"Honey, I don't want you to be scared but your grandma is in the hospital with an infection and a 103 degree fever. Message me later."

These are not the words you want to see when you open an email from your mom. I'm in a country that's 8 hours ahead of her, my phone won't make international calls, and she isn't going to pick up this early anyway. It's only 2 AM there. And anyway, there's nothing I can do. I go on with my day.

I pick up a package full of homemade caramel and Christmas presents from my parents. I laugh because the post man opens the box and takes a big whiff of it to smell for cocaine. I thank God that my boyfriend never sent me that package full of inappropriate things.

I visit the house of Nicolae Ceausescu, which is usually off limits to the general public, and feel pretty damn special.

I go to a wonderful restaurant and have mici and beer with my host dad. I laugh a lot. I don't come home untill 5 PM.

"I'm sorry honey. She passed away this morning."

These are not words that anyone should have to read when they open an email.