Eurojournal - 3 July 2006

I saw a Transylvanian Unitarian church for the first time this evening. It is next to the dorm. It was the opening of the ICUU symposium and they had the choir from the Boston church singing. I stepped into the church and my senses were so alive. The age of this building is demonstrated in the stone tiles and the slightly musty smell. The walls are painted in white and lined with a spring yellow. The ceiling is high, arched with so much detail. The pews are similar to those I have experienced in Catholic church but much older and far less space between. The wood is preserved but obviously hundreds of years old. In the pew are the hymnals in Magyarul (Hungarian). There is no crucifix in the front. The event began with the minister in a long flowing black cape stepping up into the pulpit. The pulpit was not in the center but off to the side and up in a small space like seats in an opera. He said an introduction and a prayer with a translator. A Magyar song was sung with organs. That was intense. I felt this rush of energy inside, a similar feeling I have when I hear drumming. For the first time I felt what people must feel spiritually in a Unitarian church.

Earlier we all went to the big park, now our daily excursion. I am still fascinated by the hand teeter-totter. This would be banned at home as a child could easily get his or her head bashed and land in the ER. At the same time it is SO much fun. Most of the equipment at the big park is what I had growing up. Nice metal equipment with a few plastic structures here and there.

After the park we went to the Piata Mihai Viteazul which had rows upon rows of produce and crafts. Basically a giant farmer’s market that occurs daily. We bought a half kilo of strawberries for about $0.60. The produce is essentially organic as they really don’t spray or if they do the quantities are substantially lower than the states. We also got a half kilo of cherries. James and I were dreaming of a kitchen.

Did I mention the tractor in traffic? That is the picture I attached. We were walking to the piata and there was an old tractor with a trailer of old tied-up books navigating his way through the traffic at the intersection. No one noticed and he seemed comfortable with it. We almost didn’t really notice him. We are in a very urban area with about 300,000 people. Interesting juxtaposition.