Hello again!

I am having an amazing time here in Romania! We have been here for about two and a half weeks, and have just begun traveling throughout Transylvania after spending two weeks in Bucharest. The scenery is beautiful and I am learning so much. Currently, I am in Braşov, a beautiful mid-size city surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains.

I have been enjoying spending time with the others in my program as we are all getting along well and sharing so many wonderful experiences. The Romanians that we have met have been nothing but welcoming and eager to talk with us and answer all of our questions. In this way, my community here is similar to mine at Pitt. I have been able to engage in deeply valuable conversations and make memories with people that I truly enjoy being around. This community that I have found also shares similar interests to me as we all have related areas of study and have connected over shared experiences and interests.

The community that I have found here is also a bit different from my community back in Pittsburgh. Here, I have shared experiences with this community that I have not with my Pittsburgh community. We have learned how to navigate a distinctly different environment together and have become close within the context of our travels. Despite this, I feel that the connections between myself and my Pitt community and myself and my community here are the same and I am grateful for both!

My days have been busy here in Romania! We have been visiting museums, meeting with lots of people, and seeing some beautiful sights! A typical day includes group meals, museum tours, meetings with officials, and visits to various historical sites. The pace of the locals is much slower than it is in the US, a nice change of pace for me. The sights are beautiful, as we are surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains and are staying in some beautiful old, historical centers. The streets are filled with the sounds of music, people enjoying dinner outside, and conversations in a variety of languages. These mountain cities of Transylvania are truly wonderful and I am having an amazing time getting to know the area and the local life!