Moving on...
So much time has passed since my last blog entry. While the past year has held its ups and downs, it was still an incredible year. I left Romania on August 4th to return home to the States before heading off to live a new life in Tirana, Albania. Neither poetry nor prose can summarize what it was like to leave Romania, except only to say that it was not a goodbye. The friendships and memories that were created are only excerpts of a grand journey that has yet to continue. The story has not ended, my dearest, dearest friends and family...
To Brian and Anca: What in the world would I have done without you two? You are amazing individuals and I am blessed to count you in my life as not just friends, but as family. Anca, you kept me sane when I couldn't tell which way was up. Brian, thanks for being an awesome officemate and roadtrip partner ("We need to do some...research in the countryside...yes, research..."). Lord knows I wouldn't have survived the Romanian winter without your baked ziti and ciorbas...mmm. :-) I know our adventures together will continue for quite a long time!
To the Sibiu Team: You guys are one kick-ass team. I couldn't have asked for a better crew to work with this past year. You guys are my family and you are always welcome to stay with me, wherever I am. Mr. Rusu, your wisdom and tenacity is unmatched by any. Thank you for always keeping me on my toes and sharpening my debate skills! Bogdan, thank you for never getting entirely angry at me for bringing you thousands, upon thousands of receipts for reimbursement. I know I drove you crazy! Keep up those bowling skills and congratulations on your future family! Diana, you are an absolute dear! Your smile and energy made it such a pleasure to come to work each day. It was an absolute delight working with you and please stay in touch! And dearest Cristi -- it was an incredible year, my friend, and you have done an absolute awesome job as office manager of our team. From five-hour meetings with tuica for the Cheese and Brandy Festival, to bowling in Bucharest, to your stories from serving in the military (they trusted you with explosives?!?), I couldn't have asked for a better counterpart. Best of luck and love to you and your beautiful family.
To my adoptive PCV family: You guys are killer! Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times over for allowing me to pretend I was one of you. You made me feel included and part of the family without a moment's hesitation, and my time in Romania would not have been nearly as worthwhile if I didn't have you there to set me straight. Jeff, how boring my life would be without that trip to Vurpar and the countless poker nights! I may be poorer in lei, but richer in the knowledge of how to lose it! :-) Nancy and Ernie, I wish we had more time together, but I am grateful for what we had. Time well spent! Dave our professional and patient photographer, and kind Simona, best of luck in your new life together. I had such fun with everyone and am grateful for everything you have done for me. I can only hope that I was able to give a little back, too.
To Gabi and Eliza: You guys made our work EASY. Wait, was it even work? The ASTRA team was indispensible and it was always such a joy to just drop by for coffee and a cigarette (even though I stopped smoking.) :-) Eliza, you bring such joy into everything that you do, and into every moment that you live -- never lose that joy. When I'm down and out, I always think of your silly giggle and remember that's what's important about life. We will NOT lose touch, my dear. :-) Gabi, our man of resources. Thank you for always being willing to listen to new ideas and to get excited about them with me. I will always be grateful to you for protecting Simona and I from the wild dogs while we slept under a waterlogged tarp in the abandoned village... At least we never got completely lost! Please also give my thanks and appreciation to Mr. Bucur -- he never failed to greet me with a smile. I promise my French will improve by the next time we meet, Monsieur Bucur...
To our awesome interns: You guys need to know that CHF Sibiu would NOT have survived without you! You gave life and energy to our office and I sincerely enjoyed working with you. You will all go very far and I will be happy to serve as a reference for any of you should you need one (and need one in English!).
To Alan: To the most awesomest boss ever. Period. You did a great job. Thank you for my weekly "check-up" phone call to make sure everything was alright. It's nice to feel loved. :-) And "flapjacks" are pancakes, my friend...
To Carmen: To the woman who knew it all. I will miss seeing you, Carmen! But I know we'll meet up again soon, so I do not worry. Perhaps in Turkey, my fellow turkey-o-phile... :-)
To my lovely, lovely, Angela: As I said before, the creativity that exists in the English language is limited when it comes to expressing what this past year meant to me. And with no one is that truer than yourself, my dear. Despite your untimely departures at crucial points in the year (hey, you couldn't help it!), you were there for me from the beginning, my gal pal from the start. From Sex and the City to "sex up against the wall" (Mom, it's not what you think, I swear!), there are thousand memories I could gladly live over and over again. We were meant to be friends, chica, and I know that great things await you in this life. I can't wait for our next series of adventures together!
And to all else, the city of Sibiu, the various artisans and craftsmen, other colleagues and friends and those damn fortified churches, thank you and adieu for now. Thank you for being a part of my life. What memories. What challenges. What a year. What a life.
To Brian and Anca: What in the world would I have done without you two? You are amazing individuals and I am blessed to count you in my life as not just friends, but as family. Anca, you kept me sane when I couldn't tell which way was up. Brian, thanks for being an awesome officemate and roadtrip partner ("We need to do some...research in the countryside...yes, research..."). Lord knows I wouldn't have survived the Romanian winter without your baked ziti and ciorbas...mmm. :-) I know our adventures together will continue for quite a long time!
To the Sibiu Team: You guys are one kick-ass team. I couldn't have asked for a better crew to work with this past year. You guys are my family and you are always welcome to stay with me, wherever I am. Mr. Rusu, your wisdom and tenacity is unmatched by any. Thank you for always keeping me on my toes and sharpening my debate skills! Bogdan, thank you for never getting entirely angry at me for bringing you thousands, upon thousands of receipts for reimbursement. I know I drove you crazy! Keep up those bowling skills and congratulations on your future family! Diana, you are an absolute dear! Your smile and energy made it such a pleasure to come to work each day. It was an absolute delight working with you and please stay in touch! And dearest Cristi -- it was an incredible year, my friend, and you have done an absolute awesome job as office manager of our team. From five-hour meetings with tuica for the Cheese and Brandy Festival, to bowling in Bucharest, to your stories from serving in the military (they trusted you with explosives?!?), I couldn't have asked for a better counterpart. Best of luck and love to you and your beautiful family.
To my adoptive PCV family: You guys are killer! Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times over for allowing me to pretend I was one of you. You made me feel included and part of the family without a moment's hesitation, and my time in Romania would not have been nearly as worthwhile if I didn't have you there to set me straight. Jeff, how boring my life would be without that trip to Vurpar and the countless poker nights! I may be poorer in lei, but richer in the knowledge of how to lose it! :-) Nancy and Ernie, I wish we had more time together, but I am grateful for what we had. Time well spent! Dave our professional and patient photographer, and kind Simona, best of luck in your new life together. I had such fun with everyone and am grateful for everything you have done for me. I can only hope that I was able to give a little back, too.
To Gabi and Eliza: You guys made our work EASY. Wait, was it even work? The ASTRA team was indispensible and it was always such a joy to just drop by for coffee and a cigarette (even though I stopped smoking.) :-) Eliza, you bring such joy into everything that you do, and into every moment that you live -- never lose that joy. When I'm down and out, I always think of your silly giggle and remember that's what's important about life. We will NOT lose touch, my dear. :-) Gabi, our man of resources. Thank you for always being willing to listen to new ideas and to get excited about them with me. I will always be grateful to you for protecting Simona and I from the wild dogs while we slept under a waterlogged tarp in the abandoned village... At least we never got completely lost! Please also give my thanks and appreciation to Mr. Bucur -- he never failed to greet me with a smile. I promise my French will improve by the next time we meet, Monsieur Bucur...
To our awesome interns: You guys need to know that CHF Sibiu would NOT have survived without you! You gave life and energy to our office and I sincerely enjoyed working with you. You will all go very far and I will be happy to serve as a reference for any of you should you need one (and need one in English!).
To Alan: To the most awesomest boss ever. Period. You did a great job. Thank you for my weekly "check-up" phone call to make sure everything was alright. It's nice to feel loved. :-) And "flapjacks" are pancakes, my friend...
To Carmen: To the woman who knew it all. I will miss seeing you, Carmen! But I know we'll meet up again soon, so I do not worry. Perhaps in Turkey, my fellow turkey-o-phile... :-)
To my lovely, lovely, Angela: As I said before, the creativity that exists in the English language is limited when it comes to expressing what this past year meant to me. And with no one is that truer than yourself, my dear. Despite your untimely departures at crucial points in the year (hey, you couldn't help it!), you were there for me from the beginning, my gal pal from the start. From Sex and the City to "sex up against the wall" (Mom, it's not what you think, I swear!), there are thousand memories I could gladly live over and over again. We were meant to be friends, chica, and I know that great things await you in this life. I can't wait for our next series of adventures together!
And to all else, the city of Sibiu, the various artisans and craftsmen, other colleagues and friends and those damn fortified churches, thank you and adieu for now. Thank you for being a part of my life. What memories. What challenges. What a year. What a life.
posted by Lauren | 5:14 PM
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