Notes from Cluj 2

Hi Everyone!
Well this picture isn't so great, but that's me next to the guy, Peter. This was a party we went to and several of my friends. Maureen and Peter from England, Betty Sue in blue, and Kalika next to me. Kalika is from India but is American now.


I can't believe what a busy summer we have had so far. A few weeks ago we had a weekend away over in the Eastern Carpathian mountains near Brasov. It was so beautiful...like the Rocky Mountains. Green and spring flowers everywhere. We got to hike one day, take in a pilgrimmage to a statue of Mary with 300,000 Hungarians/Romanians and go horseback riding one afternoon. Made me want to get a horse again!


We also went to Sighisoara which is an old German/Saxon fortress on the way. We spent the night in a refurbished old Saxon hotel.


Sadly, several Bechtel couples are moving on this week. The job is downscaling due to the gov't not paying us for so many months. So there have been lots of "last" get togethers and lunches.


We had a Hawaiian luau and 80 people came last Saturday! We were blessed with no rain and everyone had a good time. We even had some " Hawaiian" music downloaded. Wipe Out, Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho, Hawaii 5-o, Gilligans Island , Surfer Girl....Ha !! It was fun. And everyone Loved the teriyaki steak. The recipe is going out in the newsletter this week! Oh We had a birthday party for my friend Betty Sue too last week and a CIWC meeting (the women's club).


The women's club has decided to sponsor a gypsy girl (Roma we call them) for her education next year. 500 Euros! We should sponsor some more, but we'll see how this first one goes. We are also having a workshop about how to raise money legally here in Romania to do this sort of thing.





Mike and I are getting ready to leave for Jordan in one hour! AND he is still at work! AAGH!


He is ready for a much needed break. It's been a stressful few months since the first of the year whch was our last payment from the Romanian government...they switcheed transport ministers again and there is an election this fall.





We are so excited about this trip. We'll go to Amman, Jerash, Petra, Aquaba and the Dead Sea. We'll see where John the Baptist likely baptised Jesus...and other sites. We'll be back on the 18th to Bucharest and then the 19th back home. check out the sites at http://www.visitjordan.com/


Then we have Megan's visit on July 10th to look forward too. She will stay a couple weeks.





Casey just IM'd and is excited about choosing FOOD for the reception. They've picked a photographer, have a harpist to play, and are thinking about the flowers. I'm excited too!





Shannon is entertaining Jerome's brother with Jerome of course from Holland. She is also taking classes via the internet for nursing school entry. I think she said she is taking developmental psychology right now. She is looking for a new job. Mike is checking out some Bechtel jobs in the US for her!





Megan is loving her job at The Ocean Air Restaurant at Gov't Square in Boston. Check it out at http://theoceanaire.com/location/index.asp?id=14 Shannon's friend from college, Jeff, is working there. He is also working at Children's Hospital and is loving Boston.


Meg is still working at the hospital doing the hand hygiene study until she comes here. Then she'll be done there. She is taking 2 summer school classes right now also, so she is pretty busy!

I was trying to find some pictures from our Odorhei trip. Guess they are on the other computer!
The pictures below were taken from the Balcony of our house. I have Roses, marigolds, panies, salvia and carnations planted. The narrow strip is my veggie garden out back.
Anyway, this is the latest from us for now!