Where in the world is Katie Reed?

That title would be infinitely more awesome if my name was Carmen Sandiego. Didn’t they try to make a TV show about that game once? Anyway…it’s less than 24 hours before I blow this Popsicle stand some people like to call Romania. I prefer to call it the jungle as the guy in the train station said to me yesterday in a very Axel Rose-esque way. But unfortunately, he was mistaken. I’m not coming into this crazy city, but leaving it. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic. It’s weird because sometimes I feel like I just got off the plane and other times I feel like I can’t remember what it’s like to drive my car. I actually answered someone in a meeting yesterday in Romanian.

So, there are definitely some things I’ll miss: the stray dogs (Bill, Cujo, Eddie, and even Oscar and Grover, the mean ones), the crazy comforter swaps, the owner of Café Milano (mmmm, those crepes), tiny elevators, our blue leather couches, plastic money and doing those lovely lei to dollar conversions, the small cars and “anything goes” driving conditions, and of course, my coworkers and this office. It’s going to be really strange not walking up those 100+ steps tomorrow morning.

And, of course, there are the things I won’t miss: ten year old homeless kids ravaging my pockets for money, yellowish brown water, drying my clothes on a heater, pointing and using hand motions to communicate, iceless drinks, my clothes reeking of smoke, and of course, there will always be that ill fated trip to Snagov.


I think I’m ready to throw in the towel on Romania, but I’m ready to see more of Europe. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be in Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, London and I think I’m gonna throw in Paris just for the hell of it. If I like you, maybe you’ll get a postcard. I’ll post some of my pictures when I get back, but for now, that’s it, la revedere. Peace.


Reed, out

Roll in the cot...

...because I'm gonna be sleepin at work tonight! Ugh. Only five more days, I can do it. I'm taking a break right now so I don't go nuts and I know I haven’t posted in forever, and I thought it was because my pictures weren’t working, but apparently everyone else can see them but me, so here goes. I’ll just do a quick rundown for ya of some of the fun stuff I’ve done in the past 2-3 weeks.

1 – The Village Museum.
Marya and I visited this outside museum containing all these 17th century huts/villas that were transported to Bucharest from all over Romania. Check out this windmill:


Don Quixote style

And this church:

Scary, I don't go to church, but if I did, I wouldn't wanna go to this one

And me in one of the huts:

Blair Witch 3

I’ve made more references to that movie since I’ve been in Romania than any other time. Hmm…maybe people aren’t so far off with the vampire stereotype and I did see a man with very oddly pointed ears on my way home from work last night.

2 – Temple
My new favorite weekend hangout. Too bad I’m leaving in a week and a half; I could have had some serious good times here. The music is excellent. Yes, it’s dance/techno/house, but it’s good. Real good. It’s not that cheeseball, “let’s turn whatever pop song is topping the charts right now into a really bad techno beat” kinda club. Oh no, my friends, this was total European style clubbing. They did have English songs turned into techno music, but it was mixed SO well. We’re talking “Owner of a Lonely Heart” as techno, and it sounded GOOD. Beautiful people, bangin music, very posh décor, and just all around very UN-ghetto. Here’s a shout out to my Boston girls, you would have loved every moment of this place. Especially Darcy, you can’t beat the selection of European men here. I mean, it’s no Morocco or anything...


Where can I get me summa THOSE kicks?

3 – Attended my first opera/operetta
Danielle, I had to stop myself from laughing for like the first ten minutes after the chica busted out into full-tilt opera voice. I just kept picturing you doing your opera impression and it’s seriously just like that. I think you’re in the wrong profession. I wanna see you break glass someday.

4 – Movies as VIP
Marc and I went to see Million Dollar Baby last Saturday night, but the only tickets we could get were VIPS. For a whopping 500,000 lei (about $15), we got some free drinks and the privilege to sit in these super comfy reclining leather chairs with footrests. Oh, it was heaven. Good thing I liked the movie. Who knew Million Dollar Baby was gonna make me cry like a baby? This would have been a great night, except for the bad Chinese I ate. Shocking, considering I have never seen a Chinese person working in one of these restaurants, let alone actually in Romania. My gung-bao chicken fought it’s lovely way up out of my stomach when I got home. Chum count goes up to 3. I know Danielle's keepin track. Guiness book, here I come.


Now that's what I call a complete movie experience

My next post will probably be a farewell post unless something incredibly amazing happens to me in the next 7 days, but that's somehow doubtful considering I'm living, eating, and breathing Synygy. Until then...let me get back to my software...sigh...