones</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGD39lV4ELAOUMY3ZjXVErZc4nH21igUhQzEuSBz1hyu8JGQbPv22KFRGFyDo5o3tRv82T5XXvNh36TFgtZWvvBHOaI48udiGPk8RjgDtYxRoXLxy4Wbun81Zuzq8EoayIogACa3Dk2S0/s1600-h/IMG_0256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGD39lV4ELAOUMY3ZjXVErZc4nH21igUhQzEuSBz1hyu8JGQbPv22KFRGFyDo5o3tRv82T5XXvNh36TFgtZWvvBHOaI48udiGPk8RjgDtYxRoXLxy4Wbun81Zuzq8EoayIogACa3Dk2S0/s400/IMG_0256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427777816549230818" border="0" /></a>Anyway, back to church! There were 24 people in sacrament meeting, so take out the six of us, plus the 4 missionaries and you've got about 14. They are strong people though, and happy. I was nervous that I would feel silly to sing out during the hymns, I really didn't know what to expect in that area. I was<span style="font-style: italic;"> so </span>happy to discover that they sing the hymns with gusto here in Romania and I was able to sing out all I wanted. I love to speak the words, it's such a beautiful language. So, add music to the mix and I was pretty much in heaven! Church in general was very rewarding and I can't wait for next week. I do get nervous about upholding the idea of the "BYU girls" that this branch has. There hasn't been anyone here from BYU for five months or so, and the missionaries told us just how much everyone has just been waiting and waiting for us to come. It's wonderful to feel their excitement about us, and I am anxious to as a group keep that "spirit that the BYU girls bring" in full force. I hope I can do my part and be a strength. And I have so much fun with some of the members already. There's Aurelia (aka JLo as she sometimes introduces herself) and Florentina, and many others. Long story short, I loved it today. I'm so grateful for Biserica lui Isus Hristos A Sfintilor din Zilele din Urma.Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-53056113369337463342010-01-16T13:18:00.000-08:002010-01-16T13:24:05.194-08:00Sorry, last one today I promise...Abby just posted pretty much all of our pictures so far on facebook. So maybe that will be easier to see than to look up Erika's blog. Ha, keep in mind Abby is a free spirit and she likes to play (as evident by some of the comments she has on the pictures) I feel silly assuming that you even care or that anyone even reads this :) but just in case...there you go!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-25426104549705990322010-01-16T11:06:00.000-08:002010-01-16T11:12:05.528-08:00FYII know this seems silly, but I'm still new to this blogging thing and it takes me longer than I'd like. So if any of you are interested in seeing more pictures or hearing more about life for us in Iasi, you can certainly go see one of my roommates blogs. www.mybyu.blogspot.com It's Erika's and she is great at posting tons of pictures and tales of our adventures. Thought you might like to know! You'll hear more from me sometime soon though. Yup, that's all I have to say!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-58996950846704928272010-01-15T11:16:00.000-08:002010-01-15T12:52:17.597-08:00Culture Shock...for real people.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV4XZJJBozDaxxcmBiTxKJeqSk3P6eROb5rPSg8US5rl8A_yu7Vi8FFZbPuQ1MkXR8Y_qwRXBUo7BQnSgZh2yZXJvIVE9v0w_JGftavtlibCw5fwIMzwrBub1lZe-IWjxxMxj8wtP03IG/s1600-h/IMG_0071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQV4XZJJBozDaxxcmBiTxKJeqSk3P6eROb5rPSg8US5rl8A_yu7Vi8FFZbPuQ1MkXR8Y_qwRXBUo7BQnSgZh2yZXJvIVE9v0w_JGftavtlibCw5fwIMzwrBub1lZe-IWjxxMxj8wtP03IG/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427063302679110546" border="0" /></a><br />So, here we are sitting in the living room discussing how best to deal with the difficulties that we all face with our research and culture shock etc. It's such a real thing! Christine commented that she thought "I'll be the one in a million who isn't affected by it" and we all just laughed. There is no way it can be avoided, although it still hasn't hit me like a sledge hammer quite yet. Wait, I take that back, the first day it kinda did. Since then however, I seriously have found myself adjusting. The first day I felt so much irritation with things. Just to give some background knowledge they say that there are four generally accepted stages of culture shock: honeymoon, irritation, gradual adjustment, and biculturalism. Now, these are not set in stone. They can easily interchange, but they help to outline the feelings one has. Stage 2 happened for me at first. The toilet and fridge don't work. Everywhere smells weird, there's no microwave (I need my beans!!), everything is <span style="font-style: italic;">different</span>. Now I feel as though I'm entering the honeymoon stage :) I got excited about the prospect of figuring out how to heat the leftover pasta, and the eggs here are so fresh and delicious!! I love the branch members already, and I've only been to the villa (where the branch meets) twice. Yesterday we went for a game night, and tonight we went to institute. I love listening to the language and although I can only understand the gist of things I love the excitement I feel when I understand. It's silly that I've only been here two days and can already tell how hard it's going to be for me to say goodbye in three months. I had another exciting find today, we met a friend in the branch named Mihai who speaks perfect English and is really helpful to all of us. We asked him, and it sounds like he's got some extra time and he'll be happy to either translate or help me find someone who can for me. Words cannot express how much that lifts a burden for me. Being here is intimidating and finding a friend is marvelous. Seriously though, I am really excited tonight for the adventures that are waiting for me. Tomorrow we are going to go map out the city and traipse around town, which will be fun, and <span style="font-style: italic;">cold! </span>It's snowed every day since we flew in, but I love the snow as always. It makes everything pretty :) Need proof? Heres the view from our apartment the other night, the Christmas lights are still up...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJDIPFPO_JxRFiaV7HqwMnNJOmC3CL6Ba-d37TSAXc4_TyMY99ym_68OdZ_vNXrnYEU4bLnhtwexTm0GTx7917bwKTvwEqf9OB5J8ESeOq0VfL8SHokb6NwbffDfydupEsiDf8pkaHcyx/s1600-h/IMG_0213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJDIPFPO_JxRFiaV7HqwMnNJOmC3CL6Ba-d37TSAXc4_TyMY99ym_68OdZ_vNXrnYEU4bLnhtwexTm0GTx7917bwKTvwEqf9OB5J8ESeOq0VfL8SHokb6NwbffDfydupEsiDf8pkaHcyx/s320/IMG_0213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427063314617676850" border="0" /></a>Anyway, back to culture shock. There is <span style="font-style: italic;">no </span>way to avoid it, but I went a bit backwards, and stage 1 is feeling great! Here's my first golgosi <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:none; mso-layout-grid-align:none; text-autospace:none; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]-->(goalgosh) from the street vendor. It's a yummy dessert, kind of like a donut/scone but even better. SO GOOD!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrp_MWmY0v7hzEWvWS9ktq7i9hkNXw_yN7ASMtuZxsFp96fYeUWRDCdWkTTeOgfnQmxkLaNm35Q-fbK_BZvr0rtKCzPrmszOt0M5mTB7_rKaFYGAM2erULmkv2f-cj4Ezmhbj9GS_ehfp/s1600-h/IMG_0063.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrp_MWmY0v7hzEWvWS9ktq7i9hkNXw_yN7ASMtuZxsFp96fYeUWRDCdWkTTeOgfnQmxkLaNm35Q-fbK_BZvr0rtKCzPrmszOt0M5mTB7_rKaFYGAM2erULmkv2f-cj4Ezmhbj9GS_ehfp/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427063304114778498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5sLdqhCf2zE1_wXh_zv9jMsczhVBpXYcU_k5umrxqVnD0AoLZI1vGOXEDpCYMT3Rb9bY2O-NgmBtFbMW4jWNKa4Lusu3elqChu2oqBbXpjti6oQO8dVhdJ8owddMyMjTnZj937P-ttm-/s1600-h/IMG_0064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5sLdqhCf2zE1_wXh_zv9jMsczhVBpXYcU_k5umrxqVnD0AoLZI1vGOXEDpCYMT3Rb9bY2O-NgmBtFbMW4jWNKa4Lusu3elqChu2oqBbXpjti6oQO8dVhdJ8owddMyMjTnZj937P-ttm-/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427063314168164770" border="0" /></a>Our taxi to the mall to go on a shopping spree (for groceries, don't worry Mom)...<br /><br />More than anything and despite the shock I'm dealing with, I'm learning to just figure things out and find a way when a challenge arises. No fridge? Well who needs one when you've got a window sill? :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-7gA2Yv6wJn8c0L9C4xlF2_qX2FJUFdQERII_1V9KHW40o0PZRqJs3iFannTRUENKt7wU6F4oMD3ze1RE5dFNWUSG5_GlHgksuSxh9TtC1FNo2Ot8_tk6oYzj3iynM10wYnen-l5Fb9i/s1600-h/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-7gA2Yv6wJn8c0L9C4xlF2_qX2FJUFdQERII_1V9KHW40o0PZRqJs3iFannTRUENKt7wU6F4oMD3ze1RE5dFNWUSG5_GlHgksuSxh9TtC1FNo2Ot8_tk6oYzj3iynM10wYnen-l5Fb9i/s320/IMG_0070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427065257354892882" border="0" /></a><br />Today I'm feeling good and to the future I say "Da, eu pot!" (Yes, I can!...no reference to President Obama...it bugs that he stole that phrase).<br /><br />Cu drag!Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6506322619579648971.post-33167853618409303502010-01-14T01:27:00.000-08:002010-01-14T12:20:02.568-08:00Day One in Romania!Hello to anyone who reads this! I have now made it safely to Romania, and am still working really hard to adjust. No doubt this will now top my list as the biggest challenge I have ever had in life, it's already begun. I'm sure it will also be added to the top as one of the most rewarding and growth filled experiences as well. I feel as though I understand the challenge of serving a mission so much more, plus I really can't complain with what I've been given here (or I won't :), I'm actually positive that I <span style="font-style: italic;">could</span>). Anyway, I'll stop rambling on about things like that. It was a great trip here, I love flying! Although admittedly the nine hour flight was rough. I was so excited to be on my way though! There is <span style="font-style: italic;">no doubt</span> that I am on the other side of the world, it's SO different here! Ha, and I thought I'd be able to speak at least a little Romanian but I didn't consider the fact that attempting to say something in front of a pure blood Romanian man at the tiny Iasi (pronounced yash) airport would be so intimidating! He knew I was American obviously, and I just couldn't get a "buna" or "multumesc" out at all because I felt so silly. Courage to do that will come to me hopefully the next time I go out :) Anyway, long story short here I am halfway around the world. This is going to be quite the adventure!! Here you are, a few pictures of the adventure so far.<br /><br />On my way! Goodbye Salt Lake.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGYkotkxH0bS07LlkT1Ri724qgbycpv88PFDRFMWat5vgZh9f5ieyRAeDj-T7w1-VaATqiYle7ISrYidHLQSAalUsiUlZh6HAeL79RHDKH2AC4GMFnUrZXok7NBYpJpyOtwKjZ5de3J3r/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGYkotkxH0bS07LlkT1Ri724qgbycpv88PFDRFMWat5vgZh9f5ieyRAeDj-T7w1-VaATqiYle7ISrYidHLQSAalUsiUlZh6HAeL79RHDKH2AC4GMFnUrZXok7NBYpJpyOtwKjZ5de3J3r/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426675936632833042" border="0" /></a>Goodbye good ol' Wasatch Mountains....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIC9Rt9T_R6GmC7micCzzYFAqKevtERveAup8qMRiWlWrHJ1_OLSbo8vpJ3bWjwDGcsOgpfCE-PTOn3Z0MVceJ6EVoJuN8uVhRI8t4T8kNQZbhHklfY5RDa-6zb_xY5zI2EbcaSm0yLgz/s1600-h/IMG_0003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIC9Rt9T_R6GmC7micCzzYFAqKevtERveAup8qMRiWlWrHJ1_OLSbo8vpJ3bWjwDGcsOgpfCE-PTOn3Z0MVceJ6EVoJuN8uVhRI8t4T8kNQZbhHklfY5RDa-6zb_xY5zI2EbcaSm0yLgz/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426675945805865394" border="0" /></a>Hello Austrian Alps!!!!!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkf6GwYidMhObjdbOUyuhvoTcFTEM3BTpirUfZX6vGvMhl-_LHmUI6XT5y-9v6kGDU0kyM7lketdPo0b9gUOYEXLmMDZpCcKqDOxqdvVbzpyjDI6wC-P3TivD15sh6r-YHPQXEUthL7ey/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkf6GwYidMhObjdbOUyuhvoTcFTEM3BTpirUfZX6vGvMhl-_LHmUI6XT5y-9v6kGDU0kyM7lketdPo0b9gUOYEXLmMDZpCcKqDOxqdvVbzpyjDI6wC-P3TivD15sh6r-YHPQXEUthL7ey/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426675956704839074" border="0" /></a>Holy Cow...We're in EUROPE!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw09QMteb9lBYCV4mhaO0oB0GK1dpk5s3g7Wq_5ZxgLFGrpMYH8njnH-RO79sLuEMt1atEEab7vwT8q4kRo6C1_z13quDfWhQQQrh1kBjYTBz0aC3gE-_sew0vupA7_3pp_sy5Ba-proTK/s1600-h/Day+One+in+Romania+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw09QMteb9lBYCV4mhaO0oB0GK1dpk5s3g7Wq_5ZxgLFGrpMYH8njnH-RO79sLuEMt1atEEab7vwT8q4kRo6C1_z13quDfWhQQQrh1kBjYTBz0aC3gE-_sew0vupA7_3pp_sy5Ba-proTK/s320/Day+One+in+Romania+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426675960238877810" border="0" /></a>We then took this small plane (with propellers!) to Iasi!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Nesbf1WmOdnBAYgSeL3a4WXi_AZrpcbQlbrHEvCqW_mBbS5OTqoBYv5HH1gE1e7dGQFfPdUB8zHy2wihSI9P45lmZDP4rBYNCGhpAIYr8zIOlabmIzlGSliXpOqdnphJEWND_pZa05bO/s1600-h/IMG_0035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Nesbf1WmOdnBAYgSeL3a4WXi_AZrpcbQlbrHEvCqW_mBbS5OTqoBYv5HH1gE1e7dGQFfPdUB8zHy2wihSI9P45lmZDP4rBYNCGhpAIYr8zIOlabmIzlGSliXpOqdnphJEWND_pZa05bO/s320/IMG_0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426678433078679442" border="0" /></a>So we made it safely, and just getting to the apartment felt like an adventure in itself. The apartment is great. Complete with a mattress on the floor, one bed, and a couch. The six of us make it work :) I'll have to get pictures for y'all (I hear this a lot these days thanks to Erika and her southern ways) of the apartment some other time. <br /><br />Living in a foreign country requires courage in many ways...look at the size of that plunger! Don't be grossed out, but my hand was <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>dry after that picture was taken.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNZtUbBP8SadS4veIM5984xcUG80LCGRwQWL_AbdDIG6keT7NHE6dYvapJWLB2WBteaVd5K8s4dSi2bDJ2CX6qk0CXRX065QRzRHUWXImNKp_Tw7jjSAeX0CpL-aWE8SYMSz70nZ7WDhH/s1600-h/Day+One+in+Romania+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNZtUbBP8SadS4veIM5984xcUG80LCGRwQWL_AbdDIG6keT7NHE6dYvapJWLB2WBteaVd5K8s4dSi2bDJ2CX6qk0CXRX065QRzRHUWXImNKp_Tw7jjSAeX0CpL-aWE8SYMSz70nZ7WDhH/s320/Day+One+in+Romania+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426675970007630562" border="0" /></a><br />More to come! <br /><br />Cu drag.Camille and Jakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05095973218711387172noreply@blogger.com3