There’s always something comforting about going home. Going to a place where you can relax, take your mind off work, be surrounded by people who you love and who love you, indulging in a delicious home cooked meal. I love going home. But home isn’t necessarily the American address that is listed in my Peace Corps file. Home is a special place where I feel comfortable, a place where I feel at home. Right now, that place is in Targoviste.

I arrived in Targoviste last evening to spend the Easter holiday with Mari, Eugen, and Mihai, the gazda family that I spent my eleven weeks of training with. Mari’s house will always be home for me. Everything here is familiar and inviting. Last night I helped Mari prepare several delicious cakes and some salad for our Easter feast. Mari is still cooking now. She is fixing some grilled chicken and I’m taking a break. We still have some cookies to finish as soon as the frosting cools.

I absolutely love Horezu. It is also my home. It is the place I never want to leave. Vale, the family, my kids, my friends are all beyond wonderful. But this is what I have missed. Sitting at the end of Mari’s kitchen table and helping her cook. Targoviste is my refuge from the daily insanity and over stimulation that comes from living in a town where everyone knows my name. It’s nice to occasionally escape to the anonymity of a large city and the relaxing warmth of Mari’s flat.

This evening, after we are finished fixing the Easter feast, we will go to Mari’s parents’ house out in the countryside to deliver their meal. Mari cooked for her parents since they are not in good health. Mari and Eugen are building a new house next to Mari’s parents, so I will be able to see the progress. At 11:30 tonight, we will walk over to the church to light Easter candles. Tomorrow is feast day. And feast we shall. We have 4 kinds of cakes, chicken cream soup, salata beuof, friptura, a kind of chicken casserole, roasted chicken, roasted pork, fresh vegetables, fruit salad, eggs, cheese, wine, and soda. And all of this is for 4 people! On Monday we are going to go on a picknic with Mari and Eugen’s friends. It will be a wonderful time. On Tuesday, I will head home. Mari and Eugen are going to visit some friends in Ramnicu Valcea, so they will give me a ride home. Yeah! No hot stinky maxi taxi at 6:30 in the morning!

Paște Fericit! Happy Easter One and All

- Saturday, April 3rd, 7pm local time. From Mari’s kitchen table, the City of Targoviste, Dambovita County, Muntenia Region, South Central Romania

A photo of Mari's flat from last summer

This was taken when I lived with Mari and Eugen last summer. Their flat is the one on the 4th floor. It is quite nice.