I like my students.

Sometimes they bake good things for me.

I like being a teacher.

Prayer

I just love teaching in a Christian school.

Today in Bible class we were learning about Moses and about how he interceded on behalf of the Israelites while in the desert. (Numbers 14). We had a nice discussion about intercessory prayer and then our class prayed together for many different things. Governments, our school, friends, our churches, - and all the prayers were not just for things or people, but for things and people so that GOD's fame could spread. So that we could be witnesses, so that non-Christians could see God's power, majesty and care. Their prayers blessed my heart.

The Princess' Bus Terminology

What to talk about today? Well first of all, I am most definitly dressed like a princess right now. Those of you who have had the priviledge, nay, the honour of living with me know that sometimes I just dress up like a princess. Today though, it is Prince and Princess Day at school so I'm not alone. I'm upset because I didn't bring any princess clothes with me (it was not on the list of things to bring with me to Romania...). I felt slightly ridiculous walking to school (I may or may not be wearing bright purple eyeshadow) and I am most definitly wearing a tiara. Being dressed up like a princess makes me miss my princess chamber bedroom whose fame spread around the Redeemer campus in the fall of 2003 and brought visitors, no, tourists, to the R.A room of Dorm 8 (the Homestead)

There's so much to tell ya'll (I hang out with too many Texans here) about Romania. First of all I'd like to tell you that a gypsy kid kicked me on Friday afternoon and then laughed. I bet if I was wearing the tiara he would have left me alone! I was lucky though, because the same day one of the students here was held up and robbed and the next day he was attacked again - by different people in different parts of the city. Generally Bucharest is safe - but there is always a few that ruin it. Don't worry about me though, this princess has pepper spray. (Hanging on a hook at home, but hey, the point is that I have some)

I would also like to tell you that although I am dressed like a princess, I use the same transportation as the locals. The Bus. I have spent many an uncomfortable hour sitting/standing on the RATB busses of Bucharest and I have come to some conclusions and scientific terminology regarding the things that happen on these busses.

1. The Bus-Spoon: Occurrs on 90 percent of busses. This is when the busses are so full that people are required to 'spoon' with the people around them. Awkward at first - but over time you become numb to the fact that you are cuddling with a 90 year old woman.
2. Ticket Scamming: When a person gets off the bus and gives his or her used ticket to a person attempting to get on the bus. This person then does not have to use his or her own ticket on the bus.
3. MMSS: Missed My Stop Syndrome. I have been very fortunate to only have this disease once in 2 months. It happens when the busses are so full - and you are so spooned together - that there is no way you will be able to shimmy your way off the bus.
4. Push-Shove Acceptence: The acceptence of rude pushing, shoving and if necessary blunt force to get off the bus.

There are good points about the busses. They are regular (usually), people are chivalrus and always offer their seats to elderly people, the bus drivers listen to great music like Abba or Cotton-eyed Joe, and for 35cents a ride no one has a right to complain.

Turnover

They told me at the beginning of the year that missionary schools have a high turnover rate - and I accepted that, but I didn't realize how high they were until yesterday. (When I say turnover rate I mean the rate at which new students come and old students leave) In the last 10 days I have had a turn over rate - within my own class of 33% - AKA one third of my class has changed. It seems like a lot - and it would be if I had a big class, but when you only have nine students - a difference of three students doesn't effect the class too much. I think partly because the students here are used to new students and people leaving.

So anyways within the last 2 weeks I have had two new students and one student leave spur of the moment. He came to class one day and said "Miss. Gerrits, today is my last day." And he is gone.

I'm also finding more "Canadian-isms" about myself. For example. We say sOrrEY and americans mostly say sArrAY. Have you ever tried to teach BEDMAS when your students have never heard the word BRACKETS? So we learned PEDMAS (parenthesis) instead.

Phil 4:13

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

They missed it!

I've been having many conversations with my roomate Deborah the past few days about life in Romania. Not about OUR lives in Romania - but life for Romanians in Romania. And more often than not we come to the conclusion that Romania is the way it is beacuse it missed so much during communism.

You might be thinking "sure Nikki, OBVIOUSLY Communism had a big effect on the people here." But living here - being a part of it I can see it more. And I see it in different things - things that relate to my life.

Romanians missed about 50 years of advancements, developments and change. They went from the 1940's right to the 1990's - and alot happened in those 50 years that they missed. Here are some things that I see - that are simple - and yet not thought about.

MUSIC: They missed the music revolution of the 70's 80's and 90's. Today Abba is one of the most popular bands. Their MTV music-type stations intertwine the Backstreet Boys and other popular bands of today with Prince, Jon Bon Jovi, and Bruce Springsteen.

MOVIES: Romania went from black and white movies of the war to communist propganda and missed the evolution of the action movie. Without fail, every night, there is a Salvester Stallone movie on - if we are lucky there are two movies with Rambo-Man on.

HEALTH CARE: Unfortunately for sick people, many older nurses and doctors missed learning about all the medical advances that happened during the communist years and many nurses and doctors still have backward, traditional methods and ideas about caring for people.

McDONALDS: They missed the coming of the McBreakfast. (mmm what I would give for a Sausage and Egg McMuffin)

These are just some funny random things. There are other more serious effects. Buildings are still built the same way they were fifty years ago and are quite unstable and drafty, the national car (the Dacia) is little more than tin, engine and wheels, the process of doing anything takes hours, and you have already read my comments about drainage systems. Theres so much - but I thought I'd just share a few of the funny (for me) items.

cultural fact of the day

in Romania they wear their wedding rings on whatever finger they feel like, so if you wear rings - regardless of the finger, they think you are married. I wear rings so people think I am married.

Cultural Shocks of the Week

1. On Friday the Garbage Men came around begging for their 'tip' They kept telling me it is tradition in Romania to tip the men who collect the garbage. They were very persistant and even tried to come into my apartment. I didn't have any small bills on me so I sent them away. Later I asked a Romanian person about this tradition and he laughed at me and said "No, never, never. Its a scam. Real garbage men make even more than teachers!"

2. Romania has "Noise Police." Our school is in a residential area and the neighbours threatened to call the Noise Police. We have had them here before. They come by with their noise-o-meter and measure the noise.

3. It's getting cold out. However, the heat in our apartment is controlled by the building supervisor. Everyone gets their heat at the same time and everyone has the same amount in their apartment regardless of wether or not you like it hot or cool in your place. It's getting colder and colder but the heat will not come on untill November - if we are lucky. I go home each night put on two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks and a sweater. And I'm from Huron County! I'm used to it being cold!

Sunday's, Tuesday's and Thursday's

I've been meaning to write about the topic of Romanian orphanages for quite some time, but I wanted to wait untill I had a few pictures to add to the blog.

A number of you know that I have been volunteering at a Baby Orphanage/Hospital on Sunday mornings before church and a few afternoons a week after school. There are around 15 abandoned babies at the hospital between the ages of 1 week and 18 months. The babies (under 10 months) are kept in one room, and the older babies are kept in a separate room.

These babies are amazing creatures that God made and that God loves and that no one wants. They can't be placed for foreign adoption because Romania is trying to enter the European Union and that is one of the stipulations. In the 5 weeks I have been going, only 2 babies have been placed in foster care.

There is so much I could say about the babies, the hospital, their care and the personalities of the children - and I will get to that eventually. For now I will stick to telling you what I do there.

Sundays: Arrive at 7:45. Bathe all babies, change diapers, clothes, bedding, cut nails, clean ears, feed.
Tuesdays & Thursdays at 4:15. Play with babies, change diapers, talk, laugh, sing and stimulate.

Theres so much to write comparing the methods of care - but that is a book in itself. Lets just leave it at the fact that I volunteer - and its good, good for me, great for the babies.

Missing: Karmyn and Christy

• Chicken Soup for the Single Losers Soul
• Dates with JamsiePoo
• Oatmeal face masks
• Brian Fellows
• Ya-Tah
• Maya-Hee Maya-Ho
• Trash Talk
• Jeproady
• Balderdash (Nictitate)
• Senate Cookies
• Krispy Kreme (a la 6 at a time)
• PR's
• Mountain View High
• Community, Bruxy, Holy Spirit
• But Mummy I am yoooohhh dahhhter!
• NKOTB = 5 TIMES
• Gabbay PHONE!
• Lobsters, puzzle pieces, maple syup, string, salt, jello, pudding, a cold winters night at 4am
• Long walks in the snow..... and awkward conversations
• Possee Pact's
• Sunday Lunch
• Angel of Haarlem
• Gangstah music
• Banquets
• Predictions

Top Ten for the week of October 5

10. No more rain
9. Getting a new student
8. Getting a new student from Canada
7. Watching LOST every night with my roomate
6. Seeing Avril make her debut in Romania
5. My dinner club every monday night
4. M&M's at the staff meeting yesterday
3. My students
2. Sunday night meeting and hanging out with only Romanian people at a church event.
1. Talking to my mom on the phone yesterday

The Village Museum

This weekend I had the opportunity to visit The Village Museumin Bucharest. It was a GORGEOUS day - which doesn't happen often and the park along with the sun, coloured leaves and warm weather made my visit there amazing.
The Village Museum is an outdoor open-air exhibition similar to a Pioneer Village, only with traditional houses, wells, sheds, barns, churches, and mills from all over Romania. It was amazing to see their collection.
My favorite building was one of the old wooden village churches which still had icons painted all over the walls and ceilings, inlaid with gold and decorated the way it would have been decorated in the 1400's.
The museum was $2 to get in and if you wanted to take pictures it was an extra $4. I'm trying to train myself to be a photographer extrordinaire so I surrerendered the extra 100,000 lei and took about 30 pictures. I've put some pictures up - these are from the internet because mine aren't developed yet.

Of The Day

Question of the Day: If you KNOW that autumn is the rainy season and that your country is prone to flooding - why don't you invest in storm drains?

Ridiculous Highlight of Yesterday: Walking through 40cm high water in the pouring rain. (It sounds bad but it was SO FUN and ridiculous)

Wish of the Day: Knee-high rubber boots (preferably florescent pink with unicorns)

Pleasing Fact of the Day: Avril Lavigne has made her debut in Romanian music along with fellow country members; Simple Plan, Shania, and Brian Adams.

Americans speaking Canadian

Today in Social Studies my grade 5/6 class was learning about the explorers who found America. The very-american students amused me as they tried to pronounce French and Canadian words.

Jacques Cartier = Jack-ez Cart -eee- ur
John Cabot = John Cab-boat
Montreal = Mon-Hay Hay
Canadian = Canada-ee-een-ian