Medieval Night FIGHT:

Tonight is the much anticipated medieval night, when finalists Slovakia can finally have its revenge against the winning Korean team. In honour of Romanian tradition, the two teams will have a re-match, in a medieval battle. Each team is allowed to use traditional medieval weapons, such as leeches, uncleanliness, and infectious disease. The first team to get scurvy wins.

Today in Cultural Miscommunication

While walking down the street, a Romanian lady approached me and said, “Hello, take my berry for lay?” For a moment, this happily married man and father was shocked. Fortunately, she was selling berries and “lay” or leu is the name of Romanian currency. However, if you are ever in North America, please do not approach anyone with such a question, unless you are in Las Vegas and would like to unite the world through perversity.

Romania, Land of Wild Flowers

Geographically, Romania is one of the most beautiful nations in the history of the entire universe, since the beginning of time. For instance, only steps outside your hotel, you can witness the numerous varieties of local wild flowers, known officially as the purple flowers, the white flowers, the yellow flowers, the tiny blue flowers, and the abundant green flowers, also known as uncut grass.

Lucky Debaters!

Isn’t it odd that for a topic concerning the world’s fresh water supply, that we have such an abundant choice of water on the tables, either from a jug, or from bottles, bubbles or no bubbles. If there is not a water problem before this camp, certainly, when it is done, the world will run out of water. While the rest of the world searches for fresh water, debaters can easily pick up a wide variety of tasty water choices. It must really suck to be a thirsty, I mean, a non-debater.

So Many Trips, So Little Time

There are three upcoming trips offered to debaters. Deciding on only one can be quite difficult, so let’s break down the various resolutions. The first one is a hike into the wilderness, also known as the “Do you value your life?” trip. Interestingly, this trip is free, because you will need to save your money for the medical bills. The next one is a trip to Dracula’s castle, which is a trip that promises to give you immortality, in exchange, of course, for a bite to the neck and your soul. Immortality comes at a cost though; hence, this is the most expensive trip. The third one is a trip to a fancy castle, famous because it is decorated with silver and gold. This is the trip if you need some extra money. Be sure to take a spoon with you and scrape off some of the silver and gold. Then, you will be able to pay for a trip to Dracula’s castle, after which, because you’d become a vampire, you will be able to travel through the wilderness frightening bears.

Note of Thanks: Thank You Country Exhibition

If the country exhibition taught us one thing, it is that we can enjoy other cultures by drinking them. It seems that the best way to unite in diversity is to taste one another’s alcoholic drinks, until we are all speaking the same drunken language of slurred speech and loud laughter. Here is a message to world leaders: unite in diversity through alcohol that burns through steel. Currently, the various nations are mixing their drink with one another, to make one master drink that shall unite the entire world. Let us unite through alcohol toxicity.

When the Stars are Out

Every night, under the beautiful starry sky, a bear has been visiting the hotel dumpster, trying to fatten itself up as much as possible and, as easily as possible, before winter. However, it turns out that the bear is actually a cleverly deployed distraction. While forum participants stare out at the bear, a suspicious stranger goes to work, sneaking into rooms. So, be careful! The dangerous culprit is an out of work American actor who has moved to Romania; his name is Count Dracula. Since he overacts in every one of his films, and despite being an inspiration for Jim Carrey’s new School of Over-actors, Dracula has not found much quality work in recent years, being turned down for a role as Hamlet in the seven hundredth BBC film production.

Dracula as Hamlet, Prince of Denmark/Darkness. If you see this unemployed thespian, don’t run away. All he wants is to love and be loved. Please Note: Youth Forum Romania is not liable in the likely event that you contract Hepatitis-C from Dracula.

As a result, Dracula has been reduced to bothering forum participants, urging them to sit patiently, while he performs a monologue about the undead or laughs hideously, while peaking through his cape. Joining Dracula, ever since his Blade series has ended, Wesley Snipes has also been spotted in Romania, hoping to make a buddy cop comedy with Dracula and, everybody’s favorite, Tom Hanks. Romania is famous for being an excellent cinematic location, for such films as Cold Mountain and American Pie Goes to Romania. Now, Romania can proudly say Hollywood stars are here to stay!

WARNING! Beware of the Bears

Are you happy? Are you a debater in Romania? Do you value life, especially your own? Did you know that the Romanian mountain forests are full of vicious debater-eating bears? Are you still happy?

Currently, I am wetting my pants, but that’s a personal medical condition. As for the bears, in all honesty, I am frightened, especially when I discovered the origins of this town’s name. Predeal comes from the Latin, for “Pray” and “deal,” when Greek historian Herodotus observed: “Pray for your sweet lives, a great deal of bears roam these woods!”

Although he is long dead, Herodotus is very wise, for who wants to be eaten by a bear? Not me, that’s for sure – I’m vegetarian. That would just be too ironic of a fate.

Rather than being eaten, it is best to take the necessary precautions around bears. Stick to the trails, walk in groups, and don’t go frolicking into the trees. Bears don’t like noise, but that shouldn’t be a problem whenever two or three debaters get together. While you walk the trail, just debate something. Here is a topic: Let it be resolved, the bears will eat you.

Like trainers, bears are attracted to free food, so don’t walk into the woods carrying food. Also, it’s not a good idea to throw food in the woods either, because the trainers will chase after it, and bears don’t like that.

If you happen to see a bear, it is best to remain still and speak in monotone. Don’t make any sudden movements. In other words, act like a judge. While the bear is deciding to attack you, just tell the bear about the Convention for the Rights of the Child. The bear should understand how wrong it is to eat a teenager and then proceed to devour your coach.

What do you do if a bear attacks you? Well, according to the experts, first you have to determine what type of bear it is. During your eight minutes of prep time, determine whether you are facing a grizzly bear or a black bear. If it is a grizzly bear, you should play dead, but understand that even a gentle swipe by a bear’s paw can kill a human being. If it is a black bear, you should fight it, but understand that even a gentle swipe by a bear’s paw can kill a human being. In conclusion, according to my research, even a gentle swipe by a bear’s paw can kill a human being. Thank you experts for your guidance of our safety.

The locals call bears “Aaaah!” If you hear anyone saying that, run. While all this talk about bears surrounding you may be frightening, there is something positive. If you must miss a lab or debate, there is no better excuse than being eaten by a bear.

Bear Safety Links:
http://usparks.about.com/cs/natlparkbasics/a/beartips.htm

http://www.usscouts.org/safety/safe_bea.html

http://www.alaskatrekker.com/bearsafety.htm

IMPORTANT! Well . . . not really

Question: Where are you when you see a group of construction workers staring at a hole in the road, slowly sucking on their cigarettes, while a horse cart passes a busload of debaters? That’s right! Welcome to Romania!

Most of you may have been excited to finally have the airplane land in Romania. Too bad you didn’t know that the bus ride up the mountain is longer than most airplane trips. Speaking of speed, visitors must have been especially excited to notice that road construction here is as quick as in any country. Road construction truly is an international language. It’s a very slow language, filled with lots of bodily scratching, but it is a language nonetheless.

What was longer and more embarrassing than the plane trip and the bus ride? Trying to open up my door. You have to slide the card in the right direction and at the right speed for it too work correctly. Don’t get too distracted by the flashing green light, like I did. I would swipe my card and then giggle at the wonderful green light. “Look, look, green means go!” I would say, clapping my hands.

By the way, did you know that before the start of the camp, trainers were debating what is more confusing here, the water topic, or how to use the cutlery on the tables?

For those of you who have just arrived and are especially tired, no worries. Labs begin today, so you’ll have plenty of time to catch up on your sleep.

This is a great place for exercise. You can run around your hotel room, balancing your laptop in your hands, as you try to get the wireless signal. I noticed three people on their balconies yesterday, holding their laptops in one hand and hanging on for dear life with the other. For those interested in illegal gambling, bets are already being placed as to when the computer system will crash. For those interested in prophecies, bets are being taken for when the electricity will go out, a plague of locusts will swarm the building, and Armageddon will be upon us. I say Wednesday. In other words, the day of the Karl Popper elimination rounds – good luck!