Dracula

I was chatting with one of the other girls who I went to Romania with yesterday and she reminded me that some really weird shit had happened over there, like really weird. No don't get me wrong Romania was a life changing experience, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't different at all. Here's just a taste of what went down.

1. The drunkest night of my life was with two professors. It was our first week in Romania and as sort of a welcome, one of the Romania professors invited us out to dinner. We arrived fairly early, around 7, and by 8 I was completely, totally, horribly smashed. Said professor brought his own alcohol and I'm not taking about a bottle of wine, I'm talking about SEVERAL bottles of Tucia, and flavored/syrupy/schnappy shit. Any time that you tried to say you had enough he'd fill your glass up even higher and make you drink. I actually had to excuse myself from the table and throw up a little bit. I've had a beer with professors before but this was definitely the first time I binged drank with one.

2. In the dorms of the University there were obviously elevators. They were old, they were small, and they would often stop and open up half-way between floors. On one such occasion a girl tried to jump out but fell through the gap and died. Now I found this to be incredibly disturbing...everyone else was all "whatever" about it.

3. There was one bar in town that was a pretty big deal. 4 floors, each with a different theme opened 24/7. One night we walked into the bar and asked the people at the door if the 2nd floor was open. They say yes. We walk up there and try to sit down, not more than 2 minutes later we get yelled at for trying to crash a private party. Bummed we walk down back to the door and ask them if the first floor was open. They once again say yes. We walk in and the janitor is mopping the floor, there's no one behind the bar, and not a soul to be seen. We finally give up and leave the bar while the entire staff starts laughing at us.

4. The aforementioned bar burned down at 8 in the morning two weeks later.

5. One week in, we went to a cafe/bar called Insomnia. It's a really cool bar with art all along the walls and the overall vibe is very chill. We're sitting there and all the sudden the lights turn out, it literally becomes pitch black. No one says anything, no one leaves, there is no announcement made. The bar continues on as if nothing happened with no mention of the current lights out state. It stayed that way for over an hour.

6. When we first arrived we were introduced to a Phd student who was to look after us. One night he took Ellie and I out for a drink. About 2 drinks in he begins to tell us about how we will be sex trafficked into the Ukraine because "they" already know that we're here. He even showed us his brass knuckles that he uses for protection. Ellie texted me while we were at the table asking "should we trust him?" When we finally got home we were so scared I made Ellie sleep in my room and we tried to buy pepper spray the next day.

7. When I was growing up I thought gypsies were magical people who wore bright colors (Thank you Disney). As I got older I started to think they were crooks, then I went to Romania and saw that while some were very poor and aggressive, others literally build huge silver palaces. I'm more confused than ever.

8. One night while we were out in Romania we met two guys. We exchanged numbers (since I'm American I never give any thought to giving out my number). Apparently in Romania exchanging numbers means you promise to have sex with them. That guy called me and texted me every single day for 3 months. I never answered or responded in any way. He just would not quit. A similar situation occurred with both of my friends. I threw out my Romanian phone but I would imagine he's still calling me.

9. When you first arrive in Romania on a visa you have to get a health check. Well we went to get ours at the University's doctor. The office was ridiculously tiny and dirty, it looked like my garage. I went in, the doctor spoke to me in Romanian and other students were allowed to walk in and out, asking questions, throughout the entire thing. A little awkward when you're not wearing a shirt and you have no idea what they're saying.

10. Stray dogs. I love dogs, I'm what one may call a "dog person." What I don't like are stray dogs that follow you around town in packs. You can't pet them because they have fleas and diseases, and you can't feed them because they're wild but they just walk around with their big puppy eyes looking just like Fido. I was so glad to get home and see dogs with owners, it made my life less confusing.