Romania Day 10

Wednesday May 16

I'm writing this early Sunday morning while almost everyone is still asleep (recovering from our trip to Brasov and Bran, which I will post about later). I am relying on my memory from 4 days ago, and I hope I am correct!

Jimmy, Clay, Sam, Leah, and I walked to the local sporting goods store called Decathlon, all by ourselves! It's about a thirty minute walk, so I was so happy that we made it there and back without getting lost.  While there, we purchased the last few things the runners would need for their upcoming Transylvania trail run. (More on that later too!)

We ate lunch, and then Dan and Tami met us over here and we all drove (in two cars) to Severin. Let me just say that driving (or should I say riding in a car as a passenger) in Romania is an exciting experience! The drivers drive fast, somewhat erratically (it seems to me), and honk their horns frequently. There are also these "round abouts" at many intersections instead of traffic lights. These seem dangerous to me too, because the drivers just zoom through them, honking their horns. It takes two hours to drive to Severin. We have driven many miles throughout southern and middle Romania since we have been here, and I have yet to see a highway that looks like one in the U.S. We should all be thankful for our roads! If you look at the bottom of the map below, you can find Bucharest. That is where we flew into. Over to the left is Craiova, where Julie and Big Sam live. Over even further to the left is Drobeta Turna Severin, where Julie and Big Sam used to live until last November. Looking up in the middle, and you can see Brasov, which is where we traveled to on Thursday.

photo credit

We parked in front of the church building, which is on a main road in Severin. The church there meets at 4:30pm for Wednesday Bible study, so we had a couple of hours to tour Severin beforehand.

on a street corner in Severin

We stopped at small grocery store to buy water and of course coke! I have been fortunate to find coke in every place I've been on my trip. It tastes a little sweeter and does not have quite as much carbonation as our Coke bottled in the U.S., but it is still delicious! (And it costs less over here too!)

 Happy Mama with her Coke

We stepped briefly (and quietly) into this Eastern Orthodox church. It is so beautiful! Julie and Big Sam did not live far from this area when they lived here. They were in walking distance (of course!) of a nice shaded park, a mall, the church building where they worshiped and worked, and a main hub of the city.

 outside the Eastern Orthodox church

Next we walked on to the Severin Fortress, but on our way stopped to admire the theater.

 the theater in the back of the photo.

in front of the theater

Here is some information about the Severin Fortress:

Ha!

The fortress was built in 1230, and this link provides information about the fortress in English. We have never seen or touched anything that was this old!

 the view of the fortress as you are approaching it

 Silly photo-op cut-outs can be found anywhere in the world!

 another view of the fortress 

 The Danube River is in the background, and on the other side of the river is Serbia.

 These workers were cutting the very high grass all around the fortress by hand! With a scythe!

 Sam, posing beside what may have been a moat around the fortress?

The next touristy thing we did was climb to the top of the Water Castle. It took 160 steps to reach the top--on a steep, spiral staircase! The Water Castle (which was a water tower) was built in 1910 and supplied water to the city until 1980.

inside at the top of the Water Castle

Leah outside the top of the Water Castle

 Dan outside the top of the Water Castle

 the view from the top of the Water Castle

 looking down at Sam

outside the Water Castle

 I'm hanging on, trying not to get dizzy, definitely not looking down!

After our city tour it was time for Bible study. Again, this service was mostly in Romanian. The Bible class teacher had printed out the Scripture (Philippians 4) in Romanian, and with my English Bible open, I could somewhat follow along when he read from the Bible. However, I had no idea what he was saying otherwise!

When Bible study concluded, we began our way back to Craiova. We stopped along the way for supper.

supper at a nice restaurant

(still, no ice!)

The Last 10 Books I Have Read

1. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
I listened to this book on Audible while driving to Tampa, Florida and back. This book is based on true events that occurred in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1930s and 1940s. I was horrified as I learned the story of Georgia Tann and her stealing and selling babies and young children. This book was sad and fascinating at the same time, and it had an element of mystery which I always enjoy.

2.  Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan
I read Glitter and Glue a couple of years ago, and for whatever reason, at the time I did not care for it. Then Leanna read it and liked it, so I decided to read it again.  Kelly shares her experience as a nanny for a widower in Australia. She was in her early twenties, and she learns how much she values her own mother as the takes care of the two young children who recently lost their mother. I did like the book the second time I read it. In fact, I liked it so much, I bought Kelly's other three books.
Warning: This book (and all of Kelly's books) has way, way more profanity than I am comfortable with. I really have a hard time believing that people actually talk this way. I guess I live in a bubble. I usually will not read a book with such profanity, but her writing is so compelling, I just kept a pen handy and marked out each and every curse word. (Good for my friends who I loan the books to!)

3.  Tell Me More The Twelve Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan
In this book Kelly writes twelve essays explaining the lessons she has learned from her life. She includes stories about her battle with breast cancer and her every day life--complete with all its ups and downs.

4.  The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
Kelly shares the struggle she faces as she and her father both have cancer at the same time. She has breast cancer, and he has bladder cancer. She shares and compares their treatments, their journey, and how each of them handle it.

5.  Lift by Kelly Corrigan
I read this last book by Kelly on the airplane while traveling to Romania. It was not my favorite.....it was just ho hum....not as funny or compelling as her other three books. It is short. It's a collection of things she wishes to tell her daughters. After Leanna reads it and we discuss it while run, I may like it after all! But for now....not the best.

6.  Daring to Hope by Katie Davis Majors
This is the second book by Katie Davis Majors. Her first book, Kisses From Katie, recounted her move to Uganda as a young woman. This book is set about ten years later. She shares her ongoing challenges with ministering to her community while taking care of her own 13 adopted children.

7.  Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
This is another book that I started a couple of years ago, did not finish because I could "not get into it", gave it to Leanna to read, and then reread it after she returned it with a good report! I absolutely liked it on the second try. I have already bought two other books by Robinson.

8.  The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
I listened to this on Audible either on the treadmill or in the car. It is definitely not a favorite. In fact, I really did not like this latest Grisham book. I usually love his books.....but this one had more profanity than usual (his earlier books have only an occasional curse word), and there were no "good guys". Just bad guys and worse guys. The protagonists were involved in criminal activity, and they never suffered consequences from that. Sure they had to live a life on the run in the end, but they broke the law without paying for it. I like for the good guys to win in the end. There were no good guys in this book. Thumbs down.

9.  Church of the Small Things by Melanie Shankle
Funny book by a relatable author. I love all her books.

10.  David Livingstone Africa's Trailblazer by Janet and Geoff Benge
I read this aloud to Leah and Sam. It is hard to comprehend what men like David Livingstone endured physically, spiritually, and emotionally in their lifetimes.

Romania Day 9

Tuesday May 15

It was so nice to wake up and have Jimmy with us! I am also glad that he is here to take pictures. I will have a lot more pictures since he is here with his camera.

 another picture of the view from Julie's and Big Sam's balcony

When Jimmy felt like he had slept enough, we all ventured out to the city park that has the zoo. Clay and Big Sam had left earlier, and they planned to meet us there. On our way we stopped at the coffee vending machine just outside Julie and Big Sam's apartment. Yay! It was back! We bought a few coffees, and then were on our way for the thirty minute walk to the park.

 watching the coffee come out of the vending machine

 meeting Clay and Big Sam at the entrance to the park

 roosters at the zoo!

 Julie, Big Sam, and Clay

 posing in front of the monkey exhibit--Sam's favorite

 playing on the swings

 and playing on the see-saw

While the rest of us stayed on the playground, Julie and Jimmy ran around the park.

We walked through the zoo, and then we walked back to the apartment. After a quick lunch, Julie, Leah, Sam, and I walked to the grocery store to buy groceries again! Thankfully, the four of us were able to easily carry them back.

Dan and Tami joined us for a Bible study at the apartment at 5:00, and then we all walked to the Center for supper at a Romanian restaurant. We ordered several different Romanian dishes which we all shared. Thankfully, the waiter had three English menus--although the translation on some of the items was humorous!

at the restaurant

getting coffee again on the way to the Center

 We stopped by the pretzel shop on our way home. Hot, chocolate filled pretzels are the best!

 the Romanian restaurant where we ate

 Everyone in our family except Leah and me love this mineral water.

We had this delicious mocha cappuccino before our meal.

Romania Day 8

Monday May 14

Today was a rainy day for most of the day. I did school with Leah and Sam. Today was the day that Jimmy flew all the way here. I prayed many times today that Jimmy would arrive safely. 

Julie and Clay walked to the local farmer's market before lunch, and then Julie prepared us a Mexican feast! Dan and Tami joined us for lunch. After lunch when the rain finally stopped, Clay walked Leah, Sam, and I back to the farmer's market area to get coffee from a vending machine.  Around the town here there are coffee vending machines in places where you would see Coke machines in the U.S. When we first arrived here last week, there was a coffee vending machine just a few steps from Julie and Big Sam's apartment. Then the next day, they moved it! We were sad. But, Big Sam noticed just this morning that they had put a different one back in the same spot. The coffees (and you can get expressos, expresso with milk, cappuccino, mocha, etc.) cost 1 lei (which is about $.25). 

Most of our days here I am spending helping Julie out with her daily chores. Romanians do not have clothes dryers; they use dryer racks or clotheslines to dry their clothes. She has a small front loading washing machine, and one load of wet clothes exactly fits on her drying rack. So we wash one load each morning and let it dry on the rack until the next morning. It usually takes 24 hours for the clothes to dry, even with a fan blowing on them. 

Julie's apartment reminds me of the married student housing apartment Jimmy and I lived in while he was in medical school, except that her apartment is a little bit bigger. She has a small single sink in her kitchen, and of course, no dishwasher. I have been washing our dishes after each meal and drying them and putting them away so we have room to wash dishes for the next meal. Our family is all sleeping in the den--two people on the sofa bed, and three people on the floor. Each morning I fold up all our bedding and store it and the mattresses in various corners for the day. We have our large suitcases in out of the way areas (as much as possible!). It really has been a treat to stay here with Julie and Big Sam. 

Big Sam and Clay left at 4:30 to drive (in Dan's car) to Bucharest to pick up Jimmy from the airport. They arrived here around midnight. I was so happy to see Jimmy after being away from him for over a week. 

Romania Day 7

Sunday May 13
This was Mother's Day, and for the first time since I became a mother, I was not with all of my children. In fact, the child that first made me a mother was the one who was missing--Olivia! But I had a delightful day! I heard from Olivia, and she posted a nice message to me on Facebook. Leah and Sam brought me cards they had made back home, and later in the day Julie, Clay, Leah and Sam walked to the market and came back with beautiful fresh flowers, M&Ms, and a Coke for me. What a nice treat! Julie also gave me a hand painted spoon rest she bought on her recent trip to Jerusalem. It is so pretty!

We drove to Severin, the city where Julie and Big Sam lived when they first came to Romania, for our morning worship service. Parts of the service were completely in Romanian, and parts were in English and translated in Romanian. The hymns were sung were in Romanian, but they were sung to familiar American tunes.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch, and then we drove back home. I have been so sleepy the last couple of days. I am having trouble sleeping at night, but in the afternoons I get so drowsy. I guess this is jet lag? I slept in the car going to and coming back from Severin.

We met with Dan and Tami at Julie's apartment at 5:00 for an evening Bible study. Big Sam led us in an inductive study of a portion of Mark 9. It was such a good study!

A few observations about life in Romania:

• Like I said earlier, Romanians are fast drivers! I don't think I could drive here.
• However, they are very aware of pedestrians, who have the right of way at all intersections. It's like being in college...in all the crosswalks, cars must stop for pedestrians.
• Most Romanians do not use air conditioning. They think it is harmful to you in some way. Thankfully, the nights are cool here right now, so with the door and all the windows open in Julie and Big Sam's apartment, it is comfortable here. In fact, it gets chilly at night.
• Romanians do not drink ice in their drinks. In fact, they like their drinks to be room temperature.
• Romanians must be cold natured.....I see them wearing heavier clothes than I think necessary in the 80 degree weather. I often see babies wearing hats.
• Here in the city, people do a lot of walking. I easily got well over 10,000 steps each day I have been here except for Sunday. In fact, most days I got 20,000 steps, and that was all walking (not going for a run as part of the count).
• Here in the city of Craiova, the people live in apartment buildings with very little personal green space. But the public parks we have visited are very shady. They are full of trees, grass, pretty flowers, walking paths, biking paths, and lots and lots of playing children!
• Romanians have green thumbs! Every where I look, beautiful flowers are blooming. Roses are everywhere! Every apartment building has all kinds of green plants and flowers in its courtyard. Flowers are on street corners, lining sidewalks, and really just anywhere you look. 
• I see many, many Romanians smoking cigarettes--old and young people alike.
• Almost every young Romanian man I see is wearing skinny jeans with rips or holes in them. They all have the same hairstyle too--super short on the side and fluffy on top.
• There are no street signs in Craiova, Romania. Who knows where we are as we walk along!

Romania Day 6

Saturday May 12

Julie cooked us homemade pancakes for breakfast this morning! What a great way to begin our day. I am still sleeping later than I should, and the kids slept until 9:30 this morning. After our yummy breakfast Leah and Sam did schoolwork while Julie and Big Sam studied. Clay kept himself busy cutting fliers for Big Sam.

After lunch we walked back to the town Center for a Bible Study that Julie and Big Sam have on Saturdays at a coffee shop. Dan and Tami met us there, and everyone ordered coffee before we began. (I ordered a Coke in a bottle!) It was so good. Tami added a Romanian word to my order, and when I asked her what she said, she said, "cold". She reminded me that Romanians like their beverages room temperature, and if I did not specify, that is what I would get. They don't serve beverages with ice, either. So, my coke was cold, but not really that cold. Still, it was good!

The coffees were all delicious! Tami and the waitress helped me interpret the menu, and I helped the kids order fancy coffees--some with nutella, chocolate, and whipped cream!

 at the coffee shop

 at the coffee shop

 at the coffee shop

After our Bible study, where we discussed evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, we parted ways. Julie, Clay, Sam, and I stopped by the grocery store on our way back to the apartment. 

 I found this collection of wires interesting.....

 Later in the afternoon Clay and I took Leah and Sam to a nearby park. I was so proud that we made it all the way there and back by ourselves! We are slowly learning our way around here.

Sam spent the majority of his time at the park trying to climb various trees.

This picture is an instant photo that Leah put in her travel journal that she is making. It was taken at the park.

We ate supper at the apartment, and then just hung out and enjoyed each other's company for the rest of the evening.

10 Favorite Beauty Products

I don't consider myself high maintenance in the beauty department, but there are a few products that I use. Some have been favorites for years, and some are recent finds.

Here they are:  (I'll include links, but actually most of these items I buy at Walmart, my local beauty shop, or Ulta.

1.  Redkin shampoo and conditioner.  I use either the Color Extend, High Rise Volume, or Extreme in both the shampoo or conditioner. I really can't tell a difference between these on my hair, but I can tell that my hair gets dry and brittle if I use any other brand. I buy this at either my beauty shop, The Hair Tailors or at Ulta. The large bottles last me at least six months.

2.  Mary Kay eye make-up remover. I have used this for about 12 years. It is not oily, and mascara comes off easily with cotton balls. I will say that I am not faithful to even remove my eye makeup at night, but when I do, or if I have to remove it in the morning before I put in my contacts, this is my favorite product to use. I am out of this right now, so I bought Simply Clean brand eye makeup remover, and it is not a favorite. It does remove the eye makeup easily, but it burns my eyes! I order Mary Kay products only once a year, and 3 bottles of this usually lasts me the whole year.

3.  Mary Kay Timewise 3 in 1 Cleanser.  If I take my make-up off at night, (I don't even wear make-up every day, and sometimes I am just too tired to wash my face! I know, I know, that is terrible! The next product on my list has somewhat solved that problem for me.) this is the cleanser I use. It does not burn my eyes, and it easily removes the makeup.

4.  Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes.  My friend Jessica told me about these a few months ago, and they have changed my skin care routine! About half the time I wear makeup I just wash off my face with these wipes and I'm all done! They are perfect for traveling.

5.  Teddy's Organic Rosehip Seed Oil. I kept hearing Melanie and Sophie talk about this rosehip oil on the Big Boo Cast, so I finally ordered some. I love that stuff! I really believe it has helped the wrinkles around my eyes. I apply a several drops (all over my face) both morning and night.

6.  Avon Moisture Therapy Intensive Healing Repair Body Lotion. This is my favorite all body lotion. I apply it head to toe--even on my face. It is thin, rubs in well, and has no odor. And it's very economical.

7.  Mary Kay CC Cream Sunscreen. This is what I wear as my foundation. It is light, not too thick, and has sunscreen, which is important because none of the moisturizers I use have sunscreen.

8.  Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation.  If I want a little more coverage, I apply this powder on top of the CC cream.

9.  Maybelline Pinkalicious Lipstick.  When I checked on this lipstick to create a link, I saw that the price is now $10 per tube. I am not going to pay that much for lipstick that is sold at Walmart! When I first began using this shade, it was available at Walmart for less than $5. Then of course after a period of time Walmart stopped carrying this shade, so I began ordering it from Amazon.  However, when I run out again, either I will find a new shade of lipstick I like at Walmart, or I will search for this color somewhere else. I also like Clinique lipstick, I just can't find the perfect color. And I know that Clinique lipstick costs more than $10 a tube, but it's a better quality than Walmart lipstick.

10.  OPI nail polish. Some of my favorite colors include: Berlin There Done That, Coconuts Over OPI, You're Blushing Again, and Cajun Shrimp.

Well, there you have it! 10 beauty products.

What are some of your favorites?

Romania Day 5

Friday May 11.

Today we walked to the grocery store before lunch, and bought as many groceries as Leah, Sam, Julie, and I could carry. Clay was out in town working with Big Sam.

Later on we all walked to Dan and Tami's (Big Sam's parents) apartment for a delicious lunch prepared by Tami. They live about 10 minutes (walking) from Julie and Big Sam. After our lunch we all walked to the mall to look for supplies for a race that Jimmy, Big Sam, Clay, and Dan are running on Saturday, May 19th. It's called the Transylvania 100. Jimmy, Dan, and Clay are running the 20K, and Big Sam is running the 50K. They have to have backpacks to hold various required items in order to race--things like a compass, 1L water container, their own drinking cup, a first aid kit, an emergency blanket, and other things like that.  We found most of the items at a sporting goods store that reminded me of Academy Sports back home. Jimmy plans to bring the rest of the things when he joins us here on Monday. We are all so looking forward to his arrival!

 Big Sam and Julie with her tiny baby bump

We rushed back from the mall just in time to leave to walk 30 minutes again to the town center, which is a really nice area featuring shops and restaurants and a public library. Julie and Big Sam host an English speaking book club there every other Friday night. Tonight's book discussion was The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Two young Romanian girls, who spoke English really well, joined us today. At the end of the meeting, they all decided that their book to read for the next meeting would be A Wrinkle in Time.

 A librarian talking to us just before the two girls arrived

 This is the poster hanging on the library's front glass doors advertising the book club. Julie designed the poster!

After the book club, as we walked back home, we stopped at a fresh pretzel vendor and enjoyed hot pretzels. Leah, Sam, and I all got chocolate filled pretzels. Yummy!

These pretzels were delicious!

Another fun day in Romania!