A Week in Review

Tuesday, I arrive at group. It is the last meeting for the main leader. The meeting goes well. We finish up the group. I find out I have to plan and execute next weeks meeting. This is a prayer request. Please pray that the Tuesday meeting will go well.

Wednesday, i walk out of my Romanian lesson and pass a garbage can. I have some trash to throw away so I stop and throw my trash in. At the same moment a man walks up and begins to dig through the trash can that is next to the one that I am using. It was a moment of questioning for me. Questions of how, why, and what came to mind. How did this man get to a place where he needs to dig through trash? Why do we live in a world where this is not addressed and fixed? What can I do as a single human to change the world? This wasn't the first time I have seen people dig through trash. But this is the first time that I was throwing something away that signified my wealth (I was throwing away water bottles and food that I had brought from America) standing next to a man who hoped to find something of wealth and use in the trash. This really struck me because I was so close to it and felt the barrier between us even though we both bleed red.

Thursday, my advisor and I went to another NGO which works with primary school children in a type of after school program. I played a game with them. One I have played many times in different settings in America "We're going on a Bear Hunt". It was so much fun to see there actions and them laughing and enjoying the activity. It shows the hope and future for Romania can be bright with organizations such as New Horizons Foundation and the other NGOs working with the children and young people. As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Oh, one more thing because I enjoyed my home stay so much I decided to extend it for another two weeks. This means I will be leaving there house on March 12.

Random Thoughts

This completes my 5th week in Romania! This thought is crazy to me because it means I have been away from Iowa for 6 weeks. It means that this coming Friday I will be moving out of my host families house and to an apartment. It means that I only have 9 more weeks of my practicum (internship).

The week before this one (the week I didn't write a blog) was by far the most frustrating week I have had here so far. It was the most frustrating because of my lack of language. I recognized that this is what was creating the frustration however and really prayed about it and came to a place where I knew I was still doing what God wanted in the capacity I could.

This past week was a huge improvement. I was not nearly as frustrated or upset. It was a good week.

I thought I would share a few random thoughts that have gone through my head since I have been here.

~ I wonder if I would look good in skinny jeans.

~ Oh the burn in my legs feels so good

~ The pace of life here is amazing

~ I can't believe I just fell down trying to get my chapstick

~ This view will never get sickening

~ Hmm...this is always what I thought liver would taste like

~ I need to shout out to Dave for telling me to purchase a pair of hiking boots with Gortex in them! I can't believe these are the only things I have worn for 5 weeks

~ Chocolate is so good!

A Run Down of a Typical Week

I missed last week...oops. So this weekend I'm writing two!

This one is going to be a run down of my week.

Monday

8:02 Wake up but only if we have staff meeting

9:15 Arrive at the office

9:17 Wake up if I don't have staff meeting

9:30 Staff Meeting

12:00 Romanian lessons

14:00 Either go home for a while (if we had staff meeting) or go the office (if we didn't)

19:00 Go to IMPACT 1 meeting

20:30 Start to head home

Tuesday

They vary but include at least one IMPACT meeting at School #2

Wednesday

9:17 Wake up

11:20 Leave the house

12:00 Romanian Lessons

19:00 Go to Impact 1 meeting

20:30 Head home

Thursday

8:02 Wake up

8:40 Leave for the office

9:15 Arrive at the office

Work through the day

17:00 Leave for home

Friday

9:17 Wake up

18:40 Go to class at Northwestern :) (I go to an online class)

20:10 Finish class

Saturday & Sunday

Vary greatly

There is a short run down of my week. Throw in some meals, sleep, walks, and work and you get a rough idea of how a week goes.

The same struggles here and there

I realized today that I missed my normal Saturday posting. Oh well at least I am getting something up...then again I don't know if anyone really reads this so what does it matter when I post.

This week was fairly uneventful besides that fact that I felt it just flew by. I honestly couldn't believe it was Thursday and the week was done already. At this point in my practicum I have joined two different IMPACT clubs. In these clubs there is a service-learning component and learning happens through games and stories. I have joined two groups one is with middle-school students and the other is high-school students. I really love each of the groups. They both give off such different vibes and are in different stages of being a group. I really am enjoying it.

On Friday I was able to spend the afternoon with two of the girls who are in the high school group. I was able to go over to one of the girls house and just spend the afternoon talking and hanging out. We talked over some pizza that girl made for us. It was such a blessing to spend that time with them. But this is where my title comes in also..."The same struggles here and there" At one point when we were getting ready to eat one of the girls said she would not eat very much because she had to lose weight. She was very unhappy with the size she was. This really just broke my heart because this girl is in no way over weight. She is so beautiful and loving. I would honestly love to put her in my pocket and take her home with me because she has such great energy and is so caring. She also has the best smile ever! Anyway, when I heard her say this it broke my heart because in no way should this 17-year-old be worrying about her weight. She should be just enjoying spending time with friends and being 17. But because of the society she is raised in there is a a perceived mold that everyone should fit in and she feels she doesn't so she wants to change. I guess it just broke my heart to see that this body image struggle is not confined to certain areas but it goes beyond borders. It really hurts me to see what an issue it is. It makes me wonder why this started and how to change it.

Sorry this was such a serious post. On a lighter note. Monday, I left the house to go to work. The road I walk down has a steep hill at the beginning. It had been icy on the road but I didn't fully understand how icy it was until I began to slide down the hill and was not able to stop. I slide for a good 10 feet. Luckily I didn't fall but I have to admit there was a bit of screaming and flapping of arms involved.