This is going into the way back machine but from March 24-26 Peace Corps Romania group 26 had its Close of Service conference. It is a two day conference designed to help us relaunch our lives once we get to the U.S. something that has been on my mind a lot lately. But there were other things going on that week as well, my interview for the Peace Corps Volunteer Leader position, Language exam and just an overall sense of finality I don't think I was quite ready for. Like every conference it had its more interesting moments, including our dinner finale, watching our group together one last time, most of them dancing to "rollin' on a river" like it had never been done before... The Conference ended and everyone went their separate ways, much like we will do come July 1st and our PCR family starts heading home.



For Easter this year I decided to stay at site and even hosted a couple of guests. My good friend Brent and My partner Carly. I was away from site last year so I was really curious to see how things would work out this time. Brent and I stayed up late on Saturday and went to the Easter midnight service in the center of town... It was so crowded I worried several times about accidentally lighting the person in front of my on fire, until I realized there was someone just as close behind me and was then worried about being set on fire a little more.

The priests processed into the church and the lights went out as they lit tshe Easter candle from which everyone would light their own luminaries... It was again, an incredible sight, as not only the level of light in the church began to rise just from the number of candles, but the reflection of the ornamented walls as they danced in the shadows and flicker of hundreds of tiny flames. We stayed around outside to listen to the Easter story before heading back to the apartment around 1am and playing backgammon as our candles burned slowly on the table next to us. Then, we went to bed in preparation for the Easter meal the following day.

We were not disappointed by the meal. My Director invited me to his parent's house and Carly, Brent and I gathered around the table with my Director's family, including his uncle and aunt from Brussels, and experienced again, the wonder of Romanian cooking. The year before I had not taking a liking to the Easter specialty called drob, which I believe is lamb stomach, but this year, with a new chef, I enjoyed it quite a lot. The highlight of course was the lamb chops and as a special treat from our nearly French visitors, Duck L'orange... It was spectacular! I don't know if I have ever eaten anything as surprising to me as this. I would eat that prepared just that way, everyday for a year and never get sick of it.

After dinner there was of course, merriment, and by merriment I mean large carafes of home made wine. Excellent... strong... homemade wine. The combination of merriment and food led to a nap around 6 pm when we returned from the afternoon festivities. It was another great holiday in Romania and I am very thankful for the people who were willing to share it with me.