Bravery is the courage to walk to the outhouse without a jacket in the cold.
Curiosity is stopping to look up at the picturesque sky lit with stars that is tinted with a strip of the milky way.
Cleanliness is relying on the wind and sun to keep the clothes pristine.
Science is perfectly mixing the hot and cold water in the tea kettle for a comfortable shower.
Healing is a shot of vodka, a spoonful of honey, and a thick scarf wrapped around your neck.
Exploring is trying out a new path in hopes that the mud is less prevalent than the last.
Warmth is relying on the strength of the wood built fire to maintain it's tenacity.
Natural is freshly picked fruits/ vegetables from the carefully maintained garden.
Wine is homemade.
Pride is in sharing the labor of the food/ wine.
Chaos is being greeted by geese, chicken, cows, or pigs.
Loneliness is conversing with the cat.
Partying is a surprise picnic laid out with food and beverages to celebrate whatever holiday happens to be that day or just because it's a Wednesday, why not.
Surprises are being roped in for wine and food on the side of the road as the kids run and retrieve plates of food to set up on the trunk of the car.
Sharing is walking on the rocky laid road with horses pulling carriages, cars zooming by, animals grazing, and people trekking to their destinations.
Adventure is climbing up the big hill through the forest.
Celebrating is rallying the whole village together for food, dancing, and conversations.
Conversations are reminiscing, being healthy, and how life is hard, but you move on.
Shopping is negotiating prices when the market comes into the village two times a week.
Splurging is purchasing a little something extra that exceeds what is a necessity.
Transportation is being welcomed into a warm car by someone feeling hospitable or a crowded minibus.
Connectivity is a successful conversation in Romanian.
Kindness is helping people despite knowing their story.
Beauty is measured by the length of a smile.
The list above is something I wrote in November. My attempt to put my observations into something relative. The truth is... I have countless observations that putting them down on paper doesn't always feel authentic. However, when I share my experiences over skype or over the phone I am reminded that it is worth sharing no matter the message I am trying to convey. I served a 7 year old wine the other day. To all the standards that I have grown up with knowing, this would not happen back home. Serving that wine was one of those moments that I had to take a step back and remind myself to unprogram all the thoughts I have on the subject that I had been programed to believe all my life and consider a different programing that they grew up with. Being here so long you stop overlooking things so much and I am reminded that things I find normal here aren't exactly normal occurrences back home. That is the beauty of a cultural exchange. My brain is constantly being challenged to think in ways that I wouldn't usually think about. I think that has to do with linguistics as well. Learning a different language is training my brain to think differently and express myself differently than I would through my native tongue. It is an interesting concept that languages have such different connotations.
Every night when I have to go to the bathroom, I have a mini fight in my head about whether I really need to go. I always lose that battle and start putting on my layers, socks and boots to make the trek to the back of the house. Since it's icy and cold I have to be alert of my steps, but also remembering to bring my warm toilet seat cover for my outhouse, so I don't sit on a cold seat. My room is only warm for a few hours at night with the wood fire, so I always have a warm wool sweater at hand. Before you feel bad for me... the workouts I do in my room are wonderful in the cold room. Pros and cons.
When it is all said and done this journey will be something I will take with me, the good and the bad.
The list above is something I wrote in November. My attempt to put my observations into something relative. The truth is... I have countless observations that putting them down on paper doesn't always feel authentic. However, when I share my experiences over skype or over the phone I am reminded that it is worth sharing no matter the message I am trying to convey. I served a 7 year old wine the other day. To all the standards that I have grown up with knowing, this would not happen back home. Serving that wine was one of those moments that I had to take a step back and remind myself to unprogram all the thoughts I have on the subject that I had been programed to believe all my life and consider a different programing that they grew up with. Being here so long you stop overlooking things so much and I am reminded that things I find normal here aren't exactly normal occurrences back home. That is the beauty of a cultural exchange. My brain is constantly being challenged to think in ways that I wouldn't usually think about. I think that has to do with linguistics as well. Learning a different language is training my brain to think differently and express myself differently than I would through my native tongue. It is an interesting concept that languages have such different connotations.
Every night when I have to go to the bathroom, I have a mini fight in my head about whether I really need to go. I always lose that battle and start putting on my layers, socks and boots to make the trek to the back of the house. Since it's icy and cold I have to be alert of my steps, but also remembering to bring my warm toilet seat cover for my outhouse, so I don't sit on a cold seat. My room is only warm for a few hours at night with the wood fire, so I always have a warm wool sweater at hand. Before you feel bad for me... the workouts I do in my room are wonderful in the cold room. Pros and cons.
When it is all said and done this journey will be something I will take with me, the good and the bad.
"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." -Abraham Lincoln
