Settling In

      Well I made it!  I just keep saying over and over that I can't believe I'm actually finally here!  My flights went as smoothly as possible and I didn't get lost! The 1st flight was 8 hours and I had the very back window seat & sat next to a girl my age who was going on a trip to Greece.  I watch the Social Network, which was lame and boring, and some other guy action movie, which I finally fell asleep in.  I probably got about 2 hours of sleep on the trip so the next evening was a little rough.  At the Munich airport I found my gate really easily which was awesome because I though I was going to be completely lost.  Thank goodness there are signs everywhere in English.  I had a 2 hour layover and then got on my Lufthansa plane. The 2nd flight was only an hour & a half so I just stared out the window and took a little nap.  

Sunset at the Dulles Airport

Probably the Carpathian Mountains in Romania

      I got to the Bucharest airport at about 1pm & the Graef's, Joanna, and Kristie were waiting for me!  I felt like I already knew them because of Skype and emailing.  We waited at the airport for a while for Kristie's brother Caleb because he came to visit for a week.  We loaded up Hillary the van and headed to a large mall where I had my 1st meal in Romania--Pizza Hut! I guess that mall is kind of farther away from us but we will definitely have to go back there because they have a giant Ikea store.  Then we dropped off my bags at my apartment and went to the Graef's townhouse.  We hung out at the Graef's and we played card games trying to keep me awake.  Then we decided to go to Mr. Bricolage, which is kind of like a fancy Lowe's, to get lightbulbs to pass the time until dinner.  I rode on the tram for the 1st time!  That evening we had Florine and Martha over for dinner. They are 25 and an adorable engaged couple.  They were so nice  & I can't wait to get to know them better!  Then we finally caught a taxi and went back to my apartment around 11 when I could barely function anymore.  I crashed about midnight but then woke up at about 4am and couldn't fall back asleep, so I got on Skype and got to see my parents and Hadley!  I went back to sleep around 6am and slept until about 10am.  

Waiting for my 1st Tram with the Graef's minus Gela

1st Taxi Ride with my Roomies

      The next day we got ready and met at the Graef's house and then went to get my public transportation pass.  It's about $25 for a months unlimited use of the buses, trams, & metro!  We then went to eat lunch at Dristor Kebap, which is kind of like a fast food restaurant.  My first Romanian food was a chicken shoarma, which is like a chicken wrap with some sauces, and it was amazing! Then we walked to the People's Palace where we got a tour.  It's so huge and ornate inside!  Me, Joanna & Jess were picturing our weddings and balls like in Pride and Prejudice in the ginormous rooms with wide staircases.  In every room the flooring, carpets, curtains, chandeliers, and carvings on the walls and ceiling match.  They wouldn't let me take pictures inside without paying a tax, but you should google it! It was built in the 80's for the communist leader Ceausescu and it's was talked about being torn down after the revolution in 1989 because it serves as a reminder of the oppression.  Also, Donald Trump offered to buy it to make it into the world's largest casino!

shoarma and fries from Dristor Kebap

After the tour at the People's Palace

      Then we went to Real, which is a store kind of like Walmart, but of course not as legit.  We got my phone set up & I got a prepaid plan from Orange cellphone company for about $7 a month! Us girls went home afterwards and I got to Skype with my parents and a couple friends, but then I took some benadryl and slept until 2pm today. But hopefully the jet lag will be over after another good night's sleep tonight!


      Today I just hung out at the Graef's house.  We ate dinner and watched Pride and Prejudice and Tom loved it...not haha. Around 6:30 people began arriving for Bible study.  There were about 10 Romanian people all in their 20's, and of course the Graef's and Joanna.  It was great studying the calling of Levi and meeting more Romanians who I know will soon be my friends!  Afterwards we watched the movie Red and then me & Joanna caught a taxi home.  


      Well I'm going to get some sleep because we're getting up early to go to the orphanage tomorrow!  Then we're going to see the new Narnia movie at the theater.  Pictures are posted on Facebook!  It's really not that many compared to how many I usually might take, but I figure I have the next 8 months to take thousands more! :]