Just a little something to say....thank you

Everywhere I have worked I have learned a few things from my superiors.

For the last year and half I have been volunteering at the Hospital. When I first started to work with my coordinator I noticed that she thanked me for everything I did. In the beginning I responded by telling her "come on I'm just doing my job." And I never just said "you're welcome." I was a little embarrassed that she kept thanking me for every little thing and I did not know how to react. Today I know her pretty well and every time she thanks me there is a smile on my face and, of course, I answer her with a simple and sincere "you're welcome."

It is not a general rule but I notice that here in the U.S. people are more likely to say "thank you" than in my country. For example I love that here when people step off of the bus they say "thank you" and wish the driver a "good day." I've started doing it too, and I truly thank him for driving me safely to my destination. I never once thanked a bus driver in Romania, and I never heard anyone else say it either.

Another thing that we do here in the US which we don't do in Romania is send "thank you" cards. And we send "thank you" cards for all kinds of reasons. I remember that I got a welcome gift when I arrived in the U.S., and I had to write a thank you card to that person. I wasn't sure what to say. I had to write something a little personal and I wasn't used to that. Even today it takes me a while to figure out a short and a concise way to express my feelings in a note.

I don't want to make it sound like Romanian people don't know how or when to say thank you. They do. But just not in these types of situations and certainly not so often.

You might think that saying "thank you" is so banal but makes such a big difference for both those who say it and those who receive it.

winter storm

The winter came like never before. It was the first major snowstorm since I moved to Washington DC a year ago. It reminded me of my childhood winters when there was a lot of snow and schools were closed.

Here it started to snow one afternoon and continued throughout next day. It was so beautiful when I woke up as I looked out my bedroom window. I was jumping around, happy like a child. It was a brief period of happiness because I soon realized that we did not have power in the house. Everything needs electricity in our house: the stove, heat and hot water. With a cold house and without a warm breakfast I still enjoyed the snow. I went out by myself because my hubby is from California, and is not so fond of the snow. It was so quiet and so white. The snow came up to my knees. The branches of the trees were bent over from the heavy snow and the cars were buried. There were not a path to walk any more.

When I went back in the house, which was like an igloo by then, I found J wearing his winter jacket and gloves sitting under a blanket waiting for electricity to come on. What can you do to have fun in this kind of situation? Not too much! It was too cold in the house to play scrabble or other games. There were more things to do outside. So we went for a walk with our friends and their dog around the neighborhood. I was surprised to see people cross-country skiing through the streets. And it wasn't just a few people, there were lots of people doing this kind of work out. It was very interesting and seemed like a cool thing to do when you are stuck in the snow and the gym is closed.

We started to get hungry, and could not cook yet so we walked down to the neighborhood hang out praying that the restaurants had power and were open. Luckily, half of them were. We enjoyed a nice, warm late lunch and some margaritas. When we got back home the power was back on..........

Because of this storm the federal government shut down for 4 days, the schools were closed as were many offices. DC hibernated for a wile.

Just two days after this first storm finished, we are now expecting a second one. There will definitely be mountains of snow for a while.

bradul "american"

Vine Craciunul! E perioada cadourilor si a impodobirii. E vanzoleala si agitatie mare peste tot.

Eu, asa cum imi e stilul, incep sa cumpar cadouri mult inainte de luna decembrie. Nu ma lasa sufletul sa dau toti banutii [multi] deodata, intr-o singura zi. Asa ca din punctul cadourilor de vedere totul e aranjat in luna decembrie. Mai raman, eventual, cateva lucruri ce stiu ca vor fi la mari reduceri cu apropierea Craciunului.

In Decembrie imi ramane doar sa cumpar bradul. Si stresul nu e atat de mare ca in Timi, unde greu gaseai bradut care sa fie la un pret acceptabil si sa aibe ceva mai multe crengi. Am fost surprinsa sa constat ca aici nu exista brazi golasi. Toti sunt frumosi si plini plini de crengi. Mai mare dragul sa treci printre ei si sa alegi unul. Preturile difera in functie de soi si de inaltimea bradului, nicidecum de cate crengi are.

Asa ca, cumparatul bradului nu e mare lucru. Mai mare mi-a fost surprinderea cand a trebuit sa caut suport de brad. Stiam ce-mi trebuie: sa fie din metal si sa aibe trei picioare. Pornesc prin magazine la cautat suport. Nu vad nici un suport de genul celui de acasa din Timisoara. Suportul brazilor care erau in magazine erau acoperiti cu ceva material. Ma uit sub material si vad un soprt mare de plastic, cu o forma ciudata. Intr-un final renunt sa caut, ganadindu-ma ca nu caut in magazinele care trebuie.

Acasa imi intreb sotul unde ar trebui sa caut suport de brad. El, ridica din umeri. In viata lui nu a sarbatorit Craciunul. Stia ca ne trebuie suport si ca trebuie sa ma uit si dupa ceva fustita pentru brad.

-Fustita?? E acelasi sens ca si fusta pe care o imbraci??

-Da!

-Fusta la brad?

-Da. Iar bradul trebuie udat ca sa nu se usuce asa repede.

-Udat? Unde sa-l ud? Cum vine asta?

Deja lucrurile incepusera sa se complice. Nu mi-am putut imagina unde vine pusa fust si de ce ii trebuie bradului fustita. Cum sa ud bradul cu suportul pe care eu il aveam in minte?

In fine! In final o sun pe D. care e romanca de mult stabilita in US si o intreb ce imi trebuie pentru brad si unde sa caut. A inceput sa rada cand mi-a auzit intrebarile, dar mi-a inteles nestiinta. Mi-a explicat ca sunt mici sanse sa gasesc suport cu trei picioare. Aici suporturile sunt mari, rotunde si din plastic. Tulpina bradului intra intr-o "oala", loc unde pui apa. Si da, imi trebuie o fustita ce vine pusa in jurul acelui suport. Mi-a spus si unde sa le caut.

Pornesc la cautat suport. Gasesc.....mari si urate mai sunt. Nu ma mir de ce imi trebuie fustita. Fusta acopera acel suport si da o imagine placuta bradului.

Am cumparat suportul si fustia (e rosie ca focul sa-mi surada norocul).

Sunt super multumita de cum arata bradul meu [american] ;)

being prepare

S-a dus toamna. Stiu, o sa ziceti ca frigul a venit de ceva vreme, iar decembrie e deja la mijloc, ba chiar pe terminate. De acord cu voi.

Daca m-am mutat la casa, am parte de spatii verzi, copaci multi si batrani si deci multe frunze uscate in perioada toamnei. Personal am avut ceva munca cu frunzele astea in curte. Acum le maturam, pana seara erau la loc.

Deci, cum nu poti tine pasul cu caderea frunzelor, pana mai ieri inca mai calcam pe frunze uscate. Nu ma plang pentru ca de cateva ori au venit niste omuleti care au suflat frunzele de pe spatiile verzi din fata caselor si le-au dus nu stiu unde.

Ei, dar azi, am fost intampinata de un munte urias de frunze ce asteptau cuminti sa fie "supte" de o masina nu foarte mare si duse departeee. Uitandu-ma in jur nu am mai vazut nici pic de frunza. Totul e la locul lui, doar ca frunzele uscate nu mai sunt nici in copaci nici pe jos.

Si pentru ca tot vorbesc de intretinere, acum cateva zile au venit altii care au taiat crengile copacilor ce atingeau acoperisul caselor. Eu m-am bucurat, dar cred ca veveritele nu au fost la fel de incantate ca mine.

Suntem gata sa asteptam iarna cu a ei zapada.

Si cand zic gata, inseamna ca toata lumea e pregatita la propriu. Americanii astia sunt foarte prevazatori. Cum s-a anuntat ca e posibil sa ninga sau ca vine inghetul, cei responsabili au si aruncat cu sare pe trotuare, la intrarea in magazine, in statiile de autobuz.... ce mai, peste tot. Si ce daca nu ninge si deci nu zapada, nu ghetus? Dar avem sare peste care pasim si poate ne mai sucim si glezna calcand pe bulgarasii de sare.

Totul e luat in serios - s-a contractat o firma care sa ne curete cararile si parcarile de zapada. Totul e planificat din timp. Nu lasam sa ne ia iarna prin surprindere............de parca iarna te poate lua prin surprindere!:)))

getting lost

I recently moved from an apartment in the city to a townhouse in the suburbs. I wouldn't exactly call where I moved a village in the US but to me it seems like a "modern" village in Romania. It is a big change for a girl who lived all her life in a city and in an apartment building.

During communist rule in my country all the buildings were grey and looked exactly alike. After the revolution people felt the need to distinguish themselves from one another. So they began to do little things to their apartments like changing the types of windows and doors or the color of the trim.

But the biggest changes appeared in the new "modern" villages close to the city where people would build their own homes. There you see houses next to one another but with roofs and walls painted in different colors: one house may have a red roof with yellow walls next to another house with a blue roof and white walls. And you will never see a house with the same design and shape as the one next door. The houses now are also very big, something that we did not have under communist rule. After so many years looking alike, the goal now is to be unique and different.

So when you go to a suburb in Romania you will be shocked by the mix of design. I always saw this as normal, but when we were living in Romania my American hubby always used to tell me how ugly it looked. I didn't agree with him then, thinking that it looked nice to see people free to design their home in any way they pleased.

And I still do not agree with him. I like where I live now but in my new suburb everything looks the same. I mean everything is the same!! Red brick walls, gray roofs, white windows, white pillars, all the same height, and with the same type of landscape. Wherever you look you see the same picture. I'm not questioning whether it is nice or not- I have a more practical concern.

One day I came home on a different bus and I ended up in a different part of the neighborhood. I thought I recognized where I was and I knew I was pretty close to my home. There are street signs so I thought I could figure it out...no big deal. The streets are curvy and intersect so, to my surprise the streets signs didn't clearly show me what street I was on. I stood in the middle of the street and looked in all directions thinking I would see a landmark. What I saw instead were lots and lots of houses that looked just like mine. I started to feel frustrated and confused. Are you kidding me?! I was thinking "How silly is it that I can get lost in the middle of my own neighborhood". I picked a direction and started to walk, looking for any little thing I recognized. But everything looked the same so I didn't get to my house. There was no one on the streets to ask. So I turned around, hoping to see a person who could help me. I was back in the same spot, without seeing anybody and was getting disparate about the situation. I couldn't believe this. Finally someone walked by and I asked him where is my street. He laughed and told me that people always get confused here. That sure made me feel better. I didn't seem so stupid! A few minutes later I finally found my house.

I am still a little worried each time I leave my house that I might not return.

Looking

Looking and looking and looking for a job. This is a full time job! Job searching is new each day, but it becomes boring. Worse though is the accumulating frustration.

It's been a year since I began my job search. Some days I am filled with hope, other days I am just applying routinely. Overall though I remain optimistic and I know that my job is out there waiting for me.

The other day, I had a phone interview with a recruiter, and he asked me about my skills for the particular job. At the end of our conversation, he told me to call him when I get more experience in the US. I was angry and I was not prepared to let that go. I told him that the particular job was not one which would be difficult for me. Heck, it was just a position as an HR assistant. I do not need experience in the US to do this job. I told the guy that I am a quick learner. I told him that even when you change companies you need a little time just to learn the new company rules. It was as if I was talking to myself. All he did was repeat the idea again that I should call him back when something in my resume changes.

I felt frustration and anger. And I am still angry. But is it with him or with me? How can I get [american] experience if that is what everyone is telling I need in order to be hired here?

Also, I really don't like the feeling I get when someone asks me "where do you work?". I feel ashamed when I tell them I am a housewife. Here it may be ok to be a housewife, but it is not something I am used to saying nor is it something I am accustomed to doing. Though now I seem to have become one, and, in all honesty, it isn't so bad.

Surrounded

A quick trip to NYC and I came back with so many impressions:

*beautiful?

*crowded

*really tall buildings

*narrow streets

*alive

*noisy

*neon lights

*Broadway

*the shops

After just 4 hours by train, I walked up the stairs and I found myself surrounded - by lots of people and huge buildings.

Can you imagine that in such a big city people wait in line for taxi - that is civilization.

I got into one of the thousands of yellow cabs (why are they all yellow?) and to my surprise despite the civility, the driver's seat was surrounded by thick bullet-proof glass. I was a little scared - does this mean that the city is dangerous?

Driving there looks crazy. Too many cars on very narrow streets surrounded by lots (and I mean lots) of pedestrians.

The hotel had a gigantic lobby but the rooms were tiny. I heard this is normal for NYC.

Walking on the streets made me feel like I was walking through a tunnel. The streets are lined with huge buildings so that you barely see the sky.

8.3 million on 790 square meters. Crowded in the morning, crowded in the afternoon, crowded at night.

The stores are always open!!! You can shop around the clock. :) Everything seemed BIG! Small candy M&Ms have their own 3 level store in the middle of Times Square. Can you imagine? All different colored candies, and then towels, jewelry, dishes, ornaments, bags, clothes....You name it, they have it, with "M&M" on it. M&Ms are my favorite candies.

I escaped from the tunnel with a walk through Central Park. I only saw a small part of it :( But what I saw was incredible. Lots of ponds, fountains, woodlands, baseball fields, playgrounds and acres of lawns.

A visit to NYC isn't complete without seeing a play on Broadway. So I retreated into the Gershwin Theater where I let myself fly to the land of Oz through the music, costumes and scenery of "Wicked".

Everyone told me to visit NYC because it is so so beautiful. Was it really beautiful? Hmm, maybe, but it is definitely a unique place.

If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out (Cat Stevens)

What are the cultural differences between Romania and the US? Everybody always asks me that question and to answer it, I really have to look at some things that have been hard for me to get used to...

One thing that sticks out in my mind is the way in which Romanians often accept "NO" as an answer without objection. They will not "sing out" in public, either for fear of the confrontation or the fear of bringing attention to themselves. They may complain to friends and family, but only after the fact and without achieving a resolution. The fact is that we are afraid to "sing out" for our rights and needs. Unfortunately, it seems like our cultural norm is to be quiet and powerless.

But now I live in a country where people are very aware of their rights and are not afraid to demand them.

I remember when I first moved here my mother-in-law went to the store to return a jar of pickles, because they tasted bad. I followed her, quite curious to see how this "scene" would take place. I imagined that there would be argument and lots of yelling. So I stood a little behind embarrassed at the potential confrontation. But NO! The "event" went quite smoothly. She told the cashier that the pickles were bad and she wanted another jar. She got a simple "OK" and that was it. We left the store with a new jar of pickles in hand. I didn't know what to think...

But recently I bought a pair of shoes. After more than a month (the period of time to return them as stated on receipt) they started to tear apart. I was sad because they were nice shoes and I knew that I couldn't take them back. But my American husband suggested that I go to the store, tell them what happened and ask how they can help me. I laughed at his suggestion because the return period had expired and I thought the store manager would send me home the way I came.

Anyway, I decided to try my luck and go to the store, though I was a little bit nervous about the potential conversation between the manager and me. Before I left I prepared myself for a confrontation with a "negative" manager. I practiced my speech, prepared myself to be calm yet ready to "sing out" for my rights in an assertive way....

So off I went to the store, and asked to speak with the manager. I told her my story, and before I could even finish, she offered me a store credit or a new pair of shoes. At first I didn't quite understand her because I was focused on my arguments. I asked her to repeat herself, just to be sure that I heard her correctly. I left the store more relaxed, and with a new pair of shoes. And also with the realization that no one will "attack" me for "singing out" for my rights.

Though I have learned from my mother-in-law the art of demanding one's rights as a customer, and I am learning to not be afraid of doing so, I still feel a little nervous "singing out". Why? because I grew up in a society where we did not "sing out".

Veveritele ...frumoase???

Nu imi plac veveritele!!!

Si eu am fost la Buzias. Si eu am ciocanit nucile unele de altele ca veveritele sa vina la mine. Si ma bucuram de fiecare data cand veneau si ziceam ca sunt dragute. Si imi placea sa merg vara, cand caldurile erau mari, la Buzias sa ma relaxez si sa vad veveritele. Si le strigam pe "numele" (de cod) Mariana. Pe toate le cheama Mariana!! Ce nebunie.

Nu stiu de ce imi placeau atunci si nu imi mai plac acum. Poate pentru ca eram mica si toti imi spuneau ce frumoase sunt [veveritele]. Si "trebuia" sa le vad frumoase, micute si dragute. Si am crezut ca sunt frumoase. Uite cum te "prostesc" adultii si profita de [ne]cunostinta ta.

Yec! Azi le vad zilnic. Pe strada, prin copaci, pe gardul din curte, in curte.... Sunt multe! Si de cate ori le vad, le vad tot mai urate.

Sunt niste sobolani cu coada stufoasa. Pe bune!!

Stiu, o sa ziceti ca exagerez!! Sau nu.

PS: Cand aveti ocazia, uitati-va atent la ele (in special din fata) cu mintea de adult, neinfluentati de perceptia altora desigur. Ce vedeti?

Do you have change?

Is it funny when you act like a child when you are an adult!? It happened to me and believe me it was very embarrassing at the time but is a funny story now.

Being in a new country I have had to learn to deal with a new type money. It sounds like no big deal, but it definitely was a big big deal for me.

In the beginning I asked my husband to teach me all about the coins. Though I learned them at that time, I didn't have the chance to use this new knowledge because most of the time we used credit cards.

7 months after my first "coin" lesson I went shopping. I purchased something for $4.65 and so I gave to the cashier a $10 bill. The cashier saw that my wallet was full of coins so she asked me to give her 65 cents. I took a big breath and looked at my palm filled with coins. I realized I had forgotten the value of the coins. I was so embarrassed when I told to the cashier to help herself from my palm. I left the store embarrassed, frustrated and without any excuse for my stupidity.

Now, a year later, I don't ask anyone to help themselves, but I still pause, needing a little time to think which coin is worth how much.

We've Only Just Begun (The Carpenters) - 1 an si la multi ani

Hei, acum un an am calcat pentru prima data pe "pamantul unde visele devin realitate"..... Eu cu ale mele vise pamantesti: de a prinde noi radacini, a-mi intemeia o familie, a iubi si a fi iubita, a invata si a ma adapta la o noua cultura cu bune si cu rele.

Imi amintesc cu drag de primul contact cu LAX - aeroportul din Los Angeles, unde a trebuit sa stau o ora (dupa 13 ore de zburat cu avionul, dupa difernta orara) pana mi-au luat amprentele si m-au lasat sa merg "libera" pe pamantul american. De la aeroport ne-a asteptat o masina care ne-a dus in San Clemente la mama soacra. Rupta de oboseala, am incercat sa stau treaza sa vad ce "minunatii"vad de pe geamul masinii. Dar am ridicat din umeri si m-am pus efectiv sa dorm.......cat vedeai cu ochii era doar o mare intindere de pamant galben, cu ceva palmieri pe marginea soselei si cateva cladiri scunde in departari. Pe bune, nimic interesant. Ba chiar mi-am intrebat sotul daca asta e America? Nu arata ca in povestirile descrise de altii.....

In fine, tot drumul l-am dormit - am uitat si de griji si de anxietate, de nou si necunoscut, de teama ca nu stiu bine engleza, si de faptul ca ma duceam sa stau pentru cateva luni cu soacra....Am dormit dusaaa! ;)

M-am trezit in fata casei, intr-un loc plin de soare, liniste si flori. Am remarcat ca toate casele sunt joase in stil spaniol si au acelasi design - nu ca la noi care mai de care sa o faca mai inalta, mai colorata, astfel incat sa iti sara in ochi de la distanta.

Faptul ca avusesem sansa sa imi cunosc soacra in Timisoara, cu un an inainte, a redus din stres. Nu imi amintesc cat de mult am socializat in acea zi cu ea, dar stiu ca era dupamasa acolo si ca eu abia imi puteam tine ochii deschisi.

Am petrecut 2 luni in California - 2 luni de miere, imi place mie sa le consider. Fiind aproape de Ocean, de plaje si de oameni fara griji, m-am simtit rasfatata din concediu. Jonathan m-a dus peste tot in zona si m-am bucurat de fiecare val, nisip, pala de vant, fluture, delfin, veverita intalnite la fiecare pas. Of, iubesc ata de mult mirosul Oceanului!!

Imi amintesc ce greu mi-a fost sa ma descurc in magazine - din cauza variatiilor pe acelasi produs din aceeasi gama. E frustrant! De exemplu am petrecut mai bine de 15 minute sa ma decid asupra unei acetone. Ce sa mai vorbim de alte decizii mai importante. ;)

Apoi, dupa atat relax si atatea locuri frumoase ne-am mutat in Washington, DC. Adevarul e, ca in ultimele saptamani de CA incepusem sa jinduiesc dupa viata agitata data de oras, dupa tramvaie si autobuze, zgomote si forfota.

Aici, inca din avion cand am vazut pomii verzi si raul mi-am spus ca seamana cu Timisoara. Si sentimentul asta il am si in prezent :) chiar daca Bega noastra e cu muuult mai mica decat Potomac river de aici.

In Washington, mai greu mi-a fost sa folosesc metrourile, in special sa schimb liniile de metoru. Mi-era mult mai confortabil sa folosesc autobuzul, ca vedeam pe unde "merg". Acum mi se pare asa banal.... Inca mai am probleme cu comandatul in restaurante - chiar si cu ajutorul lui Jonathan (care imi spune "Rox chestia asta iti place") imi ia ceva timp pana comand.

Intre timp mi-am facut "buletin de oras", am cunsocut ceva romani cu care tin legatura. Mai socializez cu colegi de-ai lui Jonathan de la lucru. De fapt, ies in lumea necunoscuta pentru a o cunoaste mai bine. Si din fericire sunt atatea cai care societatea asta iti ofera pentru a "cunoaste".

Iar ca anul sa se termine cu "achievements", ne-am cumparat casutza noastra si masina ..... Radacinile noastre incep sa creasca, sa se ramifice si deci sa se "maturizeze". :) Sunt asa de mandra de noi!! :)

Daca ma uit bine inapoi si la prezent, constat cu placere ca "visele" de acum un an au prins contur. Si e asa de bine!!!

Poti sa crezi ca a trecut deja un an?

"It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill" (Willbur Wright)

Fictiune si ritual de zi cu zi

Am inceput sa citesc un roman (Murdering Mr Monti), foarte funy, usor de citit si rupt din realitate. Realitate nu doar a ceea ce se intampla in carte, ci si a locurilor - actiunea se petrece in Washington, DC si in imprejurimile lui. Astfel ca particip activ, ca o umbra alaturi de personaje si de locurile pe care acestea le traverseaza. Ba chiar imi fac notite cu ce sa mai vizitez, ce evenimente apar in anumite luni. Cel mai misto, am aflat despre un hotel, aici in DC, care are restaurantul in top - de unde se vede tot orasul. Tipa din poveste spune ca ii place sa isi ia lunch-urile acolo ptr ca e private si un view superb.

Astfel ca, mi-am propus ca de ziua lui Jonathan sa-i fac o surpriza si sa luam o cina romantica acolo (depinde de preturi ;)). Inca nu stiu adresa, dar stiu numele hotelului. Partea mai nashpa e, ca aici sunt cate 2-3 hoteluri din fiecare lant hotelier. Ieri, de exemplu, am trecut pe langa acel hotel, dar cand am intrat sa vad cum e restaurantul am fost surprinsa sa vad ca restaurantul e la subsol. Deci nu e cel la care ma gandisem prima data. Noroc cu internetul care face ca tot ce la inceput pare inabordabil, cu "nu stiu" in minte, sa gasesti solutiile la toate nazdraveniile care iti trec prin cap cu semnul intrebarii la final.

So, citind cartea am sentimentul de "a apartine" cartii si evenimentelor.

Culmea e ca, ieri, vizionand filmul "State of Play" cu Ben Afleck and Russel Crow am avut aceleasi "trairi". M-am simtit ca un copil care se bucura ca stie in ce statie de metrou sunt actorii, pe ce strazi au filmat, in ce baruri au mancat..........locuri foarte comune, acum, pentru mine.

Nu mi-am propus sa transmit ceva clar cu asta, doar sentimentul placut de a fi intr-un oras in care se intampla lucruri, atat povestite in carti cat si anuntate in ziarele locale.

Rosu sangeriu

Desi e cam tarziu pentru constatarea pe care o voi face, ma garabesc sa scriu in penultima zi a lui Martie.

Toata iarna m-am minunat si m-am infrigurat cand vedeam domnisoarele pe strazile americane. Frig de nu mai stiai cum sa te incovoiesti sub palton, cand vezi trecand pe langa tine, cu nosalanta si cu caldura sufleteasca poate, o tantilica in fusta scurta. O sa zici si ce-i cu asta!? Stai asa.......piciorusele-i golete erau expuse la temperatura de afara. In picioarele desculte avea slapi de plaja........unghiile ii erau rosii sangeriu. De la oja sau de la frig????

Ca si voi, mi-am spus - no, o fi exceptia. Dar nuuuu!!! Iarna e lunga si e frig ca in Timisoara, asa ca am avut sanse sa ma minunez de rezistenta la frig a acestei natii feminine. Nu odata am vazut femei in pantofi fara ciorapi si cu degetelele la aer!

Afara ninge.......eu in cizme, ca omul normal (consider), alte persoana feminine cu picioarele in slapi. Da, slapi!!!!......Nu pot intelege pentru ce sacrificiul?? Ca pe bune, nu e loc de a crede ca sunt calduroase la picioare! Aiurea, nu cumpar faza asta pentru ca li se vedeau venele vinetii si unghiile rosiiiiiii!

Si ca sa nu ma luati drept un critic de incaltaminte, sau critic la adresa americancelor, va spui ca pe la inceputul lui februarie m-am dus sa imi cumpar "cipicei" (le spun asa pantofilor fara toc, care se poarta de cativa ani primavara si vara). De ce "cipicei" iarna, in luna lui Gerar??? Pentru ca erau la reducere fratilor! La reducere de reducere! Si aici in US am invatat sa am rabdare mare pana vine reducerea! Oricum, am crezut ca cipiceii or avea ceva defecte, sau pe acolo.......dar vanzatorul mirat de intrebarea mea "De ce sunt la reducere?" mi-a raspuns mirat si el: "Ca se termina iarna si nu se mai poarta!"

Ca sa vezi ce tuta sunt! Se termina iarna si normal ca nimeni nu mai poarta pantofi de .......primavara!?

Deci dragele mele, ce cizme si sosete de lana crosetate de bunica........aiurea!! Piciorul gol golut, cu pedichiura la zi, normal, si la aer curat cu el, la temperaturi de -4 grade!!!

Cate sacrificii face o femeie sa fie la vedere?

Carcotasa din mine, ii spunea lui Jonathan ca femeile astea poate sunt ele sexi, dar si cu muci la nas! Mmmmmmmm ce sexiiii!

Voluntariat - normal si firesc

Cum e sa faci voluntariat si sa fie ceva normal, ca o chestie in agenda de lucru? Adica, nu ca o fapta deosebita si iesita din comun la care majoritaea prietenilor sa se mire "waw! voluntariat?" si sa nu stie ce si cum sa gandeasca despre.

In Timisoara nu mi-a trecut prin gand dorinta de a ajuta comunitatea, de a face ceva, sau mai bine zis, de a da fara sa primesc mai nimic inapoi, decat recunostinta (de multe ori neexprimata) a celui care beneficiaza de pe urma actelor mele. As putea blama cultura in care am crescut.........

Dar, am avut o "sefa faina" (Monica) care e inclinata spre a ajuta persoanele nevoiase (batrani, copii orfani, persoane cu handicap....). Monica isi doreste ca peste cativa ani sa poata face cat mai multe acte caritabile. I-am spus ca o admir pentru dorinta si sentimentele ei, dar ca eu din pacate nu prea simt la fel......... Si totusi, uite-ma pe mine pusa in situatia ("sarcina de lucru") de a prelua ideile ei si a organiza activitati sociale - voluntariat. Cine si-ar fi imaginat o Roxana in "don't feel" care la sugestia "sefei" pune baza unui grup de voluntari? In cautarea de "comori" (persoane care sa doreasca sa faca asta) am fost surprinsa sa aflu ca 2 persoane faceau de mult voluntariat. Am fost in faza "waw! in Timisoara sunt oameni care daca vor, gasesc unde sa faca fapte bune". Deci, cultura nu prea are multe de spus! Si am dat strockuri pentru asta, dar tot nu m-am vazut pe mine in situatia lor. Cu toate acestea, proiectele au fost duse pana la capat si sunt sigura ca ele continua cu mult mai mult elan, credinta si voie buna.

Un alt exemplu de voluntar/voluntariat a fost Jonathan, care era in Romania ca voluntar (Peace Corp). Si-a lasat viata fara griji traita in San Franciso ca sa faca ceva, nu pe bani, pentru a ajuta o comunitate. Nu stiu daca vorbim de curaj aici sau de mentalitatea unei culturi noi pentru mine, dar stiu cat de mandru este J pentru decizia luata, pentru tot ce a reusit sa faca in Romania, si pentru persoanele cu probleme care au "profitat" de pe urma lui. Cel mai mult e satisfacut ca a reusit sa aduca zambete si sperante pe fetele beneficiarilor (persoane adulte cu dizabilitati intelectuale). Ideea e ca nu am stiut ce sa cred despre el la inceput - pentru noi, sau mai bine zis pentru mine, era ciudat sa iti lasi casa, masa, familie, servici si sa pleci asa "in lume" sa faci voluntariat. Auzi tu, voluntariat!! Si nu o luna ci doi ani. Doi ani, sa faci o pauza de la viata personala si sa o dedici altora. Felicitari celor multi care fac asta, felicitari celor care promoveaza voluntariatul ca pe ceva normal.

Nu a trecut prea mult ca sa realizez ca nevoia de voluntariat e bine promovata aici, in US: citesc anunturi peste tot, reclame sau aud ca se organizeaza evenimente la care oricine e binevenit sa ajute. Institutiile au un program bine pus la punct de voluntariat. Plus oamenii, aici, fac asta de la sine. Si nu sunt doar cativa, ci majoritatea.

De exemplu, am vazut familii care, de Thanksgiven Day, au impartit mancare cersetorilor din parcuri. La venirea iernii si deci a frigului ceva asociatii au impartit paturi acestora. In alta zi s-a organizat un "grill party" (l-am numit eu;)) in parcuri, ca acestia sa aiba mancare proaspata si calda.

Eu vad si gandesc putin diferit acest ajutor. E ok sa ii ajuti, dar mi se pare putin aiurea sa oferi un confort minim astfel incat aceste persoane sa poata face fata iernii si deci sa te impiedici zilnic de ei cand trebuie sa treci printr-un parc......E lucrul care nu imi place deloc aici: sa nu pot sta in parc pe o banca sau pe iarba si sa citesc o carte.

Sau, alte firme, in anumite zile, la pauza de pranz un numar de angajati merg la scoala din apropiere sa supravegheze copiii, cat invatatoarele isi iau pranzul. Si probabil exemplele ar curge de la sine, daca as fi in contact mai mult cu acest gen de activitate.

E o introducere lunga pentru noua mea experienta ca voluntar in America. (va urma)

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile" - Albert Einstein