Hip-hip-hooray!

My dear friend and fellow Peace Corps volunteer, Megan, got married last weekend. Megan is in her third year as a volunteer working in the environmental sector and has had a special project this year, planning a wedding! This has actually meant planning three wedding ceremonies; one at the city hall in her fiancee's town, one at a Romanian Orthodox church and one stateside. I was lucky enough to get to attend the first ceremony last Saturday.

Megan married Relu, a native of Oneşti, on a perfect spring day.

Getting ready for city hall...

Relu and Megan, gearing up for the ceremony!

The ceremony only took about five minutes and was conducted by two women from the primărie (city hall). The crowd clapped when Megan said "da," yes in Romanian.

The second ceremony will take place in a Romanian Orthodox church after Easter. The Romanian Orthodox Church is in Post (essentially Lent) right now so no wedding ceremonies are performed until after Easter.

Cheers to the happy couple!

With the bride and groom!

over the mountains and through the woods

My old host family lives about a five hour bus ride south and west of me. During my visit with them a couple weeks ago we had splendid weather, but on the trip back north the weather got colder. The trip takes me through two mountains ranges and as the bus entered the second one we came upon fresh snow. While I don't enjoy snow in spring, I couldn't help but enjoy the beauty.

Celebrating

Two weekends ago I took a trip south to visit my host family from last summer. I lived with Maria and Gicu for 11 weeks during training and they graciously invited me to help celebrate the birthday Maria and Nicolae (one of her son-in-laws).

It was great to see Maria, Gicu and all the family that live in the area. Here is a little video from the party.