Those who feel that cleanliness is next to godliness should probably never come to Transylvania. But for one of the most authentic Eastern European experiences (including outhouses and farm animals), I highly recommend visiting the beautiful rural landscapes of Transylvania. All the alumni who came back from the Hungary program last year raved about the Transylvania trip. With it's cheap fair wares and beautiful rural landscapes, one can see how somebody could fall in love with Transylvania. However, the ankle-deep mud, no showers, and spending hours and hours on a bus was something I could have done with out.

What did we do in Transylvania? Well, my roommates will tell you that we burnt books and made butter. But mostly we spent time in rural churches and shopping for the same stuff at varius and sundry markets. In Transylvania, our host families served palinka (105 proof liquor made from plums) served with everything, including breakfast. Amusing anecdotes in Transylvania include visiting a palinka factory (the shed in some guy's back yard), trudging through several miles of mud to visit a closed wooden church, and our host saying that Mark's (an eagle scout) attempt to light the heater in our room was "nem jó" (not good).