It's official, folks: I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer! What was I the past ten weeks? Only a trainee. The lowest of the low. Even pond scum enjoyed a higher social status. Just kidding! Kind of. Wednesday the M23's were sworn in at the American Ambassadorial Residence. So now the PC claims us as its own. The ceremony itself was pretty cool, albeit boiling hot. We had to sit in the sun for over an hour, and I think it was a pretty hefty accomplishment that none of us passed out!
For reasons not fully comprehended on my part, I was asked to give a speech at the ceremony. Thankfully I was not expected to speak extemporaneously (my apologies to my Speech professor Dr. Stewart--I know he would NOT have approved). I wrote my speech in English, and then it was edited and translated by the powers that be. So all I had to do was practice reading it about a million times and pray fervently that I wouldn't embarrass myself. I gave it, and it went just fine. I don't think I'll be starting a Moldovan public speaking career anytime soon, but I'm okay with that.
Speaking of trying to not embarrass myself, there were tons of press at the ceremony yesterday, and I was interviewed by two different crews. My mind went into autopilot and started spitting out all the Romanian I had learned in class (Moldova is beautiful. The people are nice. I came here because I want to learn more about other cultures, etc.). I do also distinctly remember saying that I love Moldovan food and listing off my favorite dishes. I don't know if my other interview made it on-air, but here is a link to a newsclip about the ceremony. My interview is about halfway through (and if you look really hard, you can see quick snippets of me in the other parts. I was wearing a brown shirt and white skirt). http://www.trm.md/index.php?module=stiri_int&news_id=2891
Try not to laugh too hard, please! ;-)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Chickens, Grammar, and Really Bad Romanian
I came home from school yesterday to discover that my host mom had killed three of our chickens. I missed the actual beheading and de-feathering, but I did get to see the bloody chicken guts laid out in all their glory. It wasn't pretty. As I stood their chatting with my mom, trying to act nonchalant and to not stare at the chicken remains like--well, an American--it occurred to me how much my life has changed in the past 2 months. It's pretty hard to describe all the ways, but let me give you my daily schedule. That might give you a taste of what life is like here for me:
I usually wake up around 6:30. Some days I shower (I'm one of the lucky ones-my host family has a shower). I have breakfast with my host mom. She packs me a bag lunch, and then I leave for school. I meet Rebeach, Erin, and Mike (3 other trainees who live really close), and we walk downhill to school. On the way we say "Buna dimineata!"(Good morning) to everyone we pass. Some people say hello. Others just stare. In addition to people, we usually see sheep, goats, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, and cows. At school, there are 8 of us that study Romaian 3-4 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. After language, we either go to our hub site with all of the other trainees for technical/cultural/safety sessions or we have SDA's (self directed activties--PC lingo for free time). My host family doesn't eat dinner until 9:00, so I try to get all of my studying in before then. After dinner (in which I try my best to understand the Romanian flying around me and speak a little bit myself), I go to bed.
My schedule for the past few weeks was a bit more hectic because I had practice school. During PS, every waking hour was either spent in class, teaching, or preparing for class the next day. No free time! Practice school, in case you're wondering, is the PC's version of student teaching for us TEFL trainees. We all taught two different levels of students (I taught 8th and 11th graders). Our students were Moldovan sudents who study English in school and who volunteer to come to practice school during their vacation time. As a result, most of them were strong English speakers and pretty well behaved. My students were amazing! My 11th graders spoke English SO well. I was really impressed. Let me tell you though, teaching English is not as easy as you might think. Have you ever tried explaining why we say "It is sunny" not "Is sunny"? or why "Everyone has" but "All people have"? Native speakers of a language don't know grammar rules--they just know what sounds right!
That being said, Practice School was extremely helpful. Now I have a sense of what Moldovan students are like, and I know that I have the ability to teach. The last week of PST will be pretty easy. Most of our time will be spent reviewing for our language proficiency exam next Monday. Speaking of language, let me end this blog on a humurous note. Below are some translations of phrases inadvertently spoken by my fellow trainees (one of them is mine, but I'm not saying which one). Enjoy!
"She was wearing a tomato."
[pointing to cucumbers] "Are these married?"
"I ate myself for breakfast."
"I ate my whole host family for breakfast."
"I am going to armchair grammar."
I usually wake up around 6:30. Some days I shower (I'm one of the lucky ones-my host family has a shower). I have breakfast with my host mom. She packs me a bag lunch, and then I leave for school. I meet Rebeach, Erin, and Mike (3 other trainees who live really close), and we walk downhill to school. On the way we say "Buna dimineata!"(Good morning) to everyone we pass. Some people say hello. Others just stare. In addition to people, we usually see sheep, goats, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, and cows. At school, there are 8 of us that study Romaian 3-4 hours a day, Monday through Saturday. After language, we either go to our hub site with all of the other trainees for technical/cultural/safety sessions or we have SDA's (self directed activties--PC lingo for free time). My host family doesn't eat dinner until 9:00, so I try to get all of my studying in before then. After dinner (in which I try my best to understand the Romanian flying around me and speak a little bit myself), I go to bed.
My schedule for the past few weeks was a bit more hectic because I had practice school. During PS, every waking hour was either spent in class, teaching, or preparing for class the next day. No free time! Practice school, in case you're wondering, is the PC's version of student teaching for us TEFL trainees. We all taught two different levels of students (I taught 8th and 11th graders). Our students were Moldovan sudents who study English in school and who volunteer to come to practice school during their vacation time. As a result, most of them were strong English speakers and pretty well behaved. My students were amazing! My 11th graders spoke English SO well. I was really impressed. Let me tell you though, teaching English is not as easy as you might think. Have you ever tried explaining why we say "It is sunny" not "Is sunny"? or why "Everyone has" but "All people have"? Native speakers of a language don't know grammar rules--they just know what sounds right!
That being said, Practice School was extremely helpful. Now I have a sense of what Moldovan students are like, and I know that I have the ability to teach. The last week of PST will be pretty easy. Most of our time will be spent reviewing for our language proficiency exam next Monday. Speaking of language, let me end this blog on a humurous note. Below are some translations of phrases inadvertently spoken by my fellow trainees (one of them is mine, but I'm not saying which one). Enjoy!
"She was wearing a tomato."
[pointing to cucumbers] "Are these married?"
"I ate myself for breakfast."
"I ate my whole host family for breakfast."
"I am going to armchair grammar."
Saturday, August 9, 2008
photos...for real this time!
Technology has its moments. It really does. For instance, I am writing this blog that people halfway around the world can read 5 seconds after I post it. And I appreciate that. I really do. That being said, I think life would be a lot less stressful if we still used letters and carrier pigeons.
Some of you were lucky enough to see my photos before they mysteriously disappeared. That's all I have to say about that. For about 10 other reasons which I won't go into now because it's still to way too frustrating, I haven't been able to access my blog or re-upload my pictures since then. But now I have! So if you click on the "my photos" link, you'll actually see photos. Magic! I don't know if anyone is still reading this (since it has been ages- I can't blame anyone who has given up on checking back to see if I've updated), but I'm sure at least my parents are still faithfully checking. So Mom and Dad, this is for you. ;-)
Seriously though, I've got lots of things to write about since we just finished 3 weeks of practice school. I will write more again soon, I promise.
Some of you were lucky enough to see my photos before they mysteriously disappeared. That's all I have to say about that. For about 10 other reasons which I won't go into now because it's still to way too frustrating, I haven't been able to access my blog or re-upload my pictures since then. But now I have! So if you click on the "my photos" link, you'll actually see photos. Magic! I don't know if anyone is still reading this (since it has been ages- I can't blame anyone who has given up on checking back to see if I've updated), but I'm sure at least my parents are still faithfully checking. So Mom and Dad, this is for you. ;-)
Seriously though, I've got lots of things to write about since we just finished 3 weeks of practice school. I will write more again soon, I promise.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
the state of the nation
Let me start this post off with a disclaimer: I have only been in Moldova for a month. Even though I'm learning the language, and I've heard numerous lectures about the history and culture and observed quite a bit from my interactions with host country nationals, I still know very little about Moldova. If anything, I'm at the dangerous stage where you know just enough about something to think you know everything and consequently be way off base.
That being said, I'm going to go right ahead and share my opinions (isn't that what a blog is for???). Before coming to Moldova, I heard/read somewhere that Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. After arriving here, I heard that statistic again. And I am starting to understand why. Poverty is a complex thing. Moldova is nothing like sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty is so overwhleming that it reaches out and smacks you right between the eyes. In Chisinau, and in other cities in Moldova, you wouldn't think Moldova is that poor. Banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, cell phone kiosks, cars, and stylishly dressed girls in ridiculously high stilettos are everywhere.
But looks can be deceiving. Many Moldovans struggle to make ends meet. You can see this especially in villages. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moldova's political and economic infastructes dissolved as well. Since Moldova declared its independence, economic growth has been slow. Roughly 1/4 (I've heard slightly varying statististics) of Moldova's working-age population is currently abroad because people can't find jobs here (even teachers, doctors, and other professionals sometimes have to leave the country and find work elsewhere, cleaning people's houses or doing construction, because they can't find jobs that pay enough for them to live on). Many children have one or both parents who are away from home for months, or even years, at a time.
And to make things even more complicated, Moldova is a country torn between the East and the West. Russia has long been a presence here (for obvious reasons), and a significant portion of Moldovans identify themselves as Russian (speak Russian, not Romanian, etc.). But many Moldovans would like to see themselves united with Romania (re-united really--before being a part of the Soviet Union, Moldova was a part of Romania), especially if that means joining the EU as a result.
It's all so complicated, and of course, I've only scratched the surface. For anyone that thinks all of this is as interesting as I do (I won't be offended if you don't, but if you do--bravo!), you need to check out the recent New Yorker article about human trafficking and Moldova. From what I can tell, it's very accurate and well-researched. Just go to Google, type in "New Yorker + Moldova" and you'll find it.
I'm not sure yet how I, as an English teacher, am going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but I do know that I'm in the right place. I'm quickly falling in love with this country and with its people, and I hope that my role in my community will be a meaningful one. That's why I came, and I'm going to try my best not to forget that.
That being said, I'm going to go right ahead and share my opinions (isn't that what a blog is for???). Before coming to Moldova, I heard/read somewhere that Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. After arriving here, I heard that statistic again. And I am starting to understand why. Poverty is a complex thing. Moldova is nothing like sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty is so overwhleming that it reaches out and smacks you right between the eyes. In Chisinau, and in other cities in Moldova, you wouldn't think Moldova is that poor. Banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, cell phone kiosks, cars, and stylishly dressed girls in ridiculously high stilettos are everywhere.
But looks can be deceiving. Many Moldovans struggle to make ends meet. You can see this especially in villages. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moldova's political and economic infastructes dissolved as well. Since Moldova declared its independence, economic growth has been slow. Roughly 1/4 (I've heard slightly varying statististics) of Moldova's working-age population is currently abroad because people can't find jobs here (even teachers, doctors, and other professionals sometimes have to leave the country and find work elsewhere, cleaning people's houses or doing construction, because they can't find jobs that pay enough for them to live on). Many children have one or both parents who are away from home for months, or even years, at a time.
And to make things even more complicated, Moldova is a country torn between the East and the West. Russia has long been a presence here (for obvious reasons), and a significant portion of Moldovans identify themselves as Russian (speak Russian, not Romanian, etc.). But many Moldovans would like to see themselves united with Romania (re-united really--before being a part of the Soviet Union, Moldova was a part of Romania), especially if that means joining the EU as a result.
It's all so complicated, and of course, I've only scratched the surface. For anyone that thinks all of this is as interesting as I do (I won't be offended if you don't, but if you do--bravo!), you need to check out the recent New Yorker article about human trafficking and Moldova. From what I can tell, it's very accurate and well-researched. Just go to Google, type in "New Yorker + Moldova" and you'll find it.
I'm not sure yet how I, as an English teacher, am going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but I do know that I'm in the right place. I'm quickly falling in love with this country and with its people, and I hope that my role in my community will be a meaningful one. That's why I came, and I'm going to try my best not to forget that.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Pictures
For those of you that don't know, in my list of links to the left of this page is the link to my photos. I just added several pictures that I've taken since coming to Moldova. Feel free to check them out!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Home Sweet Casa
I'm willing to bet that when most people hear the term Peace Corps, an image of a thatched-roof hut nestled in the depths of a tropical jungle comes to mind. While that may be true to life for some volunteers, it is not my current reality. While I didn't exactly expect a hut, I came into Moldova knowing that conveniences like running water and electricity might not be available at my site. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at my PST home (the house I'll be living in for my first ten weeks of pre-service training) to discover that my host family has indoor plumbing, a computer with Internet, their own washing machine, and two TVs. I'll admit--my first reaction was guilt. Wasn't I, the Peace Corps volunteer who consolidated her wordly possessions into a mere two suitcases and a carry-on, supposed to endure more hardship than this?
After talking with PC staff and other volunteers, I came to realize that our home stays during PST will probably be quite different than what we experience at our permanent sites. The Peace Corps attempted to place all of us trainees with more affluent families as a way of easing us into Molovan life. The American definition of affluence doesn't quite carry over though. For exmple, my host family has indoor plumbing, but not a working toilet (Or at least we never use the toilet. It might just be for the winter. I haven't figured it out yet). We also have so much less stuff in general than the "typical" American household (less clothes, less food on hand, etc.). And nothing gets wasted here. Any extra food goes to our animals (in our case, chickens, rabbits, dog, and cat--other families have cows, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, or turkeys).
Conveniences aside, I can say without hesitation that the people I have met here are wonderful. My host family, which consists of mom, dad, 17-year-old sister, and 13-year-old brother, has been incredibly kind to me. Other than my sister, who learned English in school and can communicate with me a bit, no one in my family speaks English. They do their best to help me with my Romanian, and I do my best not to sound like an idiot every time I open my mouth. It's not always a reachable goal (especially when I have to resort to using non-verbal communication--I actually impersonated a sheep at the dinner table the other night in an attempt to figure out what kind of cheese we were eating....but now I know that sheep cheese exists.). It is amazing though how much Romanian I've learned in two weeks. By the end of PST, I'll know enough to survive on my own. Very exciting to think about! Hopefully by then I'll have regained some of my dignity.
After talking with PC staff and other volunteers, I came to realize that our home stays during PST will probably be quite different than what we experience at our permanent sites. The Peace Corps attempted to place all of us trainees with more affluent families as a way of easing us into Molovan life. The American definition of affluence doesn't quite carry over though. For exmple, my host family has indoor plumbing, but not a working toilet (Or at least we never use the toilet. It might just be for the winter. I haven't figured it out yet). We also have so much less stuff in general than the "typical" American household (less clothes, less food on hand, etc.). And nothing gets wasted here. Any extra food goes to our animals (in our case, chickens, rabbits, dog, and cat--other families have cows, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, geese, or turkeys).
Conveniences aside, I can say without hesitation that the people I have met here are wonderful. My host family, which consists of mom, dad, 17-year-old sister, and 13-year-old brother, has been incredibly kind to me. Other than my sister, who learned English in school and can communicate with me a bit, no one in my family speaks English. They do their best to help me with my Romanian, and I do my best not to sound like an idiot every time I open my mouth. It's not always a reachable goal (especially when I have to resort to using non-verbal communication--I actually impersonated a sheep at the dinner table the other night in an attempt to figure out what kind of cheese we were eating....but now I know that sheep cheese exists.). It is amazing though how much Romanian I've learned in two weeks. By the end of PST, I'll know enough to survive on my own. Very exciting to think about! Hopefully by then I'll have regained some of my dignity.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Technical Difficulties
Okay, so I have tried about 3 different times to get online and add new posts, but I've been having a lot of problems with my flash drive (Moldovan computers don't like it). Since I write everything on my laptop (which I can't currently use to access the Internet) and save it to my flash drive, complications ensue! I will try my best to put new posts as soon as I can. I talked to someone at PC tech support today, so I think a solution is in sight. For those of you who keep checking back for updates, they are coming--I promise (scout's honor!).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
