Building

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to participate in a great project with fellow Peace Corps volunteers and Habitat for Humanity.  To mark the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps globally and the 20th anniversary Peace Corps Romania, volunteers worked to raise $30,000 to build a home and then got the majority of the construction of the home done over the course of a week in a blitz build. 

The house in Beius

PC volunteers from across Romania came together with the Habitat Beius staff and the family to build the house from the foundation up over the week. PCVs came in shifts of two or three days from around the country to work on the job site.  I came for the last two days of the builds so this meant plastering, sanding, painting, and installing flooring.  The Habitat staff were incredible.  Not only were they incredibly patient, hard-working and knowledgeable, but they were also very fun people to be around.  

During our visit we got to visit the studio where the Petrus family currently lives.  They have a tiny space for family of four with an incessant black mold problem (you can see photos and read more about the family here).  It was a stark contrast to the two bedroom home that we were building together. 

my hometown sign

Zamfir hanging up signs

On Saturday we had the dedication ceremony.  The home was blessed by a priest and we put a plaque up to commemorate the build.  It was a very moving experience that I can't do justice to in words.

 the dedication ceremony

 Jocelyn, Valerie, Becca, and Justin handing over the plaque

Good-byes

The school year ends and yet my confusion had not yet abated.  The end of this term seems the most anti-climatic end of a school year I've ever experienced.  This mainly stems from a lack of communication with my counterpart and my general anonymity in my school.  On Monday, I had arranged to take the day off as I was coming back from the Habitat build (more about this in my next post) and my train didn't arrive back until 4 a.m. and I didn't quite think I would be functional for my 8 a.m. class.  I didn't think this would matter as next week is the last week of school.  

However, on Tuesday when I arrived and spoke with my counterpart I discovered that although next week is the last week of school all my classes would finish this week.  Apparently, only 9th graders go to school next week and I don't teach 9th grade.  Thus by not being in school Monday I missed saying good-bye to 4 classes.  I feel disappointed in myself for not knowing this and not being able to try to do something special to end the year.

The rest of the week was pretty much par for the course. A lot of classes didn't show or had been told my their form teachers they didn't need to come to school.  About 75% of my students live in villages that surround my town so I won't see them this summer.  I know my students don't read my blog, but I wanted to acknowledge them in this entry.  

Students in 10A, 10B, 10C, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 12A and 12C: I hope you all have a wonderful summer.  I learned so much from all of you this year!

throwing away the schedule I kept on my apartment door all year