Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Goodbye, Moldova


Dear Moldova,

I don’t even know where to begin. I sit here in the PC lounge only a couple hours away from leaving what has been the past two years of my life, and I still can’t think of how to say goodbye.

Goodbyes have been going on for over a month now. Every time I leave someone, I think about how this might be the last time I see them, making this month very difficult. And how do you say goodbye to two years of your life?

When I came here, I thought I was an adult. I thought I had everything together. I had my master’s degree and I knew my professional goals. I thought I had an understanding my beliefs and ways of life. But Moldova, you challenge every part of me. You challenged my beliefs, my goals, my practices, my thoughts, and the list goes on.

Never before in my life have I had such an impactful and life-changing event. These past two years have been life-forming, and as an adult, I never thought I would have such an impactful time again. But my daily life and thoughts will forever be different because of you.

But my personal growth isn’t the only thing I walk away with. I walk away with some of the most meaningful and powerful relationships in my life. The bonds I formed with my teachers, host mom, community members, and fellow volunteers are indescribable. And many of these people have no idea how much they changed me.

And where do I begin with the memories? I look back at some of my most difficult moments, and it’s hard to believe how much I made through. But I’ve had some of the most incredible successes that still make me smile at just the thought of them.

So Moldova, thank you. I know I came here with the idea that I was going to change the world, but the truth is that you changed me. And I will forever remember the impression and be changed by the small Eastern Europe country that most Americans don’t even know exists. And as I leave to start the next chapter in my life, know that you will always have a place in my heart.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

POTD 1: Partner Teacher


Last, but certainly not least, my partners. During my two years here, I worked and taught with five different English teachers in my school. These five women are the reason I’ve been here teaching English in Criuleni, and they were pretty much the most constant thing in my life here. These women probably have no idea how much they touched and changed my life.

Monday, July 15, 2013

POTD 2: Friends


Although they are not Moldovan, my friends, especially these three ladies (Maggie, Ashley, and Kerry), have made my two years here amazing. We have celebrated our successes together and cried over our failures. There is no way I could have made it through this without them.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

POTD 3: Moldovan Legends


I love the patriotism here. Blue, yellow, and red are everywhere. There are all sorts of ways Moldovans celebrates their country. They have a day to celebrate the colors of the flag. At school, at any formal event, they wear a tricolor (a ribbon of the three colors of flag with a pin). The Moldova flag is everywhere. During my service, Criuleni constructed this flag pole and garden area for the Moldovan flag.

But one of my favorite parts is how there are stories behind the meaning of everything. There’s a legend of Criuleni and its name; there’s a legend of Moldova’s name; there’s a legend of the aurochs symbol on the coats of arms and flag. And the nerd I am, I love hearing/reading them. So here’s the legend of Moldova:

Dragos - The Sun of Maramures

There was a young man Dragos, a son of the local ruler in Maramurus. Having heard of Negru-Voda's success, Dragos longed to be just as brave and as great since early childhood. He grew up to become a strong and beautiful ambitious young man. His beauty was the reason why the people gave him the nickname "the Sun of Maramures". His dream was to become the Ruler of the Country of Romania. But with his father still feeling capable of carrying out his duty, Dragos couldn't even think of becoming the Ruler of Maramures in the near future.

Often he would gather a team of his mates and would go hunting throughout the lands of Maramures and other counties for days and even weeks. His real intent was to meet the people of these lands and make friends and connections in the nearby districts. But hunting was always a high priority too as he never came back without a good catch.

The Hunt

During one of such 'hunts', Dragos came across a doe, so beautiful that no one had ever seen anything like it before. Dragos decided to chase it. They raced like mad - many times they nearly caught it, but still it managed to get away. They could easily shoot and kill it, but Dragos wanted the doe alive and unharmed as it possessed a divine beauty.

At one point, the doe vanished into the thin air. Despite this, Dragos continued the pursuit in hope to find it. The hunt led them far away to the east from their home - to the other side of the Carpathian mountains, but Dragos didn't want to give up and carried on.

God's Messenger

During the chase they came across a glade that looked as if it was in heaven. On the glade, a beautiful young girl was picking flowers and singing a song. The sight of the girl made Dragos forget about the hunt, the doe, and everything else. He dismounted and approached the girl: “Who are you? Are you a mortal or an angel or a fairy?”

The girl replied: “You don't know who I am and never will, but I know that you are Dragos, The Sun of Maramures, and I'm here to advise you. Give up your hunt and the doe and go to the Valley of Siret (a river in Romania). There are Romanian domains there and God has chosen you to spare the people from the rage of the Tatars and be their master. But there is one thing you must do first”.

“What thing?” Dragos asked.

“You must kill the furious aurochs that is roaming these lands unpunished. Take its head and show it to the people. And then all Romanians will gladden, praise you and will say: 'Long live Dragos the Great and Strong!”

That was all that the girl said. Dragos, glad that his dream was about to come true, wanted to hug the girl but she vanished just like the doe...

The Battle

So there he was, the Sun of Maramures, ready to face the bloodthirsty beast. He didn't have to go far to find the aurochs. The beast was as wild as a wolf, but much bigger and much more ferocious. It had a strong body and legs that could carry it with the speed of arrow and sharp horns as tough as steel.

As soon as the aurochs had spotted Dragos, it turned around to face the warrior and bowed its head showing the sharp horns. Dragos, not intimidated by the aurochs’ threatening position, squeezed his spiked cudgel harder, raised it above his head and, when the aurochs approached, hit it on the head between the horns with all his strength. The aurochs screamed so loud that, it seemed, the end of the world had come. Then, it turned around and started running away from Dragos, who immediately engaged in the chase to finish off the beast.

After an exhaustive chase, Dragos caught up with the animal and hit it again a couple of times until the beast dropped dead. Then, Dragos took out his war axe and cut the aurochs’ head off, which he took to the people of that land.

The people praised Dragos, just as the girl had predicted, and the rulers of that land decided to unite under his rule just like Romanian rulers united under the rule of Negru-Voda on the other side of the mountains.

Moldova’s Name

Dragos had many hunting dogs, but one he favoured the most - the smartest and the best at hunting, whose name was Molda. He had had the dog for a long time and it was very devoted to him. But it grew old by the time of Dragos' adventures. During the chase after the buffalo Molda jumped into a stream but didn't manage to get ashore and drowned. Dragos missed the dog a lot and, to give the animal the credit, decided to name the country after it - Moldova, or the Country of Moldova.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

POTD 4: Piața


I’ve loved going to the local market to get my fresh fruits and vegetables. Although the market in Criuleni is really small compared to the one in Chișinău, it is there every day of the week, and there is always some fruits and veggies to choose from.

This is my favorite stand with the woman who owns it. She always has the best selection, and she’s so friendly. Her husband is sometimes there with her, and they like to talk to me about their son who is in America.

Friday, July 12, 2013

POTD 5: Churches

In addition to the crosses, the churches in Moldovan towns and village are constant reminders of the Eastern Orthodox presence. With the onion domes high above the trees and tall enough to spot in any town, the church is the heart of a Moldovan town.

This is the church in Onițcani, a village between Chișinău and Criuleni, which I pass every time I’m traveling between Chișinău and Criuleni. This church has been my favorite church here. I finally stopped in Onițcani to get my picture.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

POTD 6: Ștefan cel Mare


My man, Ștefan cel Mare, or Stephen the Great. He was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504. During his reign, he strengthened Moldavia and maintained its independence against the ambitions of Hungary, Poland, and (most famed for resistance against) the Ottoman Empire. Basically, Moldova wouldn’t exist without this dude. And his presence is everywhere in Moldova. Every city, town, and village has at least one street named after him.

Yesterday I had a very tourist day of Chișinău, so I make sure to get a picture of the Monument of Ștefan cel Mare.