This and That

Some random thoughts...

I visited a Russian-speaking church last Sunday (the language divide here affects even Sunday worship). I was invited by the pastor and his wife—they and I have a mutual acquaintance in America. She speaks excellent English and has kindly befriended me since they live fairly close (and by close I mean an hour and half and three bus rides later—public transportation is not built for speed). I really enjoyed visiting their church (it was the first Moldovan church I’ve seen so far where the woman wear pants—I was in heaven!) I was able to sit with a young woman who knows English well enough to translate everything for me. Still, it was completely frustrating not to understand a single word. My Romanian is pretty bad, but when people talk I can usually make out at least some of what they’re saying. Being there was literally going back to square one, and I did NOT like it. I need to learn Russian.

My host mom informed me the other day that I am very well behaved. Not exactly a compliment you’re looking for when you’re 23! Sometimes I get the feeling that she doesn’t quite see me as the independent, self-sufficient adult that I feel that I am. But then I think about the fact that I can’t cook, sew, preserve fruits and vegetables, tend a garden, butcher poultry, or even heat water by myself (the pilot light for our hot water has to be re-lit with a match every time and is such a complicated affair that my host mother informed me she wouldn’t teach me how because she’s afraid I’ll blow up the house—I think she has a point there). It also doesn’t help things that I do crazy, un-ladylike things, such as walk around wearing a backpack and wipe my hands to dry on my jeans after washing them. So unless I start honing my domestic skills, I think I’m destined for eternal adolescence!

This past week I acquired 3 English clubs in the course of a day. I’ll be leading two at my lyceum (5^th-8^th grades and 9^th-12^th) and one with students from the other lyceum in town. That’s in addition to the 7 different English classes I’m teaching in school. Do you think a person can get tired of her own language?