winter wonderland

this is the day. and by that i mean, it's the last one where i can sit still and let the world around me move at an explosive pace. classes were cancelled today because the student's have to take some sort of term test. which was a little disappointing because of the time i spent preparing my lesson plans for the week, but nonetheless it was probably just what i needed. starting tomorrow, i will be running fast and furious and undergoing a lot of new changes and experience. so much to do...

last week was both a nice getaway and a huge source of exhaustion. there was little time to rest, and just the travel back home took it out of me in a huge way. so today i rest, then i will be heading out (not to return until after the new year). i'm trying to make the pace of this week a little slower and enjoy it while i'm here, even though there is a lot to get done and a lot of map to cover. it does help to have scenery like this to remind me of how much i will miss this country while i'm away...

after a check-in with good ole dr. dan, i will be preparing myself for quite a long journey. less than a week before i am back in the us of a...bound to be an enjoyable, yet very interesting time i'm sure. my friends were laughing at the potential cross cultural mishaps that are sure to ensure. i.e. here in romania when you go to a restaurant you must pay for water and condiments, whereas in america, they give that out like candy. they joke about getting two cups for water...filling one up to the brim with ketchup and standing at the fountain with the other chugging and refilling as many times as possible. of course i know better than to act like this in public, it's only been 7 months. but there will be smaller things that have probably become so instilled in me that they will come out at unexpected times. i guess we shall see. it'll make for some good laughs i'm sure!