8/11/09
Hi Everyone: Today is my first day of work as a volunteer at my new site – came in at 9:00 w/my new partner, Tatiana, who is the director of the NGO I’ll be working at – don’t have to work long hours, but will see what my schedule will be. I think I’m going to like my new location, family, and job.
Thurs. will have to go into P.C. office in Chisinau to have my 2nd HepB shot.
OK to start with: Fri. evening ceremony – dressed in full Moldovan traditional costume. Our group went on the stage and firstly thanked our host family’s (in Romanian) then we had to sing 2 songs (in Romanian of course) and do a traditional Moldovan polka. We had been rehearsing these songs/dance for a couple of weeks, so am glad it’s over. P.C. provided food and wine so after all the performances we went outside w/everyone and our host family’s to eat & drink.
Next morning (Sat). P.C. provided transportation for us and all our luggage to go to Chisinau (the capital and P.C. office) for our Swearing-Ins. So when the van drove up there were a few tears all around for leaving such nice people in the village (will return to the village last 2 weeks of October for more studies and tests). We have all accumulated so much stuff – besides the 2 large suitcases we packed (for 2 years) P.C. has also given us water filters, britas, fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide monitors, radiators, books, medical kits, etc.etc. Our swearing-in was a very nice event with the country director there to repeat the P.C. oath after him. He’s quite young, and very nice. After the swearing-in we all met with our new family’s for a conference to go over our contracts – P.C. pays them for rent/utilities and we negotiate re the food – will take 2 meals w/them which they willl buy and cook. I will take a lunch to work or eat out, whatever. We get a ‘settling in’ allowance so will go w/my partner after work to one of the big stores (called Metro) to buy some things for their apt. – they need another frying pan and they don’t have a (like a tea kettle–to boil water in) anyway, need a little wastebasket and some other minor things, went shopping yesterday (Sun) with my new host mother (sounds funny I know) for some food – cheese, milk, cereal, etc.
Yesterday (Sun) was a day to unpack my stuff and arrange my clothes and all. Their apt. is nice, very clean, but small(er) than the house I lived in in the village. But the couple I will live with are very nice. They went to a wedding last evening so I stayed home and read and watched a movie (in Romanian) on their t.v. (might invest in a small t.v. if they aren’t too expensive (scump), not sure, don’t really need or want one, but nice to have – but probably won’t get one. The movie I watched last eve. (got in to it as it had already started) was filmed all in the Czech Republic (mostly Prague) so I was very excited – it showed a coffee shop/book store that I used to go to, but don’t think it’s there any more. Must find out what the name of this movie was. Yesterday I also got a phone call from another volunteer who lives & works in Baltz. So will try to meet up w/her sometime soon.
Well, I’ve come this far so will just keep going. Also was tested on my language skills, not perfect after 8 weeks, but am an Intermediate Low (not too bad because there is Novice and Low) – but will have to find a tutor here and continue my language training.
Well, will end this now, hope all is well w/my family and friends. Love, Mom/Marilyn
8/4/09
A quick one…
Hello. Our big ceremony is this Fri. evening – then Sat. we are sworn in, I will be a REAL peace corps volunteer. Lots of love to everyone.
7/28/09
Hi Everyone. Hope all is going well.
Life in the P.C. isn’t for the ‘faint of heart’ (or however it goes), especially for my age (I’m the oldest one in my group, next is 44).
I was healthy when I arrived, but in the ‘almost’ 2 months I’ve been here: have sprained an ankle, have had some serious stomach problems (which I won’t go into). P.C. has a most wonderful staff and they truly are here for us. Our medical kits are overflowing (like a pharmacy). American diets are very different from those here, especially in the village, where they eat a lot of meat (home grown), put lots of oil and salt in everything. They also eat lots of bread, potatoes and macaroni (guess they need all the carbs for the heavy work they do). Our doctor gave a lecture on the many things we shouldn’t eat, such as homemade cheese, mayonnaise, plus even watermelons can give you food poisoining if they are bought in the marketplace, and of course, I ate a few slices and maybe that’s what gave me a stomach problem, but who knows. Plus it’s sooooo hot, 100 degrees or so.
We have about 2 weeks left of our pre-service training, just had another language test, guess I’m an intermediate (low), maybe medium, hard to say…but it went okay. Besides language we have so many projects to do, which won’t go into now. We are practicing for our farewell party with learning a traditional Moldovan song and dance which we will present to our host families on the night of our farewell party.
We’ve also had some fun things too, went to a winery last week, our van actually went into the caves, very interesting, also last week went to a state=run orphanage, played games w/the kids, one little girl was 3 years old and as cute as can be. Mostly boys, and of course some of the volunteers are just big kids themselves to it was all fun = also went to an elderly care facility which is funded by some Dutch NGO, it was really qyite surprisingly nice.
Well, I’m taking it one day at a time, seems to get better???? anyway, am hanging in there. Hopefully will have my computer up and running when I get to my next site. Am taking lots of pictures. Must say in some ways I just might miss the village life – it’s so beautiful in the hills, lotls of greenery. The people are nice and genuine too, but what a different life, ducks and geese wandering around, and a cow here and there, plus the goats go down to the field every day in the summer. My family has started preparing for the winter, preserving vegetablles and fruites, and of course they make lots of homemade wine, which isn’t bad, but haven’t had much, they may have a thimble full at dinner, but it’s okay.
Must run, we have talks today by PC staff,
Love to all, missing all of you so much. Keep in touch, Marilyn
7/23/09
Hello.
Only a couple of more weeks of pre-service training, yes, it’s hard, language every day (only free day is Sunday), but lots of homework every evening. Tomorrow is another language test, have to describe a person, tell what we do in our free time and every day, am not bad, I know I’ve (we) have improved soooo much since the beginning, it’s not a real hard language, but it’s difficult know his, her, we, they, and some past and present verbes, but am getting it slowly. We’ve all improved a lot.
It’s been very hot, nearly 100 degrees.
Bye for now
7/13/09
My mother sent me an e-mail today. Here is most of it…
Am up in Belti (pronounced beltz) this weekend – sunday and monday to see where I’ll live in another 4 weeks (after language training) – right now I’m in the office where I’ll be working – for an NGO – the director is a woman and there’s a young guy 22 who works here too, he speaks really good english and is very nice (he picked me up from the bus station and I was surprised to hear him speaking english). The NGO works on womens issues, helping girls from the vocational schools find jobs/ businesses, et. I will have a desk, it’s a rather small office, just hope I can fulfill their expectations.
I also met my new family that I’ll be living with – an older couple, she’s a teacher of literature – they have an apt. and I’ll have a small room, with a bed, desk and chair and a closet. Sort of like I have now; however, since this is a city and not a village, they do have indoor plumbing with a real toilet and I actually took a nice shower last evening.
On the bus up here (had to take 4 buses to get her) had my ipod on. My phone is okay too.
