Twenty eight

I was born twenty eight years ago, on the day that both Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as the 40th president of the United States and the American diplomats being held hostage in Iran were released to US custody. It's something I know simply because I was born on that day. My mom has told me the story a few times, of how she spent the day watching Reagan's inauguration and the developing story of the hostage situation in Iran, until a certain someone decided it was time and demanded some attention. After my delivery, she passed out and woke up thinking she was a hostage in Iran, luckily not for long. It's an interesting way to start life. I've never really thought about me being born, but I feel this year that things have somehow come full circle. I like that every four or eight years, my birthday coincides with the optimism of a new president's official swear-in ceremony and the inevitably uplifting words. A fresh start and the hope that accompanies the unknown. I listened to Reagan's address yesterday, just out of curiosity, and I know he wasn't always the most awesome president, depending on which camp you fall in, but listening to that speech, or any president's inaugural speech, brings a little swell of proud hope into your heart. I felt it yesterday as I listened to his words and I felt it even more so today as I listened to Obama's. Both then and now, the US was faced with a dark recession and no matter how deep the hole, an eloquently delivered speech temporarily soothes the starkest of fears, especially for those of us who are just trying to live our lives. Perhaps it's silly to think that I was born into a day of hope as Reagan spoke of prosperity and, a short while later, the fifty two hostages who had been held for over a year stepped out into the sun as free people. Maybe they squinted at the brightness of the sun as they emerged for the first time, just as I squinted at the glare of the hospital lamps in my first blinking moments of life. Maybe they struggled to breath in deeply because the air felt so clean and new after months of staleness, just as I stretched out my lungs to deliver my first wail of surprise. Maybe they felt a renewed interest in and love for life, just as I was becoming aware of it. With the hopeful words of a new president playing quietly in the background, we both gained life that day, they having it handed back to them and I having it start anew. I'd like to think that twenty eight years from right now, somewhere out there a birthday girl or boy will take an interest in the day of their birth and discover that there is quite a bit to reflect on and that the world really is a hopeful place.

Call for plays

I must say, I'm a little disappointed. I've been searching for about three hours now for something to do with the drama club in honor of Women's Day (March 8th), but whenever I type into the search engine any combination of the following words: one-act play women history promote strong, the only plays that come up are about eating disorders or abusive relationships. Yes, eating disorders and bad relationships are troubling topics worthy of discussion and dramatic performance, but I think the history and pride of women is a bit richer and hopefully brighter than anorexia or abusive men. I don't want to sound insensitive, but I'm hoping to put on something uplifting about the changes women can make in the world instead of focusing on how the world can beat us down. And I'm having a very difficult time finding a (royalty free) one-act play to do that with. So...I guess I'm asking for your advice, if you know of any plays out there that would fit the ticket. I know it's a long shot, but leave me a comment with your suggestion and if it works out, I'll dedicate the play to you. Thanks.

Look alike

For the first six or so months here, I would occasionally see a person who I would have to look at twice, do a double-take, because they looked like someone back home. It happened alot at first; those moments of "she looks just like...could it be?" followed by "no, no...they're thousands of miles away. Stop being so silly." It's strange how the mind does that. How when you're overwhelmed with newness, your mind searches so desperately for something known that it will take a person you undoubtedly have never seen before in your life and transform them into your mother or your best friend, your old college professor or even the barista from your favorite coffee shop, and for a fleeting second your heart leaps into your throat and you want to run to them and fling yourself into a big hug and jump up and down with them in excitement. But the fleeting second passes and logic takes over and you realize how silly your mind's form of wishful thinking is. These moments almost never happen anymore. I kind of miss them and the little dose of mystery, excitement, and heartache that they would bring. Of course I'm not going to randomly bump into my sister over here, but there's something a little bit mystical in your mind's temporarily successful search for familiar faces in a world that's knowingly unfamiliar. It makes me wonder, too, just how different from eachother are the grubby man who resembles my dad and my dad. Are their personalities at all similar? I saw him three days ago and his face looked so uncannily like my dad's that I'm pretty sure had my dad grown up here, with less nutrients, more air pollution, and the hardship that went with living under communism, he would have been identical twins with the man. Slightly hunched back, five foot six bony frame, gently bowed legs, a cane in hand, missing and badly stained teeth. It's a little scary to think about how much of our appearance and health depends on when and where we grew up. Had my dad's look alike been born in the US, maybe he'd be standing on solid legs, baking bread on Sundays and making guitars in his free time, too, instead of leaning on a cane, sweeping the streets and emptying the trash cans to earn a living. Who knows.

2008 (from my good friend ace)

1. Where did you begin 2008?
On the road between Miami Beach and Reno with my mom and Ozzie. I believe we were staying the night at a hotel in Mobile, Alabama on New Year's eve.

2. What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Invited.

3. Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Informally, you bet.

4. Did you have to go to the hospital?
Yes, I accompanied a friend with diabetes to a Romanian hospital. It's a night I will never forget.

5. Did you have any encounters with the police?
About four months ago, I was putting posters up around town to get the word out about an electronic recycling campaign a friend was organizing. All the posters I had were in Hungarian, but all the police here are Romanian, so when a police man saw me putting up a Hungarian sign, he asked me why I didn't have any posters in Romanian, that way everyone could understand. I tried to explain to him that I was just helping and didn't know why and he immediately recognized me as the foreigner I am and gruffly shook my hand and told me good job, but next time to request Romanian posters, too. I said ok.

6. Where did you go on vacation?
Sighisoara, the Apuseni Mnts, Campalung Moldovanesc, Targu Mures, Okland, Turda, Onesti, Miercurea Ciuc, Brasov.

7. What did you purchase that was over $500?
I sold my car.

8. Did you know anybody who got married?
Uh...not that I know of.

9. Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes.

10. Did you move anywhere?
Yeah. Romania.

11. What sporting events did you attend?
A soccer game in Ploiesti and a hockey game in Miercurea Ciuc. The first had free obnoxiously yellow hats and the second had awesome tasty hot tea.

12. What concerts/shows did you go to?
A few just before I left. My favorite was probably a Holland Project show featuring the Juvinals and Panic Opera. There was also an orchestra concert in Ploiesti during training with a fantastic rendition of the 1812 overture. A couple other little classical concerts here and there. I miss shows alot.

13. Where do you live now?
Sfantu Gheorghe

14. What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
Organize a drama club

15. What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
Please refer to the past 10 months of entries.

16. What's something you learned about yourself?
I have an embarrassingly horrible memory, but people still seem to like me.

17. Any new additions to your family?
No, but a close friend back home just had twins and I can't wait to meet them!

18. What was your best month?
I guess December. The drama club put on its first production and that felt pretty awesome.

19. What music will you remember 2008 by?
Antelope and Tom Waits.

20. Made new friends?
More than ever before.

21. Favorite Night[s] out?
Each night at In Service Training was pretty fun.

22. Any regrets?
I regret not being naturally talented at learning languages.

23. What do you want to change in 2009?
Enjoy more, stress less

24. Overall, how would you rate this year on a scale of 1-10?
6.5

25. What would you change about 2008?
Losing touch with lots of people back home...but I guess that's inevitable.

26. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
On a train, bus, or maxi taxi.

27. Have any life changes in 2008?
Whatever changes happen when you move to a foreign country.

28. Change your hairstyle?
Actually, it's back to where it was last year at this time, though it went fairly long and very short in between.

29. Get a new job?
PCV!

30. Do you have a New Year's resolution?
Usually I don't do resolutions, but this year I'm going with reading more, eating healthier, exercising more, traveling more, and stressing less.

31. Did anything embarrassing?
Yes. Lots.

32. Buy anything new from eBay?
I helped a colleague decipher his purchase of golf balls. That was my first and last interaction with the site.

33. What was/were your favorite purchase[s]?
My felt bags, woven scarf, and honey pot from my favorite craft shop. And all the little trinkets I got to send back home.

34. Get married or divorced?
Or neither.

35. Get arrested?
No. But, I did go through the security at Frankfurt airport twice in one day, which felt pretty much the same.

36. Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
No. I did watch one episode of Romanian Idol, though.

37. Did you get sick this year?
More than ever before, except the time that I had the chicken pox. I didn't barf this year though, which is nice. I've just had lots of little tummy troubles. Nothing too severe.

38. Start a new hobby?
Romanian and maybe cooking. Still obsessed with easy crossword puzzles. Please send me some.

39. Been snowboarding?
No.

40. Are you happy to see 2008 go?
Happy and surprised it's already over. How quick a year can go.

41. Drank Starbucks in 2008?
I had one Starbucks in Philadelphia. It was the first day of staging and we had some time before the session started, so we all thought we'd go to the Liberty Bell and along the way, we stopped by Starbucks. I really needed coffee and just let go of my pride and convictions for five seconds in order to wake up and not make everyone wait while I hunted down a local place. So shoot me.

What are you wishing for in 2009?
Peace. In Reno. In Romania. On Earth.