first impressions

dogs are to be avoided at all costs yet cows are chained in the front yard of many of the houses, with the owners seated not too far on park benches up and down the street from bucharest to targoviste. i've seen a few horse and wagons trotting down the interstate (like for real)...i saw a man park his car on the side of a pretty busy highway, i should preface he was right across from a restroom facility, to use it right behind a tree, right on the side of the road. i also found out that americans really are very interesting to romanians after getting many stares and whispers at one of the local markets, which was accurately named the "penny market XXL". i even got to partake in one of my fellow volunteers sharing in a park game of competitive chess with one of the local men. i can absolutely say that despite this initial culture shock and the fact that i haven't slept in over 30 hours but have traveled across the world, i am in love with everything that romania has to offer me. i am excited to actually move in with my family this weekend and start what it is that i came here to do!