In the short time I’ve been in Romania, I’ve learned a few important bits of information. One bit I learned is; the food is amazing, and the second I learned is; Romanians love to show their affection through food. There hasn’t been a day so far that I haven’t had some form of bread at any given moment of the day. In my host family, we have bread at every meal. Whether it be homemade white bread or fancy breads that I have a hard time pronouncing, I am without a doubt always full by the time I’m done eating. There must be something about bread that says “I love you”, and I am more than okay with that.

My host mom is busy most days, but she always makes sure to have something ready by the time I come home at night—something I find both good and bad. It’s mostly good because I love food, but kind of bad because I eat more calories in a day here than I would eat in a week back home. The first question she asks me when she gets home is whether or not I’ve eaten, and even if I tell her yes, she produces a bag of fresh from the market nectarines, grapes, plums, and what choice do I have but to eat them? Not that I’m complaining, the fresh fruit grown in Romania is some of the best fruit I have ever had. She loves to make sure I’m well fed, and I love to experience any new food she has to offer.

One of the best foods I have had since coming to Romania is the shawarma. Imagine the most beautiful chicken wrap in the U.S. that you can. Now take this image and add fries, sauces, and fresh veggies all wrapped together in a decadent tortilla with a meat that’s not quite chicken, yet still tasty tucked inside. It’s drool worthy, trust me. I have only had it a few times, but it is definitely close to the top of my favorite things to eat in Romania list. Most of the food is similar to the U.S.—well, at least the foods I’ve tried—but it has been so incredible to see that food is as much a part of showing love in Romania as it is back home. My mom always has something baking in the oven or food waiting for me back home, and that’s something I’m very happy to see in Romania. It is almost like a small part of my life back home has followed me across the ocean.