Thanksgiving Msg: Many Firsts - 50th Birthday, too!

Yes, it is unbelievable! A wise guy, George Glover, said many years ago that we wanted to get me over here before my 50th! Well, we accomplished it, George! At least, the Lord did! PTL! The 25th is the big day and we made it by 8 weeks! Just squeaked in to make it!

So, what’s happening??? I have experienced many “firsts” since I wrote last. Got my first sickness over here – was laid low for a while with a sinus infection. Had to visit the doc and get some antibiotics. No prescription is even needed for them in the pharmacies! Different! Am feeling much better and have my energy back. Had my first visit from the States of Mike Webb and his daughter, Rachel – it was great to see them, to catch up on things and to have them here for awhile. Of course, he brought some goodies with him. Thanks, Mike! Received my first package in the mail – a lovely gift of some long underwear – and the postal service wanted to know if it was for personal use. Hello! I even had to write them a letter stating that – “this underwear is for personal use”!! What else do you do with it?? Go figure!! Made my first batch of American cornbread and my first Romanian prajitura (cake). Don’t worry, folks – it has no lapte (milk) or faina (wheat)! The recipe is in Romanian (language, language, language!) and I’ll have to share it with you sometime! First vocabulary words to master always need to be foods! Remember that! May even make my first turkey over here to celebrate an American Thanksgiving. We will see!

Progress is being made with the language. PTL! I am so thankful to have a private tutor. Alina is terrific and she even understands me when I string all those words together! So, I understand more each day and it is coming along and for that I am eternally grateful. There’s a long way to go, but at least I sense progress. Regarding ministry in the hospital, I have no plans of doing anything there until after the New Year. I want to have a solid 3 months of language under my belt before starting anything and hope to continue the tutoring even after that. I heard from World Vision that the equipment will be arriving in Romania on December 17th, so that’s just perfect and will be real Christmas gift!

So, Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Thanks for all your love and prayers.

Language, language, language!

Here I am – it has been a month since I came here. What am I doing? Language, language, language. I have private lessons for 1 ½ hours four times a week and conversation for 2 hours 5 days a week and the rest of the time I spend studying, reviewing the words and going on new adventures every day which means I just go out the door. As you may imagine in another country EVERYTHING can be used for language and culture learning and EVERYTHING becomes an adventure - like going into a pastry shop and ordering something on my own (“Yes, pastries are very important for language!”), asking for the bathroom in the university library (“Hey??!! How come I don’t understand your answer!!”), trying to exchange some money into dollars (“You won’t let me have dollars?? Hey, I’m American, those are MY dollars!”), or buying a Walkman on my own (I got my point across!) or buying a placinta (Romanian filled doughnut) at the same place everyday (OK!, maybe not everyday!) so that they get used to me (“O placinta, va rog, cu varza. 8000 Lei? Da! Multzumesc!”). Yes, eating the different foods is very important for language development! Then, explaining my adventures afterwards in conversation. Well, there you have it….where life imitates art or is it the other way around?

My tutor complimented me on the number of new words I invent every day trying to remember the real ones! One needs to keep the tongue wagging!!! I also received two (yes, two!) other wonderful compliments since being here. Two people, on separate occasions, actually walked up to me (Yes, me!) and asked ME for directions!! They must think I am a Romanian! What do you think of that?? I was thrilled and you can be impressed!

It got cold this week. 20’s during the night and 30’s during the day. I don’t know if that says anything about what the winter will be like. We will see! Layers, girl, layers! Got a down jacket to help things out!

Mike Webb will be here this week for 2 weeks. It will be fun to have him here. He made this journey with his wife and 4 kids 10 years ago and things were VERY different back then which I can’t even imagine. I don’t think they had e-mail. Perish the thought!

The rooster? Still at it every morning!! “Koo-kur-ee-goo” is his way of saying “Bu-na Dim-ne-ah-tza” or “Good morning!”

Thanks for all your love and prayers.