Today we had an amazing experience. I hate not being able to communicate. I can understand a few things that people are saying and I try to ask Mario and people in the branch how to say certain things because let’s be honest, you can only learn so much from a guidebook! Most of the time our immediate response is “I’m sorry I don’t speak Romanian”, that we didn’t even take the time to see if it was something we actually could understand. Today I decided I was going to take a chance and talk to someone.
First of all, I need to tell you we navigated our way to the orphanage and the hospital. My sister Sar would be pleased as punch to know that I have become the experienced navigator when it comes to maps. In my celestial binder (I prepared a binder before I came with labeled and color coordinated tabs complete with folders for different sections i.e. school, travel information, budget and finances, child development, language, about Romania, etc. containing anything and everything I will need for this trip. ) In my section of “About Romania”, I printed off a map of the city of Iasi and I had figured out beforehand where the hospital, apartment and church were thanks to trusty old Google maps. Today, we wanted to figure out where the orphanage and hospital were. Well – good thing I had my trusty map. We navigated our way successfully both places.
Back to my story about talking to someone in Romanian – we were on our way back from the hospital and we decided to walk through this garden/park. I saw an elderly woman resituating her bags on a park bench. I approached her and asked her if she could help me by taking a picture of us (all in Romanian of course), she smiled and took the picture for us. Then, she asked where we were from. Megan, Dani, Liz and I started talking to this woman in our broken Romanian and her in very limited English. It was amazing! We were able to talk to her for about half an hour. I also had my dictionary that I carry with me when I walk to study out of and she would use that and point to words that we didn’t’ understand so that we could carry on a cohesive conversation. We learned all about her - where she is from, about her children and that she is a proud “grandmere” as she would say! She has traveled all over the world and many other things. She was so incredibly kind and patient with us and so sweet. She told us all that we were beautiful and it was such a pleasure to meet us. Finally towards the end of our conversation – I asked her if we could take a picture with her in it. Here comes my favorite part. She reached in her purse and was searching a good two minutes for something. Finally she pulled out her comb and lipstick so that she would look good for the picture! After the picture she told us goodbye and blew us all kisses. She also gave us her name and number and told us to call her if we ever need help with anything or need her as a translator (although we probably should have had a translator to talk to her!) So today- we made a friend! Her name is Valeria Florin – she is a gem. I will never forget her.
Here are lots of pictures from today!
We found a bridge and a large stream running through the city.
This broke my heart to see this man doing his laundry in the stream where the water was completely brown, littered with soda bottles and beer cans and rats swimming. I will never complain about doing laundry again.
Sorry this picture didn't turn out so great. This was the stream and the bridge.
It is so beautiful and green here!
The view from above. This is the underground market where we get fresh fruits and vegetables - a beautiful thing.
This is to show you a typical backyard in Iasi.
My favorite thing about this place. I hope to be just like this someday with a scarf wrapped around my head and carrying my loaf of fresh bread home from the market.
The best for last - this is my new friend Valeria Florin. You will notice she has combed her hair and put on fresh lipstick! If you ever need to adopt a grandmother - I know just who to recommend!
yeah for maps!
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