Travel notes from a late August maxi-taxi ride:
We speed along a two-lane "highway" in southern Moldova and I'm greeted with extensive fields of corn, wheat and sunflowers, which were probably cheery a month ago but now their heads are drooping, exhausted from the summer heat. I could be traveling through the farmland of southern Delaware on my way to my grandmother's house if not for the occasional one room churches of strictly Orthodox architecture.
I pass alternating patches of green with occasional flocks of grazing cows, sheep or goats of various colors. Some fields are chopped up mud, already prepared for fall. Perhaps crops were lost and the land ravaged by the devastating floods or "inundatie" of early summer. We slow as we pass through small villages and hamlets; the only things to break the flat roaming farmland that stretches to where the Carpathian Mountains meet the western sky.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The second half of PST flew by. I spent a lot of time with the friends I made and probably not enough time studying. Speaking is getting easier – though now that I’m at sight, I find it more difficult because I’m shy when I’m getting to know people. Hopefully I won’t lose too many of my language skills in these next few weeks.
After finding out the location of my site and meeting my counterparts, Carmen and Laura, I was excited to visit the town I’ll be living in for the next two years. The first day, we left early and visited Peles Castle. It was inhabited by King Carol and Queen Elizabeth early in the 20th century and it was a real treat to see the rooms inspired by different nations. My favorite room was the music room with Greek mythological characters painted on the walls followed closely by the library, complete with secret passage. On my site visit, I celebrated my 23rd birthday. I got to meet some British students who were on a summer trip here to work with Rroma and disabled youth. They do this every year, which I find admirable. I also got to see the city and had lunch at the deputy-director of the high school’s house. Everyone is so friendly and generous. Even though she had never met me, Doamna Stoica presented me with a wallet for my birthday. I look forward to working with her at the high school. I also got to visit a nearby resort town, Slanic Moldova, where it is said, if you drink from the (slightly sulfuric) water, your ills will be cured. It was a very quaint and picturesque site.
The two weeks back in our training city were quite hectic. We wanted to spend as much time with our American friends as possible before we all departed for our sites. One weekend there was a beer festival going on, complete with concerts and mici. Saturday we celebrated my birthday and that of another volunteer and one of my close friends, Annie. Sunday, some of my friends came over and we made some American comfort food: mac ‘n cheese. The next weekend we went camping again. This time 5 more volunteers joined us. I only went Saturday night because I was sick all day Friday (and had a practice speaking exam). It was fun, but since I was still sick, I didn’t have as much fun as I would have otherwise (especially when I was trying to sleep and people were singing at 4 in the morning).
The last week of training was extremely full of things to do. All we really wanted to do was study for our language exams but the professors tried to keep us entertained and engaged. Luckily, my exam was on Wednesday, so I was able to get it over with early, but on Tuesday my gazda invited some of my friends over for pizza, which put a dent in my study time. It didn’t affect my score though and it was fun. Thursday night, Katie slept over so we could get ready together to go to Bucuresti on Friday for swear-in. We were sworn-in at the Ambassador’s home, which was a very special experience. This was the first year that it took place there. The house and property are beautiful and the Ambassador and his wife are very gracious. The food was delicious and reminded us of the States! Friday night, one of the volunteers, Megan, had a party at her gazda. It was a wonderful last hoorah for all of us. We had a wonderful time celebrating.
Saturday and Sunday were spent packing and spending time with friends as people slowing trickled to their sites. We sent Katie and Ryan off Sunday evening and the rest of us left Monday. I took a maxi-taxi with Marta on Monday and Carmen picked me up from the station with all my bags. Since I’ve been at site, I’ve been settling in and meeting people. On Tuesday, I bought some kitchenware and made chicken ciorba (traditional sour soup) with Carmen. On Wednesday, I met Gabi and Marlena, some younger teachers at the high school. On Thursday, I went to the swimming pool with Gabi, Marlena and another teacher, Antonia. It was a lot of fun.
On Friday, Gabi and I hiked up into the hills surrounding the town. It is unbelievably gorgeous here! On Sunday, Carmen and I went to a barbecue with the director of School No. 7. He and his family are wonderful and his daughter is a senior at the high school and will probably become one of my good friends. I’ve already met some wonderful people and I’ve been here less than a week!
After finding out the location of my site and meeting my counterparts, Carmen and Laura, I was excited to visit the town I’ll be living in for the next two years. The first day, we left early and visited Peles Castle. It was inhabited by King Carol and Queen Elizabeth early in the 20th century and it was a real treat to see the rooms inspired by different nations. My favorite room was the music room with Greek mythological characters painted on the walls followed closely by the library, complete with secret passage. On my site visit, I celebrated my 23rd birthday. I got to meet some British students who were on a summer trip here to work with Rroma and disabled youth. They do this every year, which I find admirable. I also got to see the city and had lunch at the deputy-director of the high school’s house. Everyone is so friendly and generous. Even though she had never met me, Doamna Stoica presented me with a wallet for my birthday. I look forward to working with her at the high school. I also got to visit a nearby resort town, Slanic Moldova, where it is said, if you drink from the (slightly sulfuric) water, your ills will be cured. It was a very quaint and picturesque site.
The two weeks back in our training city were quite hectic. We wanted to spend as much time with our American friends as possible before we all departed for our sites. One weekend there was a beer festival going on, complete with concerts and mici. Saturday we celebrated my birthday and that of another volunteer and one of my close friends, Annie. Sunday, some of my friends came over and we made some American comfort food: mac ‘n cheese. The next weekend we went camping again. This time 5 more volunteers joined us. I only went Saturday night because I was sick all day Friday (and had a practice speaking exam). It was fun, but since I was still sick, I didn’t have as much fun as I would have otherwise (especially when I was trying to sleep and people were singing at 4 in the morning).
The last week of training was extremely full of things to do. All we really wanted to do was study for our language exams but the professors tried to keep us entertained and engaged. Luckily, my exam was on Wednesday, so I was able to get it over with early, but on Tuesday my gazda invited some of my friends over for pizza, which put a dent in my study time. It didn’t affect my score though and it was fun. Thursday night, Katie slept over so we could get ready together to go to Bucuresti on Friday for swear-in. We were sworn-in at the Ambassador’s home, which was a very special experience. This was the first year that it took place there. The house and property are beautiful and the Ambassador and his wife are very gracious. The food was delicious and reminded us of the States! Friday night, one of the volunteers, Megan, had a party at her gazda. It was a wonderful last hoorah for all of us. We had a wonderful time celebrating.
Saturday and Sunday were spent packing and spending time with friends as people slowing trickled to their sites. We sent Katie and Ryan off Sunday evening and the rest of us left Monday. I took a maxi-taxi with Marta on Monday and Carmen picked me up from the station with all my bags. Since I’ve been at site, I’ve been settling in and meeting people. On Tuesday, I bought some kitchenware and made chicken ciorba (traditional sour soup) with Carmen. On Wednesday, I met Gabi and Marlena, some younger teachers at the high school. On Thursday, I went to the swimming pool with Gabi, Marlena and another teacher, Antonia. It was a lot of fun.
On Friday, Gabi and I hiked up into the hills surrounding the town. It is unbelievably gorgeous here! On Sunday, Carmen and I went to a barbecue with the director of School No. 7. He and his family are wonderful and his daughter is a senior at the high school and will probably become one of my good friends. I’ve already met some wonderful people and I’ve been here less than a week!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
M.I.A.
Sorry I've been M.I.A. for the past couple weeks. Between learning Romanian, planning lessons and actually teaching children, I did not have the time nor energy to write. However, tomorrow is a big day in my Peace Corps journey. I find out where my site will be for the next two years. Tomorrow I will learn which community I will integrate into and call my home.
Therefore, I decided today would be a good time to reflect on my experience in Romania thus far. I have learned so much about the culture, the people and about myself in the last month and a half. People here continue to surprise me. I have been welcomed into a home and am treated as a daughter. The host families of my friends here have also welcomed many of us into their homes to share meals. The hospitality here constantly astounds me.
I am already experiences bittersweet feelings as the end of training looms. In a little over 4 weeks, my group will swear-in as Volunteers in Bucuresti and truly begin our service. I am looking forward to settling into my new site, but I am wary of no longer having the safety net of 43 other Americans. I have met some extremely intelligent and courageous people and made some wonderful new friends.
Since landing in Bucuresti, I've learned that I can, in fact, teach children English and I can communicate with someone without sharing a common language. I think the most important lesson I've learned so far is that it really isn't as scary to put yourself out there. You can't get anything you want unless you are willing to fall trying to get it. This experience is forcing me to push myself in ways I certainly didn't expect it to. Some things I thought would be difficult have been relatively painless so far. Other things surprise me in how I am affected by them. I am so grateful for every experience I've had and I hope to keep growing as this journey continues.
Therefore, I decided today would be a good time to reflect on my experience in Romania thus far. I have learned so much about the culture, the people and about myself in the last month and a half. People here continue to surprise me. I have been welcomed into a home and am treated as a daughter. The host families of my friends here have also welcomed many of us into their homes to share meals. The hospitality here constantly astounds me.
I am already experiences bittersweet feelings as the end of training looms. In a little over 4 weeks, my group will swear-in as Volunteers in Bucuresti and truly begin our service. I am looking forward to settling into my new site, but I am wary of no longer having the safety net of 43 other Americans. I have met some extremely intelligent and courageous people and made some wonderful new friends.
Since landing in Bucuresti, I've learned that I can, in fact, teach children English and I can communicate with someone without sharing a common language. I think the most important lesson I've learned so far is that it really isn't as scary to put yourself out there. You can't get anything you want unless you are willing to fall trying to get it. This experience is forcing me to push myself in ways I certainly didn't expect it to. Some things I thought would be difficult have been relatively painless so far. Other things surprise me in how I am affected by them. I am so grateful for every experience I've had and I hope to keep growing as this journey continues.
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