Katie wonders

stranded in this spooky town

2013-08-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not a patriotic person. At all. I'm the first to admit that Romania has a lot of flaws,most of them having to do with its inhabitants. But I've got to say, we do have a nice country.
On Saturday I finally managed to visit the Berca Mud Volcanoes. I loved the lunar landscape and the fact that I didn't fall in the mud ( knowing myself,it's something close to a miracle).

The two-hour trip to Berca was spent talking about our country's history and politics ( my sister is going through a phase in which she's obsessed with history and reads a lot about it so I've learned a few things myself ).

After hiking for about 30 minutes and seeing all there was to see, we got into the car and decided to try and find a vintage clothing fair we had heard about. Of course that after driving for 4-5 hours,we couldn't find it!

So we spent the rest of the day looking for a good restaurant, finding it and then driving home in the pouring rain.

Currently listening to:

summer in the city

2013-08-14T02:21:00.000-07:00

I know! Almost a whole month has passed since I've written a single word. But I did have a lot going on right now so I had to prioritize. My exams have passed and although things didn't go as smooth as I wanted it to go, I'm happy I'm done with them. I do, however, have to wait until mid-September to find out if I got into med school ( there are very slim chances,but I don't want to lose hope ).
Until then I've decided to leave my anxiety behind and just enjoy these few weeks of holiday. After all, worrying won't solve a single thing.

As soon as I was done with the exams, I went to Castelul Corvinilor, a castle I had never visited before. I was a little bit disappointed ( maybe just because I had read so many positive reviews about it that I imagined it in a completely different way. also,the fact that I am currently obsessed with Downton Abbey, the tv show in which every episode exhibits so many wonderful surroundings, couldn't help. )

I've also went out with Radu quite a lot, trying ( but definitely not succeeding yet ) to make up for the time I spent home, studying. I'm so grateful Radu is understanding and supportive. I could only wish everyone would find such a wonderful human being as my boyfriend.

Another thing I couldn't wait to do was go to all the kangoo events that take part every Saturday during the summer. I went to 'Kangoo Rock' and although by the end of it I couldn't really breathe, I was happy I got to move and do something for my health.

I plan on being very active these couple of weeks so hopefully you'll see more posts soon.

“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.”

2013-06-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I've ever told you this, but my dad has been very into fishing these last couple of months. Not only does he go fishing every Saturday, but he also wakes up at 2 am because he wants to catch the best place and comes home at 10 pm. I guess that's called passion. Or obsession.
Anyhow, yesterday he wanted to show us ( and by us I mean my sister&me ) where he spends a lot of his time. We had been home all day,studying, so we thought a little break couldn't hurt.

We were pleasantly surprised by the natural beauty of the place. Everywhere you looked there were lands of wheat, the place was quiet, the sun was setting and the water was full of fish.

We promised my dad we'll go with him one day this summer and I can already imagine what it will be like to sit all day long on a blanket, surrounded by books and family.

Coming back to reality hasn't been easy at all, but I only have 5 weeks to go!

I've been listening to this a lot:

it's time to work a little harder

2013-06-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

My days are so dull nowadays, I'm even ashamed to write here. I basically spend every day either learning home,in my PJs, or learning at school.

excuse the 'study' face

The strange thing is that I kind of enjoy this period in my life. I like learning for my Anatomy exam or working for my Math exam,but I hate studying for the Romanian one. We have to learn the essays by heart and I really, really loathe it. I'm pretty sure my worst grade will be at that exam.

To help me focus, I made an 'exam calendar'. You can't even imagine the satisfaction I have at the end of a day when I get to colour a square and know I'm done with it forever.

The good news is that I still get to spend a great deal of time with Radu (not as much as I would like, though). I appreciate all our little moments together: the lunch date we had when we broke our forks in the pizza ( the pizza was great, the forks were awful :)) ), the mornings we spent cuddling in bed, the random texts and photos, the way we motivate each other to study more.

"Prom night can be a special night, if you let it be."

2013-06-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

My prom night has been amazing. If you told me a few months ago that I'll actually enjoy the frivolous act of going to the prom, I would have laughed in your face. But, as it turns out, it has been one of the most amazing nights of my life. I made memories I'll never forget with people I'll never forget.

I don't have the official photos yet,

these are the ones taken with Radu's iphone

Of course,the night started with me being late because, well, I'm a girl. And lazy. So almost everybody was there when I arrived. The place looked great. I had no idea Bucharest has such amazing buildings/restaurants.

I went to the prom decided to enjoy myself and make the most out of everything. I knew there will be people I didn't like but I just focused on the good instead of the bad. And it really worked. My friends and I had a blast. We danced our asses off, drank wine on the sidewalk ( like the classy people that we are ), cried, laughed and then danced some more.

There were great moments that we shared. But I think my favourite one was when Radu and I danced together towards the end of the whole thing. We were alone on the dance floor and we had a wonderful moment. Even though all the teachers and our classmates were watching, it felt as if we were the only ones in the room. I know for sure this will be one of the most cherished memories. I'll always hold it dear in my heart!

I'm so happy I had a great prom. After four years with lots of ups and downs, it was just perfect!

I would have also loved to dance to this:

2 more months

2013-06-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

As you know, I'm done with school and I am now trying to prepare for my Baccalaureate. However, today I felt the need for a little break so I went to my grandparents for a family BBQ.

What a change of scenery! Their garden is full of flowers, the air is fresh and the first cherries have already appeared. It was nice to catch up with my grandparents and to spend 5 hours without worrying about Math or Anatomy.

I don't know why but lately I've taken an interest in flowers. I wasn't a nature enthusiast until now but I guess my feminine side is becoming more and more obvious.

I can't wait to be done with all these exams so I can relax, travel and read. Only 2 more months! 2 more months!

''It was the best of times, it was the worst of times''

2013-05-30T23:49:00.003-07:00

The long-awaited moment has arrived. I finally graduated! And I won't lie, despite all the ugly memories, I was a little bit nostalgic. Because highschool meant so much more than a fleeting period in my life. It meant learning to stand up for myself, losing some friends and gaining others, making my own decisions and being proud of them, falling in and out of love, letting go of the toxic people in my life, accepting other people's flaws, appreciating all the little things.

I'm happy I got to live all those moments because they made me who I am. Because of them I have more confidence in myself and I know I can get over anything.

Four years ago I was a shy, little girl who was afraid to talk. I had never won a prize, I was never interested in anything that had to do with Academics, all my teachers thought I was a lost cause. Today I proved to myself I can do anything I put my mind to. I finished second and most importantly, I was surrounded by people close to my heart.

Excuse the face. Five hours of walking on high heels will do that to you!

Not every picture is perfect :))

Next week I'll go to the prom and I have to confess, I am just a tiny bit nervous. Because, just as graduation, prom is an important step that once taken leaves behind a whole part of our life. A part that was safe and familiar. A part that hopefully prepared us for the next big thing: university!

all you need

2013-05-07T22:22:00.000-07:00

...is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

I love going places and listening to good music. And when the two are combined what more could I want?

shiny,happy people

2013-05-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Today, we celebrated Easter so I went to a family meal at my cousin's house. I laughed a lot and spent hours remembering our childhood and the silly things we did.

I drove again for almost 100 km and I felt great when I realized I had started to be more relaxed and comfortable behind the wheel.

There are still 2 days left until school starts and I plan on going to see Iron Man 3 for the second time. I went with my sister on Friday and I'll go with Radu too because it was way too awesome ( has anyone else noticed Gwyneth Paltrow's amazing body? ). I also hope I'll get to finish 'Looking for Alaska' because I know for sure I won't have enough time once school starts. By the way, I can't believe I only have 3 weeks left before I'm done with highschool forever! Like Charles Dickens said: ''it was the best of times, it was the worst of times...''. Anyway, I'm anxious to be done with this step and move on. I have big dreams for the future and I can't wait to make them come true!

sand in our pockets and nothing on our mind

2013-05-03T01:46:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately,I'm back in Bucharest after 3 amazing days at the seaside. Everything is kind of a blur now because so many,many things have happened.

We initially wanted to stay in Vama Veche , a village well-known for its 1st of May parties on the beach but since we couldn't find any available hotels, we slept in a nearby village. The place was really quiet and provided a nice contrast to the noisy atmosphere in Vama.

Every day I tried having as much fun as I could, knowing what the next 3 months will bring ( studying for exams, taking exams, studying for other exams and so on ) and I think I managed. I couldn't stop comparing these 3 days with the last time I went to the seaside with a group of people. I guess this comes to show that you just have to find the right kind of people for you. In the past I'd always sacrifice my principles for 'the greater good'. It was silly and I was the one getting hurt in the end. So the fact that these days were full of laughter, happiness and that I didn't have to accept people I didn't like was very eye-opening.

I'm only sad because we didn't get to see the sunrise but there's always next time.

there's nothing better than being dragged in the water while you're still dressed

Perfect song for our time at the seaside:

novocaine for the soul

2013-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

By the time you'll be reading this,I'll be in a train with some of my friends, heading towards the seaside. I really need this short trip before the most stressful time of my life. So if you wonder what I might be doing, I'll probably be spending my nights on the beach, taking in as much of the adventure as I can, watching the sunrise with a bottle of tequila in one hand and Radu near me.

Have a nice day! See you in a couple of days!

*the title : Eels - Novocaine For The Soul

active Sunday

2013-04-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday,I went to a kangoo jumps event, 'Kangoo & Riders', held in a forest near Bucharest. It was my first time going to such an event and I loved it!

We jumped for almost an hour and for the rest of the day I was full of energy. I'll receive more photos and even videos soon and I can't wait to share them with you.

My new favourite workout song:

how can you swallow so much sleep?

2013-04-27T00:45:00.000-07:00

I'm finally done with some of my exams and I can breathe a little until next week. And sleep. Sleep a lot! Yesterday, after 3 big, ugly exams, I went to kangoo and I was spent. I didn't have an ounce of energy left and it felt as if my bones were made of Jell-O. So I'll probably spend this weekend in bed, listening to music ( does anyone else use this amazing site ? ) or reading 'Looking for Alaska' ( because I'm still a teenager and John Green's writing kind of breaks my heart ).

I love that amazing feeling of freedom you get when you write the last thing on your exam paper and you know you're done. At least for a small period of time.

And when you have great classmates with whom you can celebrate that small step towards your future, you just can't complain about a single thing!

* The title is from here :

Spring Break

2013-04-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

I've been on my spring break for 2 weeks and they've gone by way too fast! It was my last spring break as a highschool student and I was a little bit nostalgic (but also happy because I've hated my time in highschool).

I did a lot of things during these 2 weeks. Starting with finally getting my driver's license, driving for 300 km, going out and finishing with studying every day for my biology exam.

On one of the first days of the holiday I went with Radu to a nice concert ( his uncle is in a band and we're not ashamed to admit we're groupies ). The pub was amazing and overall we had a great time!

On another night I went out with L. and we danced all night long. We also tried some strange and highly unhealthy shots. They looked like this:

They were made of absinthe, vodka and fire :))

I think my dogs were the ones to benefit the most from my break. We played every day, went out a lot and took photos almost every day,because you can never have too many, right?!

I went to kangoo twice a week and it has done wonders for my body. Not only have I lost a few pounds, but I also feel great. I am full of energy, I have better balance and I'm always looking forward to that hour of blissful pain.

On the last Sunday I went to the countryside to a family barbecue. Once again, the dogs were the happiest, but I had a good time too. The trees were in bloom and you could smell the spring in the air. I did my homework at a table near the garden and it was way better than being stuck in my apartment.

Dex and I bid you adieu now because it's almost midnight and we still have a lot of things to do. Have a nice week!

80's wave

2013-04-02T13:10:00.002-07:00

This last weekend was pretty amazing. I got to dress up for L's party. She decided to have an 80's party for her birthday and although my sister and I didn't really know what to wear ( because,well,we weren't alive during the 80's! ), we did a little research and managed to pull off an okay look.

The night was crazy! I danced a lot and even did my kangoo routine with L. And although my muscles were sore on Sunday, it was worth it!

I hope in the future I'll get to go to a lot of thematic parties because they are a lot of fun and I get to research a certain period or movie/book which is always a smart way of spending my time!

crappy weather and good music

2013-03-26T11:32:00.001-07:00

Stuck home,wearing fluffy leggings and studying for my exams. Doesn't sound so bad,does it?! That's how I spent my day,mainly because Bucharest is now under a cover of heavy snow. The schools are closed, the kids are happy and I go on,agonizing over the endocrine system.

drinking hot tea from my snowman cup just to celebrate

the winter-y weather

The previous weekend was amazing. I finally bought the new Mumford&Sons album for my record player and also, I finally tried eating macarons. Loved it. Now, every time I listen to the album I feel like I'm part of a Haruki Murakami novel. I also found the book "Into the wild" and just started reading it. I sure hope it will be as good as the movie which is one of my favourites.

On Sunday I went out with Cris and two good friends to a nearby tea-house. The place was really nice and the company great.

we sat in the French Room of the tea-house

My favourite song from the album:

the joy of having a dog

2013-03-22T00:12:00.000-07:00

I think I've said it many,many times before: I probably love my dogs more than most people I know. I honestly don't understand how a human being could be capable of hating or even worse, hurting a dog.

My two dogs, Maya and Dexter, make my days a thousand times better. From the moment I wake up until I go to bed,they are so full of life,so loving that I sometimes feel like I don't deserve them.
And Maya is such an amazing addition to our family! Even when she pees herself becase she's too happy, I find it cute and funny!

There's nothing I love more than annoying them or loving them too much. Because,let's be honest: you just can't ignore a dog!

stuck in a rut

2013-03-18T12:37:00.001-07:00

I've been sitting at my desk for about 10 minutes wondering how I should start this post. I feel as if nothing exceptional has happened since I last wrote here. I'm stuck in a rut. And what's amazing is that I think right now is the greatest moment to be sticking to the same boring routine. Exams are just around the corner and the fact that when I come home after 7 hours of school,I study for another 3-4 hours couldn't hurt,right?

spent a relaxing day in Predeal with my family

However, I still try reading/watching tv series/spending some time on the internet/going to the gym every other day because I don't want to become a complete nut job.

Things that help me relax right now:

reading 'The Great Gatsby'. I like it a lot.
watching 'The Big C' : a sad story presented with a funny twist.
browsing this amazing blog : http://fuckyouverymuch.dk/

So that's about it.

Ah, also, this is my favourite scene from 'The Big C':

busy bee

2013-02-16T01:01:00.000-08:00

Between attending classes,going to kangoo,watching my favourite tv shows, reading and spending quality times with my friends,I hardly found the time to keep up with the blogosphere. I think it has almost been 2 weeks since I last wrote here and a lot of things have happened.

I spent a lot of time with L. and got closer to her ( and not only because we both find it hard to keep up with the routine at the gym ).

We also celebrated my sister's birthday by going out with L and her mother. We went to grab a bite at an Italian restaurant and finished the day at the National Theatre.

I chose to spend Valentine's Day with Radu, curled up in bed. And yes, we skipped school for that. But we had a really great day!

*

I've been listening to this a lot:

highlights of the week

2013-02-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

did a DIY project. possibly the easiest I could find:

Inspired by Serena's sweater ( I'm finally watching the 6th season of Gossip Girl), I realized I could just cut an old sweater and make it look chic.

vs.

It's not really great,but I had fun wearing it to school.

started reading a book for school and I'm not into it as much as I would like
watched "Beasts of the Southern Wild" and loved Hushpuppy
tried kangoo jumps for the very first time. it was awesome.
went out with The Boy and danced all night long.

you know you had a good day

2013-01-31T10:16:00.000-08:00

...when at the end of a painfully long day, your boyfriend sends you this message: ''I know I'm young, but if I had to choose her or the Sun, I'd be one nocturnal son of a gun."

Love you, babe!

6 more months

2013-01-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

My last semester of highschool has started and I find it hard to believe I've survived until now! Just 6 more months and I'll be free. The winter holiday was amazing. I had a lot of fun and managed to do a lot of the things I wanted to accomplish.

Bucharest is again a big mess. Even though last week the streets were covered with fluffy, immaculate snow, today I couldn't find a trace of it. My street is wet and dirty and I wish I could move to a warm,nice place where I could get a tan while drinking a cold drink.

I've started studying for my exams and I've come to wish I was homeschooled. I manage to do a ton of work while I'm home and procrastinate for 7 hours while I'm at school. Yup, the Romanian educational system rocks!

*
My boyfriend made me love this song:

2013: A-Z Reading Challenge

2013-01-08T09:21:00.001-08:00

You know I'm a big fan of Goodreads. So today, as I was browsing the site, I found this great challenge that I plan on completing.

The rules are: - read one book for every alphabet
- you can read in any order you wish
- the articles "a","an"& "the" are not counted as part of the title
- letters Q,X and Z can be positioned anywhere in the title

A: ~~Amsterdam-Ian McEwan~~
B: ~~Broderii- Marjane Satrapi~~
C: Capitan la 15 ani- Jules Verne
D: Dublu limbaj- William Golding
E: Emma- Jane Austen
F: Fahrenheit 451- Ray Bradbury
G: Golem- Gustav Meyrink
H: Hagi-Murad- Lev Tolstoi
I: Imposibila intoarcere- Marin Preda
J: Johnny Panic si Biblia Viselor- Sylvia Plath
K: To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
L: Lorelei- Ionel Teodoreanu
M: Morometii- Marin Preda
N: Nasul- Mario Puzo
O: Un om sfarsit- Giovanni Papini
P: Povestasul- Mario Vargas Llosa
Q: ~~1Q84- Haruki Murakami~~
R: Rosu si Negru- Stendhal
S: Sotia zeului bucatariei- Amy Tan
~~T: The three musketeers- Alexandre Dumas~~
U: The unbearable lightness of being- Milan Kundera
V: Viata pe un peron- Octavian Paler
W: Why the Caged Bird Sings- Maya Angelou
X: Middlesex- Jeffrey Eugenides
Y: Youth- J.M. Coetzee
Z: Zorba the Greek- Nikos Kazantzakis

temporarily lost at sea

2013-01-07T04:24:00.001-08:00

This year,my family and I continued our tradition of going to the seaside during the winter. I love that long drive,the conversations that help us bond,the way my dogs never seem to find the perfect place in the car, the way the sea smells in the winter.
Maya saw the sea for the first time and she was fascinated! She watched the waves crashing and played with Dex, who is already an expert, on the beach.

While my dad was driving on the empty highway, my sister and I talked and talked and talked. We've decided 2013 will be our year.
I was thinking about making a list of resolutions,but I hadn't got around it yet. I think the most important thing I could do this year is always try my best. Even if there are people who will try putting me down, belittling my ambitions, I just have to be the best version of myself I can be. If there is something 2012 has taught me, it is the fact that no matter how close you are to someone, how much you think you know someone, in the end you are the only one you can count on. You can't change others. All you can do is be at peace with yourself and everything else will fall in line. So stop worrying about what others think/say about you and live your life!

*

Lately I've been into Joan Baez and tried reading about the whole Baez-Dylan relationship:

here's to a happy year!

2013-01-01T15:12:00.001-08:00

There's nothing better than spending New Year's Eve with your loved one.

Last night was amazing. I love those kind of parties where you just click with everybody and when you leave you feel like you've gained a few friends.

May 2013 bring us all the happiness in the world!