Surprise+Veceu

Last post before I hit the sack- another veceu story I just realized I forgot to write about.

On Tuesday I was at my tutoring lesson and, much like tonight, had to pee so bad (sorry for the TMI, but it's necessary) that I knew I wouldn't make it home if I didn't use the veceu. So I asked my student where it was and he decided to lead me there since it was kind of a maze going through the house. He opened the gate then pointed to it, and I started walking (a rather fast walk, actually... maybe even a slow jog) and the next thing I knew a dog popped his head around the corner and started barking rather ferociously at me. Thankfully I have control of my bladder but I definitely jumped about 5 feet high and about took my 9th grade student out in fear of this chained up dog. Then he bends down and pets the dog saying, "it's ok, she's nice!". So I tried to pet her....

GROOOOOWWWWWLLLLL ruff ruff ruff RUFF!!!! (If you don't speak Dog, that's Dog for "Whaaaaaaaaaat are you still doing here? GO AWAY!!!!")

... I made it to the veceu just in time.

Then on the way back I had another failed attempt at being the Dog Whisperer... apparently it only works for me with dogs in Razeni... with Cali, in particular.

Snow+Night+Veceu

Tonight is the first night with snow on the ground. Ironically it is also the first night I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't go to the bathroom first. Super.

I bundled up rather lightly (aka PJ bottoms and a super warm W4 Patagonia fleece and muckboots- without socks) because I knew I was just going to be pulling my pants down and headed for the veceu (aka outhouse). Luckily it isn't too far away but it's far enough away that by the time I got there I was freezing and my PJ bottoms were dusted with enough snow to make them wet and cold... so the last thing I wanted to do was actually go to the bathroom. But I managed because I figured if I got that far I might as well finish what I started.

Note to self: Don't drink any liquids after 5pm if I know what's good for me.

How he came to cook

Like I've said a couple of times the last few days, my host mom has been at the hospital since Wednesday, which thus has left my host dad to do the cooking.

A couple of nights ago I asked him where he learned to cook, because there are men here (aka Maria's husband, Pavel) who seriously don't know how to cook pasta or boil an egg. This was his response:

"Listen here, Cate. My mother had 10 children. Four of them died when they were little, but that still left six of us. My mother got really sick and some of my older siblings were already married and not living at home, so when I was in the 5th form I had to help in the house. She would be in and out of the hospital and someone had to do the cooking and the chores, so she taught me and I would cook for everyone in the family. When I went to college I would cook in my room, too, on one of those stoves that you plug into the wall. Then when I married Antonina, sometimes she wouldn't be able to cook because she would be working, so I would cook sometimes. In fact, there was a time I cooked better than her. But she's learned how to cook better now, and she has more time. So Cate, that is how I learned how to cook."

That is how he learned how to cook... and how he learned to cook so well. I also think this explains why he is the way he is (aka strict, but also very caring and doesn't want anything bad to happen to me)... he had to be the man of the house at the age of 12.

Not that he didn't have my respect before (he did!!), but it all makes more sense now... and I have even more respect for him.

11th Form

Oh 11th form.

They really know how to drive me nuts sometimes, but other times they really bring a smile to my face. Like today, for example, we were talking about problems and solutions. We asked the kids to make a list of various problems they have in their lives, then once that was done, we all worked together to find solutions. One student wrote "girls" at the top of the list. Then the student, pictured below, wrote this for a solution:

Yes, that's right. A BMW is a solution to the problem of girls. I like his thinking.

The test they took yesterday had two essay questions. One was more of a short-answer response, and one a bit longer. I'd like to share some of the responses with you (copied exactly as written).

Question 1: Would you like to have a new friend for love, money money, or future benefit?

I like to have a new friend for love benefit. The love is bestful thing and everyone like to have a friend for life.

-Andrei (or Ion... I'm not so sure because they copied each other.)

I would like to have a new friend to love, because love is the most beautiful and pure feeling between two people. When I am in love, everything is easy and simple [and] happy for me.

-Irina

Question 2: Write an essay about admiring nature.

I like admiring nature because nature is beautiful and wanderful. The nature is life. In the nature I live very very much. I like very very much go in the forest and go to the river and I like to fish. Nature is our life the hould [whole] life. Nature I like admiring nature and like.

- Victor (this is the student that sat through the entire test and didn't write anything until the last two minutes, and this is the result)

Nature is a gift from God for every one of us. Even if few people can admire and appreciate the beauties of nature, I'm sure everyone can't imagine this world without sky, sun, clouds, trees, and other things that make our lives more interesting. In every day when I go home I see a sad picture- a dirty nature. The grass is sad and trees are angry. I feel like they want to say something to me, asking for help.

To live in harmony with nature is a great talent and an useful advantage for our live and for this we no need money, just love and care.

So, look at the sky, at all around you and admire it and know that oyu are a lucky person in the world.

- Irina

If I close my eyes...

Today classes were cut by an additional 5 minutes on top of the 5 minutes cut from yesterday, so lessons ended at 12:45 today instead of 2pm due to the cold. But for the second time since school has began it was actually warmer inside the school than outside even without heat. With that said, everyone was still bundled up in their heavy coats, scarves, and hats. But it was comfortable, assuming you were dressed correctly. Regardless, classes still finished early so everyone could go home to heat instead of not having it.

The ground has gone from ridiculously muddy to ridiculously frozen. Ice skating anyone?

So, instead of having my tutoring lessons and English club today, I cancelled it. Even though I was warm (thank you base layers), most of the students were not. When I told them it was cancelled, my 4th grade crocodile (aka crocodile tears) almost started crying. I'll take that as a compliment.

Now I'm home and I have a nice warm cup of instant spiced apple cider (thanks New Grannie!!), and I have my back sitting against the soba which is slowly but surely warming up my room. If I close my eyes, it's almost like I'm back at home with my back against a fire...

Sisters

I have an awesome sister. This is what she just sent me in a message:

I Love ur blog. I feel like Uve changed the world over there. Uve had so many miracles happen. Ur like god sent to b there. Keep it up sissy.

She rocks. I miss her!!!!! It's interesting how much closer me being so far away has made us. I think that is the best miracle out of them all.

Winter

According to many Moldovan's, today is the first day of winter (because it's December 1st, and we all know that the winter's months are December, January, and February). Although the first day of winter isn't technically until the 21st of December, the 23º with a chance of snow is close enough, so I'll roll with it. Hopefully the first day of Moldovan Spring (March 1st) will actually feel like it- instead of the technical day, March 20th.

... I think I'm looking too far in advance!