since arriving in romania i have been so awed by every one of my surroundings. it has been a very overwhelming few days to say the least. yesterday was the day that we met our gazdas (host families) for the first time. i had, up until that day, been most excited by this part. for reasons i could not control friday night i got about 3 hours of sleep. needless to say, come yesterday morning i didn't even want to exist in the world much less have to meet these new people and go home with them right after. it was a hard day...but the moment came and i can't explain how awkward that moment was! we were all sitting at tables with our names in front of us and our family's name on the back. they then let all of the gazdas in at once to play "find the volunteer you've been matched with" while we just sit there...those five or so minutes were awful :( but i was so excited to meet my family and they are beyond awesome. in fact, the one that came in to talk to me was none other than my little brother michael!

you may notice that we are all in socks...this is because in romania shoes cannot be worn in the house

i have a mom, mariana (mari for short) and a dad, eugen (eh-oo-gin). they are so good to me. they have a sense of humor which i love and they are genuinely happy to have me be a part of there family for the next 3 months, especially when i demonstrate some kind of romanian language skill. i get claps and hugs...it's awesome! they don't speak any english but michael does so that makes things a little easier. yesterday was a challenge though. with the lack of sleep and my body not functioning how it should, i went to bed last night a little discouraged and just wanting to get to tomorrow (maine : moo-een-ay). when i woke up this morning, though, i was more than ready for the day and back to myself. good thing because there was a reporter on her way to do a story with me for the local paper. and she said she would be back every sunday to interview me...so looks like i'm a celebrity and get my own column! i will get copies of every one to keep (one day i'll even be able to read what they say :)

my gazda had planned a trip to the countryside, dragaesti (drah-gah-esht) where mari's family lives and where they are currently trying to build a house. i had the most amazing day...including my first experience with an outhouse! yay for me since being here is not really the separation from civilization i had anticipated. i will be posting  my pictures from today, and the ones from yesterday, on my picasa (just click the link to the right of my page).

today felt like i was one of the family. everyone was so nice to me, even though i couldn't understand pretty much anything they were saying. i got to help mari cook this placinta cum mere (plah-chin-tah coom mare-eh) which is a traditional romanian cake made with apples...AMAZING! i got to help her pick the lettuce out of the garden to make the salat and washed the dishes which was, of course, by hand. i also experienced having to eat things that are not in my usual, like when meat is cut up for you it's in strips that are to be eaten in one bite (fat and all)! i feel fortunate to have bread (paine : poo-een-ay) to help me swallow some things without appearing rude. i have been using no thank you (nu multumesc : noo moo-tzoo-mesk) A LOT this weekend. the food is a lot better than expected though! i walked through the country side to the magazin (store) with her, which was basically a room attached to the lady's house. michael also took me on a hike up the hill behind his grandparent's house. it was a day of new experiences...one's that i will cherish.

tomorrow is my first day of school (scoala : sho-ah-la) and my whole gazda is supposed to be walking me. eugen offered to drive me every morning, but i think it would be way more fun to walk. mari is also packing my lunch everyday, which is kind of kindergartenish, but somehow it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. i have enjoyed the alone time with my gazda but i have to say i am so ready to see some familiar faces tomorrow, even if it means the beginning of a hardcore, stressful 11 weeks. and eugen told me that i had to study the hardest and be the first one in my class, and that i was not allowed to fall asleep, so i guess that's what i have to do!