Homes and roads in Romania

Road repair in Arad

When I first came to Romania in 1999, I remember there being very few paved roads. Sure the main roads through the city were paved, but anything off the main roads, in the neighborhoods, meant some pretty rough travel. Sometimes roads were completely impassable when the rain came and the mud took over. Today many of the roads in the neighborhoods in the city are paved, but some are in the midst of being paved. Here's a road I walked by the other day..it will take a number of weeks still before it's ready for cars. Can you imagine living on this street?

Village road

House under construction

Out in the villages, it's a different story entirely. Dirt roads, and I'm talking really rough dirt roads, are the norm. Some of the villages are so remote and their location is made more remote by the condition of the roads they must take to get to the city. You can imagine the car repair business that exists in Romania. People even use cable ties to secure their hubcaps to their cars because at any moment you could hit a big bump or pot hole and a hub cap could take flight.

There are many different types of homes in Arad and the surrounding area. There is definitely a middle-class look here and there as there are some very nice homes that have been built or in the process of being built. This is something that has occurred over the past few years as a middle class has emerged. However, these nicer homes are often wedged between homes that are in disrepair. It isn't uncommon to see a very nice home by Romanian standards next to one that looks not so nice.

Boxes being readied to use

Old jar; new box

Romanian Fund Raising... Over the past few years, RCE has taken to doing more domestic fund raising in Romania. This is a big challenge because of the state of the economy and because of the fact that many don't have extra cash on hand to donate to non-profits. But, because of some creative thinking and innovative fund raising ideas, we have managed to raise some in-country funds. Something we've done for a couple of years now, but has recently taken on a new look, is placing donation boxes in stores and businesses. This is done often in the states, but not so much in Romania. Mimi Bocsa and his Social Team have recently designed new boxes to replace the RCE jars that were in businesses up until now. Forty boxes will eventually be placed in the community.

There was some drama at a store that had one of the older RCE donation jars located in it, not too long ago. A young man went into the store, asked the clerk for a pack of cigarettes and when she turned her back, he took the RCE jar and ran. She chased after him screaming at him as he ran. He threw the jar to the ground and kept on running. The woman got to the jar, saw it had broken open, the money in it, stuck in the mud. She picked up each bill and every coin, brought them back to her store, cleaned them up and gave them to RCE.

Donation box in 5 Corners Pizza

RCE's Financial Dept...
Speaking of donations..it's about time you met the important women that run RCE's Financial Dept in Arad.  Mili and Nicoletta work tirelessly to assure that RCE's books are in order, that everyone gets paid and that the ministry has enough finds coming in and out to cover all of the wonderful work RCE does!

Mili and Nicoletta of RCE's Financial Dept

Romanian words of the day:

April=  Aprilie (ah-pre-lea)

Romanian currency= Lei (lay) This is plural for Leu (lou).  1 Leu is  about 30 cents USD

Meet Flavia and the Cumpata family...

Flavia

Flavia's story...
During one of the trips I took to Romania in 2009, Doina told me a very interesting story about a blind girl in a small village named Patars (pa-tersh), which is a good drive from Arad. We visited that village and met the girl. Her name is Flavia.  She was born with physical and visual impairments that lead her parents to neglect her. They literally left her inside every day, sometimes restrained and barely gave her anything to eat. She was emaciated.

Flavia and her 'Mom'

A older Christian man in her village found out about her, and he asked her parents if he could care for her during the day when they were gone-- either working or looking for work. They said no to him, but he did not give up. When her parents left the village, he figured out a way to get around the chain type lock on their front door and took opportunity to slip Flavia sugar water and bits of food through the opening,  just so she could survive. This went on for a while until her parents discovered what he had been doing. They were not happy. They forbid him from coming to visit. But that didn't stop him. He continued to secretly support Flavia in any way he could. It wasn't long before the family broke up and Flavia was left behind. The old man took her into his home and treated her as if she were his own daughter.

The man's efforts came to RCE's attention when someone Doina knew from the village told her the story.  He asked if RCE could help the old man and his new special needs 'daughter'. Doina made contact with the man and RCE began to provide occasional food and diapers for the girl. Whenever the man ventured into Arad from his village he would stop by to see Doina.  They heard from him every few months or so.  Then came a long period of time when there was no contact. They worried and tried to get in touch with the man through their mutual friend. They found out the old man was in the hospital and had left the girl with one of his neighbors. It wasn't long before they found out he had died.  Doina got in contact with someone in the village to make sure Flavia was ok. It was then that she found out the incredible ending to this story.

Church in village of Patars

She found out that the neighbor of the old  man, the woman he had asked to care for Flavia while he was in the hospital had taken her in. She told Doina that the man had asked her to care for Flavia while he was gone and that if he died, take her into her home as her daughter. He asked her to  provide for her and love her as he had.  He wanted to make sure Flavia didn't end up in the terrible state orphanage system. The woman agreed to do all of this without hesitation. She took this blind physically impaired little girl who had no means of communication available to her, into her home and still loves her and cares for her to this very day. Flavia is now 15 years old.

Flavia's chickens

I was able to visit Flavia and her family during this trip, for a second time. She continues to be well cared for and with help from some medicines she's been taking recently, has begun to make some sounds. Her 'Mom' hopes she can some day say a few words. Until then, she is happy, healthy and so glad to be part of a family.

Mr. Cumpata

The Cumpata (coom-pata) family of the village of Livada (liv-ada) is a hard working, industrious family that is poor yet thriving. A couple years back, RCE went into partnership with the family and, as it turns out, gave them just the 'push' they needed to start work on their new home. A large family with 12 children (including 2 sets of twins) and a severely impaired young son with Down's Syndrome (and likely some form of Autism in addition), they needed more space for their family and their farm.

'Some' of the Cumpata children

The family lives off their land by raising many vegetables and animals. RCE helped repair the family's tractor and now Mr. Cumpata can make money by helping to transport things for the families in his neighborhood. The family also has a greenhouse, so they can grow some vegetables year round.

Initially, they didn't see the value in keeping their children in school beyond tenth grade-- "for what, they asked?" RCE required that they keep the kids in school in order to maintain the partnership..well aware of the many opportunities that would be available to them if they graduated from high school. The family finally agreed and now their oldest son who finished school has a job, was able to buy his own car and is a huge help to the family. The other children will follow him.

The family is building a new house on their property with the help of RCE. They are so proud of their hard work and plan to finish the house this summer. In their current home, all the boys sleep in one room, all of the girls in another. The parents sleep in the living room. The house has 2 bedrooms, a living room and a very small kitchen. So all the rooms are more than used. In the new house, there will be 4 bedrooms, a large kitchen, a pantry, a living room and another room in the back of the house. The parents told us that their boys are especially excited about having more space when the new house is done.

Romanian Word of the Day:

Type of cheese filled pastry= langos (lan-goshe)

Langos is for sale everywhere in Romania. There are stands in the market, along the roadside and even in stores. Langos is a salty pastry that is topped with cheese/dill; chocolate or many other toppings. It's then folded up and eaten very quickly because it's so delicious!

When I was taking these pictures, I didn't tell the ladies in the langos stand before I took them and my flash went off. They kept laughing because they thought it was lightning.


Note: there will be 2 blog postings today, so be on the lookout..

Pofta Buna!

Nicoletta's homemade pickles

Salata de beufe

Couldn't resist adding some more delicious dishes to the blog. While Romanians take great pride in their cooking and dishes are beautifully prepared, you have to know that everything is made at home. Usually made from vegetables and fruits from the garden and meat and eggs from the animals they own. Lots of people even make their own cheese and yogurt and even margarine. Each time I asked the ingredients of a dish I was surprised at how basic they were. It's what is done with them is what's so impressive! Here are some of the things that have appeared at various dinner tables I've sat at over the past week or so.. Pofta Buna!!

Here is what I ate when I had dinner at Nicoletta and Daniel's house this week. Daniel is Ovi's youngest brother.
We had salata de beuf, potatoes, a beef dish, homemade pickles, and bread.

For dessert we had a fresh
fruit compote and and foi (from wafers) with cream





 Spent at evening at Daniel and Ina's this past Tuesday. Ina made a

 delicious chicken cordon blu, potatoes and salad. Her dessert (baton) was like chocolate fudge and was fantastic!

Had a couple of other meals this week that were new to me. Chicken liver wrapped in bacon and pane (pa-nay) carne which is liver with a fried coating. It was served with a delicious spinach dish.. all were made by Doina. She said most Americans don't like liver, and I have to say it's not my favorite. But if it's prepared right and wrapped up in a nice piece of bacon it's irresistible!

Ina's 'baton'

Galuste

Placinta

Placinta cross section

Doina's Spinach

On another night this week I was treated to something I had never had before in Romania- Placinta (pla-chin-ta). They are a cake type pastry filled with one of the following: pumpkin, walnuts, sweet cheese, cabbage, or salty cheese. I also had galuste (ga-loosh-tay) which is made from flour, eggs and water. Very simple (but requires some quality time in the kitchen) and VERY delicious! Both were made by Doina's sister Ica who is a former RCE staffer and Sunshine School cook.

More Romanian Words of the day:

Chocolate bars= baton (ba-ton)

Cheese= brinza (brin-za)

Spinach= spanac (spa-nock)

IMPORTANT NOTE:  This is the SECOND blog post for today, Thursday March 31st!

Check out the first one on Darius House/Amy's House

 

RCE's 'Houses'..

In 2007 RCE entered into partnership with the Romanian Government to run the 'Darius Houses'. They are recuperative homes for abandoned, disabled children. Each of three houses is home to 8-10 children. Most of the children who live in the 'Darius Houses' attend RCE's Sunshine School, which is only a short walk away. Some of the other higher functioning children attend a city school.

Darius House Team

The Darius Houses have a large staff of assistants for the children, two cooks, two nurses, a psychologist, social worker, book keeper and a director. For the children who need it, one on one and group physical therapy and speech therapy is available through the Sunshine School. RCE Social Team and Sunshine School psychologists also play a vital role in helping the children.

Maria the cook

Maria the social worker

RCE's Social Team/Speranta Copiilor is always at work trying to find families for the children. They go out to individuals, organizations and churches to generate interest in the adoption and placement of these needy kids. Several children  have been placed in families from the Darius Houses and just this week Elisie will move out of RCE's care and into HIS new family!

Lucian

Andrea, Darius House Staff

Elena

The Darius House Team is lead by Lucian Bradean, Maria the social worker, Ruben the psychologist, and Elena who helps keep the books. All work collaboratively with other RCE staff to assure that the children under RCE's care at the Darius Houses receive the best care possible.  When the kids 'age out' of the Darius Houses and have goals directed toward independent living and possible job training, they could make a move across the RCE yard to 'Amy's House'.

Ghitza, Otto and Manu of Amy's House

 
Amy's House opened nearly one year ago in May of 2010. It is a recuperative home where three teenage boys live with house parents who also happen to have three of their own children. The boys, Manu, Ghitza and Otto are learning daily living skills such as dressing, keeping their rooms clean, cooking, dishwashing and even helping with yard work.

Krista teaching Manu how to use the rake

Otto took a try and volunteering stocking shelves at a local grocery store and Manu has expressed interest in washing cars. Ghitza is a very hard worker and is a terrific help around Amy's House. Krista and Adi are the house parents. Their job is to help guide and develop the boys and to teach them basic skills with the goal of future independent or semi-independent living.Thanks to the Boyle family and the generous support of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD, Amy's House is helping to brighten the future of these boys, who spent many years in the state orphanage system in Romania.

 Updates:
 - The traffic in Arad has gotten really bad over the past few years. So bad, in fact, that the mayor recently canceled much of the school bus service for the city so the roads wouldn't be as busy.

- I finally visited the woman who had the stroke in her home yesterday. She's had a pretty bad stroke and is very impaired unfortunately. Given the fact that she was aphasic and I didn't speak her language (going through a translator made things even more confusing for her) my time with her was made even more challenging.  But, I was able to teach the family a few things and hopefully she'll make some improvement over time with their assitance.

Alex and Emma

- Last Sunday, I had the 'privilege' of driving Alexandru and Emma of the Darius Houses home after they spent a day at church and having lunch with the Martin family. The kids are 9 and 10 years old and understand/speak very little English.  They were astounded when they heard I was going to drive them to the Darius Houses. They said (in Romanain).."Marti knows how to drive!?"  They sat in the back seat and when I put the key in the ignition and the car actually started they yelled "Bravo Marti!"  Then as I drove through the city they sweetly said.. 'rosu Marti', 'verde Marti', as I approached red (rosu) and green (verde) traffic lights...just in case I didn't see them.

- Capra update.. just today we FOUND a family who is very excited about receiving a brand new goat (capra)! We had one family all lined up and the goat delivery was to be yesterday, but then the family changed their mind and decided they wanted two pigs instead. So if all goes well I'll be able to finally report on the goat delivery sometime in the next couple of days..stay tuned!

Romanian Words of the Day:

Goat= capra (cap-ra)
Meeting= sedinta (sha-din-sa)
Green= verde (vear-day)
Red= rosu (ro-shay)

IMPORTANT NOTE:  There's still lots to share, but only a few more days left in RO. So be on the look out for 2 blog postings per day from here on out...