Back in Bucharest
Well, it's been a while since I posted last, and a lot has happened in the meantime. I still don't have an internet connection at home, so I won't be able to write as much as I'd like to right now, but rest assured I'll slowly fill you in. For now, I'll try to cover the most important parts and throw in a few pictures.
I met Adam at the Budapest airport last Tuesday afternoon, and after finding our hostel (it was harder than you'd think), we spent three days relaxing and touring Budapest. While in Budapest, I received an email from the State Department informing me that I have (finally) been granted a Secret level security clearance. The clearance process took much longer than I expected, so I had almost resigned myself to not working at the Embassy this summer. Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised to receive my clearance. This means that I get to stay in Bucharest until mid-August, instead of heading home at the end of June. I've been emailing and talking with the HR people in Washington and at the Embassy here, and it looks like I will be starting work sometime next week.
After three nights in Budapest, Adam and I took an overnight train to Krakow, Poland. Everyone I know who has been to Krakow has told me how beautiful it is, and they weren't wrong. Krakow was delightful. Due to poor timing, we weren't able to see all of the sights that we wanted to see, but I suppose that gives me a good reason to go back! I'll post more about Krakow with more pictures soon.
After three days and two nights in Krakow, Adam and I spent a grueling two days traveling back to Bucharest. Because of the train schedules, and various other problems, we had to take two separate trains, one from Krakow to Budapest, another from Budapest to Timisoara, and a third from Timisoara to Bucharest. The last train we the worst, because the sleeping cars were all booked, and we had to spend all of Tuesday night sitting in uncomfortable seats under bright florescent lights. We arrived in Bucharest on Wednesday morning and picked up the keys to my new apartment. The apartment is very nice, and I am still getting unpacked and settled in. It feels so nice to be unpacked somewhere and to have my rent paid. Now that I have a place to live and my security clearance, I can relax and enjoy my summer. I'm looking forward to starting work, and it is great having Adam here while I get settled into my new place and my new job. Tonight we are going to try to cook chili using the ingredients that we were able to find here in Bucharest. Pofta Buna!*
A view of Pest from Castle Hill in Buda
Wawel Castle in Krakow
A picture of Wawel Castle taken from a boat on the Vistula River
*The Romanian version of "Bon Appetit"
I met Adam at the Budapest airport last Tuesday afternoon, and after finding our hostel (it was harder than you'd think), we spent three days relaxing and touring Budapest. While in Budapest, I received an email from the State Department informing me that I have (finally) been granted a Secret level security clearance. The clearance process took much longer than I expected, so I had almost resigned myself to not working at the Embassy this summer. Needless to say, I was very pleasantly surprised to receive my clearance. This means that I get to stay in Bucharest until mid-August, instead of heading home at the end of June. I've been emailing and talking with the HR people in Washington and at the Embassy here, and it looks like I will be starting work sometime next week.
After three nights in Budapest, Adam and I took an overnight train to Krakow, Poland. Everyone I know who has been to Krakow has told me how beautiful it is, and they weren't wrong. Krakow was delightful. Due to poor timing, we weren't able to see all of the sights that we wanted to see, but I suppose that gives me a good reason to go back! I'll post more about Krakow with more pictures soon.
After three days and two nights in Krakow, Adam and I spent a grueling two days traveling back to Bucharest. Because of the train schedules, and various other problems, we had to take two separate trains, one from Krakow to Budapest, another from Budapest to Timisoara, and a third from Timisoara to Bucharest. The last train we the worst, because the sleeping cars were all booked, and we had to spend all of Tuesday night sitting in uncomfortable seats under bright florescent lights. We arrived in Bucharest on Wednesday morning and picked up the keys to my new apartment. The apartment is very nice, and I am still getting unpacked and settled in. It feels so nice to be unpacked somewhere and to have my rent paid. Now that I have a place to live and my security clearance, I can relax and enjoy my summer. I'm looking forward to starting work, and it is great having Adam here while I get settled into my new place and my new job. Tonight we are going to try to cook chili using the ingredients that we were able to find here in Bucharest. Pofta Buna!*
A view of Pest from Castle Hill in Buda
Wawel Castle in Krakow
A picture of Wawel Castle taken from a boat on the Vistula River
*The Romanian version of "Bon Appetit"
posted by Erin Kay at 5:52 PM
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