
My first week abroad in Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania has passed and it has been very busy. In my program (USF Romania Human Osteology and Bioarchaeology) there are three groups that students can participate in. There is the lab group, excavation group, and ossuary group. I am participating in the lab group. So, my class has learned the bones and features of the entire skull and the os coxae, or pelvis, so far. Mixed with the jet lag and the fast-paced class lessons I’ve been exhausted almost everyday. I love it, though. This whole experience has been so rewarding to my education and my future aspirations to be a forensic anthropologist.
In the program itself, there is around 50 people total. We are all staying in the same hotel called the Hinto Ponzio. The hotel has a homey feel and the people who own and work there are very nice. The owners make breakfast and dinner for us every weekday. The food is amazing! I was originally worried that I wouldn’t like some of the food because I am a bit of a picky eater. However, I was gladly surprised to know that the food here is mostly pork-based and I love a good pork dinner.
Throughout the program so far we have visited a few parts of the city. The architecture here is amazing and almost has a cottage feel to it. I think my favorite place to go in town is to a place called Kaufland. The Kaufland is a grocery store and it has everything you could possibly need. They also have the best donuts that I have ever tasted there. I am in love with it! The city of Odorheiu Secuiesc has been a dream this past week and I can’t wait for the next three.