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