First Edition

Host "Why, Hi, Hello there and welcome to our very first edition of Nikki G in Romania. I'm so glad that you have decided to tune in for today's episode! Today we are very lucky to be interviewing the creator of Nikki G in Romania – NIKKIIIIII GEEEEE!!! Who, in case you didn't know, is in Romania. Lets give a round of applause to Miss. G"
(insert applause from audience)

Host "Hello Nikki and welcome to our show"
Nikki "Its Miss. G – and it really is MY show"
Host "(cough cough) Yes. Ok. How are you feeling today Miss. G?"
Nikki "I have a stomach ache"
Host "Oh, I'm sorry can I get you a Ty-NOHL?
Nikki "I don't believe in medicine, I do however believe in the healing properties of Dr. Quinn and a nice cup of Tim Hortons Hot Chocolate. However Dr. Quinn has been cancelled here and Hot Chocolate, Tim Hortons or otherwise is non-existant in Romania so I am destined to suffer with this stomachache."
Host "That’s too bad. I hope someone will be kind enough to perhaps mail you some hot chocolate – hint hint hint audience… Miss G can you tell me what your favourite part of working in Romania is?"
Nikki "Most definitely my job and my class. No matter how I am feeling they always make me feel better – even if I am already feeling good. They are fun kids, dedicated to their work and a joy to have around. The staff here at BCA has been wonderful to me and a great blessing."
Host "Can you tell me what the Macaroni and Cheese situation is like in Bucharest?"
Nikki "Virtually non existant."
Host "Yes, I have heard that times are desperate there…"
Nikki "Its unbelievable. You'd never think missionaries would stoop so low but it is not uncommon to see two missionaries throwing fists at each other as they fight over the occasional contraband box of Mac and Cheese smuggled in by black market tourists."
Host "If I were to give you two hundred dollars right now – what would you use it for?"
Nikki "I would buy diapers"
Host "Diapers?"
Nikki "Yes, Diapers – for the baby orphanage that I volunteer at. We used the last ones when I was there on Sunday and I have no idea what they are going to use until more come in – or at least until some money is donated so that more can be purchased.
Host "I hate to bring this up – I know it is a private matter, but a number of foul rumors have been spreading regarding the disappearance of the street cat you found in your home. Can you clear those up for us?"
Nikki "Its unbelievable what people will say about you when you are in the spotlight – I'm just a person, I have feelings, I have needs, I don't like cats, If you prick me do I not bleed? Basically the cat – whom my roommate and I passionately disliked was… shall we say… terminated. I did not kill him and the rumor is that I threw him off the balcony – but seriously, even if I did throw him off the balcony – and I’m not saying I did, I live on the second floor so its not like it would have been hurt anyways!!!"
Host "I hear you are a proud Canadian"
Nikki "That I am, That I am"
Host "Could you tell our Canadian viewers some things you have done to spread your Canadian-ness while in Romania?
Nikki "I'd love to. First of all – when being surrounded with ALL Americans and meeting only Americans I am quick to tell people that I am indeed Canadian eh and that I forgot my toque at home. While visiting the Carpathian Mountains last weekend I climbed to the highest peak around and built a mini Innokshook in honor of Canada. I also smuggled in 4 bottles of maple syrup and make myself French Toast every Saturday morning – its not as good as my Dads, but it is passable. I also taught my 5th and 6th grade social studies how to play Laccross today.
Host "I also here that you are a proud Dutch-Canadian"
Nikki "That I am, That I am"
Host "Can you tell our Dutch/Fresian viewers some of the things you have done to spread your Dutch-Canadian-ness while in Romania."
Nikki "Well whenever people talk about going shopping or traveling on a Sunday I scream OP SUNDACH at them. I eat a hearty veggie soup after church on Sunday and I am in the pre-planning stages of the first annual Gerrits Croquette Weekend Romanian Style. I would LOVE to continue the habit of putting brown sugar on my rice – however the lack and impossibility of finding brown sugar in Romania has hindered that tradition."
Host "I guess in order to keep that tradition going someone would need to send you some brown sugar…"
Nikki "Tis true, tis true. Hey are we done with this lame interview yet? I mean you know as well as I do that I love to talk about myself, but seriously how much do people really care about the American-Romanian Macaroni and Cheese Revolution? In the words of Napoleon (Dynamite, not Bonaparte) GOSH!
Host "yes…. Well….. Ok, thanks for you time Miss. G. And there you have it audience – the first ever official interview with Nikki G the creator of www.nikkiginromania.blogspot.com. Stay tuned next time for when Miss. G discusses flooding, the all skate-boarding channel and near death experiences with propane stoves!"

Romanian Music

Apparently ABBA is one of the most popular musical groups in Romania!

The Top Ten Things That Make me Laugh This Week.

#1. Rob Joustra
#2. The fact that Rob Joustra clearly is dillusioned about Hermoine and can't see the truth that Sully is a better character.
#3. Thinking about my friend Steve Gelensey - Just thinking about him makes me laugh. What a good, funny friend.
#4. The fact that I STILL call Ben Bokma's twin sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley after knowing him for over two years.
#5. Seeing parts of my walk to school 'washed away' by the rain and floods
#6. The fact that there are open man-holes all over Bucharest - because it's the only way to drain away water.
#7. That my roof leaks - and I live on the first floor.
#8. That it has poured rain for 5 days straight, 24 hours a day and it will never ever stop.
#9. That I can turn things I have done wrong into things others have done wrong just by talking alot and making things up. (which really is not good - I know - but its funny none the less)
#10. Convincing my class that I wanted them to copy out word for word ALL of chapters 13 and 14 from their history textbook in cursive writing and seeing their reactions - especially when I told them I was joking.

The Cat Came Back

Three days ago we literally gave our cat the boot and kicked it outside. It has been a wonderful few days without the annoying little "Nemik" climbing all over us.

Unfortunately yesterday it was once again IN our apartment building waiting infront of our door.

So we have a cat again.

I still don't like it.

The Engaged

In honour of Karmyn and Ben. Other than God, His plan and the Krispy Kreme Christmas Snow Day Pact, I take full responsibility for bringing you two together. I'm so so so happy that I get to stand up with you!

The Rains Still Come Down

Three days later it continues to pour. Constantly. Its not the pouring rain we are used to where it pours for a few hours, then peters out. It constantly - 24 hours a day is pouring rain. All of Romania is flooded. Bucharest is suffering, homes are under water and every student in my class has walls that leak water. (Myself included). There is nowhere to absorb the water (excpect apparently our walls) so we suck it up and go on - but it is wet and not enjoyable.

Everyone in my class was SUPER grumpy and whiny today - but I turned it around and am trying to make it fun. We have two charts on the board the G-W CHART (Grumpy Whiny Chart) and the E-CHART (Encouragement Chart) The goal of the day is to have more encouragement points than grumpy-whiny points. Theres a point system too so the students are working very hard to have a positive attitude!

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up

Today I wanted to write about something really nice – like God or my mini-vacation on Saturday, or the beauty around me, or the amazingness of Christ. I had plans to write about all of the above. Then I left my apartment.

My street was a river. A BIG, fast, rushing, deep, river. Over a foot deep – cars were half way up the wheels deep in water. There were two options 1. Go back to my apartment and call in as a flooded-in teacher, but I decided on option number 2. I rolled up my pants and started wading to school.

I was all excited about my flooded street – but no one really cared. It happens. AND as it turns out we are in the not-flooded area. One of my students got stuck on the way to school and had to walk back home in waist deep water as cars floated past her.

I asked my fellow staffers if this type of flooding was normal and if it happens often. They smirked and replied, “only every time it rains.” I guess when the Romanian government decided to fix the roads after the fall of the wall – they thought that putting in drainage systems was a waste of money – and the few they did put it are very handy – because the drains are above street level (aka utterly useless). Add to that the fact that the entire city is cement so no water can be absorbed and you get major flooding every time it rains.

I think its funny. Although when I walk home in 2 hours – after 8 more hours of solid pouring rain, and my street is under THREE feet of water, I’m sure things will not be so funny.

Random Thoughts

I don't think I will keep the cat. Basically its just annoying - its one of those cats that is "too" friendly. Constantly jumping up on my lap, following me around, meowing all the time. And basically its just a cheap substitution for my parents dog - or my beta fish Gilbert who was the best pet ever.

My class is fantastic. Two days ago I was late getting to class at the end of the day because I was photocopying and when I arrived of course I heard 'Shhhhhhh Miss. Gerrits is coming SHHHHHH" And when I walked in the room they were all sitting there as calm and nicely as can be filling out their agenda's with their homework - as is our end of the day ritual. It was such a blessing to see that they were behaving and that it only took two weeks for my classroom management routines to become 100 percent instilled in them. They make me laugh. Their favourite music tape to listen to is an old Keith Green casette which is about 70 percent sermon and 30 percent music. They all want me to keep the cat and they think I'm mean beause I left it out in the halway for 3 hours last night hoping someone else would claim it. They even offered to baby-sit it for me when I'm gone on weekends or at Christmas.

Our electricity went off for a few hours the other night. It was very very dark - - and it got boring because usually at night we read or watch the Hallmark Channel - and we could do neither. But we played card games by the light of our one candle.

Highlight of the week: My favourite TV show LOST is on tv here - all re-runs and the asian characters whose lines are usually subtitled in English are subtitled in Romanian. But a blessing none the less. If only Dr. Quinn were on.....

CAT CAT

Yesterday when I came home from school there was a kitten in my apartment. We might keep it.

Guilty as Charged

I don't know if the term "Missionary Guilt" is a real technical term, but its something I have.

Basically this is what it is: I feel guilty that my calling to be a teacher here in Romania - is too enjoyable. I like my job, its not hard, my class is great, I haven't been harassed or harmed and I have no culture shock living in Romania. I have peace being here. I feel like because my job is so fun and enjoyable - that I am not working hard enough, or struggling hard enough to put the money people have given to support me to work. With those feelings inside of me I have started volunteering at a baby orphanage on weekends. Which makes my work week seven days long - but even volunteering at the baby orphanage - which is difficult - is not a struggle for me.

Then, because I have been doing 7 day work weeks I feel guilty when I want to take a Saturday off for me. I struggled alot this past friday because I wanted to take Saturday off - I wanted to sleep in past 6:30 for the first time since I got here - and then I felt guilty because the only reason I didn't want to help Gods abandoned babies was because I was lazy and wanted to sleep.

My third guilty is the guilt I feel about pleasure time. A group of teachers are going to the mountains this coming weekend and I was invited to go. I feel guilty going because I am using mission money for my pleasure - even though it will only be ten dollars. I feel that people did not give me money to 'have fun' but to live so I can work in Romania. I feel the same about thinking about going to the movies, or buying a chocolate bar. This is 'missionary guilt.'

However, my wise roomate Deborah has taught me about 'soul care'. A time that I need to set aside to care for my soul - rest, relax, rejuvenate and care for myself so I don't burn out or go crazy. And this means sleeping in one day a week and doing the occasional activity to bolster my spirits and refresh my desire to live and serve God. So - against my guilty conscience, I have decided to take Saturday's off (I'll go Sunday mornings before chuch to the baby orphanage), and I will splurge ten whole dollars to get out of the city and see the mountains for a weekend - which will be fantastic since Bucharest is very grey and I miss grass and the country ALMOST more than I miss my family, friends and Dr. Quinn. They say the mountains are the prettiest part of Romania and I am secretly and guiltily looking forward to seeing them.

Please pray that I will take time to care for myself and not feel guilty about it.

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For

I like lists, here's my top ten list of things I am thankful for this week.

10. Cheap public transportation
9. My nice boss Jenn Lipp
8. My fantastic class and the way they make me laugh
7. Esther calling me
6. New baby cousins
5. The market close to my house where I go shopping - and how the workers have begun to recognize me as a 'regular' and the token foreigner who shops at their place twice a week - and the way they are friendly and helpful.
4. My tv and the funny stations we get: "The All Skateboarding network" "The all fashion network" "The all classical music concert network" "The all AXN (action) network" And especially the Hallmark Channel which provides quality family entertainment - in english, 24 hours a day.
3. The other person from Ontario that lives in my block - I don't know who he is, or what town he is from, all I know is that there is a car with Ontario license plates that parks outside my building.
2. The Beday in the staff bathroom. It makes me chuckle every time I see it. This is the start of a new game called "my staffroom is better than your staffroom"
1. Sully, as always, number one on my list. I saw him on a commercial yesterday and it just brightened my day.
#1b. Stevie G who sent me a fantastic funny e-mail that made my week.

Top Five Things That Have Gone Wrong in my Flat

1. Blew a fuse - fuse box circa 1940.
2. Flooded the washing machine.
3. Almost blew my face of at least 5 times as I get used to using a propane stove.
4. Bathroom sink 'fell' off the wall.
5. Shower curtain and rod constantly fall down.

My class, questions answered.

People have been sending me e-mails (thank you I love them) and asking many questions about my classroom and the school and I realize that I have not written much about that subject - even though teaching is my mission here.

Bucharest Christian Academy is about a 15 minute walk from my flat down the Dumbovita (Dumb-bo-vite-za) River. (Aka the stinky river.) BCA is not one big school building like we assiciate with schools in Canada. It is actually three homes that have been converted into school buildings. Building 21 is on one side of the road and houses grades k-3 and highschool classes upstairs, Building 26 is the main building and houses the offices, activity room/chapel, library, computer lab, and some highschool classes and 22 - which is beside 26 and on the opposite side of the road as building 21, hold grade 4/5, 6 and the highschool science and math classes. My room is about 25 feet by 15 feet and holds seven desks, my desk, three bookshelves and a table. its been decorated (by me - I love it!) and has a white-board. The floor is carpeted and the back wall is all windows from floor to ceiling that look out over the courtyard where the 4th 5th and 6th graders play at recess. This courtyard is entirely shaded by one gigantic grapevine - which is in bloom right now and heavy with sour green grapes. The courtyard is entirely enclosed by 2 walls of school, a cement wall and a solid metal gate. The ground is chipped and uneven concrete where the students play "octopus" every recess, every day.

In my grade 6 class I have seven wonderful students. At first I was disappointed but learned soon enough that 7 is an average number for a MK classroom. There are four girls who sit in a row together across the front and 3 boys who sit together at the back ofthe classroom. 5 of the students are American, 1 is Korean and 1 is Chinese. They are all missionary children. They are a fantastic amazing bunch. Willing to help eachother, hard working, jovial, friendly and encouraging to eachother and especially to me. Our favourite class so far is Presentation Profficiency (PP - they LOVE it Esther take that!) - where we learn the skills necessary for good presentations and public speaking. We have a BLAST and laugh SO hard. They also love playing BIBLE Baseball which is one of the first things I remember from attending CDCS with Mr. VanLingen as my teacher.

My days are VERY VERY nice for a teacher. On Monday and Friday's I have two preparation periods every day and on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I have three preparation periods. I do not have to ever do recess or lunch duty and the office staff does all my photocopying. - I'm definitly a spoiled teacher. Because of all my preparation time, free recess breaks, a small class and the help of the office staff my days are completely prepared and I have yet to bring home any preparation or marking work - which any teacher will tell you is a blessing and generally unheard of.

If you have any questions leave a comment and I will answer it.

Tn or fifteen a day

One of the things that is most difficult to deal with here is the visual level of poverty. I know I have mentioned it before, but I see beggars on a daily basis - and not Canadian beggars - sitting on the side of the road with their sleeping bag and cup for money. The beggars here in Bucharest are shoeless and they go from car window to car window begging for money, or they get right in your face crying for money. I also see them on the subway - children come on and go from person to person begging. The worst is when it is a young child - maybe 10 or so, with a baby strapped to their chest. Even worse than that is when it is an old man or old lady crying, begging or selling her bible.

Its sad, I don't know what to do, I see around 10 or 15 a day and I can't give them all money and yet I can't ignore them. I was told to not give them money - but give food instead because the begging industry (thats what it is) is like the mafia and generally the beggars must turn over thier money to their 'boss'.

Yesterday on my way down to the subway I saw an old old woman sitting in the corner begging money of the people walking past her - everyone ignoring her pleas for help. I thought briefly of my granny - and how much I love her and how much I never want her to be in the same situation as that old woman. I went up to her and gave her the loaf of bread I had just bought for Deborah and I, I told her I didn't speak Romanian and as she tried to talk to me I kept telling her I didn't understand. I wish I had known how to say "God loves you" or "God Bless" but I didn't. Everytime I go out I prepare exactly what I need to say to get by, and unfortunately yesterday morning I studied "I would like to buy string for knitting, how much is it?" Instead of "Be blessed, God loves you."

I never did find any yarn.