one year ago

It’s wild to think that just a year ago I was landing in Romania for an adventure of a lifetime. Somehow it feels like everything has happened since then but also nothing has at the same time. Now that I’m fully back and tucked into the normal American routine, I’ve noticed that the more “settled” I become here, the more I find myself missing being there. And of course I had to find a rhythm here with the familiar pace and the everyday responsibilities, but there’s still this quiet part of me that feels like it never quite left. It’s strange how something can be so life-changing and yet feel almost hidden, like a layer underneath everything, shaping how I see the world even if no one else can tell.

When I moved back to the United States in July, I was determined to hold onto the rhythm I’d found in Romania. I told myself I’d walk everywhere instead of driving, shop local and in-season like I had there, keep learning my languages, and move through life a little more slowly. Yeah…none of that really happened. As soon as I got home, I jumped straight into applying for jobs since we’d been living on one income for seven months. Within three weeks, I had started my current job, and before I knew it, I had slipped back into the familiar American cycle — work all day, go home, rest, and wake up to do it all over again.

The one thing that I did not stop doing was traveling, only this time it was stateside and to see my friends that I love. I explored parts of California that I never saw before like Los Angeles and San Francisco. I traveled to San Antonio, Texas to have a girls weekend with my best friends. I also traveled up to school in Spokane, Washington to apply for a job that unfortunately (but fortunately?) did not work out.

I was nervous about the reverse culture shock of coming back to Central Oregon and some of it definitely hit. There were small but overwhelming moments, like having a mini meltdown in a parking lot because a massive truck was taking up two spaces, or going to a party where the conversations felt surface-level and bailing early shortly after. Even at work, watching grown adults throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way has felt exhausting. It’s hard because I had just come from a culture where I was navigating language barriers, learning something new every day, and being surrounded by people who genuinely wanted connection and conversation. Coming back to this has felt jarring. Sometimes it honestly feels performative like everything is about hustle, who you know, and how to get ahead. And lately, more than ever, the division here feels loud and ugly. It’s hard to find the hope in that.

Lately, I’ve been finding my way back to running again. During my last few weeks in Timișoara, I joined the Off-Leash Run Club for a weekly 5K, and it was hands down the best run club I’ve ever been part of. We’d meet at along the Bega River, and run a 5K as fast as we could, and then head back to the D’Arc boats to hang out, drink, and dance. It was the perfect mix of effort and joy and everyone was so friendly. Even with the language barrier, running and drinking together became its own kind of shared language, one built on effort, sweaty high-fives, and the understanding that connection doesn’t always need words.

So I decided to start training again, this time following a plan for the Bend Marathon in April. It’s felt really good to move my body with intention and reconnect with that part of myself. I even joined a local group run to get a discount on an upcoming race, and it went about how I expected. The advertised “conversational” pace had me clocking nine-minute miles while the front pack took off like it was the Olympics. I held on for 3.75 of the 4.5 miles before realizing, I have nothing to prove here. So I slowed to a walk. There I was…alone, somewhere in the middle, slightly annoyed but also kind of amused. It wasn’t magical like Timișoara, but hey, at least I got a discount out of it.

I’m also gearing up for my next international adventure. This time we’re exploring Poland! I’m already feeling that mix of excitement and anticipation, the kind that comes right before stepping into somewhere completely new. After Romania, I don’t travel the same way anymore. It’s not about having a huge itinerary or agenda, it’s about noticing everything: the streets, the food, the people, the little moments that make a place feel alive. I can’t wait to wander, try all the local things, and just let myself get surprised again. Somehow just having this trip on the horizon makes life here feel a little lighter, like I’m still chasing the kind of experiences that stretch me. Traveling and experiencing new people and culture will always be the best education and it helps me become a better and more informed global citizen.

In the meantime, I’m living vicariously through the “new me” in Romania. I’ve been talking with Chrystin ever since she applied for the Erasmus+ scholarship, back when I was still in the middle of my own Erasmus experience. Now that she’s there, settling into the dorms and finding her rhythm, it feels like I’m right there with her, seeing the city through her eyes. I remember how everything felt so fresh and exciting the first time around, and giving her little tips about things I wish I had known. Following her adventures makes me feel like a part of that Romania life is still with me, even from afar.

Looking back, it’s wild to see how much has changed in just a year and yet how much of that Romania experience still lives in me. Even as I settle back into the rhythms of home, the memories, lessons, and little habits I picked up there keep showing up in unexpected ways. Traveling, running, connecting with friends, and seeing the world differently all feel like threads I can’t let go of. And now, with a new adventure on the horizon and watching Chrystin find her own path there, I’m reminded that some experiences don’t end when you leave a place; they stay with you, quietly shaping who you are and how you see the world.