HI! I am back safe and sound from the weeklong backpacking trip. More pictures and a longer post to come but, yes, I did summit the tallest mountain in the Retezat. HECK YES I DID!!! yes yes yes yes yes....I climbed a mountain, I am soo proud of myself! ok, more later.
peace
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
On The Edge
In about one hour I will be immersed in packing - hardcore packing, 7-day packing, one-bag packing, really-cold-weather packing. Then, after packing I will go home, eat, sleep, and get up and hike. Hike, hike, hike, for a week!!! Ah!
This adventure is called our Retezat Trip. In case I have yet to explain what it is....It is a weeklong trip into a national park called "Retezat" which, is basically just a bunch of mountains. We will be hiking everyday and summiting on some days!!! Summiting means that I will be able to really say I've climbed a mountain. That's really exciting.
Did I mention that this trip is for class?!?! Yes, that is how great it is. We get to go backpacking for a week for class...granted, there are other things going on while we are in the mountains but, we will be in the mountains. Right now, I am looking foward to freezing...well, not really...but, I am excited for the trip.
Dave Nonnemacher came last night...its so great to have someone from Northwestern here. I feel more connected with whats going on on campus.
I feel that since I am not going to be able to post anything for over a week I should have more to say but, I really can't think of much. I really enjoyed hiking in the mountains with my family on Sunday...other than that this week has been crazy-filled with classes and then preparing for the Retezat. Thats, really everything that has been going on.
Peace!
This adventure is called our Retezat Trip. In case I have yet to explain what it is....It is a weeklong trip into a national park called "Retezat" which, is basically just a bunch of mountains. We will be hiking everyday and summiting on some days!!! Summiting means that I will be able to really say I've climbed a mountain. That's really exciting.
Did I mention that this trip is for class?!?! Yes, that is how great it is. We get to go backpacking for a week for class...granted, there are other things going on while we are in the mountains but, we will be in the mountains. Right now, I am looking foward to freezing...well, not really...but, I am excited for the trip.
Dave Nonnemacher came last night...its so great to have someone from Northwestern here. I feel more connected with whats going on on campus.
I feel that since I am not going to be able to post anything for over a week I should have more to say but, I really can't think of much. I really enjoyed hiking in the mountains with my family on Sunday...other than that this week has been crazy-filled with classes and then preparing for the Retezat. Thats, really everything that has been going on.
Peace!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Man & Holes
This is a view from the Bates' house in Lupeni - a little outside of the town
Straja - where viata was - we are almost on top of a peak here - not quite
This is me (with alex) ....climbing a rock! almost to the top here so, its hard to see how tall it was but, it was a good 35 feet.
LOVE THIS PICTURE!! WHY? Because i took it and didn't find it on a website - though it looks like I could've..huh? yea...So, there are manholes in this town...duh, right....well, many of them are not covered. I have decided that I will probably fall into one before this semester ends. Knowing me, it is almost inevitable but, at least none of them seem to go down that far.
Yesterday our group went rock climbing. For me, this was the second time since being here and I got to experience the belaying side of it this time around. It was great. Much of the time we have spent outdoors so far (ropes course, rock climbing, hiking) and it has really brought the group closer together. I have also felt, yesterday especially, that I am discovering a whole new side to me that I did not even think existed. I really enjoy being outdoors. I think I never really got into it before because I just thought I couldn't really do any of the "really outdoor-sy" stuff. However, so far I have already been rock climbing and hiking and really, really high up on ropes courses, and climbed a small mountain...and I love it! It's soo beautiful and wonderful. Next friday we leave for a 7 day trip to the Retezat...we are going to be hiking and def. will be doing some summting and such. I am really excited, a little weary, but really excited! Experiential & Outdoor education are very, very wonderful things I am discovering.
So, with the trip next week and classes starting things are pretty crazy...and a little hectic...around here right now. I really need to get a move on on my homework so I can do some researching before next week but, there is sooo much I do not feel like starting. Bad idea. Because of this, I am going to end this post here...even though there is much more to say. I think I will add some pictures, and call it good. Peace!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Greetings From Lupeni
Quick update -
I've been with the host family now for four days. That has, for the most part been going well. My family speaks very little english which is good, because I am learning more romanian but also frustrating because it sometimes takes 20 minutes to tell them where I am going. I have 7 brothers and 1 sister in the family but, the dad and the oldest brother have not been home yet - they went on a trip the day I left and are supposed to be home tomorrow. My brothers are Emanuel (11), Nachis (12), Nata (13), Cornelut (17), Oni (19), Nelutu (20), and Daniel (21)...and then the girl is Prisida (23).
All of the group here is sick except for me - so I am trying to sheild myself because I really do not feel like getting sick. nope, nope, nope. The diet has been interesting as well but, I am doing well at being careful with it. Yesterday my famiy brought me 4 Liters of sheep milk and I had to tell them that I couldn't drink it (they warned us about the unpaturized milk) I think somehow, I told them that I did not like milk at all but, better that then getting sick. I am really enjoying a lot of the food though and my family sure likes to feed me - a lot. They make this really yummy drink by boiling apples and adding sugar and such...basically really, really good apple cider. It is delicious.
The daughter in my host family is a leader at one of the impact clubs here in town so I have already been able to get involved with some of the youth, they are great and very eager to learn english. Friday night they had "band practice" and sang a lot of praise and worship music that I knew in english. They asked me to sing with them and that was really, really great. It was funny at times when I messed up the pronunciations and such but, it was a great experience.
Classes started yesterday and are going well so far, I am really glad to be starting a regular schedule with things to do and focus on. Yesterday we went over Romanian history which was really interesting because the wars look very different from this side of the world.
I suppose that is all for now.
Peace!
I've been with the host family now for four days. That has, for the most part been going well. My family speaks very little english which is good, because I am learning more romanian but also frustrating because it sometimes takes 20 minutes to tell them where I am going. I have 7 brothers and 1 sister in the family but, the dad and the oldest brother have not been home yet - they went on a trip the day I left and are supposed to be home tomorrow. My brothers are Emanuel (11), Nachis (12), Nata (13), Cornelut (17), Oni (19), Nelutu (20), and Daniel (21)...and then the girl is Prisida (23).
All of the group here is sick except for me - so I am trying to sheild myself because I really do not feel like getting sick. nope, nope, nope. The diet has been interesting as well but, I am doing well at being careful with it. Yesterday my famiy brought me 4 Liters of sheep milk and I had to tell them that I couldn't drink it (they warned us about the unpaturized milk) I think somehow, I told them that I did not like milk at all but, better that then getting sick. I am really enjoying a lot of the food though and my family sure likes to feed me - a lot. They make this really yummy drink by boiling apples and adding sugar and such...basically really, really good apple cider. It is delicious.
The daughter in my host family is a leader at one of the impact clubs here in town so I have already been able to get involved with some of the youth, they are great and very eager to learn english. Friday night they had "band practice" and sang a lot of praise and worship music that I knew in english. They asked me to sing with them and that was really, really great. It was funny at times when I messed up the pronunciations and such but, it was a great experience.
Classes started yesterday and are going well so far, I am really glad to be starting a regular schedule with things to do and focus on. Yesterday we went over Romanian history which was really interesting because the wars look very different from this side of the world.
I suppose that is all for now.
Peace!
Friday, September 7, 2007
VIATA!
So we JUST got back from a week at Viata, which is a summer camp at Straja (town). This was the last week of the summer and it was absolutely amazing!
Straja is called "the city on the hill" because it basically is. We hiked up it with our backpacks to get ready for the 7 day Retezat trip. Yea....basically it took us 3 hours and it was much more of a mountain than a hill. It was a good time but made me think..."hmm, so nothing I did this summer seems to really prepare you this..." On the way we stopped to get water from springs and all that good stuff. mmhmm.
Seeing how kids really act in Romania is much different than learning about them. Communism really drains life out of society and Viata (which means life) is a program that helps kids learn to work together and trust each other through adventure education. It is a huge deal to see kids working together in a post-communist culture - it's very groundbreaking. We did a lot of rope-course activities...both high and low...and a lot of other good camp stuff too such as; campfires, night-hikes, etc...
Leaving today was quite difficult. I was very close to all the kids in my group but there was one who was particullarly difficult to leave. Her name was Roxianna and she was by far the smallest girl in our group along with Mihaelia and was an absolute ball of fire. The first day I met her we went Rock Climbing (o yea...did I mention I climbed a big rock...that was terrifying but woot!!!) and Roxi scaled the rock like nothing...she was faster than anyone in the group and showed no fear, even for being as small as she is. Everything we did the whole week she exceled in and really seemed to brighten up as the week went on. Last night I learned that her and Mihaelia were both from one of the orphanages in Romania, which is why they were both so small. It was hard enough to leave her anyway but, I do not know what kind-of conditions she is going back to so...its quite difficult.
This week also really brought to light the difficulties a new language will create. We have started our language classes, which are going well and a lot of fun but, it is still difficult to really say things. This put a block on being able to communicate with the kids in some ways but, in some ways it just helped us to learn new ways of communicating like dancing, singing, laughing, etc...
It was a great week.
In 2 1/2 hours ( 6pm) we are going to move in with our host families. I am really excited to finally be settled somewhere and be able to unpack and find out where my things are (living out of a suitcase can only be done for so long). I am also really excited to be in a home and learning about romanian culture that way, shopping on my own, walking through Lupeni, etc....I am hoping to take a trip to the Piazza tomorrow (its a little outdoor market with fruit, vege, meat, etc...stands in the middle of the town. Its fanatastic! I will send pictures!
That is basically it for now. My "Miss. Independent" stage - if that is what you call it - is definently wearing off. After going through two weeks of really not being able to communicate with people back home, even if i wanted....I am realizing how much I take for granted the ability that most of the time I do have that priveledge. That was really difficult this past week..something would happen and I would want to share it with people back home and then think...."nope, can't do that". However, I am glad that we were in a position where we were not able to correspond, i think it was good for all of us individually and as a group. We grew a lot closer because we were the only ones around to talk to about what was going on.
Side Note - By mid-October we will be living in the apartements and are fully intending on making Thanksgiving dinner when the time comes. It should be a really interesting version though...one, being as we are in romania celebrating it and two, there really arent many (if any) places to find turkeys or chicken...so maybe we will eat mutton. woot!
ok, really, thats all for now.
peace and love!
Straja is called "the city on the hill" because it basically is. We hiked up it with our backpacks to get ready for the 7 day Retezat trip. Yea....basically it took us 3 hours and it was much more of a mountain than a hill. It was a good time but made me think..."hmm, so nothing I did this summer seems to really prepare you this..." On the way we stopped to get water from springs and all that good stuff. mmhmm.
Seeing how kids really act in Romania is much different than learning about them. Communism really drains life out of society and Viata (which means life) is a program that helps kids learn to work together and trust each other through adventure education. It is a huge deal to see kids working together in a post-communist culture - it's very groundbreaking. We did a lot of rope-course activities...both high and low...and a lot of other good camp stuff too such as; campfires, night-hikes, etc...
Leaving today was quite difficult. I was very close to all the kids in my group but there was one who was particullarly difficult to leave. Her name was Roxianna and she was by far the smallest girl in our group along with Mihaelia and was an absolute ball of fire. The first day I met her we went Rock Climbing (o yea...did I mention I climbed a big rock...that was terrifying but woot!!!) and Roxi scaled the rock like nothing...she was faster than anyone in the group and showed no fear, even for being as small as she is. Everything we did the whole week she exceled in and really seemed to brighten up as the week went on. Last night I learned that her and Mihaelia were both from one of the orphanages in Romania, which is why they were both so small. It was hard enough to leave her anyway but, I do not know what kind-of conditions she is going back to so...its quite difficult.
This week also really brought to light the difficulties a new language will create. We have started our language classes, which are going well and a lot of fun but, it is still difficult to really say things. This put a block on being able to communicate with the kids in some ways but, in some ways it just helped us to learn new ways of communicating like dancing, singing, laughing, etc...
It was a great week.
In 2 1/2 hours ( 6pm) we are going to move in with our host families. I am really excited to finally be settled somewhere and be able to unpack and find out where my things are (living out of a suitcase can only be done for so long). I am also really excited to be in a home and learning about romanian culture that way, shopping on my own, walking through Lupeni, etc....I am hoping to take a trip to the Piazza tomorrow (its a little outdoor market with fruit, vege, meat, etc...stands in the middle of the town. Its fanatastic! I will send pictures!
That is basically it for now. My "Miss. Independent" stage - if that is what you call it - is definently wearing off. After going through two weeks of really not being able to communicate with people back home, even if i wanted....I am realizing how much I take for granted the ability that most of the time I do have that priveledge. That was really difficult this past week..something would happen and I would want to share it with people back home and then think...."nope, can't do that". However, I am glad that we were in a position where we were not able to correspond, i think it was good for all of us individually and as a group. We grew a lot closer because we were the only ones around to talk to about what was going on.
Side Note - By mid-October we will be living in the apartements and are fully intending on making Thanksgiving dinner when the time comes. It should be a really interesting version though...one, being as we are in romania celebrating it and two, there really arent many (if any) places to find turkeys or chicken...so maybe we will eat mutton. woot!
ok, really, thats all for now.
peace and love!
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