10/12/09

One of my friends hadn’t heard from me in a while and asked if I had fallen into a Moldovan hole, yes I have, but not recently and when I did I sprained my ankle.  Oh the roads and sidewalks are certainly not the best for walking (or driving).  I know it’s been awhile for me to update you on my activities, so here goes–in reverse order:

Last evening I was invited by my Director and her husband to the National Theater to hear a concert by a well-known (and older & beloved) Moldovan singer named Ion Suruceanu.  He’s in his 60′s and quite a dapper guy (changed a couple of times–one in a nautical blazer/white pants, 2nd time in  leather pants/jacket.  He performed for about 2-l/1 hours (no intermission)–with a lot of talking in-between–spoke both in Romanian and Russian – very different in that he sang to his record–also during the performance there were at least 30 people that came up on stage w/flowers and other gifts for him–I’ve only seen them give roses/flowers at the end of a performance, but this went on during the whole time and the director of the theater spoke and the vice director and the wife…it was an interesting evening to say the least and I really enjoyed it. 

A few weeks ago Peace Corps ‘treated’ us to a retreat for three days – a pretty and peaceful setting – near the capital.  Actually it was mostly work-related w/PC activities, language training and other stuff.  One evening some of us walked to the Dniestr River – across the river is the self-declared republic of Transdniestr – it is one of the world’s last surviving Communist bastions – it was the scene of a bloody civil war in the early 1990′s when the area declared independence from Moldova.  WE are not permitted to travel there.   Also one evening a couple of ‘older’ volunteers and myself found nearby an elderly home facility – that evening they had a band so we danced, it was a hoot. 

I’ve been helping coordinate and assemble materials for several seminars and have gone to a couple of them in nearby towns–one seminar I went to here in Balti wa organized by the Ukraine Womens Foundation (concerning womens rights) — all in Russian, but had a couple of the trainers here at the NGO translate for me.  It was an interesting seminar.–only one man in attendance.

Also teaching English to the gals in the office – that’s a hoot too. 

Went into the PC Hdqtrs in the capital one Saturday for a TIP meeting (trafficking in people) organized by Winrock International and La Strada.  You can find out what they’re all about on their websites.  I want to certainly get more involved in this issue. 

I’ve been plugging away with my Romanian language classes at the university every day – sometimes I do think I’m going backwards instead of forward–the last two weeks of October we will be going back to the village and will then have school all day 6 days a week – don’t really look forward to it–especially now that I’m in an apt. that has indoor plumbing (meaningi indoor toilet/shower).

There are other things to report, but now I must close this as I have a meeting with a PC staffer who is visiting in Balti so we are meeting for lunch (along w/the 2 other volunteers who live in Balti). 

Will continue again when I have something interesting to write about.

Love to all, Marilyn

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