Well this week has been a very sociable one, hence the reason this email comes on a Monday, and not the usual Sunday... I just didn’t have time or the energy to write this yesterday...
There are many small events I could discuss this week, but due to a shortage of time this week, I must be less detailed than usual. My sister is due on Thursday, The charity chairperson is coming tomorrow, and I have agreed to do a presentation about my job and experiences as an Occupational Therapist in England & Romania, for a community mental health project I visited in Brasov...this hour long presentation is on Monday!!!!!! So much for a relaxing life here eh?
Monday - I went to a 28th Birthday party of Ana Maria. Ana is the sister of my interpreter's boyfriend, (hope that makes sense). It was a fun night with some interesting food, including fish, with onion and garlic... hmmm it was surprisingly ok!
Tuesday - I was again persuaded (actually that’s not quite a fair representation of the truth) I quite happily went out with Becky (my Hungarian neighbour, and good friend) and Karen (my co-volunteer) for the odd beverage and had fun discussing the rights and wrongs of life, love and relationships.... interestingly I had more differences of opinion with Karen, than with Becky on these subjects! (Then again, Karen is from Wigan!!! I'm just joking! I like Wigan, honestly!)Wednesday - after having a quick emailing session I returned home fairly late, and went around to the house of Becky's cousin, (Debora) who I have obviously also met, to say goodbye, as she was jetting off to work in Norway (hello Deborah, if you are getting this email). I continue to be amazed at the ability and bravery of the people here who just will go abroad in search of a better life... I could easily tell you of several people I have met here, who have done just this....
Thursday - lots of emailing!!!!
Friday - more socialising & drinking with our friend and interpreter, Lia (and boyfriend Giani)...
Saturday - (hope you are sitting down, this is a long one!) I went to Turges Mures because I was going out clubbing with Becky and her friends from Turges Mures. My usual hotel was full, so I ended up staying at the Hotel Transylvania (that's really what it was called!) I tell you, I think it was built around the same time as Dracula, by looking at the decor... all I need say about this hotel is that they were very proud to tell me they had one 'modernised room' (I'm not making this up), of course this room was extra money.... I settled for a standard single room, which was small, but comfortable, and overlooked the main square, for just 95 lei...20 pounds. The bathroom was the best bit, not only did it have an old fashioned 'pull up' toilet flush, there were lines of tape across the sink, toilet and shower basin on the floor... if the tape had been yellow I swear it would have convinced me that it was in place to protect a crime scene!!!! That's what it looked like to me! That evening me and Becky ended up at the national theatre where an international 'alternative' film and book festival was on. We were waiting for Becky's friend to finish work there. Whilst waiting we heard a pretty good sounding jazz band, and I sneaked in to watch a Hungarian made film (I think) with English sub titles... it was called 'opium' and ironically was about a doctor with an opium addiction, going to work in an 1800's psychiatric hospital... what an irony! We eventually left for the club about 0145.... and left the club at about 0445.... on way form the club we were all engulfed in the first real snow of winter here,.... it was fantastic!!! we eventually ended up at some guys work place, (which seemed so surreal as it was some sort of dog shelter.... my life gets weirder here by the day!).. I eventually returned to my hotel after 0630.. and was up less than 4 hours later!!!
Sunday - Me Karen & Helen were treated to a tour of a real working Romanian farm, owned by one of our colleagues from the hospital... and with the previous night's snow covering the land in the hills like a blanket, the views were incredible... our colleague has horses, and about 6 dogs!!!! who accompanied us on our walk in the hills. A neighbour of hers had also prepared food for us, gorgeous soup... and her husband made me plenty of pork to eat, which I need to warm up after our winter walk! Despite knowing this woman for over 3 months now, we discovered that she was actually a famous TV news and radio personality in the North of Holland!!!
I think I'll leave it there as I can't put off preparing for this presentation any longer! Anyway, hope everyone is well, and keep in touch!Regards from Romania
Dan
No comments:
Post a Comment