[Around The World #4] Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2009.

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Alo lovelies!

I guess it's time for another "Around The World", namely #4.

The pictures above were taken during my first trip to Zenica, Bosnia and Hercegovina in July 2009. Unfortunately I don't have any of the pictures I took on my second trip anymore (in October 2009) - don't ask why.

I visited the country in July 2009 to attend the wedding of one of my former friends. Ever since then I fell in love - some of my best AND some of my worst memories lay there. Even though not all of my experiences have been pretty: I don't ever want to miss ANY of them plus I am thankful for each and every single experience I made out there.

For some odd reason Bosnia feels a lot more like home to me than Germany does. I guess even though the culture is very different from Romania's, Bosnia is still more similar to Romania than Germany could ever be. I hope that makes sense. ;-) Since I never had the chance to stay in Romania for a couple of weeks, Bosnia is what I can connect with in that department - PLUS I have always been interested in its history [obviously.. otherwise I wouldn't start studying 'South East European Studies']

I thought I'd share the pictures in honor of me going back tomorrow. I am finally going on vacation - the last time before university. : ) 

  

Yours, 

Lea.

[Around The World #3] Berlin, Germany. 2007.

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Bună ziua!

Now - people are gonna kill me for this. I just couldn't help it. As you see from the title: These pictures are SUPER old. 

It was my first time in Berlin. My dad, Charlotte, Jenni, Jonas & I went for only two days and visited the 'Lord Of The Rings Exhibition' (unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any pictures) at the Filmpark Babelsberg. 

We had a great time & lots and lots of fun! This trip marks the beginning of my love affair with the 'big B'. I freaking love Berlin and will always go back from time to time. It's addictive. 

Yours, 

Lea. 

Hometown Glory.

Alo amigas & amigos! 

I'm back!!! 

Back from an awesome week with my family. I stayed at my grandma's house in a village near Bremen & for the first time in almost 10 years I saw my Canadian grandaunt who actually came to visit my grandma last week. I spend quality time with these two amazing ladies & furthermore met several grand cousins, my lovely granduncle Arthur, their wives/husbands etc. & - of course - I also met my lovely aunt & her boyfriend.

I love this part of my family beyond limits. It's always fun to be with them & I get to know a lot more about my Romanian/Bessarabian heritage which is not only interesting but also extremely important to me. I just love listening while my grandma (89), grandaunt (77) & granduncle (84) are talking about our "home" & their life there. I urge everyone to study your family's history! SO ENRICHING!

I left crying, feeling bad about leaving them & all that jazz. They all wanted me to stay at least one more week but I had to get back to work etc. I'm so scared to leave them since I love them to death & I'm aware of the fact that my grandma feels lonely. Still, I left with some amazing memories & experiences. I learned a lot of important things:

1.) I'm an "exact mixture" of my grandmother, grandaunt & aunt. 

2.) I admire these 3 ladies for being such strong individuals, such strong WOMEN. Especially my grandmother & grandaunt since being as independent as them wasn't common 60 years ago. I look up to these women & I can proudly say that I was raised by them & another strong woman, my mother.

3.) Damn, they raised me good. ;-)

Like my grandaunt said: "Don't you ever give up! I never did & you won't either. This family doesn't give up. Your grandma is superwoman anyways... If you haven't realized yet."

Last but not least my grandma told me something a lot of people - even myself - tend to forget frequently: "We come to this world with nothing & we leave with nothing." Don't spend your time worrying about material things, spend time & energy caring for the ones you love!

Talk to you guys later!

Yours truly, Lea

Left to right: Grandaunt Frieda, Granduncle Arthur, Grandma

Out eating with my grand cousin & his wife. :-)

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 OK, one thing I didn't know: My family "owns" a forest! Can you believe it? Now that makes me proud! They worked their way up from the bottom. They came from Romania having NOTHING & now [actually 30 years ago...] my family bought a forest! :*)

Here are some pictures of this piece of nature + my grandma & grandaunt. BEAUTIFUL!

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Grandma opening a bottle of wine. 

 My grandaunt, last evening.

Grandma. :)