My good friend Kristen Fuest reminded me that it’s been awhile since my last post. Which is very true. So, in the spirit of Christmas, I thought it’d be fun to share a few of my favorite things about life in Moldova (NOT raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens):
1) being stopped on the street for directions
As strange as it may sound, here’s why it’s so great: because it means that, occasionally, I’m blending in. It means that, to some stranger, I can pass for a Moldovan. To them I don’t have AMERICAN stamped on my forehead. I look like I can speak Romanian and that I know where the hospital is (both of which happen to be true!).
2) receiving “exact change”
I went to the store the other day, and since the cashier was out of banuţi (coins), she handed me a stick of gum as change instead. I’ve also had people give me candy. You just can’t beat that.
3) new holidays
December 13th is “Saint Andrew Day” in Moldova. I’m not sure what the religious significance is (or whether Saint Andrew refers to the apostle Andrew or another historical Andrew). But I do know that boys go to the houses of girls they like in the middle of the night and steal their gates (yes, steal them). Moldovan gates are huge and made of metal, so it’s no small task. If a girl wakes up on the 13th to find her gate missing, she has to figure out who took it and—according to tradition—give him wine and food in order to get her gate back. She’s also supposed to be his girlfriend. I don’t think the forced dating part is practiced anymore, but the gate-stealing tradition is still alive and well in some villages. Ain’t love grand?
4) the “English” language
I was grading my 10th grade students’ semester tests today, and some of their answers had me practically rolling on the floor. They had to complete noun phrases, such as glass of water, or loaf of bread. One student wrote “slice of toothpaste.” They also had to create dialogues between them and their parents, and another boy wrote: “Mother, I beseech you!” There are definitely perks to my job!
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4 comments:
KATIE! you're getting engrish, too!! isn't is an absolute blast?!?! :)
I love the things my students come up with in class! Definitely a perk.
People started asking me for directions the first day I was here. It was quite surprising to me at first, but now I've gotten used to it and am quite good at giving directions.
In fact, a couple of months ago a woman asked me in faltering Russian how to get somewhere, and I replied in Russian without even thinking about it. I was really proud of myself until I heard her talking to herself as she walked away and realized that she was British!
This is Annie Laurie, btw. Somehow I totally missed that you have a blog.
Post idea: I'd really like to hear about how this part of the holidays are celebrated in Moldova. Do they, like Russia, follow the Orthodox calendar, with Christmas on Jan 7? Is New Year's the big shindig, or is Christmas important? Does Grandfather Frost come to give out gifts accompanied by a hoard of giggling bimbo Snegorichki (Snow Maidens)? Devoted fans want to know! ;-)
Ahhaha katie!that brought me so much joy! My favorite was the piece of candy or gum instead of coins...I love it:) I'm so glad you are enjoying life over there, I had no doubts that you would be able to adjust and fit right in bc you are just one of those people who is good at life in most every context :) much love sawadey lady <3
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