Scurrrrrr....A Bumpy Landing

Loyal and dedicated followers,

From Killa City, Mo to Chi-town, IL by bus, from Chi-town to London by plane and from London to Bucharest by plane it seemed to never stop. Indeed, Vlad and I spent over 48 hours just getting to our final destination. I was so sick of sitting, airports, planes, and moving in general. I held my fists in their air as a sign of relief after crossing 8 time zones and finally landing in Romania. I was exhausted with a headache and not really sure where I was.

Let me tell you, this is not the place that I came from. Bucharest has a flavor that I've never sampled before. It has the feeling of a big, bustling city without the huge glass skyscapers. Rather, tall concrete apartment buildings with small shops on the first floor are the dominant landscape. Weaving through the city are alleys, patios, and parks. People are everywhere; driving, walking, biking, busing.

The weather has been sunny and mild. Besides enjoying the authentic meals cooked by Vlad's grandmother, I've had to the opportunity to walk around and see the city. It feels alive with movement and young people are everywhere. I definately feel like an outsider but that is to be expected. My challenge is to connect with people here and learn from them the best I can. Already several cultural revelations have become visible. Look for more in the next installment along with pictures to boot. Until then, stay classy San Diego.

Justin