The University Opens for the Year

A road sign near my apartment: Please no horse-pulled wagons or trucks!

Saturday was a bit of a lazy day.  Mihaela showed me how to get to the mall using the bus, and I shopped around for a few hours.  I ate lunch at the food court there and tried mici for the first time. Mici are basically little sausages without the casings.  They were delicious, although the french fries with them were sub-par and soggy.  I ended up buying a "travelling scarf" that will be making its rounds 'round the globe among some of my girl friends from CUA.  I also bought a big, fluffy bath towel and a few extra kitchen items, such as serrated knife and a vegetable peeler.  It was a nice day out, so I decided to walk home.  It took a half hour, but it was very refreshing. 

The Mall

Are you sure this isn't the US?

The Mici and Some Soggy Fries

A church at the edge of Lake Tabacaniei, viewed from behind the mall.

Lake Tabacaniei, behind the mall

Lake Tabacaniei

On Sunday I woke up early to attend mass at Constanta's Roman Catholic Church.  It is only two blocks from Mihaela's apartment, so she gave me a ride.  One of the great things about being Roman Catholic is attending mass in many different countries and having the celebration have the same format.  I may not have understood the vast majority of the prayers or readings, but because I am familiar with the mass in English, I knew what was happening at every step.  I was really pleased with the church and the Catholic Community here in Constanta.

After mass, I walked with Mihaela to her apartment where she was preparing a Romanian lunch.  She needed a few ingredients, so I went to the piate with her.  We returned to the same piata as before and also to a new piata, where Mihaela bought a type of semi-soft sheep cheese, called urda.  The closest thing it is like in the US is ricotta, but with less moisture.

They just slice off a piece of cheese from the whole lump.

Other types of cheese.

An indoor piata.

Back at Mihaela's apartment, her niece, Flori, and Flori's boyfriend, Cornel, joined us for lunch.  It was really nice to meet some people around my age (they're actually a few years older).  After a lunch of ciorba and sarmale in foi de vita (a Romanian specialty version of stuffed grape leaves), Flori and Cornel showed me around the old part of the city.  I took a lot of pictures and they took some of me, as well, so now I have proof that I, Katelyn, am really in Romania.

Some very spicy peppers from Bulgaria.

Sarmale

One of our first stops was the big Romanian Orthodox church in the city.  We stopped inside, and there was a small ceremony going on; a baptism.  The first thing that struck me about the church was that there were no pews or seats.  It was richly decorated with scarlet and gold and very beautiful.  Normally you don't take pictures in churches, but since a photographer was capturing photos for the baptism, we figured no one would mind if I snapped a few shots myself from the doorway (no flash, of course).  Also, outside of the church were some metal boxes that looked a it like grills.  I had also noticed them at the Catholic church, but had no idea what they were.  Inside them are holes where people put long thin candles.  One set of boxes hold candles offered in prayer for the dead, while the other set holds candles lit in prayer for the living.

Constanta has this one mosque.

That tower belongs to the Catholic Church, which is on the other side of the block, out of sight.

The front of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Inside the Orthodox church, where a baptism is being celebrated

Outside the church are these boxes with lit candles

Candles here are lit in prayer for the dead.

and these are for the living.

We visited several other places as well, but I'll let the pictures tell that story.

Constanta is the oldest city in Romania; here I am in front of some  ruins from the days of the Roman Empire.

The Constanta Shipyard

The Casino is now out of use, but it is still iconic of Constanta.

Me and Flori

Those giant cement jacks were placed all along the coast of the city to prevent erosion from the sea.

A statue of Mihai Eminescu, Romanian's most-famous poet.

We found an ice cream truck.

Here is Ovid, the Roman poet who was exiled here to  the Roman outpost of Tomis (now Constanta).

Today was the opening of Ovidius University for the academic year.  At 11:00 there was an assembly outdoors with the president of the university giving a speech I didn't understand in the slightest.  Then there was some sort of religious ceremony and blessing by clergy of the Romanian Orthodox Church (one of whom I think is a bishop).  It was really interesting to see, since I've never attended an Orthodox ceremony before, with the exception of the baptism I briefly observed yesterday.

There were a lot of students there..not all were paying attention.

I'll be teaching in this building.

I will not be teaching in this nicer building.

After the welcome ceremony I stopped by the English and German office and got the keys to open the office and the classroom in which I'll be teaching.  At 1:00 there was a meeting for all the new students studying English in one capacity or another.

Afterwards I returned to my apartment for a short while.  Then Mihaela stopped by and took me to the bank to open an account.  It was really fortuitous that I had Mihaela to translate for me, because it would have been nigh impossible for me to open the account without a translator.

I Get Acquainted with Town

Today was the first morning I woke up in Constanta.  Mihaela brought me to the piata, the market, to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local vendors, some of whom grow the produce themselves.

At the piata

At the piata I bought some local honey, some beans, an onion, and some garlic.

Honey

The beans, onion, and garlic I bought at the piata.

After going to the piata, Mihaela took me to a supermarket, where I bought all the necessities, most importantly, shampoo!  My most intriguing purchase: yogurt made from sheep and cow milk.

Next, we went to the university where I will be teaching.  I met many professors in the English department, saw the classrooms where my classes will be held, and got a tour of the American Corner library and study center.  I found out that I will only be teaching on Wednesdays and Thursdays, which means I can spend my 5-day weekends travelling if I want.

On the way back to the apartment, Mihaela showed me a street where there are a lot of small shops in one area.  There are produce stands, a pastry shop, some mini-marts, a butcher shop, a dairy where you can get fresh milk bottled for you from a barrel.  There's also a bank, a cell phone store, and a clothing store.

Then I returned to my apartment.  I haven't showed you pictures yet, so here's what the outside of the building and the hallway look like.  I figured I should make you love the inside before you saw the grizzled exterior.

The main entrance to my building.  It photographs well; the camera is generous.

My apartment is the one on the second floor

From the hallway, looking at the entrance

Looking up the stairs.  My apartment is the door in the right hand corner.

In the early evening, I took my first walk on the beach.

Looking up at my apartment building

The beach is a bit shell-covered

The first sea glass I've found that's actually from the sea.

Constanta

This was a neighboring train I passed by

From the moment my calf touched the ground in Constanta, I knew this would be a memorable trip.  That's right; my calf landed in Constanta first, as I tumbled down the train steps, dragged by two giant suitcases.  Luckily for me, my third and most heavy suitcase was being toted by the passenger behind me, who now undoubtedly thinks all Americans are crazy.  Throngs of people rushed to help up this poor American girl who couldn't carry her luggage.  My bags and myself were propped back up, and I awkwardly tried to corral all my bags towards the formidable steps down from the platform with as much dignity as possible, all the while wondering how on Earth I'd make it down these stairs and wishing for a single, functional WMATA escalator.  But God had my back and just knew my self-image couldn't survive a trip sliding down a double-height flight of stairs; a young lady about my age offered, in English, to help with a suitcase.  And then she managed to recruit a second woman so they could team carry my 70 lb suitcase.  It was a life-saver!

Constanta is a port city, so it was unsurprising to find a ship outside the train station

My landlady, Mihaela, met me outside the train station with her car and brought me to my apartment.  By car you can only access the apartment by driving down a complex system of one-way streets, but you need only walk up a flight of stairs and down a block to get to one of the main boulevards  It is cleverly disguised in an ugly, chipping cement building, but once you cross the threshold, it's like a magical new land.  

Well above the call of duty, Mihaela had waiting for me at the apartment:

The bowl of local fruit

• Fresh flowers in a vase
• A bowl of fresh, locally grown apples, grapes, and plums
• Homemade wild black currant jelly
• A fresh bar of soap (I really needed a shower and had none)
• New dishes
• A new towel
• A new blanket for the bed

I really love the place; it's just perfect.

Kitchen

Kitchen

My bedroom

My living room

Dining room

The view from my balcony of the Black Sea

 After showing me around, Mihaela left to let me freshen up and then returned and took my to her apartment for a four-course meal.

1. Bread, Romanian sheep milk cheese, Romanian salami, tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, all sprinkled with a Romanian herb similar in taste to Oregano
2. Tomato, celery, and carrot pureed soup
3. Pork chops, mashed potatoes, and spinach
4. Homemade fig and walnut preserves

Romanian Wine I enjoyed with Mihaela

She then informs me that she wants to make sure I get settled without any kinks and that she will take me to any place I need to go tomorrow, as well as throughout the upcoming week.  We plan a trip to the piata (open air market) and then to the university where I will be teaching.  Now--after making plans to go to the market after breakfast, knowing full well I have a giant bowl of fruit to myself at my apartment---Mihaela then loads up a bag of food for me:

1. Local eggs from traditionally-fed hens
2. Tomatoes
3. Cucumbers
4. A pepper
5. The remainder of the loaf of bread from dinner
6. A huge block of the feta-like Romanian sheep cheese
7. A dried bouquet of the Romanian herb
8. A jar of fig and walnut preserves (Did I mention before that the figs are also locally grown from a particular old lady who only sells them at the piata every three or four days?)

I left stuffed and with a bag full of food that will last me a few days.  Now I just have to put away the +150 pounds of luggage I brought that is covering my bed.

Here's the proof: Champagne-flavored filling

In closing (another list), things I saw (some expected, others not):

Rumbling across the Danube

A glimpse of the Danube

• An Obama bumper sticker
• A croissant with champagne-flavored filling
• Horse-drawn wagons (twice)
• Lots of corm fields
• A few vineyards (or one really big one) 
• A road sign pointing out the way to Istanbul
• The Black Sea

• The Danube
• A car driving the wrong way on a one-way street
• A mosque, temple, Catholic church, and Orthodox church all within 5 minutes

Romania!

I'm here! I'm here! I'm finally here!

I had to say goodbye to my parents and sister yesterday.  It was sad, but also a happy farewell.  I'll be home for Christmas, so the time I'm away from home will be nothing new; I was always away from home this often between the start of college at the end of August and Thanksgiving.

At the airport in Boston.

Kim and I at the airport.

I left the US at 10pm (Eastern) and arrived in Constanta at approximately 5pm (Romania time)  That makes for a journey lasting about 12 hours.  It's not too bad, but I have been awake now for about 29 hours now, so I'm getting pretty drowsy.

My hotel room.

 I'm sitting in my hotel room right now.  It's not luxury, but it's nice, albeit slightly eclectic (I'm not sure how the "Down By the Seashore" plaque with sand dollars on it matches the rest of the decor.)

Yes, that is a built-in ash tray on the top of the toilet paper dispenser.

I was able to make my way to a bustling street where I found a bancomat (ATM) and a cell phone store where I was able to buy a SIM card.  My phone works limitedly for now.  I'm still working out the the kinks and I'm not sure I'll end up sticking with this provider once my credit is up, but I have a way to call people, yay!

Tomorrow's plan is to go to the train station to catch a 9:15 train to Constanta.  However, the driver the Fulbright Commission sent to pick me up left in a bit of a hurry so I'm not sure he knows when to pick me up in the morning.  He did sort of shout something as he left, but between his non-existent English skills and my REALLY weak Romanian, all I got out of it was a "Good evening" at the very tail end.  We shall see.

I'm beat, so I'm going to sleep soon.  I'll tell you more tomorrow!

A Thank You and Looking Forward

First, let me thank everyone who came to my going away party yesterday.  It was great to see so many friends and family before I left.  For those who couldn't go, I missed seeing you and wish you could have been there, but that's life; we'll see each other again sometime!.  

Today I had to say good-bye to Nate until Christmas; it was soooooo sad, but at least we are well-practiced in the use of Skype!  He was kind enough to actually pose for a picture with me, so here's the framed photo I will be bring to Romania, without a doubt, even if--for lack of luggage space--I have to tuck it into my waistband like an enormous belt buckle.  I also FINALLY got Nate the watch I've been promising him for a year and a half.  I may have been a little late in the delivery, but I DID come through in the end!  Merry Christmas 2009, Nate!

Also courtesy of Nate, I now have a travel buddy, Testudo, the University of Maryland mascot.  I have considered renaming my particular terrapin, but no suitable name has come to me yet.  And don't worry, when I do any hardcore travelling, I will make sure to acquire another travel buddy who is actually a living person and can watch my back in the way that an adorable stuffed animal cannot.

And now a look towards the future!  I will be leaving for Romania in just 9 days!  So far panic has not set in; maybe it will stay that way?  I can only hope to stay excited for this adventure and un-stressed.

I know people have special requests of me and my travels to Romania, so if you would like a postcard, comment on this post.  If I don't have your mailing address already...well either post it and then I'll delete after I get it or find some other sneaky way of sending it to me!

I have an Apartment!

Today I signed a contract for an apartment and did a wire transfer of my first payments for it and emailed copies of both to my real estate agent.  So now I officially have a place to live when I arrive in Constanta.  I'll be able to move in on the 29th when I get to the city.  It's really reassuring to know where I'll be.  It's right on the beach and looks really nice!  I'm really pleased with it so far.  Of course, I haven't seen it in person yet, but hopefully it can't be that far off, right?

Today I also sent out a box of DVDs, books, and games I'll be using to teach my classes.  One of the books I ordered online didn't arrive yet, but I decided it wasn't worth it to delay sending all the other materials and risk them not getting to my university in time for the start of classes.  When the last book arrives, I'll just stick it in my suitcase.

This Saturday is my going away party.  I'm excited to see so many of my friends and family, but also sad, because I know I won't see some of them until Christmas and others until June.  My sister and i went to the dollar store last night and got a bunch of blue, yellow, and red decorations, so everything is in the colors of the Romanian flag.

My departure is sneaking up on me, but I haven't started panicking yet.  My Romanian needs a lot of improvement, but I'm pretty confident that I won't get terribly lost and confused, so I'll survive!


Here are a few images of my apartment:

Less than a Month to Go!

With less than a month to go before I head off to Romania, I'm getting excited!  I'm still in the process of finding an apartment, but I've made some contact with a real estate agent.  He's terrible at returning emails, but my friend Cristina was awesome enough to call him up and talk to him for me since 1) My Romanian is too basic to make any sense and 2) The 7-hour time difference makes calling at a reasonable business hour REALLY hard (especially since I'm NOT a morning person).  I also got the itinerary for my orientation in Bucharest at the end of my first week.  Among other things, I'll be going on a day trip to Peles Castle, which I think will be pretty cool, having never seen a castle before here in this bastion of democracy.

This coming Sunday some of my Romanian friends are going to cook some traditional Romanian food for me.  There are promises of sarmale (stuffed cabbage leaves) and mamaliga (similar to polenta).  Yum!

I'm still brainstorming topics to teach my students, so if you have any suggestions of American topics I can share and discuss with my students or any icon American reaings to assign them, let me know your thoughts!