Pictures from when my dear friend Andrea came to visit with her 6-month old Stephan. Stephan was born shortly after I left last year, so it is such a joy to meet him!

(Above: Andrea and Stephan, Left: Janelle, Andrea, Stephan & me)

preparing for viata

My work these first few weeks has revolved around preparing for Viata, the summer program. Training starts in a week! This has included organizing the gear room, washing sleeping bags in my bathtub, sorting through lots of equipment, editing translations for an English version of our journal, writing e-mails to State-side and European challenge course inspection agencies, hoping to find a good price on an inspection for our course (and someone willing to come to Romania), and lots of other little things. It has been nice to jump right into things with the Foundation and feel immediately helpful.

All this prep work is important, but I am excited for the kids to come, and to be in the mountains with them and out of the office!

Last week a good friend and former roommate came to visit-Andrea. I got to meet her new 6-month old son, Stephan! It was so wonderful to see them! During the time I was living with Andrea she was pregnant with Stephan. I realized how tight of bounds I made with my Romanian friends here. They are all in little ways my hero. If I get pictures of her visit I will post them soon!

One week

Its been a week since I arrived in Romania.  Life in Lupeni is much the same as I remember it.  After the first few days of culture shock, I seemed to settle into the familiar rhythm of life here.  There is not much to do in the valley pre-Camp Viata.  Life is simple.  Its nice.     

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Thankfully,  I have a few other volunteers to experience life with- Jelena, a German volunteer and my apartment-mate and Daniel and Janelle, a North American couple living above us, who I know from last year.   Sadly, my three closest Romanian friends- Diane, Laura and Andrea- have all moved out of the valley since I was last here.  It makes me feel a little less connected to the people and the culture here.  Also, it will be different not living with any Romanians.  Last year, my apartment was a mixture of Romanians and Americans living together, and I think our experiences were richer for it.  

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But all that will change in a few weeks when Viata starts.  I am enjoying the pace of life in the valley for now.  

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In our apartment above the sink hangs this quote.  Being back in Romania, I think this rings truer for my life.  

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"You will never be completely at home again because part of your heart will always be elsewhere.  That is the price you pay for the richness of living and knowing people in more than one place."  - Miriam Adeny 

address

Mail is greatly appreciated, just remember I am not able to receive anything larger than a manila envelope 

Katie Van Gilder 

Fundatia Noi Orizonturi 

O.P. 1 C.P. 12 

Lupeni 335600 

Hunedoara, Romania