In THREE days I am leaving for Sighisoara, Romania, and I could not be more excited! Last week, I had a final meeting with Professor Sturtevant, the professor and chair of the department of social work and sociology at Hope, and Jill, my friend and fellow Hope social work student who will also participate in the Romania Studies Program (RSP) this fall. In this meeting, we reviewed the basic guidelines and requirements for fulfilling our 440 field practicum hours while in Romania, and Professor Sturtevant gave us last-minute tips on how to adapt to the Romanian culture. Because Jill and I are the first Hope social work students to seek to fulfill our field practicum hours through the RSP, we do not know what exactly to expect from this trip. I believe that the “unknown” aspect of this trip is what excites me the most. We are the “guinea pigs” for the social work department, and this opportunity is seen as a blessing for my adventure-seeking heart. I anticipated leaving the meeting feeling overwhelmed, and was surprised when I felt even more assured that this is the trip God has in store for me. It will be comforting having a friend embark on this journey with me, and I am thrilled that I get to leave so soon.
These last few days have been filled with last-minute shopping, visiting friends, and spending time with family. I am still working on packing, and I have found it extremely helpful that the director of the RSP, Dorothy Tarrant, sent us a packing list that included the breakdown of clothing and toiletry necessities, gift ideas for our host parents, non-essentials that we may have room for, as well as possible donation ideas for the sister program in Romania called Veritas. I have planned out what I intend to bring, and now the trick is to fit it all in the one suitcase and one carry-on that I am allowed to bring – I’ll let you know how that goes. 😉
Wish me luck, and keep me in your prayers, for in THREE days I will begin the trip of a lifetime!
Marga =)