Buna Seara!
2 1/2 days till I go home. Seriously, time has just flown by. These next few days will too since I have lots of things planned for both of them. Mostly just cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, packing, packing, packing, and more cleaning. Sounds like fun, not. But I do kind of enjoy this kind of things because it tells me I am getting to go on a trip. And this particular trip is leaving Romania and heading to Texas for Andrew's graduation. I still feel like I will be coming back to live in Romania after my trip to Texas but I'm not. Though I keep thinking I am. It will hit me after a few weeks of living back in the states.
But, I really wanted to focus on how much I have changed. Hopefully for the better. I look back at what it was like in Romania the first time I stepped of the plan. I was so terrified. Mario probably thought we were clueless when we first went to the grocery store. I was scared to look or ask for anything (Romanian or English). I even only went back and forth between the apartments if people were with me. The orphanage was probably the silliest part looking back. I remember the first day I met all of the kids. And by kids, I mean ALL of them since we spent time in every room. That was a very overwhelming experience. Then over the weekend we decided amongst ourselves who would be working in what room. I initially wanted Mickey Mouse 2 but two of the other girls both wanted Mickey Mouse rooms but didn't care which one. So I got my second choice Bambi 2. I was actually really sick my very first work day but the second day I went to my room. I was overwhelmed with the amount of children in the room. 7 boys and only 3 girls. I definitely had to adjust. At first I was really quiet, almost scared to talk to the children in any language. I would only do what the workers told me to do,so I didn't take innitive in anything. It was also almost like a honeymoon stage with the kids. They just seemed like little angels and I was only concerned with being kind and loving them. Then there was the hospital. I wouldn't go onto a floor alone. I wouldn't feel comfortable in a room by myself at all. Not to mention I thought 3 months would last forever....
But I have already seen how much I have changed. It took a little bit but I can definitely see it. For starters there are now 5 girls and 4 boys in my room (we just barely lost one of our girls). Also, I take a BIG innitive now. I was even brave enough to take them to la masa by myself when my worker was busy. I put them to bed, I clean up the toys, and get them ready every day for snack/lunch. I also sing to them, in Romanian and English. I am not afraid to talk as much anymore because they don't care what language just as long as you interact. Also, the "honeymoon" stage definitely ended. I could see myself becoming like the workers, frustrated at times. It was hard not to be but I could see myself wanting to. I could see the difference because the "new" workers they just harder were like me when I first started. At the hospital I went many, many times by myself up to the 5th floor. No big deal anymore to go by yourself. I go to the g market like it is no problem. I know my ropes for the most part around Iasi shopping areas. And now I have just 2 full days left here in Romania. I seriously thought this week would never come...
There are so many other ways I have felt I have grown. I have really strove to take initiative in everything I do now. If you had seen me before, I don't do that at "home, home". So I have really come along way here and hopefully I can continue to when I go back. Also, my patience has definitely grown. Even a little is a big thing for anyone. I mean, it has to if you work with 10 kids everyday:) I have grown even more in my independence, probably a bad thing. But after being married a year I saw myself change since before I was. Now I feel I am back to how I was before I was married. I try to not to rely so much on others like I do with Andrew. So hopefully I can keep that instead making someone do everything for me. There is so, so much I really feel I have grown. My views on life have for sure changed. I see motherhood in a whole new (better) light than I did before. I also see how much difference a person can make in their life. Even the people I have met here have made a profound influence on me.
Hopefully I have grown even more mature and really grown into myself as I have come here to Romania. I have had so many adventures and I hope there are many more to come in the future. Never stop dreaming and live life to the fullest.
Mare vis,
Dani
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