POTD 47: Last Bell

The last day of school is called last bell. There is a ceremony where we recognized the students for their accomplishments. We also celebrated the graduating class. I love how the seniors end the ceremony. Last year, they all released balloons. This year, they released pigeons. Unfortunately, I was caught off guard, so this was the best picture I got.

POTD 48: 5th Form Girls

My two 5^th form classes probably have no idea that they have been what has made my second year easier. I have loved working with these kids and always looked forward to lessons with them. Today was our last day of classes, but of course, lessons didn’t happen; the students had to clean the school. Luckily I was able to steal some time with each class to share some cake and take pictures. Here are just some of those amazing students.

POTD 49: Resource Room

I know this may not look like much, but this is a picture from the English resource room that I helped organize this year, specifically the resources. It’s hard to believe that all the work I did in two years can fit in such a small space, but I like to think that this is more than my partners would have had than if I weren’t here. And when I showed some of the resources to one of my partners, Valentina, she hugged me out of joy.

POTD 50: Criuleni

What better place to start reflecting on my time in Moldova than with Criuleni, my site for the past two years. When driving to Criuleni, you can’t miss the sign for it. Criuleni has been the perfect match for me. It’s a raion (which is a town that acts as the center for the small villages around it), so it’s had all my necessities available. But it’s really small for a raion, so I don’t get lost in city life. It’s right on the Nistru River, and I’ve loved taking walks because of its beauty. It’s been a great place to call home for two years.

Photo of the Day

So tomorrow marks 50 days left in Moldova (YAY!), and I want my last 50 days to be celebrated. It’s easy to get down on yourself when serving in Peace Corps, but I refuse to leave Moldova that way. Therefore, I plan to share one photo every day for my last 50 days (an idea I got from other volunteers). Some photos will be recent and some old. Some will be serious and some will be weird. I want my 50 photos to capture my time in Moldova. I have the rest of my life to be a Return Peace Corps Volunteer; so why not make my last 50 days as a Peace Corps Volunteer really count.

Am I Integrating As Well As I Think I Am?

I ask myself this sometimes. I’ve been told I look Moldovan, so as long as I don’t open my mouth and butcher the Romanian language, I can blend in. And I think I’ve caught on to little things habits to avoid. For example, do not nod at people to recognize them. It is seen as looking someone up and down. Also, don’t smile too much or greet complete strangers too often. This is seen as flirtation, and flirtation is seen as having meaning behind it.

At the beginning of school last year, I was consistently mistaken as a student. I think it’s partially because I was carrying around a huge backpack to hold all my things. I didn’t have my own classroom, and although I did have a shelf in one of my partner teacher’s room, it didn’t hold much. So I had to carry most of my stuff back and forth to school. Luckily this year, there’s a classroom to keep my stuff, so I can carry a more reasonably sized bag.

At this point it’s hard to know if I’m integrated. But it’s noticeable how often I’m recognized on the streets, and sometimes by people I don’t know. It’s kind of nice because I feel connected with the people and the community.

Shake Your Groove Thing

I just came back from Chișinău from a Europe Day celebration, which mostly was celebrated by a couple concerts. Apparently, early in the day, there were booths from a bunch of European countries sharing knowledge and sometime beverages from their country, but I missed that part. I just got to enjoy the free concerts.

Listening to all the different artists reminded me how much I noticed the pop music when I got here. It has a different sound that American pop music. It has much more of a techno influence. I have a hard time listening to it for long periods of time because it kind of sounds the same. But ever once in a while, there’s an artist or song that you can’t help but groove to.

Here is a group that I’ve come to like since I’ve been here: the SunStroke Project. They were Moldova’s representatives in the 2010 Eurovision. And they were just as energetic at the Europe Day concert as they were at Eurovision.

To Miss The Sound Of One’s Name

The short “a” sound in “Maggie” is does not exist in Moldova. The sounds “eh” and “aa” and “ee” do, but not short “a”. So the name “Maggie” is not pronounced the same. I am most often called “Meggie” or “MaGee”, and occasionally “May-gee”. And sometimes when they say my name quickly, it’s more of a “Muggie”. When Moldovans look at my name and try to pronounce it phonetically (by the Romanian alphabet), it would be said as “meg-gee-eh”. But never “Maggie”.

When I was meeting new people in Baimaclia this weekend, so many people couldn’t pronounce or understand my name. I eventually just gave up and introduced myself as “Magdalena”.

Paștele Blajinilor

By far, one of the coolest Moldovan holidays. Paștele Blajinilor, which translates to Memorial Easter or Easter of the Dead. My host family was away for this holiday, so Kerry invited me to celebrate in one of her neighboring villages. And I’m so glad she did.

We started off by visiting Kerry’s partner teacher, Valentina, in the village Baimaclia. We ate and drink a little before we walked to the village’s cemetery together. Even though many people were attending the church service that was happening at the same time, the cemetery was filled with families from all over the village. They were there with food and wine to honor the loved ones, just picnicking throughout the grounds.

Each grave was decorated with foods, candies, cups, glasses, towels, candles, and other small household items. As you visit friends, they tell you about their loved one. The local priest went around the yard blessing the graves.

When church service was over, loud bells rung out. At this time, everyone gathered around their loved ones’ grave and lifted the alms up as a symbol of raising them to the heavens. Then, the people gave the items that had been on the graves away to others. When you use one of the given items, you’re to think of loved one the item represented. I received candy and food along with a mug and hand towel. Although multiple people gave me gifts, they all were in memory of the same person: Maria E. Borzin.

At this point, a lot of families started heading home. And those remaining walked around with wine or beer to share in honor of their loved one.

Victory Day

Today, I had the day off from school, so I went to Chișinău to celebrate Victory Day. There was a concert and mini parades. And because of the history with Soviet Union, there were some small political protests as well. Some Moldovans see this celebration as too much patriotism towards Russia, while others counter and think of it as the end of WWII. Either way, the protests were peaceful that I was safe to be in Chișinău. And since there were celebrations all over Chișinău, it was no trouble having a good time.

I used this as a chance to see one of the WWII monuments. There was dancing and music. And there was an eternal flame in the middle of the monument where children kept throwing coins in.

I will say this for Moldovans: they take every holiday seriously. How many holidays in America do we just celebrate by not going to work without reflecting on the significance of that day? I’m going to miss actually celebrating every holiday once I leave.

I Am A Walking Pile of Contradictions

Oye! So many emotions these days. In so many ways, I’m ready to leave Moldova and start the next chapter in my life, and yet I also want to stay. A couple weeks ago, I went to a meeting to plan for this PST summer. I felt so pulled; I wanted to help because I enjoy that, but I also want to have time this summer to enjoy my last month here. I just feel like I’m just one big oxymoron.

I’ve actually realized that I have been a walking pile of contradictions my whole time here. I’ve had to remain strong to get through this difficult service, yet I was fragile. I often cried over something silly, and then later broke out into laughter over something else. So frequently I feel alone, yet there is still this feeling that I need more alone time. I’ve become really self-conscience about my actions, but okay with making a fool of myself.

Finding someone who understands you can be hard. Most PCVs feel similar, but everything (background, knowledge, degrees, experiences, etc.) differs so much between each of us that sometimes how we feel is different as well. Not to mention how different our experiences at site can be.

Learning how to deal with myself has been one of the most difficult things during my service.