The utility poles in town aren't only used to hold up power
lines. They are also used to support nests off the ground
( as you can see in the below photo).



We have an approximately 100 hectare fish farm
right outside of town. So it appears for this reason
we are graced with the presence of these birds.



I have seen 6 such nests throughout the town (there
is probably more). At this time the babies are starting
to poke their heads out of their nests.

It's a pretty cool thing to see while walking down the
street.

The 411 despre ... Shaorma

Shaormas are a pretty popular thing here and I am
going to explain what's needed to make one.
Of course for people who've never heard of a Shaorma,
just continue reading and you'll see a work of art unfold.
I have seen other spellings of the word 'Shaorma'.
I am using this version because it is written on the wall
of the building where I go to get one of these babies.

This is where you start ...

Add (in this case) chicken ...
(If a vegetarian ... ignore this step)

Then a few french fries ...

Pop it in the microwave for about 3 minutes ...

Add some onions and cabbage ...

A few tomatoes ...

Then some cucumbers and lettuce ...

Place some yogurt on top ...

Then ketchup ...

A little mayonnaise ...

Then some cheese (they used a yellow cheese) ...

Then just fold it ...

They put it in aluminum foil ...

There you are ... a Shaorma ... it was told
to me that it is of Arabic origin.

As they say in Romanian ... Pofta Buna
or Bon Appetit.
Also, please ... do this at home !!!

So how does one smoke a ham?

This is probably one of those questions that have been eating
at you for so long. Well if it has been bothering you and you
need to know how to smoke a ham, then I will explain it to you,
as it was explained to me.

This morning my next door neighbor was hanging out these
( pig flanks ) hind legs from pigs.

As you can see they are processed and ready to eat. I
asked him what was involved in preparing these flanks and
he told me how it is done.

So I am writing this article to share the knowledge that
I've received.

First, after of course harvesting the flanks, you need to
cover the flanks in salt. But as he explained, not just any
salt, a salt product that is used for preserving. These flanks
are covered for between 5 to 6 weeks. This depends on the
humidity at the time. The more humid the quicker the salt
will be absorbed by the meat. During this 5 to 6 week period
the flanks must be turned over approximately 3 or 4 times
and salt applied as needed. After this time the flanks are
washed off of residual salt then hung up outside to air dry.

The next step is to smoke the flanks and they have a little
smoke room that holds about 20 or 30 pieces depending on
the sizes. They smoke the flanks for 2 or 3 nights, until the
skin gets a golden color ( see in picture below ).

During the day they open the door to the smoke room to
allow ventilation and cool air to enter.

What they use to create the smoke is sawdust, but not
just any sawdust, they want it to be from good smelling
hardwoods. If they used softwoods it would give a bitter
taste to the meat and would actually ruin the whole flank.
I think that he used the sawdust from the 'stejar' tree
( the word for oak in Romanian ).

But the key to smoking is to make a lot of smoke with
little heat. Coolness throughout the process is needed.

Here is a bird's eye view of a flank that is finished. It is
hanging outside in the cool air.

So there you have it, if any of you were staying up nights
due to the fact that you needed to know how to smoke the
flank of a pig ... then ... pleasant dreams.

The 8th of March is Woman's Day or Mother's Day
here in Romania.
The usual tradition is to buy flowers and chocolates
for the ladies.
Unfortunately this Mother's Day here in the western
part is a rainy one. Despite that you can see people
walking around carrying flowers.
I don't think that even a rainy day could dampen the
Mother's Day festivities here.

   Due to a demand for information regarding the welfare

of one 'Psycho Dog' (article: Saturday, September 01, 2007)

... seen below ... I am submitting this blog article

                  

It is a case of alls well that ends well. In fact a neighbor two

doors up the street, adopted her.

  She had a litter a few months ago but I don't know

anything about how well it went, how many puppies she

had or where they are now.

  She is still chasing cars and people on bicycles but she appears

to have stopped chasing children.

  Also, she is not out on the street as much and the new owners

let her out for about an hour or so each day.

  As for me and Psycho dog, well ... we get along great. She is

happy to see me and I'm not having people threaten to call

the police on me because of her.

  I do also feel good about how it all turned out. She has a

good solid home with plenty of food and a few children to play with.

  So again, alls well that ends well ... amen.

  A few months ago while walking the small town streets of
Nădlac, I was kind of startled by the sudden appearance of a
bicycle as it came up upon me.

  This is generally not an issue as pedestrians are usually warned
by the actual bicycles themselves as they approach. If by or not
by intention, it is always apparent that there is someone peddling
away. You can hear a chain rubbing or some other parts
squeaking, and so on.

  So, as I was going to cross the street it appeared in the corner
of my eye, a bicycle in what seemed to be in stealth mode. I
surprised to see a person locomoting ( I don't think it is a word,
but it fits the scene) a long distance without peddling
a lick.
 
  A minute was needed to observe that this wasn't just, a bike.
Nope not just a bike indeed ... it was an electric bike.
The first one I had seen in action.

  So, I inquired around and people mentioned that some of the
residents are buying these electric bicycles from the small cities
over the border in Hungary. The cities are named Makko and
Szeged.

  The reason being that they are less expensive there.

  OK, for a few weeks I keep seeing these shiny new bikes
cruise by with the people just calm and as relaxed as can be.

  I did run into a lady I know who purchased one of them so I
asked her a few questions about her new electric bike ....
shown below.

          

  These are actually a quite nifty way to get around in
an economic and environmentally friendly manner.

  The bike itself costs somewhere around 200 Euro and
as of this posting ... 295 USD.

  The characteristics of the bike are quite good. The
average distance that a fully charged battery would
provide is somewhere in the vicinity of 18 to 20 miles.
We could think of it as better mileage or equal to what
an SUV would produce with a gallon of gasoline.

  Also, if the battery dies on you ... just start peddling.

  The approximate life of a battery is somewhere between
1 to 1 and a half years. The cost of a replacment battery?
I don't know. But I do know that it takes about 4 to 6
hours to recharge a dead battery. If there is a mini solar
panel to recharge, then it is for free.

  As far as driving goes, it is similar to a regular motorcycle
or moped. Just have to turn the ride side handle grip ...

          
  
  and away one goes, quite smartly I might add.

  I read that China has millions of these electric bikes.
There is a criticism (there always is about everything,
good or bad) as it concerns China, that is the
disposing of the old batteries. Of course, there has
to be places and people prepared to deal with such
toxic substances.

  Despite that, there is just so much upside to these
electric bicycles. First, not expensive to purchase.
Doesn't use any fluids ... gasoline, brake fluid, motor
oil, transmission fluid or anti-freeze.

  Sounds pretty cost effective, to me.

  Other positives are that it doesn't create hydrocarbons,
is quiet, which reduces noise pollution. It requires
less space and helps reduce traffic jams.

   Yeah, it isn't for all people, especially those who have
to travel more than the bicycles battery power would
provide.

  But what about those trips to the store for milk or
other running around town errands?

  In the world of escalating fuel prices (and prices in
general) I think that this electric bike is great choice
... for locomoting.

It has been quite a while since I've added to this
blog.

If I say it this way ... it has been 2 and a half months
since my last article ... then I feel as if I am making a
confession.

In fact I am, I am confessing that I've been a little
lazy with the articles.

Also that, and the fact that it has been kind of slow
here during the holiday and winter season.

Even despite the fact that it has been a month since
the holiday season '07' ... I'd like to wish that everyone
has a great New and Happy Year.

I will be following this article up with one in the next day
or two.

I will give you a hint of the topic ... electric bike.

Also, I will make a pledge to not be so lazy during
the next 9 months I will be here in Romania.

Ciao

* Goulash or how they spell it here … gulaş … is
the topic of this article.
It was told to me that it is originally an Hungarian
dish and the following recipe is one from the
Transylvania region.
They started with an approximately 45 liter or about
47.5 quart metal cooking dish. This batch was one of
about of about 30 liters or 31.7 quarts. You can see that
a barrel was altered so that the dish would fit into it.
The wood is placed at the bottom and you can see the
chimney in the picture below.



This batch was made from pork and the best they said
is when gulaş is made from a 50% pork and 50% beef
mixture.
Onions are added in an approximately 20% quantity of
meat. So, for every 10 lbs of meat one would add
2 lbs of onions.
Wine was added ( a homemade red ) and that was
till the desired taste was achieved.
Tomatoes or tomato sauce/juice was again added
until it arrived to the preferred taste.
Chili powder was introduced till the sauce becomes
a nice red color. In picture below.



This is the next door neighbors making this and they
have many chili pepper plants behind their house.
Here is a picture of some harvested peppers that have
began to dry out.



It is dried well and then made into powder.



Salt and …



‘Foi de Dafin’ ( Bay Leaf) are added.



After that kidney meat was added.



Of course one needs to stir it every so often and below
you will be able to see the chef as he stirs the pot.



It is cooked until the sauce thickens and
the meat is tender.



This chef’s preferred gulaş is made from pig’s
ears, kidney and feet.
There are gulaş cooking contests where usually
10 or more pots are cooking at a time. I have to
say that it smells great. I can just imagine that
magnified by 10 times.
The best tasting is from a tripod with a hanging pot
above a wood fire. It is probably because it gets a
‘smoked effect’.

In the end the chef says that the best gulaş comes
from the ability to make it to taste. So there is the
secret.
It can probably be said that there is no fixed recipe
but I hope that this article can give you the basics on
how it is made here in our town. It is up to you to give
it that ... ‘je ne sait quoi’ ... taste.

* 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?  

  I am a lifelong city slicker and have had limited
exposure with the animal kingdom. There has
been the usual cats and dogs.
  Since my Peace Corps travels the exposure
has increased immensely.
  In Central America it was chickens, turkeys,
chuchos and chucas (half-starved dogs).
  Africa was cows, lizards, snakes, bats, frogs,
vultures, goats, sheep and monkeys.
  Here in Romania it has been, chickens, turkeys
and what is fast becoming my favorite ... geese.



  These guys reside in back of the house of
my next door neighbor.

  There was originally 4 but something ate
two of them when they were small.



  Now at night Bobbie, the neighbor's dog, stands
guard over them.



  What impresses me about these geese is that
they are personable. In fact they are really kind
of 'people geese'.
 Of all the other animals these are the only ones
that have had this trait.
  For you people who have had experience with
them, you know all this and more. For me it is 
like the Peace Corps has been ... a learning
experience.
  
  I am going to end this entry with the picture
below ... it speaks for itself.

  I am still in Nădlac and it has been a slow summer since the
school closed for it's vacation. With the summer winding down
comes the yearly 'Zile de Nădlac' or Nădlac Days.
  The pictures you see were taken on Sunday, the last day of
the three day festival.



Parade arrives from the Mayor's office to the central park.



The town's only undertaker and his wife participates in
the procession. My brother-in-law does the same thing
and they both have the same sense of humor.



Opening ceremonies for Sunday's activities.



Musical group from Hungary ... they were really good.



Romanian vocal group but I don't where they're from.



One of many cultural dance troupes.

  We did do something this summer and that was to organize
a Rroma dance troupe from Nădlac. It took a little work and
a lot of patience but we did it.
  I have to mention that the mayor does support the dance
troupe. He enlisted the services of a part time choreographer
and also purchased the dance costumes.

Here are a couple of the dancers close up.



I don't know either ones' name, sorry.



  Below they are dancing and actually kind of rocking the
house. The troupe is new and could use a little more
experience.
  Despite that, they sure livened the place up. They were
dancing with a true 'joie de vive'.



So there you have it ... Nădlac Days 2007.