It was a rough weekend. On the up side, we finally had a day off with no langauge classes, no job training, no cultural trips and no early mornings (although the roster still starts in about 4AM). On the downside, I had plenty of time to think about home and got pretty home sick. I know I have only been gone 3 weeks, but it feels more like 3 months. But today is a new day and I am doing much better (and we are back to classes and busy schedules to keep me occupied). The pace of life here in the village is much slower than Sacramento (even though Peace Corps keeps us hopping). I adjusted very easily to the new pace and like it very much.
Hopefully on July 6 I will find out where I will be permanently placed and the following week we spend three days in the new site. I'm really looking forward to seeing the new digs. But I have to say, I really lucked out with the family I have now. They are so great and most importantly-patient (which I know, I've said in previous posts).
As I have said before, I don't have internet access except for the few times I am in our hub site and when I am online, uploading pics and movies takes a long time so there may be less of those in the future.
Sorry, these are coming so sporadically. I have limited time in the internet cafe and photos and video take awhile to upload. These are videos from the folkloric songs and dances performed for us during our trip to one of Moldova's forests. Each movie is pretty short (about one minute or so). These take forever to upload so there is only going to be the one. Still trying to work out how to most efficiently get video and pics uploaded.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Pictures and videos
Here are some pics from the first week. I will post some other pics and video from our cultural
trip last Friday.
These first four are from the welcome lunch we had with our mentors.
The next handful of pics are from the hotel in Chisinau.
These are of my rooms in my host family's house.
trip last Friday.
These first four are from the welcome lunch we had with our mentors.
The next handful of pics are from the hotel in Chisinau.
These are of my rooms in my host family's house.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Contacting me
Here is my contact information if you want to send letters or texts.
Cell phone: +37368291198 I can receive text messages in addition to calls (but calling can be expensive). At first we didn’t think we could get texts but we figured it out.
Mail: This is a permanent address for me the whole time I am here
Peace Corps Moldova
12 Grigore Ureche St
Chisinau, Moldova, 2001
Rebecca Niles, PCT
After I get sworn in as a volunteer in August, the PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) will change to PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer).
Cell phone: +37368291198 I can receive text messages in addition to calls (but calling can be expensive). At first we didn’t think we could get texts but we figured it out.
Mail: This is a permanent address for me the whole time I am here
Peace Corps Moldova
12 Grigore Ureche St
Chisinau, Moldova, 2001
Rebecca Niles, PCT
After I get sworn in as a volunteer in August, the PCT (Peace Corps Trainee) will change to PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer).
Moldova: The first week part 2
June 22, 2009
Peace Corps Moldova-The First Week
Warning: This is a long one!! A whole weeks worth o stuff!!
So, after typing my last entry on my computer, I ran out the battery. When I tried to charge the computer I realized I had not brought with me the correct adapter plug. So here it is a week later (and one trip to Chisinau the capital) and I am finally able to use my computer again with the correct adapter!!
So Saturday (6/20) our professor in my Romanian class congratulated us on making it through our first week in Moldova. Our response was “What!! Its only been a week!!” I was amazed that only one week had passed, it felt like a month. Two years is going to be interesting.
PST (pre-service training) has definitely kept me busy and very obosita (tired). We have language classes every day for at least half the day, then if not language we have “tech” classes. These are classes specific to our job. So my tech classes are all about how to teach English in Moldova. After a full day of classes, its time to go home and integrate into our community. For me at this point it means getting to know my family and neighbors. All of whom seem to have fun teaching me Romanian and in exchange I teach them a little English if they are interested.
So, some highlights from my first week:
~ Bonding with my host niece over music. She has a lot of American music (mostly hip hop and pop) so we talked a lot about that. She has also introduced me to some Romanian contemporary music which is pretty decent!! What cracked me up the most was hearing Richard Marx circa 1980s. And apparently Moldovans love him because I have heard him playing on many a teenager’s cell phone (which they all use as an MP3 player).
~Learning enough Romanian that I can for the most part carrying on a basic conversation with my host family. I do keep my trusty dictionary next to me, but our after dinner activity is usually vocabulary and my favorite-conjugating verbs!!! Its amazing how much you can learn if language is the only thing you are studying every day.
~My niece coming into my room to ask me if I wanted to watch American tv with her. The show: Passions. I did not watch it when I lived in the States and now I know why-HORRIBLE!! But she and I got a good laugh out of it. And again-getting to bond with her is nice.
~Meeting my host uncle Ion (E-oon). His family lives right behind us and they are a crack up. He knows a little English and loves to give me a hard time about my inability to roll my Rs. But with his jesting, I am actually getting better.
~ This one I wouldn’t necessarily call a highlight, but it is definitely memorable for me. Last week we traveled to our main site Ialoveni (Ye-all-o-vin). We had to ride the public bus back to Costesti at commute time. Well these buses hold about 15-18 people usually but at commute time its more like 30. People get real friendly!! I have never been one to get claustrophobic, but I was not doing well by the end of the ride. It also didn’t help that I was squatting for part of the ride and my legs had gone numb haha. But I just look at it as being part of the experience. Yet even with that outlook on it, I am still going to hang in Ialoveni until after the big commute time then take the bus back when its not so full. A couple other volunteers are doing the same.
~This past Friday we had a cultural day. Peace Corps took all of us to visit a monastery which was amazing (see included pictures) and then we had lunch (traditional Moldovan cuisine) in the forest. While we were there we were entertained by a group of students at one of the universities in Moldova. They performed traditional Moldovan, Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian and Roma (Moldovan gypsies) music and dances-see videos and pictures. The performances were great. Afterward, we all danced the Hora-a traditional Moldovan dance that is incredibly fun!
~All the volunteers in my village decided to meet for pizza at a local restaurant at the bottom of the very steep hill I live on top of. Well, we were on our way back up the hill when it started raining. At first it was light, no big deal. Then out of nowhere straight downpour. By the time I got to the gate of my family’s house I was drenched. To make matters more funny, the gate had been locked. I had no way in!! Fortunately, my host father (tata meu gazda) heard me at the gate and he came running. Fortunately it was a warm rain.
~My favorite thing of all!! I was asleep when all of a sudden the roster that is right outside my window starting crowing at 3:30 in the morning. It was so loud it startled me awake. I couldn’t believe it. But I did go back to sleep although it was a bit more tough. Its those little things that take some getting used to.
The weather here is a lot like Sacramento, only a bit more humid as my hair can attest to. But unlike Sacto, the nights cool off a lot with this wonderful breeze that seems to stick around throughout most of the day. And I love that it stays light for so long. I went to bed one night a little after 10pm and it was still sort of light outside. And the sun is pretty bright by 5am.
The food is pretty good. The first couple of meals I was hesitant, but I have lucked out. My host mother (mama mea gazda) is a cook in Chisinau. And her food is gustos (delicious). Lots of cucumbers and tomatoes (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Although hands down, my favorite breakfast has got to be the macaroni in warm milk. I laughed a little the first time I was served it, but it’s actually good. Chicken is served in a variety of ways with lunch and dinner. And I’m usually offered a hard boiled egg with breakfast and lunch. Its been interesting to see how my family watches me. My mama gazda (host mother) has taken note of what I like and don’t like to eat. And they don’t force me to eat or drink anything I don’t want which is really nice!! The wine is excellent and I have enjoyed talking to them about what California has. Although they think having the vines grow along the ground is weird. All of the grape vines here grow up overhead.
I’m sure there is more to say, but I think this is enough for now. I do really miss home, having privacy and in some ways my independence. Peace Corps has us so structured right now I feel like a child but it’s a good thing since we are like children in this country.
I should have better access to the internet now that we will be going to Ialoveni two times a week so I will post more often. It feels weird to me that two weeks ago today (Monday) I was getting on an airplane. That feels like a lifetime ago.
Peace Corps Moldova-The First Week
Warning: This is a long one!! A whole weeks worth o stuff!!
So, after typing my last entry on my computer, I ran out the battery. When I tried to charge the computer I realized I had not brought with me the correct adapter plug. So here it is a week later (and one trip to Chisinau the capital) and I am finally able to use my computer again with the correct adapter!!
So Saturday (6/20) our professor in my Romanian class congratulated us on making it through our first week in Moldova. Our response was “What!! Its only been a week!!” I was amazed that only one week had passed, it felt like a month. Two years is going to be interesting.
PST (pre-service training) has definitely kept me busy and very obosita (tired). We have language classes every day for at least half the day, then if not language we have “tech” classes. These are classes specific to our job. So my tech classes are all about how to teach English in Moldova. After a full day of classes, its time to go home and integrate into our community. For me at this point it means getting to know my family and neighbors. All of whom seem to have fun teaching me Romanian and in exchange I teach them a little English if they are interested.
So, some highlights from my first week:
~ Bonding with my host niece over music. She has a lot of American music (mostly hip hop and pop) so we talked a lot about that. She has also introduced me to some Romanian contemporary music which is pretty decent!! What cracked me up the most was hearing Richard Marx circa 1980s. And apparently Moldovans love him because I have heard him playing on many a teenager’s cell phone (which they all use as an MP3 player).
~Learning enough Romanian that I can for the most part carrying on a basic conversation with my host family. I do keep my trusty dictionary next to me, but our after dinner activity is usually vocabulary and my favorite-conjugating verbs!!! Its amazing how much you can learn if language is the only thing you are studying every day.
~My niece coming into my room to ask me if I wanted to watch American tv with her. The show: Passions. I did not watch it when I lived in the States and now I know why-HORRIBLE!! But she and I got a good laugh out of it. And again-getting to bond with her is nice.
~Meeting my host uncle Ion (E-oon). His family lives right behind us and they are a crack up. He knows a little English and loves to give me a hard time about my inability to roll my Rs. But with his jesting, I am actually getting better.
~ This one I wouldn’t necessarily call a highlight, but it is definitely memorable for me. Last week we traveled to our main site Ialoveni (Ye-all-o-vin). We had to ride the public bus back to Costesti at commute time. Well these buses hold about 15-18 people usually but at commute time its more like 30. People get real friendly!! I have never been one to get claustrophobic, but I was not doing well by the end of the ride. It also didn’t help that I was squatting for part of the ride and my legs had gone numb haha. But I just look at it as being part of the experience. Yet even with that outlook on it, I am still going to hang in Ialoveni until after the big commute time then take the bus back when its not so full. A couple other volunteers are doing the same.
~This past Friday we had a cultural day. Peace Corps took all of us to visit a monastery which was amazing (see included pictures) and then we had lunch (traditional Moldovan cuisine) in the forest. While we were there we were entertained by a group of students at one of the universities in Moldova. They performed traditional Moldovan, Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian and Roma (Moldovan gypsies) music and dances-see videos and pictures. The performances were great. Afterward, we all danced the Hora-a traditional Moldovan dance that is incredibly fun!
~All the volunteers in my village decided to meet for pizza at a local restaurant at the bottom of the very steep hill I live on top of. Well, we were on our way back up the hill when it started raining. At first it was light, no big deal. Then out of nowhere straight downpour. By the time I got to the gate of my family’s house I was drenched. To make matters more funny, the gate had been locked. I had no way in!! Fortunately, my host father (tata meu gazda) heard me at the gate and he came running. Fortunately it was a warm rain.
~My favorite thing of all!! I was asleep when all of a sudden the roster that is right outside my window starting crowing at 3:30 in the morning. It was so loud it startled me awake. I couldn’t believe it. But I did go back to sleep although it was a bit more tough. Its those little things that take some getting used to.
The weather here is a lot like Sacramento, only a bit more humid as my hair can attest to. But unlike Sacto, the nights cool off a lot with this wonderful breeze that seems to stick around throughout most of the day. And I love that it stays light for so long. I went to bed one night a little after 10pm and it was still sort of light outside. And the sun is pretty bright by 5am.
The food is pretty good. The first couple of meals I was hesitant, but I have lucked out. My host mother (mama mea gazda) is a cook in Chisinau. And her food is gustos (delicious). Lots of cucumbers and tomatoes (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Although hands down, my favorite breakfast has got to be the macaroni in warm milk. I laughed a little the first time I was served it, but it’s actually good. Chicken is served in a variety of ways with lunch and dinner. And I’m usually offered a hard boiled egg with breakfast and lunch. Its been interesting to see how my family watches me. My mama gazda (host mother) has taken note of what I like and don’t like to eat. And they don’t force me to eat or drink anything I don’t want which is really nice!! The wine is excellent and I have enjoyed talking to them about what California has. Although they think having the vines grow along the ground is weird. All of the grape vines here grow up overhead.
I’m sure there is more to say, but I think this is enough for now. I do really miss home, having privacy and in some ways my independence. Peace Corps has us so structured right now I feel like a child but it’s a good thing since we are like children in this country.
I should have better access to the internet now that we will be going to Ialoveni two times a week so I will post more often. It feels weird to me that two weeks ago today (Monday) I was getting on an airplane. That feels like a lifetime ago.
Moldova:The first week
So I spent my first night with my host family in a large village called Costesti (Co-shte-sht). My host family is Efim (Ye-feem) and Elena (Yel-lain-a). They were incredibly welcoming and patient with my lack of ability to speak Romanian. I can say a few things, but having long conversations is difficult right now. They have two grand-daughters Liliana and Ina (Ee-na). I have not met Ina yet, but Liliana was at the house to greet me and she speaks a little English she is learning in school so we were all able to bump along on my first night. We got to the house a little late so I only spent a few hours with them. Elena liked the photobook I made for her and the flowers I brought to them as a thank you for allowing me to live in their home for the next 10 weeks. I have two rooms to myself, one is the bedroom and the other, an adjoining sitting area. It is really nice!!
The house is quite big with another sitting area and bedroom next to mine and a guest area (like a living room). The kitchen and Elena and Efim’s bedroom is downstairs. The house is not a two story in the traditional American way, more like two levels. They also have several gardens, chickens, turkeys and one dog who is not quite sure what to make of me yet.
The village is very nice. Up on a hillside overlooking a valley that is beautiful and lush! I will hopefully get pictures later.
I do not have internet access, so I am typing these blogs on my computer and uploading when I can so you will see several in one day, but they are really from different days. For now, I’m just happy to be settled in one place. It’s been a bit rough living out of a suitcase and feeling like we were constantly on the move. I am definitely experiencing some culture shock but so far it has not been difficult to maneuver. I had a moment of home sickness last night, but I think it’s because I finally had a few minutes alone (no roommate in a hotel room, no running from place to place with the big group of volunteers, and no training). But it passed for the most part. I do miss the creature comforts of home, but fortunately, I have a host family who is very welcoming.More to come later.
The house is quite big with another sitting area and bedroom next to mine and a guest area (like a living room). The kitchen and Elena and Efim’s bedroom is downstairs. The house is not a two story in the traditional American way, more like two levels. They also have several gardens, chickens, turkeys and one dog who is not quite sure what to make of me yet.
The village is very nice. Up on a hillside overlooking a valley that is beautiful and lush! I will hopefully get pictures later.
I do not have internet access, so I am typing these blogs on my computer and uploading when I can so you will see several in one day, but they are really from different days. For now, I’m just happy to be settled in one place. It’s been a bit rough living out of a suitcase and feeling like we were constantly on the move. I am definitely experiencing some culture shock but so far it has not been difficult to maneuver. I had a moment of home sickness last night, but I think it’s because I finally had a few minutes alone (no roommate in a hotel room, no running from place to place with the big group of volunteers, and no training). But it passed for the most part. I do miss the creature comforts of home, but fortunately, I have a host family who is very welcoming.More to come later.
Friday, June 12, 2009
We have arrived!!
Hi all-
Just a real quick note to let you know that we arrived last night (Thursday, June 11) . Its great so far. Exhausted, but got a great nights sleep and am ready to start my day today (June 12). Write more later.
Just a real quick note to let you know that we arrived last night (Thursday, June 11) . Its great so far. Exhausted, but got a great nights sleep and am ready to start my day today (June 12). Write more later.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Sunrise Sunset
So we are sitting in the airport in Istanbul, Turkey and we have internet so I wanted to jot down an epiphany I had while on the plane here.
It was about 5am (Moldova time-I have already switched over all my electronics) and I noticed light was coming through a few of the cracked windows so I opened my window (I had the window seat) and was greeted by my first European sunrise as we flew over the English Channel. It was a beautiful sight to behold. The dark purples and blues of night giving way to the warm yellows, oranges, and reds of morning. When I looked on the ground, the city lights made vein like shapes in clustered areas. While I was sitting there I realized on Monday when I left I was able to see my last Sacramento sunrise (at least for the next two years) and on the day I reach Moldova I am seeing my first of many European sunrises during the coming two years. I just sat there and smiled looking out the window watching the warm colors overtake the cooler ones and thinking, "How cool is this? I'm heading to a new country!" At that moment I fully realized that this is not just a quick trip as it has been feeling, this is for the long haul.
Back with more later.
It was about 5am (Moldova time-I have already switched over all my electronics) and I noticed light was coming through a few of the cracked windows so I opened my window (I had the window seat) and was greeted by my first European sunrise as we flew over the English Channel. It was a beautiful sight to behold. The dark purples and blues of night giving way to the warm yellows, oranges, and reds of morning. When I looked on the ground, the city lights made vein like shapes in clustered areas. While I was sitting there I realized on Monday when I left I was able to see my last Sacramento sunrise (at least for the next two years) and on the day I reach Moldova I am seeing my first of many European sunrises during the coming two years. I just sat there and smiled looking out the window watching the warm colors overtake the cooler ones and thinking, "How cool is this? I'm heading to a new country!" At that moment I fully realized that this is not just a quick trip as it has been feeling, this is for the long haul.
Back with more later.
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