HOME BASE


I am now in Bucharest at the Peace Corps office which in my opinion looks like a mansion. It's gorgeous. We had to stop outside of the gate and flash our identification cards and I felt for a split second like a really important person. Run-on sentences....So, Bucharest is one big mess of blocs. Blocs everywhere the eye can see. But, Valcea although it has it's share of blocs, is different. It surrounded by green hills and in the distance you can see the Carpathians. The coolest part about the city lies in between all of the blocs. There still exist some old Romanian houses. Some have been restored, some are crumbling into ruin. Ivy climbs over every wall and there are tiny gardens tucked into every open space.

Surrounding Valcea are small spa "towns" ( more like villages). I visited this place called Olanesti which is a twenty minute bus ride up the hill. There are more than 50 natural springs there. People go from spring to spring with tiny bottles, drinking water directly from the source. Supposedly the water there will cure anything. I tried some thinking maybe it will cure my cold ( i am full of snot) but it tasted awfull ( like sulfur). It was an enjoyable afternoon.
The only negative so far in Valcea has been my apartment. I have already complained to most of you. So I will make this short. It was not ready upon my arrival. The sink, and shower are broken and the toilet has neither a seat nor flushing pressure. The place smells like dust and grandma and is stuffed full of the landlords things. I think what freaked me out most was this old doll that was sitting upon my bed. It has these creepy plastic eyes and stray hair. Very scary, I assure you. The floors in the bathroom and kitchen are concrete....But enough complaining. I think that I can fix everything up nice. I already talked to the landlord. She is this really sweet old lady. She promised me that everything would be fixed before the 16th when I am oficially moving in.

And now for the exciting news...I get to go to a workshop for teaching Drama in Constanta with my counterpart. Vanda, my counterpart is planning the conference and she has invited me to help out. I am excited because this year I can teach some theatre courses at school and go to some theatre festivals around the country!!! So I need ideas everyone!!!! I have to remember all of the stuff that we did in High school ( SARA). Vanda is great. Dynamic is the word for her. She has so much energy and she will push me to get things done. I already want to plan a haunted house at school for Halloween. There is so much potential.
Alright everyone is hungry and waiting on me! I am going to eat Chinese food!! Yeah! These are the pleasures of Bucharest. Tell you more later...I will post my address as soon as I get it.----nina

FOUND PEANUT BUTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was the discovery of the century! Ramnicu Valcea has peanut butter and tabasco sauce. I thought i was going to die. Lately, all of us Trainee's have been dicussing food more and more. In fact every conversation turns somehow into a discussion about food! What we miss, what we crave. It doesn't matter if we discuss Romanian or American food, we just talk food. So of ocurse...........I ran out of time sorry