days 8-10

BUNA FROM BRASOV ROLLING STONE YOUTH HOSTEL!!

home of a million bunk beds, backpacking vagabonds, sick nasty bathrooms and for the past two night, nine byu girls.

so we took a nine hour train ride to get here and it was by far the one of my favorite experiences ever. it was absolutely beautiful! green, green hills with wild dandelions and poppies everywhere.. the bluest skies, puffiest clouds and the sweetest villages with little farmers and precious bunics (grandpas) walking everywhere. it was a well needed time of reflection and relaxation.. we made a friend with an old man name papa nicholie! he was great and so cute and way funny... he visited us about every five minutes telling us to look outside. beautiful, beautiful, framos, framos! i'll tell more about him when i have my pictures that go with him.

anyways, brasov has been wonderful but very cold... i didn't bring warm clothes and thought that bringing a small amount of lei would be a good idea because this is a touristy town and i didn't want to shop for things i didn't need... anyways, that is the reason i have been wearing these stinky jeans day and night... but i broke and spent my last monies today on a new sweater... the other one was so so dirty..

okay so we went to dracula's castle, but really it wasn't his castle but it was still cool.. and dracula's real name is vlad and the romanians really loved him.. he protected them from the turks and everyone wished there was a man like him around during communism to take control... they still love him and are so proud of him.. he did have sharp canines, supposedly so that's a bit vampire-ish.

o time out

I AM GOING TO AUSCHWITZ! true story. in poland. dream come true. no joke. i can not wait.

anyways we went to a few other castles and i took a lot of pictures and will edit and post them soon...

okay best part of the trip: we got back from the castles and went to eat at a yummy place called belle musica and after we went to this festival that was across the street... i sort of got separated from the girls when i saw an old man and was trying to take a picture of him... i panicked for a second then saw a bunch of couples in suits and skirts.. it was the romanian mission couples conference in brasov and they were at the same concert we were!!! oo it was so nice.. they were full of hugs and smiles that were well needed, on both sides... president ashby was there and i actually talked with him for quite a while. he is great, i am sad he is leaving so soon.. (ps dad, i had a dream you were replacing him??) anyways, they stayed and talked with us and we all took pictures and hugged and talked and hugged.. i think they missed their grandkids.. but that was okay with me. i love hugs.

today we walked around and went to a few churches.. there was this adorable man we met at one of the churches who was only a little drunk, but the priest swept him out with his broom and kept hitting him over the head because he was trying to talk to us... when we were leaving, he beckoned for us to follow him to a grave where he proceeded to ramble on and start crying... it was his family's grave site and he told us about his brother dying in the army - he told us by acting it out - there were big hand motions and loud gun sounds and a dramatic ending- then.... he started crying :( it was really sad.. all the girls ate him up.. we asked him if he knew that his brother was with jesus now and he said yes, but he missed him... it was a somber moment, but also a little bit funny because most of the girls didn't realize how drunk he was... but i got some great shots of him and can't wait to show them to you guys...

so yeah, that's brasov... it's been great, but just because it is beautiful.. it looks like it is straight out of beauty and the beast... there is a lot of german influence here..

so i am freezing and want to go walk around... but one more thing: i get to go to the orphanage tomorrow and meet the kids!!! and i can't wait to call home!! mom, we still need to figure out a time... you tell me when and i will make it happen... even though i am not sure if my phone card will work...

bine,


miss and love you all!!

cu mult drag!

p.s. i apologize for my grumpy post this morning... one stop at the covrigi stand fixed that low blood sugar meanness, but sadly, my jeans are still dirty

p.p.s auschwitz? seriously? ah, i am so lucky