Back From Romania (again)

Yes, we have been rather quiet of late. We left Pecs on April 1 to go to Debrecen where we visited with our friends, Bernie and Margaret, and attended the monthly Fulbright meeting. From there, we were picked up by a guide to take us to the extreme northern parts of Romania for a week of getting to understand and appreciate the culture of this country. Our trip was a wonderful experience where we learned so much about the history and unique events of this part of the world. I don't think I could say that we had fun - but I can say that there are so many images that will stay with me for a long, long time. Here in 2009, in a country that has been admitted to the EU, farmers still transport manure to be used for fertilizer in horse drawn carts. ALL older Romanian peasant women dress alike and ALL of the older men wear hats that appear to be a few sizes too small. The traditional folk hat is called a clop. The women wear black skirts and black head kerchiefs. Carol decided that she didn't want to grow old in Romania.



We saw fortified churches where the exterior frescoes, painted 500 years ago, are clearly visible today - even though the paint is only 2 mm thick.


I'll save the narrative for the slide show that we will bore all of you with when we return, but I must relate one very odd occurrence.

We chose to stay in a small village named Iza near the town of Sighet. The accommodation was at a private home that has a few rooms in a separate wing that are rented out. Internet access was iffy at best and the Championship game of the Final Four was being played on Monday night in the US (Tuesday morning at 4 AM in Romania). I was excited about UNC playing Michigan State for the title and our hosts assured me that I could use their computer to watch the game. That morning we went to the market at this small town and I was shocked to see this:



A guy with a UNC ball cap. I had my picture taken with him and viewed this as a very good omen for UNC. The guy had no idea what I was talking about, what UNC was, or why I wanted a picture of him but he did not object.

At dinner, I reminded our hosts that I would be tip-toeing up to the computer room to see the game a 4 AM. They assured me that it was no problem - just walk on through their eighteen year old daughter's bedroom - she would be asleep. If it had been anything other than the Final Four with UNC playing, I wouldn't have bothered to get up at 4 AM in a strange country and creep through a young woman's bedroom to use a computer. Of course, the video feed did not work so I sat for two hours in front of a box score that gave a written play by play updated every 30 seconds.

We won handily and it was all worthwhile. Thanks for reading.