Updates, Updates, Updates…

Naroc,

As 1 March brought the official days of Spring to Moldova, the weather began to drastically change and the days seem instantly longer. We are averaging about 50 degrees everyday here which is considered unseasonably warm, but I am not complaining. The real threat here is if the weather breaks into a prolonged cold spell the fruit harvests (including wine) will be threatened for the year. Luckily, my host family’s fifty hectares are veggies only.

Here at home March brings me new projects, and my host family a new tractor. I am currently focusing my time on a larger scale project to bring potable water to around 150 homes. I am very much still in the planning stages right now, but I think I may have more luck with a larger scale project. Besides, the school director told me after I handed out the questionnaire I prepared for the children that the students are in risk of catching a plague and should not spend time near each other!

As for the tractor it is from Belarus and is supposedly a very good one. It is painted a bright shade of orthodox blue just like our other older tractor. My host dad woke me at 8 am to show it off, and to celebrate with smoked pork fat and vodka shots! I had not even eaten breakfast!

In other news, I recently went to the Moldovan dentist. It was far less traumatic than I expected, but it was also the top dentist in Chişinău. He only spoke Russian, with very little English as his second language. No cavities!

My host sister has been home from Chişinău for the last week recovering from a surgery. I am not sure of the details, not because I am not ‘in the loop’, but because there was a lot of jargon terms used to explain the condition. I visited her in the hospital, it was private, and it seemed to be on par with the states. Happy to report she is healthy now.

Last week thirty new volunteers were welcomed to Moldova. We all cheered as they stepped off the charter bus from the airport and were whisked into the hotel for there orientation. The ones with stamina came out to the bar afterwards, and it was a really great time. I can remember so clearly my first night in Moldova and all the questions I asked when I was at the bar with the volunteers. They all seemed so wise, and now it was me explaining the country to the novices.

I started Russian with the Rosetta Stone program, and I am going to start lessons with a private tutor as well soon. Let me say, it is a very hard language to initially grasp, but the sentence structure is very similar to English.

Food is still great here; I cannot believe how many great salads and veggies were preserved for the winter. Although, I never thought I would say this, but I could use a break from all the duck! I am excited to start my own garden in the spring. Cilantro, jalapenos, and basil I miss from home the most, and all grow relatively easily here.

Tomorrow night marks yet another large holiday in Moldova. I am not sure the exact nature of the tradition, but my host mom already started preparing. I may head to the second largest city in Moldova for the day tomorrow, but that heavily depends on how flexible the bus schedule is to me.

Wish you all health and success with the start of your spring!

andrew