When I travel to foreign countries, I am always interested to see what cultural differences they have from my home. In Budapest and Transylvania, there were many and one of my favorite parts of the trip was just noticing these differences. Of course there were many differences I Budapest, but it didn’t really hit me until we got to Transylvania. As the bus took us further and further into the country it was like we took a step back in time. We passed horses pulling carts full of hay on the highway, and most of the houses had next to nothing, yet everyone seemed very happy. The houses were brightly painted every color of the rainbow and everyone smiled. Old ladies would call out greetings of “Isten aldjo meg!” (God bless or be with you), as we walked by. These people were deep in poverty, yet their sense of hope and community was more than I had ever known and instead of wishing for more, they lived the best life they could with what they had. Seeing all these people made me think about what I really need, and how lucky I am to have everything I do.

Lucy Whipps

Going on a pilgrimage to Transylvania and Hungary has been an eye opening experience in many ways. The most monumental eye opening experience throughout the trip has been that of various forms of community. I have watched communities of which I am a part of bond through the unity of faith. Our youth group has bonded throughout this trip in many ways. We have bonded through long and eventful bus rides in which we sang songs but we have also bonded through thought provoking conversations about our own personal faiths. Throughout the world community, YRUU participants and villagers have bonded through the sharing of cultures. Mostly the culture sharing is when YRUU becomes immersed in the culture of the village people. But this culture sharing has happened when YRUU shares the culture of America with the villagers too. This sharing of cultures brings us closer to our faith and closer to our global community.  Amalia Centurion
I had no idea what to expect on this trip to Hungary and Romania, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn so much about a faith that I had adopted as my own. Learning about Unitarian history gave me a lot more respect for the religion itself, and I am now in awe of what it has gone through to create freedom of religion. In Transylvania, I found a deeper connection than I had ever felt in any location. I felt more at home and more comfortable than it seemed I should have felt because I was in such a different environment than the one I grew up in. Kolosvar (Transylvania, Romania) will remain vividly in my memory because of this. I suppose you could say it was love at first sight for this city and me. This trip, for me, is more of a beginning of a journey in my life because I know there is still more I must learn in Transylvania and something is already pulling me back. Being there I found something spiritual that I had been looking for a long time. Coming to Transylvania and discovering what this lovely place has to offer in terms of my faith and beyond has really made me understand myself better.

Amelia Harris

This trip was a rather big deal for me for several reasons. First of all, it was my first journey outside of the United States. It was also an opportunity for me to both experience and learn more about a branch of Unitarian Universalism.

As far as being my first travel outside of the country, I leaned a lot regarding different cultures. It was very surprised how similar our two cultures are. As for the Unitarians in Budapest, I was very surprised at how close to Christianity they were. I stayed with Jozsef (Rev. Kaszoni) and he said and referred to himself as a Christian. I knew that Unitarian Universalism had Christian roots and now I see where they come from. There has always been a part of me that has wanted to know this side of Unitarian Universalism and I was glad to learn about it. I was happy to find that I very much agreed with the beliefs of Unitarianism, as in the acceptance of all and the idea of following Jesus as opposed to worshipping him. I got the sense that my religion is open to questioning that we do not do just take things without thinking about them first. Also, the idea of community being as important an aspect of our religion made me feel especially content with being a member of our religion. What Marcia [Stanard] said about Unitarianism being the true origin of freedom of religion made me very proud to be a part of our religion.

Another part of this pilgrimage that had an impact on me was the travel into another culture. Just the way of thought was very different. When I learn about history in Europe I feel somewhat disconnected from it. However, when I was talking to some of the people there I realized how connected these people are to their history. Whatever happens to the country ultimately has a significant impact on the people as well. They seem to be very full of pride for their country, which is something that I think is less prominent in the United States.

Another consequence of this pilgrimage was that I felt very much more connected to the Unitarian Universalist church and it really inspired me to look harder at my religion, my beliefs, and how I incorporate Unitarian Universalism into my life and what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.

Johanna Steinbrecher

I have been thinking about food a lot lately, even before this trip. What we eat, where we get it, how we prepare it, how we serve it, how much of it we eat. I’ve been pondering all these things and coming to different conclusions. So the food of itself has been a pilgrimage, especially in Transylvania. As we drive through the wheat and corn fields and through each village, I saw an amazing quantity of food. It seemed that each house’s yard was filled not with grass and lawn furniture and trampolines but rather with food. Grapes grew on arbors. Gooseberries and current bushes filled smaller spaces. Apple, cherry and pear trees leaned heavily with ripening fruit. Peering behind the decorated iron and wooden fences were rows of beans, corn, squash, cabbage, tomatoes and other vegetables. With that many people living that close by to their food; it has to make a difference on their plate. Judging by what I ate, it does.

In my real life I eat the vast majority of my meals alone. Due to work and life schedules you can find me at mealtimes alone at a table with my nose in my book. I make an effort to cook enjoyable food for myself, but it is consumed in solitude. Due to the logistics of our trip our meals are communal, which only served to heighten the fabulousness of the food. Lunch and dinner were two or three courses and while we waited for our food or while eating it we chatted and laughed and observed and conversed and questioned. After every meal we sat for awhile. The food itself was delicious – fresh and hearty – the conversation and company made the mealtime magical and holy.

Patricia Collins

As a seminarian, two highlights of the trip for me involved being invited into foreign pulpits. In Kolosvar, we visited the oldest Unitarian congregation in the world and our trip leader Eva, asked me if I’d like to have my picture taken in the pulpit. Of course I said yes! This is the church that houses the stone that Francis David stood upon to argue for religious tolerance in 1568. As I climbed the small whitewashed stone stairs to the traditional raised pulpit, tears sprung into my eyes. As I looked over the faces of the youth, I saw this history becoming real to them in a new way. People died for our faith and for the idea of freedom of religion. We are here because of them. I also got to give the prayer in the village church in Okland, with men on one side and women on the other. I got to sit in the minister’s pew.

I am struck on this trip by the differences in lifestyle and agriculture, particularly in the villages. Americans are very conscious of recycling and compact fluorescent light bulbs – neither of which are common here, but Transylvanians live n small houses with practical gardens. Grass is used for grazing animals, rather than as a manicured lawn. Horse-drawn carts are common in the villages and men cut hay with long-handled scythes, then stack it into tall piles to feed animals over the winter. Its common to see chickens, cows, sheep or even horses in small areas near houses. Technology is very present – we saw many satellite dishes, cell phones and internet access was common, but people here have much smaller homes and less ‘stuff’. Space is used, not simply a way to shield oneself from one’s neighbors.

Marcia Stanard

Before I came on this trip I was really worried about what the food would be like. Ii was worried that I would hate all of the food and that I would have no good for 2 weeks. But the whole time I was with my host family I ate everything on my plate. One meal that I was most scared of was deep fried mushrooms. Before I had never liked mushrooms but I approached the meal with my head held high and I ate a whole mushroom! It was about the size of a mini-pizza – 5 inches across. It was absolutely delicious. I have tried and enjoyed all of my meals.

The pilgrimage in general has also been a wonderful experience. I am so glad that I decided to come. I have learned lots about my religion and about history. I have also learned for myself what being a Unitarian means.

Isabel McManus

I as a person define myself as spiritual and not religious. I would call myself a Unitarian Universalist because I agree with our faith principles. To learn about the Unitarian part of our faith was interesting and educating but in the end my spiritual/religious beliefs are unchanged. I have grown as a being I the web of life on this trip but not as a believer of a being some call God.

Derek Rush

My mom, dad and the rest of my family affect how I live my life. MLK, FDR and the founding fathers have an affect on my life. These people’s affect on my life I can grasp. However, as I learn about the history of 16^th century Europe it baffles me that what I witnessed in small towns in Transylvania has a deep affect on my life. This includes my freedom of religion, speech, and all the other freedoms I otherwise disregard.

Walker Jones

The empty houses of the would-be kings of this abandoned country are more moving than the plaques on the church walls. The most magnificent churches have less effect on my mind that one conversation on an over-heated tour bus. Because of this, what has affected me most on this journey and in most of my life are the human connections that have been made and the re-affirmation of the interconnectedness of humanity.

Brittany Rush

During my two weeks here in Eastern Europe, I was reminded of how lovely history, religion and culture can be. The first week I stayed with a Hungarian youth named Peter. Living with him and his family gave me a worldly experience. We played soccer with his neighbor, and met other Hungarian youth. Visiting and learning more about their church and history helped me understand more about Unitarianism.

My favorite part of the trip was, getting the chance to learn a different language. I always wanted to learn another language. Even though I wasn’t very good or said a lot in Hungarian, it still helped a lot. After all, I was pleased to hear my host family speak English to me.

Ted Ofiara

“Only the walker who sets out toward ultimate things is a pilgrim…The pilgrim resolves that the one who returns will not be the same person as the one who set out.”       Andrew Schelling, Meeting the Buddha

OK. This was no nostalgic journey to a bucolic past. First of all, most of us are too young to have a bucolic past. Then there are the long bus rides with no air conditioning, maniac drivers and people speaking a language you can’t understand. There were, however, home made palinka, wine and people whose main concern is for our happiness. And a whole lot of history.

The eastern European Unitarians consider themselves Christians. “We are followers of Christ. We do not worship him,” our guide said. Well, semantics can be a problem. My belief is that Christ was a prophet, a wise man, and I believe I follow his words! I don’t consider myself a Christian though. Could be the negative name I associate with Christian religions.

Reformation is a big part of the Unitarian history, as is the Trinity. This is my understanding. There is one “Thou that cannot be named.” We are all sons and daughters of “thou that cannot be named.” The Holy Ghost is everyone’s spirit life. Each of us is the light.

The name Unitarian is of Transylvanian origin, first used in the year 1600. It is my understanding the word comes from the Unitarian belief in the unity of God. It gradually replaced the terms, anti-trinitarian and Socinian, in the 18^th century.

Don Liedel

This trip has done a lot for me, in the sense that I feel more connected to my spiritual self. I not only know different beliefs of Unitarian Universalism and Unitarianism but I have figured out my own beliefs. The sentence, “We do not worship Jesus, we follow him” gave me a lot to think about and I love it. I’ve never really felt connected to a specific religion before and to finally feel those sparks is a good feeling for me. And to finally be able to know I will have a clear answer for the next person who asks me what the Unitarian religion is, is such an excitement to me! I am ready to roll, folks, y’all best be gettin’ ready. This trip has been fun. Thank you everyone!

Christine Bergman

If there was such a word as “photo-fanatic” in the dictionary, my name would no doubt be in the designated slot for the definition. There’s a commonly spoken phrase that states a picture is worth a thousand words. Not only do I believe that, but I also believe pictures capture the emotions within the eyes of the persons (or the soul of the surrounding scene) at that exact moment, leaving you with an ever-lasting memory. This pilgrimage was to be my first time out of the country and I was ecstatic. Every new experience opened my views to the world and history of our religion made me realize how much I respect it. I am comforted to know that my strong belief of freedom of religion was officially declared by the only Unitarian King. I saw so many wonderful places and ate so much amazing food…and it all happened along side some of my closest friends. I am so happy that I got every moment possible on film.

Alexandra Carroll

As you travel throughout the world you can expect to see a variety of places, experience a variety of cultures and meet tons of new people. Places change with time, and cultures are foreign to those from afar, but people are still people, no matter where you go. This trip has helped me to connect with people across the world on common neutral ground, and I believe I’ve come away stronger in character because of it. This exchange of ideas and faith will aid us all in finding ourselves spiritually.

Ian Earle

I learned a lot on this journey through time. The church that had the greatest impression on me was the gothic style church in Torda. It struck me as ridiculous that people so long ago could be so inspired by their religion that they built something to last centuries.

Erik Lasher