A few pictures from Rome

Hey all! ok, finally, here are some pictures from our time in Rome. However, I am not a pro at uploading these yet so, they go in reverse chronological order so...close your eyes and scroll to the bottom before you start looking :)



This was the dome of the Pantheon..my all time favorite place in Rome...mmhmm
A "sacred area" that we stumbled upon in the middle of rome - there were four temples built here in (approx) 6oo b.c....it was really cool...if you look close you can kind-of see the steps to two of the temples
Ok, I don't know how to rotate pictures...grr...but this is a really pretty picture all the same...just tilt your head
This is the main street in Trastevere - the are in which we stayed
Lindsay and I in our room

The outside of the Pantheon....isn't it wonderful...pictures don't quite do it justice but, you can see where the years have worn at it!
Lindsay and I outside the Pantheon...ah! ok, What I really like about this picture is that you can kind-of see how the city is around it Inside of the Pantheon - the walls are made of marble of all different colors, they are so vibrant. Not sure if this marble is the original or if it was put in after the Christians took it over but, either way, it is still brilliant.

Me! inside the Pantheon! I love it!
Picture from inside the Pantheon out! Yup, definently my favorite thing we saw...yes yes yes!

Spanish steps...these were cool but, kind-of a let down in a few ways.
Spanish steps.
Trevi fountain again, hard to get a picture of the whole thing...
Me and Trevi fountain...it was cool...literally...there was a chill rising from the water.
Me and a really pretty building (there were lots but, I really liked this one)

This is Castel Sant' Angelo (I think I spelt all those correctly) anyway, we were told it is where the Pope goes when they're under seige but, I think this is all a lie they tell the public and really he goes to France or somewhere...by way of chariots and underground tunnels, of course :)
St.Peter's from the street
Inside St.Peters...
OOOOO....ok, this is my favorite sculptor at the Vatican and St.Peter's...and yes, it is the original by Michaelangelo!
This is St.Peter's Square from the steps of St.Peter's...that white stage thing to the left is where the Pope stands on Wednesdays to talk to people.

Inside the Coliseum again...it was cool, and really big. A lot bigger than we thought. It held 80,000 people! AND they could fill it in 15 minutes...yea, take that modern day efficiency systems...pshh...
On top of Palatine hill...and, o yea, that's the Coliseum. What!?!
Lindsay and I on top of Palatine hill
Circus Maximus...uhh...yea
Me! and the Roman Forum...for real. One of the roads there (not sure if you can see it) is the road where we get the phrase "All roads lead to Rome" its...that road!!

Monument to Victor Emanuel II...also, those guards there...where the wreaths are, they are guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier. They carried real guns and pointed them at the people...it was really intimidating.
Really cool statue at the monument of Victor Emanuel II...this statue was HUGE, really, it was really big AND so life-like...especially for being carved out of rock.
Lindsay and I at the top of the monument to Victor Emanuel II...you can see the Coliseum in the background!
Me and Trajans column...ok, I can't figure out how to rotate pictures so...sorry if it annoys you to tilt your head at some pictures...oops. ;)
This is Ashlea inside the Coliseum..yes it is...and it isn't even photo-shopped or anything...its real!

"...and no gas with my cappuccino, please."

I have succesfully traveled to Rome and back with myself and Lindsay. Two girls against the world...and burly border patrol men who think its fun to wake people up every time you are even partially asleep to check your passport, or your ticket, or both. Plus side to this, I have about 10 more stamps on my passport - traveling by train has its perks.
Rome was unreal, we saw basically all the main sites; Coliseum, Roman forum, smaller forums, sacred area, Pantheon, Palatine hill, Circus Maximus, Vatican, Sisteen Chapel, St. Peter's Basillica, Trevi fountain, Spanish steps, Monument to Victor Emanuel II, and the tomb of the unkown soldier. Out of all of them the Pantheon was my favorite, by far. It is immensly beautiful and so obviously thousands of years old. Yet, it is strong and full of marbles of colors and a dome that is tremendous and looks way better than the one in St.Peter's (no offense to michelangelo or anything). One of the best parts of being in Rome was walking aimlessly through the streets, happening upon little shops and resturants, or churches that had been there for who-knows-how-long built by who-know-who, nestled in and amoung the busy streets and modern buildings. It really is quite a beautiful city to see.
Also, I have to mention that Lindsay and I never got lost and barely used our map. We walked around the city pretty much everyday but, our last full day there we conquered the metro, subway, and bus ways all in one day. It was a good time.
One of the things that struck me so much about Rome was how western it felt (and is) compared to the part of the world we have been living in. It was really uncanny to be able to eat meals at any number of different resturants and have pretty much anything available to you ... including many modern convieniences that I have too often taken for granted.
Also, as we read in our books...and something that really hit me hard...there are a lot of homeless people and/or beggers on the streets of Rome. One thing that really caught my eye about the majority of them was how most of them were so obviously crippled. Outside of St.Peter's there was a man who had both of his legs poorly amputated, we saw a man with his arm cut of, and another child with very, very mishappen feet.
Growing up in the states I have always heard not to give people on the streets money because they might go spend it on alcohol or drugs. For some reason, I don't feel like this was the case for most of the people there and even so, I really didn't care that much at the time. I agree that the best thing one can give people is tools to help themselves but, sometimes we really, really fail to meet the physical needs of people; food, water, shelter. I am not sure that by walking by them instead of giving them money really helps anything. Granted, most people say "give them food instead of money" but, how many people actually do that. I do not know hat kind of organizations, ministries, and establishments there are in Rome to help them but, seeing a person so obviously in need with the steeple of St.Peter's right behind was quite troubling. We did a little to help some of them but, not really anything that I feel counts.
Lindsay and I were talking about this on the way back on the train. We started talking about the parable of the good samaritan. I think it is probably one of the most commonly heard parables in the bible, it gets drilled into you at a young age, almost every VBS curriculum contains it and, I am starting to wonder if hearing it soo much has made it loose some of its meaning. I don't know, this is just me pondering aloud.
BUT! Rome was amazing and a much needed break. It was quite a blessing and a miracle that we made it home safe, sound, refreshed, and ready for the downhill slide of this semester and our time in Romania.
Peace!

You know what its like when you are filled with a lot of very opposite emotions?
I hope so because this is how I feel right now. There are always great things going on and there seem to be always bad and crazy things going on too!
Ok, I'll just list them.

Good:
*Romania - overall I am learning so much and loving my time here and the people here and the group and everything...its fantastic.
* I am going to Rome in 3 days...o my goodness!
* E-mails from family and friends...they're great! and make me o so happy!
*Moving into the Apartments - this means being able to cook for myself and play music and have hot water again (yes!!!!)
* Our group: we are getting along so well, I am so thankful for each member of the group. We are really growing together, through "the good times and the bad" and I am sooo grateful that there will be people who will understand where I am coming from with this experience when we get back to the states.

Bad:
*The "founder" of this foundation (and our professor--dana) has had a crazy year....complications with the EU means that the foundation is having to raise about 3x more a month than they used to, he lost his father earlier this year, his wife just had a miscarraige, and now his mother died. His mother was also the head of a foundation in Romania that he now has to figure out what is going to happen with that....and, o yea, teach class!
* I have to leave my host family in 3 days. Nope, not ok with that right now. Though I am looking foward to living in the apartments I am going to miss my family sooo much. Today they asked me to stay with them after fall break. I would love that but, it just isn't a possibility. grrr
* Somewhere along the way my mind went from thinking I had a long time in Romania to "O my goodness, I barely have a month left" and that scares me a little. I can't imagine having to leave so soon.

**basically, all the good and bad things that I just listed is all that has been going on this week. We are balancing classes (without dana) with getting ready for saying goodbye to our families, moving into the apartments, and going on break. It is a needed break but also brings with it many changes. For good and bad.
Also, I am getting really sick of the rabid and ugly dogs that infiltrate these streets....

Penny's From Heaven

So, pondering seems to be my theme for the week. Too much is going on in my brain to try and describe everything so, I'll stick to a few.

World Trade (?...I think, World something...) did a survey of all the countries in the world and found Romania to be the least happy. With, the Jiu Valley being the least happy place in Romania. I just connected the dots to this today. I chose to come and live for 3 1/2 months inthe most unhappy place in the world?? (i recognize this is only according to one survey).
I can see the possibilities of Romania being so unhappy. The apathy of people, the stone-cold stares one recieves when walking on the street, the thoughts that no matter what is wrong (however big or small) it is someone elses, someone higher ups job to take care of it, and the thought that anything that is western is better...merely because it is western. Constantly comparing themselves with other things breeds a bitter state of mind, mix that with the fear and apathy that was ingrained into the country's conscience under communism and, it isn't hard to see how you would get a country that ranks low on a happiness scale.
However, facts like this make me excited to be here. Why? Because the foundation that I am studying with (and working with and being an active part of!!!) is effecting this culture. The youth in IMPACT are really trying to recreate this nation. And, the amazing thing is...they're doing it. They are making small inroads but, each one seems so huge. AND the impact model has been proven to be so successful and successfully reproducable its making its way to other parts of the country, other post-communist countries, and now (as in today) even countries like Honduras.
I feel like I should give an example because I am doing a bad job at explaining. A few years ago one of the Impact clubs in Lupeni decided to clean up the river that runs through town. So, they spent time planning it; organizing where they wanted to clean, how they would do it, why they would do it, and when. When the day came the youth were out cleaning the river and people in Lupeni would go get their trash and dump it on them while they were cleaning, telling them that what they were doing was pointless and stupid. Recently, the other Lupeni club decided to do the same thing and this time there was no trash thrown. In fact, some of the people that walked passed them even stopped to help.
Thats huge.
It's really profound.
And somehow I have been blessed enough to experience it first hand.


On an entirely different note -
Penny Market opened yesterday. Small town supermarket for sure, but has a much different feel than anything you would find in the states. Who knew there was such a thing as supermarket courtesy? I had no idea until I entered Penny Market and realized people really didn't understand how to move about in aisles and how to form lines...and stay in them. It was also a shock to see a police officer on duty at the front of the store, gates you have to walk through (like at subways) to actually enter the store, and you can't leave without buying anything. so...yea...I am not completely convinced that Lupeni was ready for such a thing...we'll see what the next few weeks bring.

I love Romania right now. For what it is, and more for what I see it becoming. In the mornings I walk a half hour through stonefaced people to get to class, no one acknowledging that we are passing. Then, at night I go to an Impact club or a church meeting and see a whole different side and face of Lupeni reflected in the teenagers there. And, sometimes in the morning, I get to pass them on the streets! Its the little things here that one has to hold on to for hope. Little Penny's from heaven!
peace!

New Post!

Well, not much is going on here in Lupeni - though a lot is going on. Worlds happening!
Penny market opens in 2 days. This is a big deal. What is Penny Market?? Well, it is basically on the level of a mom and pop supermarket. There isn't a ton of selection and definently not the best prices as compared to other stores (7 hours away) but, it is the first supermarket in Lupeni. I can't tell you the excitement this is bringing.
(I have decided to write about the little things)
There are a lot of mosquitos living with me and my host family and this morning I realized that I have a bite on the inside of my hand -- seriously, how wierd is that!?
Today, we are finishing moving Dana and Brandi to Tusu (their new house) from Apt. 11 and then moving Daniel and Janelle (two wonderful volunteers working here) from Apt. 8 to Apt. 11. Then, in two weeks we (the 5 girls) will be moving into Apt.8 and the guys will be moving into Apt.11 with Daniel and Janelle.
Also, I got a really cute pair of Romanian shoes this weekend. It was great.
I love Romania

Retezat and so much more

Alright so...its been a long time coming...sorry about not updating for awhile. Let's start back at Retezat. So, yes, I climbed a mountain. It was wonderful but, the whole experience was beautiful and completely amazing. We spent 4 days hiking up to Lake Bucara and then on the 5th day we hiked to the peak from Lake Bucara and hiked back down to the city on days 6 and 7. It was a hard hike but, physically it was difficult. Our longest and, I think, most difficult day was the first...6 hours uphill and we weren't adjusted to it at all yet. So...there are some pictures from that trip -- including a pic. of me at the top of the mountain!!! 8,000 and some feet !

SO, other than that - life is good, went through a period of culture shock just before retezat when all I wanted to do was go home but, got over that. I love romania - through all of its imperfections...I have to move out of my homestay in 2 weeks and, though I will still see my family a lot...I will miss living with them a lot. leaving in december is going to be really hard.

classes are fantastic - I love love love what we are discussing and learning and it is even better that we are experiencing what we are learning while we are hear.

speaking of - I must go hang out with some romanian teenagers now.

peace!