Friday, March 30, 2007

Let's Go Shopping...

Most people in relationships, at one time or another go shopping together for clothes, a car, furniture, mother’s birthday present, etc. Never do they share in the conversation that I had at 8pm last night. “Hey, do you want to go to Radeni with me? I am buying a goat.” Having never actually witnessed the buying/selling process of farm animals and having the opportunity to ride in a car, I accepted the invitation. Radeni is a beautiful town situated on high hills covered with dense forests. However, it being 9.30 at night when we arrived, I saw lots of dark. The ride to Radeni, a mere 17 kilometers, jostled every bone out of place and back again. We made the farm animaltastic journey in a large boxy van. His friend came and picked me up and we all rode in the front bouncing around the poor roads. How poor? Think South Georgia back roads (of course, dirt). Now pour on golf ball size rocks. Add concrete in some places, not all, just sparingly. Now that is the road we were traveling on. The driver of the vehicle seems unmoved by the poor road conditions and we bounce along at high speeds. There were several moments where the road gave way to enormous pot holes and other times when we seemed to be traveling on our side. All the while, the driver continued on at his furious speeds. These are the times that an American driver would look at the road, decide it was impossible to pass, turn around, and go home. Nothing like this would be attempted in the states. Ok, we make it safely to some obscure house in the middle of no where at 10pm at night. We’re on a goat mission. My friend gets out to fetch his animal and his friend and I stay in the car to listen to such classic hits as “I’m Blue” and the Romanian version of “Who Let the Dogs Out.” I am always surprised and pleasantly discomforted at the music selection in this part of the world. We have the goat, it’s name is Greta, the customary food for us (because, our journey would make us utterly famished), and my friend stays in the back to tend his goat. Half the road’s conversation was filled with him talking to his goat until “Smack That” came on, in which the volume was increased and everyone proceeded to have a good time mumbling words that are lazy attempts at the lyrics. Greta is safe and comfortable in her new home with other various farm animals, turkeys, chickens, dogs, sheep, and three new little lambs born yesterday. Easter is coming, I’ll let you know how they taste.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Hail to the Chief and Me

It was a regular Friday afternoon, around 4.30. I had just finished my Tae Bo workout (Billy Blanks is my personal hero) and was resting. My neighbor comes running in to announce that there is drinking going on in my host family’s house. Not one to miss an opportunity of tasting house wine, I joined in. This time, the guests at the party were a policeman, and later, the mayor. Glass after glass the conversations increased in vulgarity. The policeman informs me that I teach his two daughters so we briefly discuss their behavior at school, pausing to munch on salami, cheese, and pickled cabbage. My four glass limit was up and I decided to visit a friend in the village. I can not walk anywhere here without tripping or falling down (especially when snow or mud is involved). I think this can also be said about my walking days in the states. I meet him and we begin our nightly journey up a hill and round corners to arrive at his house. Halfway to my destination I fall and twist an ankle. A few minutes pass and I fall and twist the other ankle. My friend must either think I am severely walking challenged or that I completely obliterated myself at the wine table. The end result, one ankle is bandaged and elevated and the other is calling out for a little attention too. So much for Billy Blanks this week.

Monday, March 12, 2007

What Time is it?

America’s daylight savings time began earlier than last year. I know this, because I saw the information online. Usually, everywhere has daylight savings time on the same day. This is not the case this year. After discovering that we (at least the USA) would be turning the clocks an hour ahead on Sunday night I asked my host family if they knew about this. They did not. After consulting the nightly news, in both Romania and Russia, nothing was said about the time change. I did not want to arrive at school an hour behind or ahead so I had to absolutely know for sure. I asked a neighbor, my host mom asked a neighbor, I asked a friend, he asked a friend or asked a friend. No one knew a thing. So this morning I woke up an hour ahead, as if the time had changed. I got ready and waited around to see if the children passed my house around 8.15 for 8.30 school. They did not. But why would they, it was actually 7.15. So, the conclusion to this rather longwinded story is that Moldova’s (and probably Romania’s and Russia’s) time did not bounce one hour ahead like in the USA. I don’t know how this works exactly. Maybe Mr. Bush thought that it would be fun to turn the clocks ahead of everyone else. I know it was something to do with saving electricity and the economy but that is as far as I desired to venture into the matter. Whatever it is, you folks in the USA are only 6 hours behind me. If you keep it up, maybe you will be on my time in a few months.

After signing online I noticed that my country director had written an e-mail explaining the whole "time change" ordeal. I guess I should have paid more attention to my inbox. I could have avoided all my confusion. But then where would my weblog post be? Hmmmm.

Crazy Spring Break

Spring is here. Or at least the supposed “First Day of Spring” has come and gone on March 1st. This past week we had our Spring vacation but it was anything but for me. I was in Chisinau participating in a seminar for the group of TEFL volunteers that came a year after I did. The topic was Environmental Education and we discussed ways to incorporate environmental issues and activities into the curriculum. It wasn’t as exciting as it sounds, but it gave me the chance to get to know other volunteers and to be out of my village for a little time. In fact, I was out of my village for more time than I cared to be. After the seminar (more correctly, the last day) I became ill with a stomach virus and spent the next three-four days hovering around the bathroom area. The end of the week I helped in the administering of the oral exam and the grading of the written exam for the Moldovan English Olympiad. This means I was stuck inside from morning till night grading papers and doing things while it was sunny and beautiful outside. I came home on Saturday night and got one day of vacation on Sunday before starting back with lessons today. Next vacation (Easter break) looks to be more of a vacation. Or at least I hope so.