* To update the situation with the Rroma (Gypsy) community.
This article is kind of a follow up from the March 27th entry …

http://paulinromania.blogspot.com/2007/03/poverty-is-reality-
that-exists.html

At the coffee shop this morning I was speaking with my friend
who works in the Mayor’s office as the liaison between the office
and the Rroma community.

As of now there are still a few from the community that are
making a living at the customs stations. Albeit it is a very small
living, but it is a living. These are mostly the people who don’t
have any education (usually and 8th grade education is required
to get a factory job) and have been able to manage to continue
to earn some money.

The liaison is really a great guy and really cares about his
community. But, as predicted with the scope of what would be
needed to change the community, it has been a series of one
thing after another.

There are some positive happenings, in the recent weeks there
have been approximately 20 or so women and an equal amount
of men finding stable jobs. It will make an impact in the
community in general but there are quite a few more that are
in need.

One situation that will be happening soon is that the customs
station will be closing for a few months and if I understand
correctly, there shouldn’t be any traffic coming through. This
will eliminate the little opportunities for those whom are making
a living there at the moment. Also, it is bad timing as school has
just started up again and they won’t have money to pay the
expenses needed for their children to attend.

Also, the winter is coming soon and that means heating concerns.
Many use wood and that costs. Some get some social assistance
to help them out (which is really only a band aid to the real problem)
and that hasn’t come this month and no one knows when it will
arrive.

So I guess that there will be some rough times ahead and some
action that will be needed to be taken. This action will have to
come from both sides … for example … going to school to get the
8th grade diploma … and the school system offering the
opportunities for that to happen. The liaison has facilitated a
class for this purpose and we’ll see how many take the
opportunity.

Despite the difficulties ahead it appears that it is the best thing
that could happen. It will force actions to be taken and eventually,
with patience and a good thought process, result in what should
have happened right after the revolution … a metamorphosis.

* My sister is visiting Romania (on left in below picture)
and yesterday she had a cooking inter cultural exchange
with my next door neighbor (named Milushka).
She made French meat pie which has been a staple in my
family for the Christmas and New Year's holidays ever
since I can remember and before.
My next door neighbor made 'ciorba' a standard soup here
in Romania.
We took a few pictures of the soup making process.

First, here is my sister and Milushka at work.



They started with a big pot ... (white one) ...



Put in water and ground pig meat and pig brains ...



Then a couple of bay leaves ...



Add an onion ...



Carrots ... you can see the quantity ...



Everything is thrown in the pot ...



Add salt and pepper ( pepper not shown ) ...



Bring it all to a boil then reduce the heat and add tomato
juice and a little rice with some vegetable spice.



Cook for approximately an hour after all the ingredients
are in.
Serve with a little (very) little vinegar ( quarter tablespoon )
and cream cheese if desired.

This is probably one of many other different ways to make
ciorba. If you decide to try and make it then ... pofta buna ...
or Bon Appetit.

  One of the situations that Romania is noted for is that
of free roaming dogs. It is one of the topics that us volunteers have a story or two to tell during our time
here.
  Most of the times it is just kind of intimidating to see
several dogs packed together barking at you as you walk,
ride a bike or jog by. There have been a few instances
where a volunteer has been nipped by one of them.
  I have a dog story of my own which has it's origins in a
yesterday walk through the park on my way home from
the grocery store.
  My story is not based on barking aggressive dogs, it is the
exact opposite. It is that I have been randomly adopted by
a dog instead, without provocation.
  Upon returning home I figured that in a few hours the dog
would just up and leave ... I was wrong. 
  I left to go jogging and the dog followed me to the park
and actually ran the laps with me. Then followed me home,
waited outside the gate all night and was raring to go to the
coffee shop with me this morning at 9 a.m.
  So now I have everyone I meet telling me that I have a dog
as they kind of chuckle the words out of their mouths.
  Despite the fact that I am 55, (and neither a dog hater or 
dog lover) this is a first.
  What makes it kind of special is that it happened ... 'In
Romania' ... a place known for it's dogs and their attitudes.
  Here is a picture of the dog.



  Now I can't go anywhere without this dog at
my heals.
  My friend's mother always said that animals and
babies are the best judge of character. So I guess
I should be flattered but I am thinking more in the
way that the dog may be just plain ... 'psycho' ...
is that possible?