I've Waited Two Years for This!

My final day of school has come and gone. When my director interrupted me during my morning tea and biscuits to come to the school to take pictures I was annoyed. It was the annual “Safety and Security Day” when the students prepared for earthquakes, gas leaks, and other disasters by donning surgeon masks and dressing as nurses. My task was to follow the teacher in charge of the day’s activities to take pictures of the students. After a simulated earthquake (which was accomplished by ringing the school bell for approximately ten minutes without stopping) there was a gathering outside of the school to talk about what the students learned and to evaluate their responses.

I should have known something was going to happen involving me, when the assistant director dismissed all the students except those who had me as their teacher. Uh oh, I smell another spontaneous speech brewing. The assistant director thanked me for my hard work, and the students applauded me. I was almost teary eyed until I found out that I was to receive gifts. I love gift time here in Moldova. You absolutely have NO idea what you are about to receive or how you should respond. This time, like all the others, did not fail.

I received a small angel figurine from an 11^th grade class, a larger angel figurine from a 12^th grade class. Then my fun students from the other 12^th grade class. By fun, I mean the class is composed of about twelve boys and two girls. The boys are extraordinarily cheeky and flirt with me non-stop during and outside of class. They are cute though and mean no harm so I go along with it. They first presented me with a ceramic vase. Nice. Next they gave me a flour sieve for when I make mamaliga in America. They know how much I like Moldovan food, especially mamaliga, and wanted to give me something to remember them by when I make Moldovan specialties. Very nice and thoughtful. Then a boy in the class approached me with a box. What could be in the box? Candy? Flatware? A small Moldovan child? As I began to open the box the boy flipped it open to reveal a small baby bunny with a red polka dotted string around its neck. I gasped and all the students roared in laughter. I have wanted a bunny rabbit to play with for the last two years. My host mom and I talk about it about once a week and we always make plans to go to the market and buy one and later we will eat it once it has grown. This was an adorable white and grey spotted bunny. The students asked if I would be taking it home with me to America, which I promptly answered with “Of course not, I will be eating it tonight.” Good answer I thought.

So now the rabbit is at home with me. I took the bunny in the box home with me and let my host niece open the box. She claims it is hers now. My host mom loves animals and took to it right away setting it up a rather large area and giving it food and water. I will be leaving it here in America but at least I got my wish to have a bunny rabbit, even if it is for only two days.

*update: My rabbit ran away on Friday. It got out of its holding area and ran in the garden and under a corn shed. We were unable to catch it and decided to wait for it to come back out. It did but didn't come back to us. *sniff *sniff