Dayton and the Delta

One year ago I left my best friends in the world to come to Romania. The University of Dayton became my home in so many more important ways than it can ever possibly be understood.

This past month I got the chance to meet up with a group of UD students traveling around Eastern Europe for a study abroad sustainability course. They had invited me to join them on the last leg of their tour on the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. (Yes I have dozens of pictures but not on this computer, check the facebook album I will eventually post for visual aids) We spent a full week on a floating hotel checking out endangered bird species, frogs, floating reed beds, infinate amounts of breathtaking landscapes and intense intellectual discussions on science and the future of the planet. I was in heaven as you can imagine.

One of the main reasons I was asked to join the students was to talk about Peace Corps and Romania, and the projects I have done and are trying to get done. I found that in talking about not just myself all week, but about Romania that I have come to fall deeply in love with this country. The more I talked about it and described all the little quirks of the people and culture and in talking to some of the staff on the boat, and translating the questions of the students, I realized how happy I was. I also got a much needed boost of support and appreciation. I can't think of how many times I got praised for my work, even though I basically play with kids all day it seems not so much to me, but I was able to look from the outside for a little bit and recognize that in a small way, teaching the web of life and its connection to us humans, is a small but important lesson to learn.

One of the professors asked do I feel like a better person because of my time here and I honestly shocked myself when I said yes immediately. And I do. I think that not everyone needs to be a volunteer for two years, but everyone should spend some time alone abroad to learn about what you can actually get through as a person, learn from it, and then find out a passion you never thought you had before.

Bottom line. Thank you Dayton, for reminding me why I came here. And for believing in me that its the right choice.