It’s like a cold shower, or like having to write with your left hand all of a sudden, and it’s not just doodling. It’s writing your final thesis. We have done everything in our power to prepare for the move, but I can’t help but acknowledge how much easier life was in the States. On the other hand, I recall driving back from somewhere, and Conrad said: “life is so easy, it’s suffocating”. We need a little challenge, a little hardship. And this is what we got.
So here we are, racing. Life is a chase. And it is so literally here. Also, bureaucracy and the conquering of it is addictive. My friend, former university colleague and our current lawyer has such a great perspective over life and business: “Everything is possible, you don’t need to know everything but hire the right people to help you where you don’t know.”
On the other hand, Conrad calls this bureaucratic chase a teaser or preparation for the adoption journey. I sometimes visit certain offices and I realize how far away from California I am. Broken windows, old, very old buildings, mud on the broken sidewalks, freezing cold and cars parked every-which way … and everything seems normal to the locals. There was a time when I wouldn’t think much of it all. But now I do. And my biggest challenge is discerning between the things I am to adapt to and things I should challenge.
As we dropped off the last stack of documents we pulled together with Mara, we entered this brand new location wine shop and cafe. It was quite the experience. Beautiful wine, great presentation… and we happened to be chatting with the owner. Conrad told him how we are looking for wine to celebrate the inception of Wanderlust. We were invited to a social evening in a few days and then we were served Proseco on-the-house, in the smoke free, very pleasant cafe. La Tribunal literally translated At the Courthouse, just across the street from the official Courthouse of Cluj. That’s not confusing! “I’ll meet you at the Courthouse.” …I wonder how hard it was to reserve that name for the business.
Side-note: I have been driving like a maniac myself. Everyone is pretty aggressive at the wheel, otherwise you can’t make it anywhere. Today it started snowing fat snowflakes. One never knows how white the hills will be tomorrow morning. Now off I go to see my girlfriends. Carmen organized an evening out – Rebe, Oana, Coco, Livia and many others will be there.
This is starting to feel like home.