Its been a very long while since I've posted anything here. I just haven't had much motivation to write.
This has been a harsh winter for me. Last winter was much colder for longer with a lot more snow, but somehow this winter has been more difficult emotionally and mentally. Maybe it was going into winter with so much of my mind and thoughts with my family at home. Maybe it was that the winter I was expecting never seemed to settle in because the temperatures would warm up just a bit, but enough to tease us then plummet again. I thought going home would be a good break. See my family and friends, get the chance to say goodbye in my home city to family members who had passed, hug my mom and enjoy warmer temperatures, soft comfy beds and American culture. But coming back to Moldova, I just couldn't get back on my feet. I know the weather played a big role. The lack of sun, bone chilling temperatures and an inability to never fully be warm started to take its toll. Talking to others here and at home helped take the edge off. Knowing (logically) that Spring was just a few months away helped (a microscopic amount). But really at this point pure stubbornness and knowing that I just gotta make it through these first few months of 2011 is the only thing that has kept me here.
I've also realized more so after this winter, the important role fruits and vegetables play in one's mental, emotional and physical well being. I've been mostly living on cheese, chicken, pasta, rice and beans because I can get those at markets that are close to my apartment as opposed to walking to the valley to get the fruits and vegetables also (which motivationally is hard to do when its -20 degrees and snowing). But without having those, I am lethargic and tired all the time. I found the few times when the weather was decent enough to go shopping and I bought fruits and vegetables that during that week I ate them, I felt much better. We take it for granted in America (at least in California) that we can just hop in our car and run to the market where we have whatever fresh produce we want at our fingertips. Sure its a little more expensive, but there are always bargains to be found. Not so true here. Produce is more expensive (tomatoes in the summer are about 6-8 Lei per kilo, in the winter 28-30 lei per kilo) and there is much less variety and the quality is not always great.
The winter while taking a toll on my mental health took its toll on my physical health as well. I've been down with the flu twice (Jan and Feb) and most recently intestinal issues (this past week). The problem is that it break my momentum I start gaining at school. Just as I start getting back on my feet with school, teaching, working out and trying to get myself into a happier place I get knocked down.
Why do I tell you all this? Its not to bring you down or to whine. I'm simply telling you where my head has been of late. But I did find ways of pushing through. I created milestones for myself such as "Well, there's only XX many more days until vacation/end of school/end of service/Spring/Summer (fill in with whatever). I also started working on a big project that I am putting together for my partners. I started reading a lot again. Anything that kept my mind busy.
So here I am sliding slowly into Spring. The temperatures are indeed warmer, the weather is not overly inviting outside but still much better than two weeks ago and the sun is making more appearances. I am pretty sure I am through the roughest part and now that intestinally I'm feeling better I'm looking forward to more days of teaching, being outside and being more productive and motivated. With that more positive end to a very sad beginning I move onto a highlight of the last dreary months...my trip to Istanbul, Turkey!
Istanbul was wonderful!!!
I loved it and I want to go back and see more of Turkey. The food was great, the sightseeing was amazing and the people are really nice. Although, I went hoping for warmer temperatures than Moldova and was greeted with two days of snow, wind and coldness while Moldova had sunshine and warmth. Just my luck. However, the last 2 days in Istanbul were gorgeous and sunny. Despite the weather, we walked and fulfilled our tourist duties with grit and determination.
I went with Dan and Matt, both volunteers and English teachers in my group. Dan and I have traveled a couple of times together. He and I went to Greece and Ukraine last summer. I have also traveled with Matt to Spain during my first Christmas here and Ukraine last summer. Matt had lived in Istanbul for almost a year so it was wonderful having our own personal tour guide who could tell us the history of certain places and knew how to get around. It was kinda nice not having to think and just be able to follow (although there is no way I could tell anyone how we got to any particular place since I just blindly followed haha). Oh and some of the men were downright gorgeous (that is for Suzette one of my fellow volunteers who loves men and told me to appreciate them while I was in Turkey)!!
The hands down highlight of the trip for me was the Turkish bath. Since men and women are separated (because the country is about 99% Muslim) I was alone for the two hours I was there while the guys got to hang with each other but that was ok with me. It was wonderful. At first it was a little uncomfortable cause I was in the main bath area naked but eventually I just went with it and relaxed since all the other women were naked and they weren't all a size 4! Honestly though, I don't think I have been that clean in years haha. The bath woman scrubbed me down from head to toe then washed my whole body then gave me a full body oil massage. After 3 days of basically nonstop walking and standing it felt great. Then she washed and conditioned my hair and I got to hang out in the dry sauna. It was awesome and a great way to start our day. The other women tried to talk to me a few times in broken English, but mostly I just sat back and watched how they all interacted with each other. It was like they were all family the way they teased and joked with each other. It was interesting to see how free and relaxed they were about being naked with each other, then as we all dressed I noticed them getting back into their head covers.
Another fun part was sitting at the hookah bars drinking, kicking back, smoking hookah (in a variety of flavors) and playing Backgammon. Love that game now and I've gotten a little better although I am still really slow at it. I took a ton of pictures (almost 800) but I've only posted about 70 on Facebook. I've also included a few of my favorites in this post.
Istanbul was beautiful and it only made me want to go back an explore more of the country!
While strolling through Taksim, I took this
At the Spice Bazaar. One of my favorite places.
Enjoying breakfast (and the view) on our last day at the hostel
Matt and Dan goofing around at Topkapi Palace. I said act like your like each other and this is what they did.
