"Flashlights need batteries"

Future tip to self: Put batteries in the flashlight before you find yourself actually needing it.

Earlier last week our power decided it was tired and needed a break. This led to some very journal worthy moments....

#1. Frequently, the box above our front door would send off sparks into the air. Our light bulbs would do the same. This meant we were on fire lookout for a couple of days. (How nice....our own terrifying firework show for a couple of days). Haha

#2. No plugs = No electronics = No wifi = No way to communicate.

#3. No hot water... Although this was quite honestly the least of my worries.

#4. I will never take light for granted again. The pitch black is extremely difficult to maneuver in. (Oh ya, and if you didn't get the memo before, flashlights need batteries, specifically before it is too dark to find them...).

#5. After waiting for the electrical company for hours, we finally went to bed at midnight. Around 12:45 a.m. we heard a knock on the door. Apparently it's acceptable for workers to come at 1 a.m. in Romania to fix your power.
**Side note: After they left, we realized they could have came in and killed us, kidnapped us, etc. And no one would know because we had no means of communication. (Ooops, maybe should have thought that one through, sorry mom).


SNEAK PEAK into a typical afternoon in Iasi:

Our neighbor, a fairly old man, pushed his way through our front door as we were trying to shut it one afternoon. (Ummm pretty sure in America we could have called the cops). He kept speaking/yelling to us in Romanian. I think he thought if he spoke louder we would understand. He then started trying to give us a language lesson, yet he doesn't know english. Soon after, he decided he would sit down on our couch to take a rest. After playing signs for a few more minutes, he left, only to have his wife come in minutes later. We still to this day aren't sure exactly what was going on, or why they came into our apartment. Haha


TRAVELING EXPERIENCES:

As if caring for the amazing children is not rewarding enough, we are also able to spend many of our weekends exploring beautiful Eastern Europe. It still feels like a dream some days. Other days it's more of a pioneer experience. But... I've learned to enjoy both.

This past weekend we traveled to Brasov, Romania. There are colored buildings and little cobblestone streets everywhere you look. It is also in the middle of a mountain region so the weather is nice and the area absolutely beautiful. It was fun to see this part of Romania, as Iasi (where we live) is most definitely not a tourist area!


While in Brasov we visited many sites.... Get ready for an overload of pictures.

• First time staying in a Hostel:

I was surprised at how well our stay went at our hostel. The owners were extremely welcoming and helpful. We stayed up in the attic room, where we were able to sleep all 12 of us. (Bring on the sleepless nights). Haha I had a very good time. Sharing a bathroom/home with other foreign travelers was very different. More than once we were asked if we were americans; and after they started talking to us, specifically mormons. It was very interesting to see their reactions.

• Riding a public bus across the country:

The title says it all. It was most definitely not luxurious. Funniest moment: The bus driver was speeding along as always, weaving in and out of cars, when suddenly he slammed on his brakes. I mean like SLAMMED. As a result, the entire bus was covered in a someones exploded wine. The floor, ceiling, windows, seats, and of course passengers. The rest of the day we smelled like rum flavored wine. I just had to laugh and look at it as a good story to tell. haha

• Some things I learned:

Apparently it's acceptable for random men on the streets to ask you to add them on Facebook. I can't begin to count how many times some foreign speaking "middle-aged men" came up to us asking to be Facebook friends. It was probably one of the oddest things I have encountered over here. They also like to take your picture a lot. (Sometimes I want to shout...HELLO.. I'm not an animal at the zoo, I know what you're doing).

Streets of Brasov:

Bran Castle (Draculas castle). It was much different than I expected!

Rasnov Fortress:

Peles Castle. (This was probably one of the top most beautiful castles I have ever seen. The inside is literally miraculous. We weren't allowed to take pictures, but it has been compared to Versailles in France!)

Sapte Scari. (My new favorite hiking spot. I want to hike there everyday. It was about an hour hike to the canyon, and then we climbed 7 long ladders in the middle of the canyon, to get to the top. I have never seen something so beautiful. Ahhh. I already want to go back, who wants to come???).

Hike to Brasov sign:

Smallest street in Europe:

It is harder than you would ever imagine to get where you want to go in a foreign country!! I missed my babies by the end of the weekend trip, and couldn't wait to come back to the orphanage. I'll give an update about the orphanage, hospital, and school later this week. Love and miss you all.

LOVE MORGS

P.S: It's been a month since I left. What????

P.S.S: I'm in the middle of planning a trip to Greece in a couple of weeks... AHHHHHH. <3 WHAT A DREAM.