9/8/09

Dear Friends:

Where to start: well this first part might be a bit boring to my readers.  Our office moved from one room to three rooms, quite a lot of effort put in by everyone–especially me who had never painted or wallpapered before, came in a couple of days to help out; there I was down on the floor helping measure/cut the wallpaper, painted (of course had more paint on me).  They hired someone to wallpaper (did one room), then they ran out of money, so we all pitched in, must say it looks really nice now, the Director has her own office, I sit in one of the larger rooms with two other people, have a desk and a computer that I can use–still no internet availability at the apt. where I live.  Don’t have a ‘real’ job, but do my best to help out, answer the phone (in my limited language skills), make coffee, wash a few dishes, help prepare lunch in the office, take out the trash, whatever needs doing–they are really a nice group, hope to eventually improve my language skills (will be a big plus re the work–plus everyone that comes in and out speak Romanian, I hear very little English spoken and I would like to be able to understand more) and now have a tutor and am continuing language training with her at the university nearby.

August 27th was Moldova’s Independence day; declared their independence from Russia in 1992.  As with so many Eastern European countries, Moldova has been sliced, diced and tossed from one owner to another in its long history of settlement.  That day we went to Soroca, a town north of here, and is the Roma (gypsy) ‘capital’ of Moldova.  The large Roma population, even in Soviet times, were renowned for living at a much higher standard than most Moldovans.  You can see a number of stately mansions that the richer Roma built for themselves on the hilltop facing the river and Ukraine on the other side of it.  The Director had an exhibition there and it was quite a fun day; went walking along the riverside w/one of the young guys from the office to the Soroca fortress where people are thrown back to medieval times.

Also that week went to a seminar re abused/battered women – one of the other volunteers who also lives in Balti gave the presentation and I went in early to help her greet people and guide them to the registration table & the room where they had coffee.  I hope to get more involved in these womens issues, battered/abused women and also trafficking in women.  I asked one of my friends at the HB Womens Club if they could send some stuff to the shelter and they are ready and willing – it’s so wonderful to have these sources to rely on and are interested in womens causes.

Otherwise, am coping w/my living accommodations in a small apt., lonely at times for sure, but great I can e-mail (and receive—thank everyone for writing me, I really appreciate it and love you all) occasionally at the office.  My daughter gave me her MAC before I left but no internet connection at the apt., but use it for ‘old’ movies and music (get music and books either from the PC office in Chisinau (PC hdqtrs and capital) or from the American Center (nearby the office).  I like the location of my office as it’s near the center and I can walk (a big marketplace) around usually after work and get an ice cream on the way home.  My host mother makes me only dinner now, she’s a pretty good cook, they make a lot of soups though; miss some good ole American food – maybe even at McDonald’s (you know you want what you can’t have).

Just a little note, it’s not funny and it’s not nice, but when I’m on the bus going home I always observe people and one thing is that they all (mostly) have gold fillings and I was watching a couple talking to each other and when they smiled there were there gold fillings – it makes me smile – the old women here are in bad shape, bent over and mostly have no teeth.  Have taken some interesting photos).

Must run, love to all, Marilyn

Advertisement

---