Ice skiing

To be continued (after a 9 hour sleep...)

Back to life

This morning I woke up early because I wanted to do the painting I wasn't able to do yesterday because it took me forever to make a powerpoint for my 8th form on the subject of relative pronouns (which, btw, went really well. Well, maybe. They seemed a little confused at times and other times like it made perfect sense. But, regardless, I think this was the first day they were all 100% attentive... and on a grammar topic nonetheless).

When I woke up, I decided I wanted to do some exercise instead of paint because 1 hour really isn't enough time to do a sufficient amount of painting. Plus, I figured the exercise would be a good way to start the morning off right (man, I miss the summer).

That was all crushed when I walked to school because I saw a dog that had been hit by a car and died. My dog friend (still unnamed), had died. Needless to say I was devastated. I was walking with some little kids and they didn't seem to think anything of it. Then I told my 8th form I was sad today because of that, and they seemed to think I was pretty crazy too. Death here, especially of animals, seems to be just a part of every day life. I think I'm like most Americans in that animals (whether they're our own or someone else's) are more like humans than they are animals (they have feelings, too!). Our pets are a part of our family. But in Moldova, animals are animals and they're here to serve a purpose (which is usually to keep other animals away from the chickens, to do work, or to be a doorbell).

So today I was going to write a tribute to the unnamed dog. On my break I took my phone downstairs to call Ross and tell him how sad I was about this and to try to bed for a little bit of sympathy (which I knew I wasn't going to get, but it was worth a try). Then I looked outside and saw a little black furball with gold specks running along the stairs with some students. I ran outside, whistled, and little unnamed dog came running up to me! It was almost like she had died and come back to life (I know it sounds crazy, but seriously... that's how I felt). My 8th form students were with the dog and were bringing her with them to tell me she hadn't died.

My day is now complete. :)

Calatori (travel) and Moldovan Generosity

The journey from Varatic to Pelinia is a rather simple one. You hop on any rutiera that is going to Balti or Chisinau. Then you tell the driver to stop at the intersection for Pelinia, which is where you get off the rutiera. Then you stand at the corner and flag down a driver who will then take you to the center of town, which is close to Ross' house. Pelinia is situated right inbetween the most direct route to and from Drochia and Balti, so it's rather easy to hitch a ride, and they usually don't accept money because they were going that way anyways.

But going from Pelinia to Varatic is quite another story because Varatic is way off of any main road. So, instead of going to Balti (15 minutes from Pelinia, then another 15 to the bus stop, which is then 1 1/2-2 hours from Varatic) I decided to attempt to flag down a rutiera at the intersection. The last time Ross came to Varatic he caught one at 3:30, so I was aiming for that one. I went to the center of Pelinia to try to catch a ride to at least the intersection, if not all the way to Riscani (my rayon). After 10 minutes, not one person stopped. But an unmarked rutiera arrived that goes between Pelinia and Balti all day, so I hopped on that one and he took me to the intersection, but by the time we got there he had forgotten I'd asked to be dropped off there so he kept going. Just as he crossed the road (and as I asked him again to stop), I saw the rutiera for Varatic drive by. Oh shoot. Plan B.

I stood at the intersection (in the freezing temperatures, but at least it was sunny) for about 10 minutes before someone finally stopped. If they drove fast enough (aka their normal speed) then I'd make it to Riscani in time to catch the rutiera, I thought. But then just as we started to drive, he had engine troubles. So we stopped at a gas station so the driver could get some fluids for the engine. That's another 10 minutes gone. No chance of catching the rutiera now, but I knew there would be at least one other one so I could wait. But another passenger in the car (whom the driver had also picked up) said that it would be best to go to Edinet (which is actually pretty far North because it's closer to Varatic and there should be a rutiera at 4:30, and if not, the taxi ride won't be "too" expensive. Instead of following my gut which told me to go to Riscani, I listened to this man, who is from Moldova, said he used to work in Edinet, and I supposed he should have known. But we dropped him off in Riscani. And I stayed in the car.

Then we picked up 2 more passengers, and dropped one off by the time we got to Edinet, and the remaining passenger helped me find the auto gara (bus station) once we got there. When we got to the station, it was completely deserted, other than some dogs running around and someone cleaning up the trash after a busy day of activity. Great. Stranded. Now what?

This nice man then instructed me to get in a taxi and tell the driver to take me to the roundabout and drop me off in the direction of Varatic, and there I could wait for someone (a car or a rutiera) to pick me up and take me to Varatic. After 15 minutes I'd only seen maybe 5 cars: 4 of which were going in another direction, and the one going my way was a rutiera policeman, which wasn't going to do me any good. But I did make a couple of dog friends, which is always comforting, especially because they seemed to enjoy chasing cars going the other direction. 15 minutes later, it was almost dark and I was still waiting.

Finally someone turned my way, and I said to myself, "Va-rooooooooooooog" (pleeeeeeeease), and to my luck, they stopped. When I told them were I was going, they had no idea where it was. Then they asked if I knew the road to get there, and I said absolutely not. The driver made a phone call, and as he did, his wife told me to get in the back and that they were going to find it. See, what makes things difficult here in Moldova is the fact that there are not ANY street signs telling you where to go, unless it's to major cities (like Balti or Chisinau). Before I knew it I was nice and warm in their seemingly new (and very clean!) car, and I was having a conversation with this wonderful couple. We picked up another family, dropped them off, then dropped the wife off, and then the husband continued to take me to Varatic, even though he had no idea where he was going exactly.

A couple of phonecalls later to Luminita, I was dropped off at my gate, he didn't accept any money from me (just asked God to bless me), and he gave me his number and said I could call if I ever need anything, and that they'd love to show me around Edinet and the surrounding area in the summer when the weather is nicer and it's prettier.

I couldn't believe how nice this couple was. I live almost an hour completely out of their way, but they didn't want me to stand outside in the cold and the dark and risk getting picked up by someone else. Like my host parents said when I got back and told them the story of my travel... I could have had everything stolen, been hurt, or even disappeared. They're right: there really are some bad people in this world. Luckily for me, though, I was put with the right people and some of the kindest and most hospitable people in all of Moldova. I now know Edinet is not the fastest route, and while I was lucky this time, I should stick to the rutieras. But, like my host mom also said, I have a new acquaintance in Edinet and so more connections to make friends all over Moldova.

Summer sky in December

When I went outside this morning to go have breakfast I saw this sky, so then ran and grabbed my camera:

Then I walked a little further toward the gate and saw this:

Then went outside the gate and saw this:

Then turned back around and saw this reflection:

Then, just as I was about to go back inside I saw this!!

Then I snapped one more shot, thinking I was done.

Until I looked out the window while eating and saw this:

And then NMG came in and told me there were TWO rainbows, so I went back outside.

And I was able to snap one of NMG just after she said this sunrise is a summer sunrise, not a winter one.

Time flies

I was going to begin this post apologizing for not updating this for almost a week and that I can't believe it's already Wednesday and that time has just flown... and then I looked at the date. Exactly 6 months ago today I boarded the flight from Kansas City to Philadelphia to begin adventure. Now I know that time really does fly. Before I know it the 27 months will be over and I'll be going home...!

Anyways... I'll give you a re-cap of the last week in photos.

More snow:

I watched a man fix a truck outside our school...

I forgot it was winter and left my flip-flops outside

I made a new dog-friend (still unnamed)

I went to the Winter Bazaar and found this:

I tutored a bazillion kids (4 pictured below)

I went on a walk in Chisinau

Saw Santa Clause

Found some little Christmas Trees

Found a big Christmas Tree

Found out Moldovans are LSU fans

Played in the rain (yes, the RAIN)

Laughed when Ross tried to go ice skating

Watched a beautiful sunset

... and decorated my own Christmas Tree (thanks Ross' Mom!!)

... it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Natural foods

I remember the day my step mom brought home eggs from the farm rather clearly because, like usual, my sister and I refused to eat anything that wasn't purchased at a grocery store. I mean, ewwwww.... fresh farm eggs?! Ha. Yea right. I remember my dad trying to convince us to eat them and to look at the color of the yolks. We still refused... until the one day we ate them unknowingly. Now, I'm pretty sure my tastebuds have developed a true sense of... taste... over the last few years because at that time I couldn't taste a difference.

So here I am, 8 years later, living in this tiny (and often forgotten) country called Moldova. I remember my host mom from my first site pointing out the difference in the color of the yolks from her fresh eggs in comparison to the eggs purchased at the store. Yes, there is quite a difference between the yellows- the store bought eggs look more like a yellow Crayola marker, and the farm fresh eggs are more like the Crayola crayon called goldenrod. And the taste.... oooooohhhhh the taste! It's so significantly different I can't even explain it.

Now that I'm in Chisinau, away from the fresh grown products of my host family, I have to fend for myself. I woke up rather hungry and needing some food so I went to the grocery store and bought some tomatoes, onions, and eggs. The tomatoes had no taste. The onions hardly burned my eyes and were missing their usual kick, and the eggs were the Crayola marker yellow and also lacking much of a taste. I miss the taste, and I know when I go back to America I'm going to miss it even more and I am not going to want to pay the outrageous prices for organic foods.

Mark my words- I'm going to have my own garden. Yes, me, the girl who loves the city is willing to give up the dream of living in a city to add taste and flavor to my life. And I'm going to have chickens.

:)

Hooooooooome!!

NMG IS BACK! NMG IS BACK! NMG IS BACK!!!

I left the house around 3:30 to go visit with another English teacher down the street for the evening. She teaches in the village a 20 minute walk from here, but tomorrow is her last day because she will be on bed rest because of her twins- which are due in a month. I met her my second day here in Varatic but I (unfortunately!!) haven't made time to go visit with her. Then today I ran into her husband when I went to the store to buy some water and he told me I should come visit- so I went home, warmed up, then dressed up again to go brave the cold to go for a visit. Due to the cold and the comfort of being at my house I almost didn't go... but I am SO glad that I did. She is just a year older than me and so it is stupid of me not to go socialize... and luckily she doesn't live far. Maybe I'll finally start feeling more at home... each day feels like a step closer!

Then when I got home I went into the casa mica because NTG said dinner would be ready at 5:30. When I opened the door, someone was blocking the doorway putting shoes on and I was so confused because the body seemed smaller than NTG's and over the head was a bright colored floral scarf- um, not NTG. Then she stood up. NMG IS HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL!!! This is a good thing. I'm so excited! She gave me a kiss on the cheek, and then they told me to go back to my house because dinner won't be ready for another 1o minutes. It was like she never left... :P