Italy for a day

Because our flight got in so late, Matteo offered for me to stay with his family and stay with his sister in her room. I was very thankful for that, especially because I hadn’t heard back from any couchsurfers for the first couple of days of my original dates for the trip. By 3am we were finally asleep (they lived an hour outside of Milan, which was an additional 20 minutes from the airport). When I woke up I thought it was 6am but, nope, 11, Estonia got me all messed up! But it was OK because Lara had just woken up too.

After a light breakfast and then a little lounging, and a homemade pasta lunch, we were off for a late afternoon and evening of exploring the city.. err … countryside (never actually made it to the city, but that is totally OK because I prefer the cultural experience instead of the tourist traps anyways). We started by heading to her friend’s aunt’s house to meet up with two of her friends before heading our for more exploration. On the way we stopped at a ceramic shop where an old man was so friendly and eager to tell his story of being born in the South of Italy and going to school for ceramics, and now he doesn’t do the painting but the forming of it. And he has family in America that immigrated over there in the 80’s, and he was very proud of that. We also stopped at the grocery store so I could pick up some pasta for my host mom and some wine for dinner. You know, it’s really fun to go into grocery stores in different countries to see the differences. You’d think they’d all be the same or at least pretty similar, but they’re not. In Estonia there was a HUGE meat and potato section, and in Italy it was the pasta. I wonder what it is in America? Once I’d bought everything we needed and met up with Lara’s friends (who were shy about their English but were actually pretty good and really funny), we headed to Kerry’s village of 150 people. She told me the legend of knight who was beheaded and his head fell into the river in her village which thus turned it red (although she studied geology very thoroughly and says it’s actually just the “rubification” of the rocks and the red algae… but the story is more fun, especially for a town that small. Then we went up to a pink rock that had an incredible view of both the village and the valley in which the village sits. That is something that is so cool about being in Italy- there are a bunch of small villages that put together looks like one big village, but that’s just not the case. And as you go from one “big” village to another, the structure and the architecture actually changes a lot of the time. So on this rock we sat and talked about “dead” musicians (Like Jimmy Hendrix and Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley) and how they aren’t really dead, but instead on the seashore. Apparently they became so famous and tired of being famous that they decided to go there and change their identity… and apparently it worked because everyone thinks they’re dead. And with that comment, Kerry “cracked herself up” (which it Italian translate “I die” but the sense is “cracking oneself up”).

So after some touring around the small villages, it was time to hit the capital of their Provence- Varese. What I liked so much about this city was that it had the vibe of a big city life- but it wasn’t swamped with tourism… which is exactly what I love to find when traveling. Even though I didn’t make it to Milan, I realized that I didn’t have to. We still saw an old church, small side streets, expensive stores, and had tasty gelato. And the best part? No tourists.

As we wrapped the night up and headed home for some homemade pumpkin gnocchi, I thanked Lara for showing me around. Her response was great, and so true: Sometimes you forget the beautify of where you live until you show someone around who has never been there before.

She’s so right.

Secret Stories

Now here I am back in Varatic. The weather is overcast, the air is wet and cool (too cool for this time of year), and the village is mourning the loss of two people from the village. Two boys who were supposed to enter the 10^th grade next year are still fighting for their lives but barely hanging on at this point. The accident happened around 9pm Friday in a nearby village. Neither drivers were drinking, and both were just going about their own business. Irina’s family has a store they run out of their house, so he was coming back from Balti with some things for the store, and Victor had picked up the two younger boys en route to Zaicani since they were all going there for the graduation ceremony. No one exactly knows what happened but it probably had to do with the fact that it was night, the roads are really bad, Victor’s speed was too fast (but that is not uncommon in Moldova, as people just FLY through the villages), there was a hill, and no one was wearing seatbelts. All four people had their necks broken instantly, and if the two remaining boys do survive, they won’t be in a good shape. It is so sad to see the village mourning the losses. Everyone is quiet (I think it also has to do with the weather), and that is all anyone is talking about. I just wish the sun would come out to brighten up some spirits but I think many people are looking at it as the weather is mourning with the villagers (which, you know, is quite interesting because when my mom died it was raining).

With all of this talk of the accident, so many “hidden” stories are coming out about the parents of the kids that have died or are still in comas. Of course no one knows if anything is true or not but it just kind of breaks my heart to hear the negative things that are being said. Some people begin by saying, “Who knows if this is true but….”, and then continue by saying, “well, this person got it from this person who got it from this person who is a relative of this person so it must be true.” Oh boy. However, an interesting story did come out about Irina’s dad that I feel is OK to share because she discussed it in class when they were learning about fortune telling. Apparently quite a few years back her mom went to see a fortune teller and this woman told her mom that her dad was going to die in an accident when he was 49. So his 49^th year came and gone and nothing happened. Well, he was 51 at the time of his death… the fortune teller wasn’t that far off.

Weather check

When traveling, it is best to check the forecast for where you are going, even if it isn't very far. I am leaving for Estonia and I packed my bag with skirts, summer dresses, and tank tops. I decided to leave the windproof zip up jacket and jeans at home because I assumed the weather was like it is here in Moldova... not too hot, humid, and pretty comfortable. After I was already out of my village and unable to go back and get those things I might need, I decided to check the weather. This is what I saw:

Needless to say, I just might have to go shopping in Tallinn and grab a couple more layers. Good thing there is room in my bag and that it will be hot in Italy.

Adjusting

The hardest part about being back in America from Moldova is getting back into the groove of the whole language thing. Before I left I felt like I spoke English most of the day, which is probably true, but not as true as I thought. I remember the first few weeks here I had excrusiating headaches because of all of the Romanian I was soaking in and trying to translate in my head, but eventually it basically became second nature (even though I didn't really realize this). Now that I'm back and had a 2 week freeze of not speaking or hearing it at all, the headaches have returned... and full force. Headaches + jetlag = lot of sleep (which I needed).

My host dad and I attempted to visit a 70 year old Romanian teacher (and ex Principal) who had a stroke back in the Spring. Unfortunately when we arrived he wasn't there because he was in Balti getting tests done, but his wife still followed the Moldovan tradition and invited us in for hospitality (aka wine and food). We'd just finished a huge breakfast (err, brunch... oops) prepared by my host mom so we didn't eat the food but did appreciate the wine. She'd been working in Italy the last 7ish years and had a great story to tell about people helping people. She said that at 5am someone (remember... brain = overworked so some of the details are spotty) woke her up to go get a tractor (she lives in a village in the mountains). When she went to someone else's house to go get it she rang the bell and instead of coming to to the door, the wife opened the windows on the 2nd floor and asked her what she needed. When she said she needed the tractor, she said her husband needed to put clothes on and then he'd be right down. Well, I'm not sure exactly what happened next... whether he came down or not... but people were walking by and asking her what she was waiting for, and then a couple of weeks later a woman she didn't know walked by her and asked if the Moldovan woman was the woman that borrowed the tractor (or possibly someone was borrowing it from them). She said yes, and the woman felt so awful because apparently they never paid. And so she said that's just how it is in her village in Italy, everyone helps each other and never forgets... and she wishes it was like that here.

However, I disagree with her. I think it is exactly like that here. It may not be how it used to be "back in the old days" but compared to where I grew up, people here are so helpful. One of the rutiera drivers came to the airport yesterday to help me with my bags and didn't charge me for my journey back to Varatic, and then I had people waiting for me at my bus stop to help me with my bags. Maybe it's just because I'm the American that stands out in the small village in Moldova (like the Moldovan standing out in the Italian village), or maybe it's just because it's not what I'm used to... but I love it. And you know what? I love Moldova. Except in the winter.

Sleeping in

For the first time since I arrived back in Kansas just about 2 weeks ago I will be going to bed before midnight and waking up whenever I happen to wake up. If that doesn't summarize the craziness of my trip back home, I'm not sure what else can. Expect in the next (hopefully) couple of days to have a complete summary + pictures of what I've been up to lately. Let's just say it's been crazy... and awesome. While going back to Moldova is going to be very bittersweet (um, where did the time go?!?!?!), I know I have many things to look forward to in the next 13 months... and I can't wait.

I have realized since being here that people do read my blog on a rather regular basis and so I GREATLY apologize for being rather MIA lately. Sometimes, though, you have to take life by the horns and just go for it... and that's pretty much what I've been doing lately.

With that being said, it is now time for bed so I can have a full, pro-active day tomorrow.

Take that back

I take back what I said in that last post. I was emotional, exhausted, and apparently not thinking straight. While I absolutely LOVE Kansas City and can't wait to get back, the truth is that I can wait to get back. All of these amazing opportunities that have presented themselves while I've been here will still be here when I get back... and that is very assuring. At least I now know I don't have to worry about the transition coming home!

Home

In the last few days that I've been home I've had 4 photo shoots and 2 weddings.... and 13 more photo shoots to go. I am super excited about all of these and let's just say it is really, really, REALLY going to be hard to go back to Moldova. I guess the whole going back part won't be too difficult... but the staying there might be. It's hard coming back home and having all of these amazing opportunities present themselves... and even though every one of these will still be here next year, it's tempting.

Photos and stories will come soon. I promise.... I'm just still a bit overwhelmed at the moment and functioning on very little sleep. But I will leave you with a very funny quote from one of my best friends who got married yesterday. She said, "Why do the best days of your life always have to be centered around the vagina?!" (The best days of your life meaning your wedding night and when you have children)

Ha.