MAKING IT PERSONAL

My main intention with the creation of this blog is to update people what I'm doing with my life, and that includes everything from what I'm wearing, what I did, where I went, what I ate, what I discovered, and how I felt. Oftentimes, I've omitted the latter part because it's much more convenient to share things at a superficial level. This is what I wore; I went here; this is my denouncement. But life is not composed of a series of fashionable attire nor it is all delicious foods worthy of being captured on photo. I want to maintain connection with people from school, at home, and wherever else I will venture in the world. If you permit me for a brief moment (or several), I'd like to make it personal this time.

So, with that being said, let me first tell you where I've been. I recently visited Karolyi Castle in Carei, Romania, where inhabitants established a castle back during the Austro-Hungarian empire. The location was quaint, since its quiet geography attracted many visitors regionally. However, I cannot necessarily laud the manor as I would with Peles Castle, in Sinaia, but it was still nevertheless a wonderful. The library conjured romantic and literary sentiments, some of which produced a vehement urge to go through and gaze at the books, wondering what person in which century devoured those stories. The grandiosity of the piano elicited a romantic inclination and momentary sensation of curiosity of what it would have been like to play the piano (or pianoforte) with so many arduous individuals as part of my audience. My propensity to romanticize and capture simple things with grand language revelled at the castle, wondering what must have happened in these rooms that are undocumented, what was exchanged that cannot be recorded in books, and what occurred that history in unaware of, that will only remain in the memory of the inhabitants. A million and one scenarios played in my head before returning to simple enjoy the moment at present.

With the arrival of extremely unpredictable weather, one day it will be -5C and snowing, the next day will be a torrential downpour, and the following day will be a pleasant day with 10C. As a result, dressing accordingly has somewhat grown to be a conundrum. Do I feel like dressing practically or fashionably? Thankfully, perusing through Pinterest has finally given me enough inspiration (and motivation) to document my outfit.

{ top: Zara; pants: H&M; leather boots: Manor; purse: Anne Klein; necklace: H&M; watch: Tissot }

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I will warn you in advance: I'm about to get very real with you. (Well...as real as I'm comfortable sharing on the Internet.) If you prefer not to read this likely long post about my past several months, then, please, I implore you venture elsewhere. You are not obliged to keep reading. (Go on tumblr, watch a music video on YouTube, read a book...) You want to know what I have to say? Alright then, don't say I didn't warn you.

I've contemplated how I wanted to go about this. I really don't want to sound stuffy or regal, so I've decided to address you, dear reader, as a friend. So I'd like to imagine that I'm sitting at the Commons, at my university campus, in my friend's room, talking about the very thing I'm about to share. Before coming to Romania, I had the delusional idea that life here would be grand. I'll be living in Europe now, I have a different palette to choose from, I have a different place to go shopping and buy clothes (I still miss TJ Maxx), and I have new people with whom I converse. And it was fine; it was great during the summer. Everything I ever wanted in a summer chapter happened: I had good friends, things to go, a romantic interest, and places to see. And it continued that way for a short while thereafter. I appeared to be on Cloud Nine. It was fun, it was adventurous, and it was (seemingly) everything I ever wanted.

Then life happened. Things changed. I really cannot recall the hour or the moment when things changed or perhaps my perception altered. All I knew is that it was already happening before I was aware of it. I had entered perhaps the most difficult season of my life, without anything around me the goodness of God. Instead of gaining hope, encouragement, and strength, I was feeling hopeless, discouraged, and plainly all out of faith. I turned left and right, but no matter where I looked or how hard I stared into some obscure oblivion, I did not receive the answers to the questions I was asking, nor a reply to what I was saying. I continued with my routine, slowly withering away yet depleted so severely of any vitality, that I existed as a former version of myself. I so longed to hear words of encouragement, for someone to notice that I was venturing down a dark road, yet people are so caught up with a plasticity that perpetuates the culture of Romania that I didn't find solace or comfort in anything really. Church, people, close friends...I felt a variety of emotions, all of which offered no remedy for the injury that no band-aid can cover. After some time, I found myself distant from God, from the person I can always count on, that I can depend on, and that will love me unconditionally? I was crippled with the question how I got here, how I got to feel so far away from Christ. I've lost sight of who God is for me. I lost the joy, the laughter, the pure childlike wonder I had for my loving Father. Instead, I've listed reasons why He should have nothing to do with me. That's not who He is and that's not what He's like. I haven't heard a preaching that discussed the insurmountable depth of love Christ has for me, that when He looks into my eyes, He doesn't recall all the many mistakes I've made or flaws that I have. Instead, He gazes right at me, looking directly in the eye and whispers that He loves me, that my identity does not rest of what I've done (what I've done, past tense), but rather who I am, to Him. I've missed knowing that I'm called daughter, princess, beloved one, lovely one, beautiful one, instead of phrases linked to servitude that is more or less equated to a service an employee has to his employer. This theology of conditional love is so perpetually concurrent in the culture is absolute bullshit. Why are you painting a portrait of God of something He is not? Listening long enough, messages flooded my heart that consumed my heart. Instead of lauding His grandeur, His merciful embrace, and how sweetly and softly He whispers in your ears, the central message is that God will love me if I meet His conditions (which apparently are not even constructed by Him, but rather religious institutions). God is not vindictive, furious, or conditional; He is gracious, He is kind, and He is loving, forever and ever and ever. The God you're talking about is definitely not the God that I experience.

The best way to describe is that I was a sailor preparing a journey on my boat. I was accustomed to the seas, I adequately prepared for the journey, but then an unprecedented storm came and it shipwrecked me, and I was marooned. All my supplies were lost and I was lost at sea, without something to hang on to. I felt lost, without a hope to hang onto. Lying on a piece of plywood, the only thing keeping me afloat, I eventually ventured on the sea, without the slightest idea of where I was going or where I was. Then, ever so slightly, a light flickered in the distance, and as I would swim towards it, the light would intensify. Eventually, with the brightness of the light ever increasing, I found my way back to the shore, to the place where I originally had ventured. I felt like I knew what I was getting myself into, but I was horribly mistaken. If I take enough time to think of my life here, I'm filled with a thousand questions that I may never have the answer to. (Why can't people drive properly? Why do Romanians talk so much? Why can't you stay in your own (insert expletive) business? Do you feel the need to give your opinion on everything, even though I never asked for it? Why don't you respect people? Why can't you respect my privacy? Why do you judge me because I'm from Canada? What makes you think you're better than me, simply because you're from Romania?) Even from the simple way I act and think, I'm clearly set apart, but that is not necessarily a good thing. Apparently, I cannot think and act for myself without needing the constant validation of the opposite sex. I don't give a shit if the cultural norm is that the woman has to listen to the man as if she's some sort of lesser equal; I am able to think for myself, without needing to subtly put words into my mouth. I am not like you, primed to act like some sort of diva that believes that she deserves all the nice things in life, covering my entire face in tons of makeup, and revealing half my ass in shorts two sizes too small. If I want to wear makeup, I'm not a diva. If I have nice clothes, I am not some sort of spoiled princess from Canada that doesn't have to life a single finger. I so want to embrace this culture, but it often proves very difficult when there are many things I do not want to succumb to.

Though life has wanted to break down, to fail, to fall down, and to give up, I am not going to give that satisfaction. So while moving here proved to indeed be difficult, that's okay. Why? Because this gives me a chance to learn more about myself, about what I'm capable of accomplishing and doing, and more about who God is, in a world that attempts to say something different on the matter. That does not mean I don't feel the pang of nostalgia or absence of Virginia or Canada, because I do. I miss people minding their own business, treating every single individual with respect, driving responsibly (without having to constantly fear that you're going to get into an accident because some douchebag wants to be smart about it and cut you off just so he can advance a foot), and not manipulating people under the umbrella of grace. If I can make it in Romania, I can make it anywhere.

WELCOME 2015

It's 2015 already. Sometimes, it is unfathomable to comprehend how another year is upon us, and how much has happened in the previous year. With every new year comes new opportunities, adventures, lessons, memories, and special moments. However, I always like to reflect on the previous year to understand what I've learned, what I cherished, what I regret, what I plan to do differently, and what I accomplished. I'm constantly reflecting on things that went wrong, things that went right, and things from which I can learn (and hopefully not repeat!). I find time to be a really precious gift, so I tend not to waste it. Of course, spending hours idly on tumblr is certainly not time wasted, right?! Anyway, if you permit me to share with you some precious lessons I learned in 2014, then I will gladly share with you why it was one of the fullest years yet.


1. 2014 was the year of self-discovery.
I learned a lot of things about myself, many of which I would not have known had it not have been for difficult and hard moments. Moving to Europe, completely immersing myself in a different culture, exposing myself outside my comfort zone, trying new things, making difficult decisions, saying goodbye to particular people, and finding out who I am. I understand more of what I want, what I desire, what I deserve, what my value and worth it, and most of all, what is important for me. Whether it was moving 3000 km away, closing a chapter on someone, and taking a huge leap of faith, they were all catalysts for me, because I learned more about who I am and what I like, thereby growing more comfortable in my own skin. A very difficult process, indeed, yet a rewarding one at the end.

2. People will disappoint you. 
I naturally trust people. My first instinct is to trust without apology. That being said, I am conscious of any reason should I not. So when people are not what I thought they are, not behave in hoping that it would be good for the both of us, or simply let you down, I get disappointed. Yet, as I've learned, and will constantly learn, people will not be what you expect. That can be a good thing and a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. They can either fuel your motivation to keep moving forward, to let the haters hate, and keep doing your thing, or they can drag you down. Don't let people make you feel anything about yourself that isn't true.

3. Do what you love.
I love to write, I love to travel, and I love to constantly explore the endless possibilities. I started doing that in 2014, and I will constantly pursue that in 2015, with many different ventures that will soon crystallize in my life. It is not a selfish thing to do what you love. If you love to write, pursue that passion; if you love to travel, then go somewhere you've always wanted to go. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed fully--do whatever it is that makes you happy.

Thus, as a final hurrah to 2014, here are my top 10 moments.

1. Starting the year in Madrid, Spain

I rang in the new year with my best friend in Spain and little did I know that it prompted a major path to self-discovery. It was singlehandedly one of the most profound moments I had ever experienced.

2. Flew to Istanbul, Turkey

Given, it was a mere 3-hour layover, and sure, it might not be super important, but to me, it was. And I'll tell you why: I vowed that I would never stop travelling, never stop learning, never stop exploring, and never stop wandering. So when I saw the Bosphorus out of the plane window, I would visit Istanbul and the rest of Turkey one day.

3. Appreciating my school's unique charm and essence

My university is truly unique and special. So when I had to say goodbye when I moved to Romania, all the memories, moments, people I love, and events that happened on campus came rushing at a visceral force. Virginia Beach will always be a home to me, not because of the locations, but because of the people and the impression they have left on my heart.

4. Being a tourist in my own backyard

I hadn't been to Canada in over a year, and considering that I grew up there, it was so foreign not to be there. No matter where I am in the world, I am truly proud to be Canadian. Exploring Toronto brought a sadness to the trip, almost like a sensation that I've passed some sort of life test and that it's time to go to the next level. Weird, I know, but that's just how I felt.

5. Celebrating my first 4th of July party

I've always wanted to partake in a 4th of July party. I see all my friends posting pictures of the festivities, so I wanted to experience the hubbub once in my life (or more...). This year, it finally happened.

6. The Lights Festival in Oradea

There wasn't anything particularly special about the festival or what I do. It was simply that the entire park was covered in lights, paper lanterns, lanterns, and candles, and it was all illuminated. It was so beautiful and serene, I wondered for a moment if it was real.

7. Exploring Brasov, Romania

An enchanted gem hidden in the heart of Romania, nestled between the Carpathian Mountains and Transylvania, it was a beautiful city to explore with its unique charm and character.

8. Driving on the Transfagarasan highway and seeing Balea Lake

A serene scene at the top of a mountain.

9. Celebrating 901 years at Oradea's Fall Festival

Thousands of residents coming in from all the nearby villages with numerous stands selling vin fiert (literally translated as boiled wine, a winter delicacy in Romaina), fries, meat, kurtos kalacs (a Hungarian pastry with sweet dough glazed with walnuts, coconut shavings, chocolate, sugar, etc.), and various foods and drinks. At the end of the festival, a spectacular display of fireworks illuminated the night's sky.

10. Snowfall in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Travelling to Cluj to see the beautiful Christmas lights, it was a lovely surprise that just as we stepped out of the car to admire the lights, it began snowing! Not just light, fluffy snow that would quickly melt in under two minutes, but the heavy, powdery snow that would last. This happy Canadian squealed in delight upon seeing the white snow fall from the sky.

So, 2014, thank you for the memories, lessons, and places. I'm ready for you, 2015.

HELLO DECEMBER

Well, it's the last month of 2014. I'm not sure if you think like me, but the first thought that entered my mind was how in the world is it already December?! Like, seriously. I can vividly recall when it was January and I proposed many things to accomplish and aspire to do throughout the year, and yet, I've come to the end of the year. Did I accomplish what I wanted to? Was it how I thought it was going to turn out? Am I satisfied with 2014? What can I change in the 29 days left in December? Questions buzzing around in my head, numb like the sound of incessant bees circling around my ears, I attempt to file them away and focus on the present while reflecting on the past. My immediate reflex is to constantly look forward, even at the expense of enjoying the present, so with 2015 literally around the corner, I'm puzzled at how quickly time passed by and how it was slow and progressive at the same time. Since I'm introspective by nature, I'm processing everything that's happened this year, what I've done, what I wish I did, and all the things that were thrown my way.

I began this blog with the intention of documenting my new chapter in my life--moving and living in Europe, and including things I am comfortable sharing with the Internet. That includes fashion, food, travel, and thoughts. So I suppose I should begin by including that life sometimes gets in the way. Sometimes life doesn't exactly work out the way I had hoped, I planned for it to occur, and it takes me by surprise by how the ultimate chapter played out. And since I am human and not a robot, trying to understand sometimes unfortunate circumstances can cause a miniature lapse in one's life--whether emotionally, mentally, socially, or even spiritually. Comprehending life's events is not something I have mastered, nor do I think I will ever reach that point, but prompting some questions that I must painfully reflect on is something that I must do, even when avoiding it becomes more visceral when it does happen. I'm sure everyone can relate to a time, or a few times, when life just threw you a curveball and you're thinking, how and why? You're puzzled, you're upset, and you're irritated, because that's not how you thought that it was going to turn out. And that's ok. Life indeed is unpredictable and that does certainly add to its magic, charm, and enigma, but it can also be frustrating as well. So taking some time off to think, to reflect, to remember, and move forward is a very good thing. Grant yourself patience and gentleness to really let it go and go forward in life. Plus, having Taylor Swift's 1989 on repeat is helpful in that process.

I've settled nicely in my life in Romania, but that doesn't come without its struggles. Perhaps the biggest, or the biggest ones, is the cultural differences. One of these being language. It's frustrating sometimes having to think in English, then speak in Romanian, butcher the sentence and grammar, then somehow save your words in a carefully sculpted sentence. I feel lost in translation sometimes. People do understand and speak English here, but it doesn't compare to speaking English freely in an English-speaking country. Then, as you look closer, the differences between Eastern Europe and Canada are so vastly different, that you try to assimilate both so that you don't go insane but you also don't forget the upbringing. The way people think, how they act, how they speak, how they dress, how they treat people, and how they see things is entirely different than with what I was brought up. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; however, there are always pros and cons, certain things that I grapple with and struggle to accept. Living in a country different than what I was brought up in has its own challenges, but I imagine it's a little harder when it's a culture that you were aware growing up but never accepted. There are things that I miss people did in America, the societal norms that were accepted warmly, and how people interacted. On the other hand, there are things in Romania that I wouldn't necessarily trade and value, appreciate, and cherish being here. In this long and congested paragraph, I am really communicating that living in a different country for a period of my life is an overwhelming enriching experience. You learn new customs, you develop a new language, you learn new things about yourself that you wouldn't have found otherwise, and you learn new tools when you're stripped of the comfort of your previous home life. It's definitely challenging and exhaustingly aggravating at times, but it is so enriching. I wholly recommend to anyone to spend considerable time abroad in a different country, in a different culture, and in a different part of the world. Do it. You will feel all the range of emotions you possess, but it is truly something you will not regret.

On a brighter note, now that it's December, it is no longer shameful to put up Christmas decorations and wholly immerse myself in all things Christmas. Hot chocolate, lovely stringy lights hung up in my room, tinsel strung along my curtains...In other Christmas-y news, Oradea put up its Christmas lights in town and it is a beautiful sight to behold. The lights make me so happy; it elicits warm fuzzy feelings. My friends and I decided to venture through these decorations in the cold and pouring rain, and while it was entirely spontaneous, I would not have minded in the rain was exchanged for fresh powdery snow. This creates a bubbly sense of excitement because I'm eagerly awaiting the new year, the joys and pains that it will invariably bring, but also the adventures that I will embark on in 2015. So, December, you sneaked up rather quickly on me, but the last month of 2014, the last moments in this year will be wasted carefully.