Murighiol, Romania

I'm Today was a day of traveling and enlightenment, most of which happened through a bus window. So last night, I met nearly everyone from the group of people that I will be spending the next four weeks with, and today I became more close to them, getting to know most of them one by one. It's been such an adventure and something I've never been more proud of myself for doing. So often, as human beings, we shy away from the unknown, from things we're not sure about or don't know much of for various reasons. Usually, we're being cautious of ourselves, worried that self-doubt and discouragement will seep into our person if we try something new, despite how desperately we want to do it. The past week has proven to me that trying new things as an individual, alone, will not only broaden your horizons and self-appreciation, but it will also help you to be more in tune with your humanity. I feel like God has made us social creatures and traveling alone, exploring new cultures and languages and people is the most excellent way to test His belief in us. And in the past week, I've met more people and gotten to know more cultures than I ever would have had I stayed in my comfort zone of sweet little southern Tennessee. From Malta to Austrakia to England, I've met people from across the world that have walked with the likes of Princes and the average, Politicians and salespersons, and every encounter has been new and challenging, something to learn from and appreciate. Romania, already in only three days, has given me so much more than I bargained for...and I still have an entire month left.

So most of the people on the Dig are around my age and studying archaeology, whether in the States or in Europe, while several of them have gone on digs before. Fortunately for me, several have not, and some are even looking for their place in the world and hoping archaeology is it. So I will not be the only one out of my element tomorrow morning.  

As for the Romanian countryside, it's been full of pleasant surprises, as I didn't quite know what to expect when we drove through it to our quiet farming village of 300 people. 

First, we passed immense fields of wheat, as far and as flat as the eye could see. It reminded me much of the Midwest and of the trip to Missouri I took recently. 

Acres and acres of sunflowers also dominate this part of Romania, dotting the landscape for miles as well. It's so beautiful, looking out along the plains and seeing them. 

Most of the villages, including the one we are staying in, have housing that looks like this, with gardens that take up part of the yard, while the house chickens peck the rest of the ground and horses graze whatever is left. 

Seeing farmers and all the people use horses to tend their fields and donkeys to pull wagons in the villages was truly a sensation that felt like it was transporting me back in time. The wagons even had license plates, such a juxtaposition between the old and the modern. I often wondered if these villages weren't better off without the odd look of modern day technology. It seemed like what they really needed (agriculture equipment) is what they were lacking and what they have seems out of place, somehow. 

Windmills are especially common in the area close to here, with the mills stretching out as far as you can see in either direction, dotting the hillsides. It's so amazing. 

Anyone from Tenessee can see the resemblance of the terrain, yet if you'd seen the way the people live, you'd have known you were in another country. 

One interesting aspect is how they all live in a small village, with the church being the center, the tallest and most likely oldest building that you can see from any point, and the land owners farm out from there instead of living on the land they tend. Such a difference from home. 

Eventually, we rolled into Murighiol, a village not unlike the others we'd passed. It is a simple town, with very few people and more than one bar. It's beautiful and incredible and somewhere I'm lucky to be and experience. I'm so grateful that God saw to it to give me this and I understand, after being here, that He definitely did want me to come or he would have made it clear that I shouldn't. Everyone on this trip is so nice and so genuine and loves history. There is so much to learn and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to learn in this...exceptionally unique environment, full of beauty. 

The view from the porch of our house, the original dig house that slept everyone on the Dig. Today, we have 9 I think. Now we have 34 people in the village on the Dig. It's amazing how far it's come. 

The house which overlooks the river! It has an ominous cloud behind that didn't affect us. Don't worry!

The little dirt road walking towards our house. This is basically what it looks like throughout the whole village. It's a far cry from the United States, isn't it? And to think, this is the average Romanian who makes the equivalent of $600 a month? Incredible. It really puts our fortune into perspective. 

Tonight's dinner! I'm not sure what it was, but it was served buffet style and smelled and tasted like our 2nd Sunday Dinnee at church! A nice surprise for sure :)

At last, I could not leave you without a pictur of the toilet inside the local bar. (I or I at least couldn't leave Mother without one). Our house isn't like that but I'd never seen one, and if I ever need to be reminded I'm not in America, I just need to walk in here! 

All in all, today has been wonderful and eye-opening, no doubt exactly what God wanted, and tomorrow will be no less thrilling, as I will learn the proper techniques for digging in the dirt. Love you all, and Good Night from Romania!!!!!!!!!!! :)