One week later...

Ok, sorry that it's taken me a week to get this post up. I'm really going to try to be more consistent/frequent. I hope that at least some of you are still interested....So, I kept a journal for the first couple of days with the Gazda, so I think I'll put that stuff down here. Oh yeah, that's another thing that I want to try to do every day as well. We'll see what happens.

Sunday, May 29: Arrival in Codlea to meet Gazda (host)

We checked out of the bullet pock-marked and spartan Hotel Capitol in downtown Brasov at 10am and prepared to load up the van for the 10 km drive to Codlea. A few of us went down to the market to buy flowers for our gazda mamas and found some great deals. I was able to purchase 14 green orchids for $400,000 lei (about $13 US). These orchids would have been at least $50-60 USD in the states.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with hugs and kisses from Ica and Victor and schleped all of my gear into their red 1984 Dacia. Looking back, I can't believe that We actually fit 3 people into that car with all of my gear. The Romanians didn't have storage space in mind when they built this baby back in '84. Now I know why Victor rigged a luggage rack to the roof.

As we drove through the broken streets, Ica tried to give me directions and information about the area in her best "Ringlish". I was a bit overwhelmed mentally, very hot and physically cramped at this point, so I retained nothing. My mind was on where I was going to be living for the next ten weeks, all the while hoping that it wouldn't be in one of those communist blocs.

My wish was granted. We pulled up to a quaint little house located at the top of strada 15 Noiembrie and at the base of a big grazing hill. Sheep, cows, horses, and dogs were everywhere. Victor opened the big, red steel gate and we pulled in. I was greeted by two dogs (Davica and Novak) and 6 cats (names unknown). We walked in the house and a was seriously on the verge of tears...of joy and relief.

Forward to the present tense. I occupy a whole wing of their house. I have My own door to go in and out of, my own foyer, my own bathroom, and a big, fully furnished bedroom. There's also a living room and kitchen to share. Ica and Victor's bedroom and bathroom are located at the back of the house. This place is seriously nicer that my apt. in Chicago.

Back to the past tense. I put my stuff down and they proceeded to present me with a meal fit for a king. Soup, sausage, bread, vegetables; it was great! I then changed into some shorts and a t-shirt and got my stuff unpacked and organized. Later, I found out that I was to go on a picnic with my family, another volunteer and his gazda mama. His gazda mama and my gazda mama both work at the hospital and are friends. So, we all piled into the Dacia and headed for the hills.

In about an hour, we arrived at a "cabana" owned by Ica's brother Tavi. The views are great. At one point I could see all three mountain ranges in the Brasov area. We proceeded to have a barbeque Romanian style. Open pit fire, mici (a hybrid hamburger/tube sausage), pork, fresh goat cheese from Tavi's farm, Ciucas Brasov beer, etc. Cei Mai Bun! Victor worked on the car for about 2 hours. I was slightly concerned that we might have to hitch home.

On the way home I saw an old, abandoned Ceaucescu concentration camp, an attempt at deer domestication, and some nice taxidermy. What a day in Transylvania!

That's it for now, I need to go home and eat dinner. Servus!