Monday, September 1, 2008
For Northwestern Semester 2008 ....
If you are looking for the current reflections of Northwestern Students in Romania 2008 please go here:
www.nwcromania.blogspot.com.
Thanks!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Swords, Spears, Slaying and Such: The Art of Medieval Warfare


Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Dreams Do Come True: Snowboarding in the Carpathian Mountains
We were not completely sure if there would be enough snow up on Straja (where the FNO cabana is and where participants go in the summer for Viata), but we attempted to take the van up the icy road. The van made it, and Straja, as we were told, happens to be one of the number one skiing locations in all of Romania. We just happen to be able to see it from the apartment we are in! Its popularity is evident by the license plates of the cars from around the whole country. Wow. It was busy, and it also happened to be Romania’s national day- how fun.
Two Romanian students connected with the FNO came with us to make sure that we could get along alright due to our imperfect Romanian language skills. I and Daniel, one of the volunteers, were the only ones to rent snowboards, but it only cost 30 lei for a nice board and pair of boots…that’s less than $15! Also, instead of buying a day pass because we were not going to be there for very long, we paid 3 lei for every time we went up the lift…which is less than $1.50 per time! What??!!?
The view was spectacular and conditions were fair- but certainly good enough! We had a nice range of skills and since the cabana is right at the face of the mountain it makes it nice to just chill there when tired. Daniel and I managed to take the lifts all the way up until we were in the clouds…how funJ We couldn’t see anything and it was definitely snowing, or hailing…it kind of hurt our faces. It was seriously like floating through a white tunnel and I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. I still feel like it was a dream…we skied in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania!!!!!
Inebriated Turkeys and Such
As a group we decided to split up the duties as far as plucking and cooking and initially Ryan was going to be our turkey slayer, but Aron did the honors. However, it is a known fact by Romanians that it is only proper to inebriate the turkey prior to the killing. It tenderizes the meat…I mean relaxes the muscles. Aron fed that turkey a whole bottle of rum, the turkey could hardly stand and gobbled…I mean guzzled that rum with no problem. I’ll spare the readers from what happened next, but in no time we were plucking old Susan’s feathers, preparing her for the plate.
Thursday we ate to our little hearts content. I couldn’t believe how good the food, especially the tender turkey, and the best part was that we almost had more dessert than food (9 to be exact!). We invited some of the FNO staff to join us for dessert. It was wonderful.
Final Thoughts
In two days we plan on leaving this beautiful town called Lupeni, Romania. In two days we make the five hour journey south towards Bucharest. The semester has come full circle, and now it is time to reflect on what we have learned. It is impossible for me to summarize this semester in a few brief paragraphs. If anyone back home wants to know how our semester was feel free to ask us if you see us in person, we will gladly take time out of our day and explain to you the true Romania. For you will not find the true Romania on this blog, nor in pictures, or in pamphlets you might recieve. Websites do not give Romania justice, either do books you can read. Romania is a majestic place full of hardship and struggle, it is also a place full of laughter and love. I would recommend this semester to anyone who fills lead to come, but, understand this, this place will hurt you, but it will also heal you! It will teach you how to love the seemingly unlovable, it will teach you how interact with a culture far different than your own. It will cause you to rethink everything you thought you knew about life, and then some. If you are considering coming, think about your motivations first, are they true, are they genuine, than leave it before the Lord to guide and direct you. It takes a different type of person to serve in Romania, this semester is not for everyone, but for those who will come, get ready, and hang on to your hats, because your in for one heck of a ride! |
Monday, December 3, 2007
IMPACT and Church!
I LOVE the youth and leaders I have gotten to know this semester. The first night of my home stay my host sister, Persida, took me to the Pentecostal church with her. She is one of the IMPACT leaders there and is also very involved with all the other programs that go on. This first night, I was able to go with her to what I would describe as "praise band" practice. It was my first night at the church and my first day with my host family; I was a little nervous and overwhelmed at the swift change of atmosphere. I hadn't spent more than an hour at the house (def. did not have the names of my 8 new host brothers and sister down) before we were going to the church and I was meeting even more people. However, God knew exactly what I needed that night and as I sat listening to them singing familiar praise songs (though in a different language ) I was greatly comforted and felt truly at peace with whatever this semester would bring.
The comfort I recieved from being with the youth that first night has stayed with me these past few months. I went to the church the night we arrived back from our 7 day backpacking trip in the Retezat (where some of us had gotten very ill), I went there after we arrived back from many of our trips; Cluj, Horezu, Hunedoara, I went there the night I got back from fall break even though I was no longer living with my family, and I went there every day when I felt the apathy I encounterd in this city was weighing me down. Every time I have walked into the church I have been greeted by the smiling faces that run to greet me and bring me hope. Seeing them working together and being involved with IMPACT and their community has been nothing short of inspiring. I have enjoyed getting to know each of them individually - watching what they each bring to the group and how they all function together.