Havoc in Dudas

Anarchy starts to break out in the classroom when I ask if I can take a picture of them. I must say, it's always an awesome feeling to see all the kids in the room 'light up' just from taking a picture, imagine if a park for them can actually be created.

The kids saying 'Goodbye!'. My favorite, notice the girl in the center giving 'two thumbs up', not sure if she was doing that on purpose or fighting her way up so she doesn't get overwhelmed by everybody else.

• This trip to Dudas I followed up with the school director and Lucica (Rom representative) about completing an application to have a Peace Corps volunteer in their town (where I believe we should be focused more). I also asked the kids if they were to have a park what would they like to see in it. Instantly, I'm getting pieces of paper with; computers, bicycles, so I needed to clarify what I was really asking. Next step is to layout the budget/resources, if the community works with me it maybe possible to do (and if we can also get the land very cheap).

Class Exchange

Class Exchange between a class in Southern Illinois and Drobeta-Turnu Severin

And I leave you with an awesome traditional Romanian (pork) dish that I love to eat but would not want to make. Sarmale cu samantana (sour cream).

Miercureaa Ciuc - Return to Dudas

Dudas
I am currently visiting the Roma village of Dudas. I am hoping to do a couple of things.
1. Find funding for a park for the kids, I'm hoping to utilize the land below.
2. For the kids who want to learn but their parents want them to stay in school is to find
them the proper school material so they can try to learn on their own and have people
from the community check on them at least once a week for help and to make sure they
stay encouraged to learn.
3. Hoping to motivate the teenagers in continuing education as opposed to having a goal
just to work in Italy and change their attitude that money makes a person.

Again, these are accomplishments I hope to try and start here.

Miercurea Ciuc

I was also currently in Miercurea Ciuc for a week for a Peace Corps In-Service Training Conference. It is a beautiful little Hungarian town about 50-60,000 people with a Mexican restaurant. I was able to see all the Peace Corps volunteers I have not seen since swearing in. We were together for about six days and then all dispersed back to our sites. Trying to find some pictures of the town.