Update: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The Mood in Eastern Europe

Good morning, everyone!

I just wanted to give you all an update given the escalating situation in this region.

Believe it or not, we have noticed virtually no changes in day-to-day life despite being less than 200 miles from the Ukrainian border.

Everyone has gone about their normal routines, and nothing is out of the ordinary.

Obviously, the fact that Romania is a NATO member means that we are not in any immediate danger.

If Putin were to advance on NATO ground, that would likely mean that all bets are off, and the entire world becomes a war zone, including the US.

I am confident that, at least at this point, he won’t go that far.

However, it is still so hard to believe that such tragedy is occurring right next to our temporary home, and we definitely don’t want to develop a false sense of security. Things can change quickly.

We were actually planning on going to Ukraine at one point. We’ve been planning this adventure for quite some time, and we had Kyiv on the itinerary until late October.

During my research, I became quite intrigued by the city, and there was little to no buzz about ongoing tension from Russia at that point.

Sidney and I are devastated by the scenes of panic, fear, and destruction that are emerging from Kyiv and the entire country.

Ukraine is a European society, and likely not much different from where we are now (as far as lifestyle and infrastructure).

Because of our current proximity to the situation, the human factor seems so much more tangible.

The mood in Romania seems calm, but definitely on higher alert now that an invasion has officially occurred.

As far as a personal update, we will be in Bucharest until Monday, and then we will be taking what is apparently a stunningly beautiful train ride down to Sofia, Bulgaria for a few days!

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and I can’t wait to share our explorations and soak in the history!

At this point, the situation in Ukraine shouldn’t impact our travels, and we have no plans to alter any of our destinations.

We will obviously be keeping a close eye on any developments, as should EVERYONE!

This could affect the whole world if it escalates quickly.

Since I just suggested following developments, I also just want to reiterate my belief that cable news media should always be taken with a grain of salt, from both the left and the right.

While I always make a determined effort to not let ideological differences get in the way of relationships with loved ones, I do get concerned when “hot takes” start to polarize people during a time like this, and I have heard some concerning takes that are already being circulated by the major media outlets.

For what it’s worth, I try very hard not to take sides. I feel the same way about Tucker Carlson as I do about Rachel Maddow. I oppose bombastic propaganda, and those who perpetrate it.

I feel like these cable news pundits are always trying to make the world over-simplified. There always has to be good guys and bad guys. When the bad guys screw up, the good guys celebrate. When the good guys screw up, they curate the facts to make it seem like they are just being slandered by the bad guys.

The truth is, that is not how the world works. Especially when it comes to politicians, there are A LOT of shenanigans from all sides, and there is very little concern for normal people like us during these squabbles. There are bad guys, and even a few good guys, on both sides. There is no moral high ground for either party.

I firmly stand by the saying “The truth usually lies somewhere in the middle”

Given the intense polarization over the past few years, this saying has taken on even more meaning.

There are definitely some extremely suspicious aspects of moves made by the Ukrainian government in recent years. However, that does not change in any way that there are ordinary Ukrainian citizens, who have nothing to do with governmental decisions, having to take their children into subway stations and shelter against potential Russian air strikes.

Even if you choose to identify as a Republican or a Democrat, which is absolutely your right as an American, just remember that we’re all human at the end of the day. We’re all in this together, and situations like this really put everything into perspective. We should all be on the side of humanity, and there are real people in harm’s way right now.

I’ll wrap this up by saying that I appreciate everyone in my life, and the overwhelming support of our endeavors truly mean the world to me. Times like these can be a perspective shifter, and there is nothing more important than friends and family.

Tell someone you love them today.