Last day of a great experience

Today was our final day in Romania, and we used it to see Bucharest, the city Vlad Tepes founded in 1456 and made his capital, and which is now the capital of Romania as a whole. It was where the big beginning of the Romanian Revolution against the Communist government in 1989 took place, and where the people are protesting the same type of corruption literally today (and last night, complete with bottle rockets and running police). Tibi told us a lot of stories about living under their particularly bad brand of Communism—having to pretend to sing songs of praise to the Leader (while instead mouthing bad words while a recording was played) and illegally turning your antennae to catch Bulgarian stations to escape the constant propaganda, to waiting in line for ten hours for your monthly ration of a kilo of meat and finding out the store doesn’t have any, to never knowing if your neighbor or best friend is spying on you for an extra food coupon.

We went to Revolution Square, and the “People’s House” (the disgustingly huge palace the main Communist leader was building for himself and the Party), and an amazing display in front of the military academy that chronicled the history of the Romanian people, from the times of the Romans and Dacians (people originally of the region who melded with the Roman conquerors to make the current Romanians), through Vlad the Impaler and Stephen the Great (his cousin who came to his aid against the Turks), all the way through Communism. Of course that last little part is a bit of a lie, showing Romanian girls kissing and hugging Soviet soldiers, but like Tibi said, there’s still room at the end of the wall to grow. He talked about how the freedom to speak is the most important thing to him and his country, since they know what it’s like for that to not be OK. He’s so passionate, just like the many others we’ve witnessed in all aspects of life, and it makes me proud of them and us as Americans for feeling the same about our country. The pride of the people is what can get things done when used for the betterment of all people, and that’s what the Romanians have always been looking for. Again, they may not all have the newest gadgets, but know they’re worthy of a decent life as decent human beings. I loved our time here, and I can’t wait to come back some day.

As far as this trip having any lasting impact on me, I’d have to say OF COURSE! This is the trip that’s been the most exotic, the most removed from my home turf, and I’m happy to say I loved it. It was especially interesting to me that the culture that seems farthest from ours in my mindset has been the most genuinely warm and inviting. I loved London as well, but that was more for the grandness of it all—Big Ben, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, etc.

As with all my J-term trips, I feel more connected than ever to the world, both in knowledge and comfort, and that’s saying something when you’re going to college in Northwest Iowa. Where lots of people are really similar, I’d never have expected to find the opportunities I’ve had to extend myself as a global citizen here. As I said at the group reflection, what I’ll remember most about Romania is the passion of the people. Its goes past the dollars and cents and into the very being of the people, many of which are dedicating their lives to the continuation and growth of their culture. I’ve said more than a couple times, but the people make or break the trip, and both the people on the trip and along the trip have made this a wonderful memory, but moreover a changing experience that I can take with me and do a little part in helping continue the knowledge and honor of the cultures I experience.