The approach to 9 months in country, has got my head spinning. On one side I can't believe how much I have already done, how much I have experienced, how many people I have met, and how many awesome (and awkward) conversations I have had. On the other side however, I feel time has been moving too quickly, that before I know it my service will be complete and I won't have finished all the projects I have in mind.
Second semester at school has felt like that pirate ship ride at carnivals. You take your seat, and the ship starts up, all the while you are feeling extremely anxious only having a faint idea of what is in store. Pretty soon the ship builds its swing a little higher, you start to get comfortable, begin thoroughly enjoying yourself in the relative safety and rhythm of it all. But then, all of a sudden, you are upside-down. You were aware this could happen, but like that o' too true saying about teenagers - you didn't believe it would happen to you... In the end, you come swinging down the opposite side and have no idea how this is going to end up, will you be back where you started or somewhere entirely different?
About the second week into the 2nd semester my partner informed me that she will not be returning that next week, she will be taking her maternity leave. This left my school and I in quite a pickle (hence the upside-down) I, unofficially, became the primary English teacher/ for all practicality the only English teacher at my school. My other partner, who is also the principal, taught a few classes, but I was left to teach nearly all of grades (which learn english) solo. This actually caused my very first grey hair to sprout - as was so kindly pointed out by another volunteer. Luckily though we just found a new teacher/partner, and she is great. She is funny, nice, speaks excellent english (but aside from the actually planning for class we speak moldovaneasca together, which is awesome). She is positive with the kids and is willing to try out different methods (ie my hair-brained activities/games). She does like to touch though, I have gotten better (forcibly by circumstance, albeit), but none-the-less my bubble still exists, making our interactions extremely, huh, amusing. To close circuit with my analogy, this new partner is my final downward swing on the pirate ship, although we practically go through all the motions as I did with my previous partner, it is a completely different ride.
In other mentionable notes, I attended my first Moldovan wedding. My older (as in 19, so older than the little sister) host sister got married. The wedding was beautiful, fun, and not as different as I had expected going into it. Part of it may just be me becoming overly accustomed to the culture and not noticing any more, but overall they did many of our same traditions: bride and groom dance (although it was a little more choreographed than we tend to do), throwing of the bouquet (which I later learned is a new tradition borrowed from other cultures), and yelling "amargh!"or something similar which means they had to kiss. I had to give a toast into a microphone - being my second public-microphone-speaking-in-front-of-large-audience experience, and I must say this one was a bit better, at least I think so from the applause by the audience afterward..... The wedding started at about 6pm and we danced, drank, and ate, then danced, drank and ate again, and again...and again, until arriving home at about 7am. We then had guests over for smaller parties for the following four nights. After a straight week of teaching by day and celebrating by night, I was exhausted. But worth it, needless to say this will be an experience I never forget.
After living with host families (one during training, and then my current while at site) I have learned many of the intricacies of Moldovan culture, but have decided to start the hunt for a house of my own. In fact I meeting the owner of house (well brother of the owner, the owner lives in Italy, which is common to Moldova. About 50% of my village, I would guess, lives abroad) this afternoon.
Lastly, two days ago was Peace Corps 50th anniversary, and 18th here in Moldova. To commemorate we have decided that at least one volunteer will post onto our website what he/she did that day. So if you are interested in seeing what exactly we do on a day to day basis please feel free to check it out. I am also the proud editor of the introduction video, so poftim! (there ya go). Check it out at http://www.365peaceandfriendship.com/.
Just to give an idea, of what I'm up to at least, here's a list of my current projects:
- English Teacher (grades 2,4,7,8,10,11)
- After school English Club (grades 2, 4, 7/8)
- "Aduce Apa" (kids draw and deliver water from the wells to the elderly who otherwise wouldn't be able to)
- Mentor Coordinator (for the volunteers arriving in June, I organize activities, information, and assign current volunteers as mentors for them)
- Adult English Class
- State University seminars for future english teachers
- Building a library at my school
- Fundraising events for a communal laptop for the teachers at my school (aka kiddie disco)
- Pen-pal program with the states
And my baby in the works: Summer Slow-pitch Softball Clinics throughout Moldova! holler.
Oh yeah, and some tutoring on the side. Plus I'm still working on my cow milking skills, it has proven to be much harder than I ever expected!
Anyway, va trimit mult iubite! (I send you all much love)
Kim
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