Romanian Chels

Monday, April 07, 2008

A little bit of Herghelia

Sunday, September 16, 2007

The End of Herghelia- Things learned

So I never would have thought that last September that once I got to the end of school that I would ever feel the way that I feel right now.....

The beginning was so, so hard for me. I had to leave my family, my house, my church, my friends, my city, my province, my country and jump on a plane to the unknown that was on the other side of the world that was waiting for me, but when it was time the excitement slowly disappeared and the unknown started to be frightening....

with everything being so different there it was hard for me to adjust to it all. The first week, first month and first 3 months were definitely the hardest parts for me. The culture, the way of eating, dressing, sleeping, working, talking and living were all so different than what I had been living. It was all really hard for me to accept in the beginning. I read a little about the handbook beforehand and I thought that I covered most of it. and you usually think that it's not going to be as bad as you think... but in my case it was worse and it was hard for me to accept everything. Going from not having things at home be strict at all to having things be very strict and super conservative was super hard. I actually hated it and I was wondering why on earth did I sign up for all of this?

But then I realized that God didn't bring me there for it to just be a piece of cake and for it to just be fun and games all the time. He brought me there to learn more about other cultures and people and to give me patience and to be able to succumb to the things there that I didn't really like at first and try to do it with a smile for HIM and to make me a stronger person. I wish that I would have known this all sooner and I wish that I would have gave it all to God right from the beginning but I didn't for a little while and that's when it was the hardest for me. But then I told God that since He brought me all the way here that He has to help me through it all, and He sure did. what I realized most about what I learned is that you really need God in everything. Before I had mom and Mel that would help me out in a lot of things so I never really felt alone. But going there I had never felt so alone. I really didn't think that I would be able to stay there for a year. But I cried out to God many times and He was beside me every time and once I knew that and felt it, I knew that I could make it through. And I grew a lot as a person and in God and I think that is one of the biggest reasons that God brought to Romania for 1 year. I'm so happy that after the rough times we can see it from a different angle and then understand why. If only we could see from the beginning all the amazing things that can happen after we go 100% and be open to new things and give it all to God right from the start. We are just people and sometimes we think that we don't need god but we do always need Him in every area in our lives.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

My Adventures Home From Romania

The Adventure starts here....

Aug.15 2007: Looking back almost 1 year ago I remember all the emotions I have but this day going back was even harder for me and my emotions were running high and I didn’t really know what to do about them and I don’t think that you can do much at all and it’s just something that you have to go through and with time it will pass. But is and was too hard to think that I will get through it bc at the time it was too hard to think about anything else but the fact that I might not see all my European friends again. And that was the hardest part for me bc a lot of them had become my family and leaving to go to Romania at least I knew that I would see my family and friends again, but leaving there it was doubtful. Ahh life is rough!

So that last night I slept maybe 2 hours. I had burned myself badly at the black sea so I was in a lot of pain.(that’s another story…) So it was frustrating that I couldn’t sleep bc I knew that I would really need it later, bc in the plane I was hoping to be able to sleep, but I knew that I probably wouldn’t be able to. So I was up at 5am and I was exhausted and not really ready to go but I had to be. Went to the airport and waited a bit and then I had to say goodbye to my good friend Alina who I was staying with in Bucharest (Thanks for everything Alina! Tu este foate, foate Tare!) and that was hard, really hard since she was the last person from Romania that I had to say bye to. But I did it and then it was on to Security…YAY!.......... NOT!!!

I flew to Heathrow and it took awhile to get my suitcase and then I was upstairs quickly. Quickly bc I needed to go to the Gatwick airport as soon as possible. When my mom had booked the flight the agency lady told her that I would be able to take the train to Gatwick and it wouldn’t take very long. So I wasn’t worried until I went up and talked to the information people and the guy told me that there isn’t a train from here directly to the airport but that I would have to take a bus to the center of London and then take it from there. But just getting to the center was 40 mins and it was already 11:10am and my flight left at 1:30pm. So in my mind and body everything started to freak out quite a bit. Then he told me that I have to take the bus from the airport and that would take between 1 hour and 1 hour and 30 mins depending on the trafic. (Stupid London and all the people that live there!) So that was my only choice bc taxi would be like $200 and would take about the same time. So I went bought my ticket and got on the bus and was off on the road driving on the left side, (even with it being the second time it was still weird.)

I was praying so so much and had to just keep saying to myself that God did not bring me this close to going home that he was going to let me miss my flight. I was literally having to talk to myself and just calm down. It so sucks when you are in a situation like that and you can’t do anything about it and you just have to remember to breathe and not freak out. But I was pretty much on the boarder line and it was just even more scary bc I was alone. So I was at the point sitting on the bus where I was almost asleep but staying awake bc I couldn’t relax.

Once we got there I jump off and ran with my luggage, which wasn’t light I might add! (75 pound big suitcase, which had wheels though, and a 25 pound backpack) I have never ran so fast (at least it was sort of running, the best I could with all of that! And it totally reminded me of movies when people have to run after their planes) This in when I really hated how big airports are and then I was running down the ramp and I can imagine that I must have looked so funny to the couple people that were still at the gate and they assumed and asked if I was going to Edmonton and I said YES!!! And they didn’t look happy at all bc they had to open up again, but I had told them my situation so I am sure that they felt a little sorry for me. So they radioed the plane and said that I was still coming and it was actually funny bc a girl came running down after me and was also on the same flight. So I didn’t feel as bad bc it wasn’t only just me… but still embarrassing…

So after the paper work was through a guy walked me ahead of most of the security line which was nice but I still had to wait some. But after I got through I just booked it! I ran so fast on those walkways that I would have to be really careful going from one to the other because I didn’t have the time or want to fall. I ran right until I got inside the plane and the lady asked me how I was and all that I could muster out was a tired noise between the heavy breathing. And she said well we are glad that you made it, enjoy your flight! I found my seat and sat down and just stared into space and was just breathing and also thanking God that I did get on the plane and that I was on my way home.

It was so funny bc I look beside me and there was that girl that was also late. We talked and I found out that she had run into time troubles like me and she thought that taxi would get her there the fastest so it took the same time as my bus but instead of paying $38 like I did her price was much steeper rate at $220!!! Crazy! I know! But at least it got her there in time…

So my whole flight was pretty good since there was only us 2 sharing the 3 seats, we both lounged a bit and shared that middle seat which was so great since we had 9 hours to enjoy! The time sure was not going by fast enough for me bc I was just too excited to go home and also I really couldn’t believe that I was going home, which made it really hard to sleep and I think I maybe only got 1 hour. It made me angry bc I was so exhausted but I just couldn’t relax.

Finally I landed in Edmonton and looking outside all seemed new to me instead of what I have seen many times before. I got all my things and headed to the big white doors and I was scared walking out of them but when I did I didn’t seen anyone which was a little hard for me… so then I sat down with my stuff and a couple minutes later I heard my Mom and Mel and her came running towards me and as soon as I saw them I just started crying and crying and they did too for a little bit. We were just so full of emotions that our words couldn’t come out but our tears started the conversation. Then got in the car and drove home and it was so nice seeing my home again and mom had made a welcome home sign for me and it made me feel special. And as I had said before that once I would go in the house I would kiss the floor and I really did, and it really wasn’t that gross! the floor was pretty clean thank goodnesss!

When I went to my room, opening the door felt like a dream to me. Seeing all my stuff again was strange bc that was my room but it was different. And seeing that I had a bed that didn’t have another bed on top of it and a toilet and sink all to myself I got pretty excited. Shared things with Mel and Mom that I got for them and then just sort of sat on my bed and looked around and took many deep breathes. I was still having a hard time with the idea that I was actually home but I knew that it wasn’t a dream anymore and it was all very real.

In the morning...

5:30am and driving to the airport

Getting on my plane to London

The best meal that I have ever had on a plane. The pasta was really, really yummy.

TRYING!... to sleep

Where's my family!?!

Yay! There they are!!!!!!!!!!

At Home...

Yeah....

It's weird to be home

But it's great and I'm happy!

Friday, August 24, 2007

I'm HOOOOOOOME!

I'm home and it's amazing but so weird!!!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Last day here!

I fly home tomorrow and I really can't believe it!!!! I am so so happy to go home but I am also sad bc I have to leave the people that I love here. I have so many mixed feelings... I really don't like how I am feeling! This world needs to be smaller. Romania is a little too far away from Canada I'd say. But this is what life is about; going places and then leaving them...

Holding onto Romania for a little while at the People's House.