Coercion by mici sausage and a Weber Grill? Yep, that's what Emily from Em Loves Beer resorts to in Bucharest. Read about it in the second part of her interview below - and then look for this adventurous lady in Burma!
Did you miss Part I of the Notes from the Field interview? Check it out here
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When did you realize you were far from home?
For the scrappy Schlink family, home is where my husband, son, and dog are. Gag, gag, total cliche, I know!
What’s the most important thing about re-creating your home at post?
Our Weber grill. We use it to coerce people to hang out with us.
Three things you can’t live without at post?
1. Espresso beans. Sadly, Romania isn't known for coffee, so we end up ordering our beans from the states to satisfy caffeine cravings.
2. Vanilla extract. Pancakes are a staple in our house, and the vanilla I have found here is as disappointing as thinking it's Friday when it's only Wednesday.
3. iPhone. It gets me out of trouble. A lot. The roads in town and out of town are confusing and incomplete at best. When I am traipsing about with Deets (my son) I need to make sure I am only "kinda" lost. It is also my camera, my communication, my resource for instant gratification. I bet everyone feels that way, yah?
One thing you thought you couldn’t live without but have had to?
Smoke free bars. Man, going out takes on a whole new mind set now that smoke is omnipresent in restaurants, bars, cafes.
What’s your daily uniform?
Maternity wear with a big 'ol elastic waistband, threadless.com shirt, Simple canvas shoes. Just for comparison: A 30 year old Romanian woman's uniform? Skinny jeans, embellished tank tops, stilettos, large sunglasses, an even larger handbag you could pack your cat in, and cigarette in hand. And forget about shorts on anyone over the age of 10.
You’re having guests over on Saturday night, what’s on the menu?
Grilled mici (lamb, pork and beef mixed sausages, their national dish) and chicken, roasted potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, and olives. My God, the olives here are so CHEAP! Of course, Ciuc beer.
Dream post for next assignment? Why?
Burma. Hands down, without a doubt, Burma. Untouched beaches and incredible history?! 'Nuf said.
One thing you wished someone had told you before arriving?
I wish our housing people at the embassy were forthright and honest about the conditions and status of where we live. No sidewalks to walk anywhere outside the complex, no taxis (exception: maxi taxi) to take us for a ride, no promised ammenities, and weekly power/water outages have made us a bit cranky. We would have made a bigger fuss about living in the 'burbs.
Parting thoughts?
Obviously, I could complain about the nuances of Romanian living, but I actually do like living here. Bucharest is a GREAT hub for travel, and the country is so stinkin' beautiful once you get out of the city and full of opportunity to dive into some intense history. It's been over two decades since communism fell here, and they are slowly but surely coming into their own.
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| A gal and her double distiller for making Palinka (plum liquor). She's pouring a healthy dose of Afinata, blueberry liquor. |
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| Stork Lounge |
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| Piata Unirii, Cluj Romania |
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| Black Sea, Constanta Romania |
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Fortified church in Viscri, Romania
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