Well, where do I start? I am in the middle of week 10 in Moldova and have been at my permanent site for the last 2 weeks. And I can say I am now a real Peace Corps Volunteer. My fellow M24s and I were sworn in on August 8 in Chisinau.
The evening before we were sworn in we had a farewell party for our host families in Vasieni. Some of us danced, some of us sang and some volunteers gave presentations. It was a good time had by all.
Things are going well with my new host family; they are kind and generous and take good care of me. They have a pretty home and an orchard with peach, pear and apple trees and of course grapes. Most every Moldovan home has its own crop of grapes which they make their own wine from. Most of the homemade wine that I have had so far tastes very good. The harvesting of the grapes will happen in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to the process of picking the grapes and seeing them being made into wine. But of course the wine must ferment for a year, so I will have to wait to partake in the tasting of this year’s wine until 2010.
I have started working in the center and since their programs don’t start until September there is modest amount of work to do besides planning out sessions for the afterschool programs and conducting research. I have also started tutoring sessions with the school director (principle) which is only slightly intimidating. She has a lot of patience, she really does. The bulk of my work will start in September when school starts and the programs at the center are up and running. I will then also start working at the school, the mayor’s office and one of the other NGOs here in town.
In the meantime I am learning more Romanian, meeting new people in my village and living the Moldovan life!
Hope you all have a good August and please wish my dear old pop a happy birthday!!!
Take care and be safe!
JJ
