On to Moldavia and Bacau County! Early in July we Peace Corps trainees learned where we will live for the next two years. The siteannouncement
ceremony
took place at our training school, complete with the
U.S. Ambassador to Romania, his wife, son and grandson present. For the most part, we have been placed in small rural villages or comunas (a grouping of even smaller villages), many in Moldavia, the northeast part of the country and the poorest region. I received a packet and parcel of photos and gifts from my community and my counterpart. What a welcome, indeed! I knew it would suit me to a T...a small community of 3800 persons in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains teaching English to grades 3-8!
My counterpart (a person assigned by the host school), Anca, a young woman born and raised in my host town, has taught English there for six years. We met, as did all trainees and their counterparts, at a three day conference ten days ago where we learned about each other and how we work together. Then she and I traveled by car back to our community, a nine hour trip because we stopped to tour Peles Castle, summer home of King Carol I.
My counterpart (a person assigned by the host school), Anca, a young woman born and raised in my host town, has taught English there for six years. We met, as did all trainees and their counterparts, at a three day conference ten days ago where we learned about each other and how we work together. Then she and I traveled by car back to our community, a nine hour trip because we stopped to tour Peles Castle, summer home of King Carol I.
In my little town I spent three days being squired around by Anca and Domnul Director (head of the school) getting acquainted with the people and the area. The people are so very welcoming and friendly. It's also clear that I am an oddity in the neighborhood...I feel right at home! ;=)
I'm highly motivated to conquer this language now; Anca is the ONLY person in the village that speaks English (in addition to the students who are learning from Anca, of course.) Not my gazda, not Domnul Director, not the mayor, not the store keeper. Talking to myself is not a whole lot of fun; besides, I've heard it all before! And poor Anca needs a break from all the interpreting she did for me for three days! And knowing me, I'll misplace my roman/anglais dictionary before you know it. Peace Corps will pay for tutoring for six months; I'll line him/her up at the first opportunity!
Wow! I'll be living a "Heidi" life! It's true! Upon stepping outside for my morning coffee I heard the faint tinkle of cowbells as the cows worked their way up the mountain to their grazing pastures. And in the evening the cows wander down the road to home. Proof positive, the night before, my host Marius brought in a large bucket of fresh milk.
I passed up the offer to have some. That morning Marius, his girl friend and I climbed the nearby mountain/hill, Marius pulling me up the steep and muddy parts. I fell only twice coming down! We met the cows and shepherd dog guarding them at the top. Nuf said! I don't mingle with dogs who say "no closer".
Living with a gazda family during training has been such a positive experience I chose to live with a gazda again. I have not met my gazda yet; her son, a student of Orthodox Theology, and his girl friend, were my hosts at her home for the visit. However I brought much "stuff" with me by car so it is now waiting to be unpacked in my bedroom. The rest will come with me when I make my move permanent on August 7.
I passed up the offer to have some. That morning Marius, his girl friend and I climbed the nearby mountain/hill, Marius pulling me up the steep and muddy parts. I fell only twice coming down! We met the cows and shepherd dog guarding them at the top. Nuf said! I don't mingle with dogs who say "no closer".
Living with a gazda family during training has been such a positive experience I chose to live with a gazda again. I have not met my gazda yet; her son, a student of Orthodox Theology, and his girl friend, were my hosts at her home for the visit. However I brought much "stuff" with me by car so it is now waiting to be unpacked in my bedroom. The rest will come with me when I make my move permanent on August 7.
In spite of the fact that this will be such a different way of life for me (it is NOT rural Ohio) some things remain the same: there are gracious people all over the world, our needs and wants we share in common. In spite of the language differences somehow we found a way to enjoy each other's company through a lot of gestures and had many laughs together...yes, with the Domnul Premari (mayor) and Domnul Director too. There was time to reflect while I was there and I became aware that I felt a little more at "home" each day. It will be good!
Now...for two weeks more of training and planning ahead. We have a final language assessment to determine of level of proficiency and then we become sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers, no longer trainees! This ceremony will be at the Ambassador's residence in Bucharest on August 6. It's a big, big deal! Our gazdas will come by charter bus too. Bring tissues!
How I shall miss my gazda family! They have been so gracious, generous, hospitable and lots of fun. I count on seeing them several times while in Romania, even though I shall be a great distance from their home.
So...training is winding down. It has been hard work, make no mistake. But the staff is excellent and our group of trainees, if I do say so myself, is exceptional! Onward and upward!
So...training is winding down. It has been hard work, make no mistake. But the staff is excellent and our group of trainees, if I do say so myself, is exceptional! Onward and upward!
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