Things We'll Remember

Even though our adventures in Transylvania are now a thing of the past, many memories will stick with us for quite some time to come.   Here are a few of the things that come to mind.

Bottled Water: Only drinking bottled water took some getting used to.  We all felt the pinch in our wallet and in the land fills.    

   

 

Casa 5: The outhouse no female ever wanted to use.

PULP FICTION: Our van that transported us to and from the work site each day in Cluj.

PRINCESS COOKIES: The delicious treats at our relaxing coffee breaks.  These cookies came in both chocolate and vanilla.  

Night Life: Visiting unique and historic bars and nights clubs in Hungary and Romania. 

Power Shopping: Although there was not a lot of time to shop we didn't waste the time we had finding deals!  Courtney even found a Beavers jersey in Romania while shopping at a second hand store.  

Evening Walks:  Nearly every night after dinner our group headed out to explore the city.    We saw some amazing sites and lights. 

Habitat Cluj: The staff and families we met throughout our trip were amazing.  Their warmth and kindness will not be forgotten.  

Last but not least...

Our Team and Teamwork: The laughs we shared, the friendships we formed and the cooperation we showed is a memory for life.     

Team UHC

One thing we all agree on is that we make a great team.  This team is extremely generous with their laughter, flexiblity, and can-do attitude.  Below are a few highlights about each member and their unique contribution to the team.  

CASSIE

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Bending Rebar

Potential Thesis Title: Morphological Manifestations of Torque Applied to Iron in a Solid State: A paradigmatic audiology.

Favorite Saying: "I'm afraid of _______."

Epic Quote:  Said to Daniel while at Ursus brewery, "I only had one liter of beer.  I am a little person!"

COURTNEY

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Bending Rebar

Potential Thesis Title: The Attributes and Analysis of a Smiley Face Grade.

Favorite Saying: "He's moving too fast."

Epic Quote:  Said to Kylie about Sam, "He's the sassy, gassy brother that I never had."

DANIEL

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Blacksmith

Potential Thesis Title: Sagutingulinzoi: A Comparative Case Study Denoting the Differentiation Between Soporific Effects of Classical Vocalism and Indigenous Musical Archetypes on Habitat for Humanity Teams.

Favorite Saying: "Yatzee"

Epic Quote:  Said to various team members while on our work site sugar breaks, "Give me a white princess."

DAVE

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Passing Cement Buckets

Potential Thesis Title: The Construction manager of Cluj: An operetta in three parts. 

Favorite Saying: "Its time to RUN!"

Epic Quote:  Said to our team on our second to last night in Cluj, "We're having a little problem with the hotel."

KYLIE

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Hoisting Cement Buckets

Potential Thesis Title: Communication in the Elevation of Hydrated, Sediment Filled Bucket.

Favorite Saying: "I'm good." 

Epic Quote:  Said to Logan while visiting a cemetery in Sighisoara, "That's so the vampires can get out easier."

LEEANN

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Building the Walls

Potential Thesis Title: Raising Walls: Raising cultural awareness through service abroad.

Favorite Saying: "Jeepers!"

Epic Quote:  Said to Sam, Courtney and Michael while traveling through Hungary, "It looked similar to the size and color of a really big sloth."

LOGAN

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Hammering

Potential Thesis Title: Group Dynamic and Cultural Bonding Through Service.

Favorite Saying: "Locked doors are my worst enemy."

Epic Quote:  Said to Mariah while on our hike, "Hey, that looks really dangerous and percarious - Let's climb it!"

MARIAH

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Demolition

Potential Thesis Title: What Holds Us Together: Cement and its social values.

Favorite Saying: "love" or "You are beautiful."

Epic Quote:  Said to the team in Sighisoara, "Anyone want to play cards in the dugeon?"

MICHAEL

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Mixing Cement

Potential Thesis Title: The Philosophical Foundation of Hope: Reconceptualizing building homes in Romania.  

Favorite Saying: "I try to do too much with my hands."

Epic Quote:  Said to Zoe while at dinner, "You obviously have no understanding of what philosophy is."

 

SAM

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Pouring Concrete

Potential Thesis Title: How Do Rebar Forms Support Those in Need.

Favorite Saying: "Its his teeth isn't it"  or  "Its his eyes isn't it" 

Epic Quote:  Said to Zoe at dinner, "To prove my superiority, I gently touched your face."

ZOE

Favorite Work Site Assignment: Constructing Walls

Potential Thesis Title: Dancing with Hammers and Nails: Exploring one's accuracy and precision.

Favorite Saying: "Challenge Accepted!"  

Epic Quote:  Said to Sam while on his shoulders, "At least I am not on my period."

  

Day 14: Habitat International

After a long train ride filled with a few ZZZ's and lots of laughs we arrived safely to Brastilava Solvakia, home to the International Habitat for Humanity offices for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  We were able to visit their offices and hear about their new strategic goals, as well as debrief our time in Romania.    

It was interesting to hear about how this large organization works to improve the lives and homes for millions of people around the world.  After our visit we returned to the hotel for a nap before dinner and exploring.  

Bratsilava is beautiful!  It is the capital of Solvakia, a city of 500K people and just 1 hour from Vienna.  After dinner we spent some time walking the city and it took our breath away.  What a wonderful place.  Tomorrow we have a city tour planned and are looking forward to seeing the city during the day time. Here are just a few of the pictures that we captured so far. 

  

Day 13: All Good Things...

Our final day on the work site brought much reflection.  

The progress we have made on the four homes...

The friendships that have grown through teamwork, acceptance and laughter...

and the lessons in communicating across language barriers...

Although today was our final day volunteering on the home site, our homes will continue to have teams of volunteers throughout the coming months.  By early August the roof will go on, with the completion and move-in date being sometime in late October.  Meeting two of the families who will be living in the homes has brought valuable meaning to our work here and to our experience on Romania in general.  Although a country still recovering from communism, Romanians look for ways to live full, meaningful lives.  Contributing to quality, decent housing for needy families is just one way we can do the same. 

From Cluj our travels take us to Bratislava, Slovakia to visit the Habitat for Humanity International Office.  We head out to catch the train at 2:00am tonight.  More from Bratislava tomorrow. 

Dinner, Dessert and Grocery Run

We thought we would share a few pictures from our second to last dinner in Cluj Romania.  We dined at Clavo bar and restaurant. The very best thing about Clavo's were the 'Driver Cocktails'.  Our beverages included spiced, mint, watermelon, pineapple cardamom, and cranberry lemonade, cucumber and passion fruit cocktail and the boring Pepsi Light.

After dinner and drinks we made our way to Betty Ice for dessert.  

In pursuit of the delicious cookies we have enjoyed on the work site, we adventured to Lidl, a grocery store in the university district.  We learned about the cookie paradise from Anca.  She gave us directions (on a block of wood) and told us that this was the only store in town that carried the delicious treats.  So, at 9:25 we began our quest (the store closed at 10pm.) After power walking a mile up hill we arrived and purchased copious amount of princess cookies.  

Just to note that would be SEVEN packages of princess cookies!

YUMM!