Hey all! I haven't forgotten about this blog...yet. I hope everything is going well with you. Hopefully you had a fun Halloween and are looking forward to Thanksgiving. I am, along with you all, still believing the Phils can pull out some magic.
Anyway, things here are going very well. Below, I wrote a little something about why this Moldova place is so beautiful. If you're interested, take a look. If you'd prefer the easy route, I also have attached a video of October's wine-making that (hopefully) expresses that beauty visually. Or, if you'd like, you are welcome (and encouraged) to check out both. So, enjoy, be well, and as always: NOROC!
WHY IS MOLDOVA FRUMOS?
Here in Moldova people often use the adjective “Frumos.” The Romanian word translates most closely to our word, “beautiful.” Yet, it is used to describe a wider array of objects and actions than we commonly associate with beauty – and it is used with much greater frequency. Flowers, automobiles, photographs are often described as frumos, while, improper behavior or improper dress are decidedly not frumos.
As an American in Moldova, the people here often ask me what I like (and what I do not like) about their country. The complexity of this question, and my thought process when answering it is too involved for me to fully discuss at the moment. Right now however, I want to describe a piece of the answer I give, and, why I am fully candid and honest when I give it.
The other day I was preparing to leave my training village, Vasieni - where I had stayed for the past few weeks for a final round of language and technical classes. Before returning to my permanent village, Lozova, I sat at my host family’s kitchen table. I was all packed and ready to go, but was attempting to catch my breath after yet another suffocatingly sufficient Moldovan meal. (In case I haven’t discussed it on this blog – Moldovan hospitality is unceasingly, incessantly, incorrigibly generous). Sitting at the table, my host parents, Maria and Gheorghe, asked me some of the same questions I have been asked dozens of times here: "What do you like about our village?" "What don’t you like?" When giving my answer, one of the first things I say, invariably, is this: “Your country is beautiful.” Despite my dusty Romanian accent and vocabulary bounded by only a few months of study, I usually try to speak with more specifity. But, it is often impossible to avoid using the word Frumos.
When this word staggered out of my mouth, my host parents’ expressions were painfully familiar. Their faces shifted from intense interest to incredulity. The next few moments of conversation carried the weight of their disbelief. Why? It sometimes seems as though when I describe this place as frumos, people do not believe I am honest. They think I am kind for attempting to flatter them, but many presume that I have seen and experienced greater beauty in America.
Riding the bus later that day to Chisinau, I happened to meet four other colleagues doing the same. One volunteer, Vincent, told me about a similar conversation he had the night before with his host father, Radu. After several glasses of wine, Radu, normally a very reserved person, thanked Vincent. He said that it was unbelievably nice of Vincent to call Moldova frumos. Radu thanked Vincent for being so positive about this place. Suddenly though, Radu pivoted: he said, “Vincent, I have read about America, I have seen pictures – America is much more beautiful than Moldova.” To which Vincent (who is one of the most sincere people I know) did his best to express his genuine love for the surroundings Moldova provides.
Was Radu correct? Is there more natural beauty in America? Are we, Peace Corps Volunteers, honest with ourselves and the people around us when we say this place is frumos? I turned these questions over in my mind as Vincent finished his story. Here is what I decided:
First, Moldova is stunningly frumos. The vista out the window of the bus that morning; the autumnal reds, browns, yellows; the smell of corn stalks and tall grass sifting through, playing in, rolling over the cool breeze – all of those things are a testament to the awesome beauty here.
But, what of Radu’s comparison to our country? He was correct: in America we can see similar panoramas. And, to be honest, the horizon in Moldova is, at times, scattered with artifacts of the Soviet era that belie the natural beauty: old factories, abandoned cars, trash. These things are not everywhere, but they are present. Yet, I still feel beauty here. Why?
The answer, to me, is simple. A place - a location - is relative. It is a human construction. Mother Nature never imagined Philadelphia – William Penn did. And so, when we describe a place as beautiful – let us always remember that people make places as much as places make people. Let us find beauty in the connection people have to the places they live, to the ways people live, to a people’s ability to inhabit their home, village, city, country.
This is Moldova’s beauty: The way men in villages seem to resemble, reflect, or project their dirt-stained hands onto their fields; the way extended families, friends, and neighbors work together every October to collect grapes and make wine; the way a frail, elderly woman carrying grain to sell at the market is able to balance herself standing on an overcrowded minibus that fights cracked roads over dozens of kilometers; the way girls in cities dress in chic European attire, but hold onto their unique histories through centuries-old wedding traditions.
Those are the things I think are frumos. This is how, everyday, I answer questions about Moldova’s beauty with conviction. We may have beautiful fields, hills, and forests in America. But, we have a very different relationship with our space. We lack the same earthly connection that the people here have to their country. And, although natural beauty can make a place special, the connection that people have with the place where they live is often more inspiring. This is why Moldova is frumos.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Yes, I know I've been a neglectful blogger...
...but finally, here is a link to my web album with most of my Moldova pictures so far. Though, last week I took some awesome photos of grape-picking and wine-making, which I am yet to upload. Hopefully they will be coming soon...along with a legitimate blog post that has a little narrative. Nevertheless, enjoy these snappy snapshots for now:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mcmcca
P.S. I think that link should work, but if it does not, let me know.
P.P.S. "snappy snapshots" is a really stupid way to describe pictures...but, for some indescribable reason, that needed to be written.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mcmcca
P.S. I think that link should work, but if it does not, let me know.
P.P.S. "snappy snapshots" is a really stupid way to describe pictures...but, for some indescribable reason, that needed to be written.
Monday, September 7, 2009
I don't know what the song of the summer was in the states, but in the 'dova...(NOTE: there is a VIDEO BELOW - check it out!)
Hey everyone,
Seeing as yesterday was Labor Day and we are all celebrating/mourning the end of summer, I thought it would be fitting to give you a little slide show of what I have been up to. And, as an added bonus, you will hear the stylings of Romania's supergroup, Florinel. I did not go more than a day this summer without hearing their single, "Ma insor la anu-n mai." Anyway, I know nothing about Romanian music, but the folks here seem to love this tune....and, I will admit that it's kind of catchy.
So, if you can put up with this song, and my extremely amateur photography skills, enjoy!
Oh yeah, and happy Labor Day!
P.S..... right now I am waiting for this video to load...so I will give you a few BONUS remarks about Moldova and music. First, playing music really loud all day everyday in Moldovan villages is somewhat common. There is slightly more room between houses than we normally have in the states, so noise is not a major problem; though, from time to time neighbors do get annoyed. Nonetheless it seems that music here is very popular. The song below is more modern, but classic Moldovan folk also has a strong following. In fact, there is a TV station here that plays traditional Moldovan music with variety-show type performances 24-7. There is more I will say about this - but I'm saving that for later.
Occasionally we will also hear songs from the US. A few weeks ago, as I was riding the bus back to my village from Chisinau, I heard a song on the radio that sounded extremely familiar. It was sung, however, in Romanian. But it bothered me, because I knew I had heard this tune somewhere before. When I got home I scoured my mp3 collection until I realized what I heard was a Romanian cover of "If not for you," by Bob Dylan (also popularly covered by George Harrison). But anyway, I thought that was interesting, and wanted to share.
Hey, my video has finally loaded....now I can stop typing!
Seeing as yesterday was Labor Day and we are all celebrating/mourning the end of summer, I thought it would be fitting to give you a little slide show of what I have been up to. And, as an added bonus, you will hear the stylings of Romania's supergroup, Florinel. I did not go more than a day this summer without hearing their single, "Ma insor la anu-n mai." Anyway, I know nothing about Romanian music, but the folks here seem to love this tune....and, I will admit that it's kind of catchy.
So, if you can put up with this song, and my extremely amateur photography skills, enjoy!
Oh yeah, and happy Labor Day!
P.S..... right now I am waiting for this video to load...so I will give you a few BONUS remarks about Moldova and music. First, playing music really loud all day everyday in Moldovan villages is somewhat common. There is slightly more room between houses than we normally have in the states, so noise is not a major problem; though, from time to time neighbors do get annoyed. Nonetheless it seems that music here is very popular. The song below is more modern, but classic Moldovan folk also has a strong following. In fact, there is a TV station here that plays traditional Moldovan music with variety-show type performances 24-7. There is more I will say about this - but I'm saving that for later.
Occasionally we will also hear songs from the US. A few weeks ago, as I was riding the bus back to my village from Chisinau, I heard a song on the radio that sounded extremely familiar. It was sung, however, in Romanian. But it bothered me, because I knew I had heard this tune somewhere before. When I got home I scoured my mp3 collection until I realized what I heard was a Romanian cover of "If not for you," by Bob Dylan (also popularly covered by George Harrison). But anyway, I thought that was interesting, and wanted to share.
Hey, my video has finally loaded....now I can stop typing!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I am constipated with blog posts...
Hey guys - after some complaints about my posting of old news I have decided to give you all some highlights from the summer below. I promise this is the last of the old stuff. The next post will bring you all up to speed on where I am and what I am doing now. Until then, old news is good news...i think:
Host Family
After two sessions of Romanian language classes the new trainees were loaded onto buses with their luggage and driven out of the capital city to surrounding villages to meet their host families. (ONE NOTE: the first 10-12 weeks of Peace Corps is intensive training. Approximately ten trainees each live one village with different host families and meet daily for language classes. Twice per week the new trainees from all of the villages meet in Iaolveni (a hub site) for technical workshops.
My village is called Vasieni, and my host family is an older married couple who have lived there for, I think, roughly thirty years.. Yesterday evening, the van dropped me off at around 6 pm. My language instructor accompanied me to their door, where she facilitated the introduction. Meanwhile I stumbled over the little Romanian I knew in order to express my gratitude and say hello. Prior to parting ways with the other volunteers that evening, I joked that if communication got difficult with my host family, I would pretend I am on a wacky American sitcom. Little did I know then, how close this is to a sitcom. I will discuss in more detail next time…right now, I’m going to bed.
Monday – (written june 15th)
This whole trip got much funnier about forty-eight hours ago when an elderly Moldovan couple that speaks no English began hosting an idealistic twenty-something Peace Corps volunteer who speaks no Romanian. Cue the laugh track and the 80s sitcom theme song, because these hijinks are going to be fun for the whole family. Matt McCaffrey stars in: From Moldova with Love (and Giardia).
My first night with a host family was a virtual collage of America’s greatest TV moments. For example, miscommunication led me to stumble through the house after dark with a mouthful of toothpaste and saliva searching frantically for a place to spit without waking up anyone. I had a “will they or won’t they” moment with the outhouse (and just like on TV, sparks did fly). I woke up at one point in the night believing that the past few days had all been a dream. So, in some ways the last couple days have been hilariously stereotypical.
Of course, that description does not do justice to how interesting/exciting my living situation is. First of all, I don’t have Giardia. I do, however, need to distill my water, or boil and filter it – unless I want to subsist on the bottled variety. Apparently my weak American stomach is not up to snuff ‘round these parts.
As I may have already mentioned, I am currently in the village of Vasieni; approximately a 35-minute bus ride from the capital, Chisinau. It only has a few paved roads; though the deep rifts and numerous potholes on the main thoroughfares force one to adopt a different definition of the term road. Indoor plumbing is affordable to only the wealthiest residents. Although automobile traffic on Vasieni’s streets is not necessarily busy, cars and motorcycles commonly rip down the windy, main stretch at 40+ miles per hour.
The intermittent mix of hi-speed steel jalopies notwithstanding, the streets are commonly host to horse carts, pedestrians, children playing, large and small ducks, chickens, goats, and cows. There is a sense of shared vitality. On the road, everyone is in it together. They are part of something. They did not consciously choose to be here, but there is an implicit acknowledgment of others, and a tacit sense of empathy. It is not always kind or friendly in the American sense. It is devoid of pretense and, therefore, possesses all of reality’s jagged edges. It is not cold or sterile – not packaged or manufactured. The hardships Vasieni’s residents endure in order to exist on this planet have sharpened them. People are genuine. Lovingly genuine. Frighteningly genuine. Exhaustingly genuine. Excitingly genuine. Genuine.
In spite of some of the poverty I describe in Vasieni, one should not come away with the perception that the people have nothing. There are poorer places in the world. Villages and regions exist on every continent that equal and surpass this type of poverty. The people of Vasieni have their own houses. These houses are not tents or shacks – they have walls made of brick, stone, and concrete. These houses have electricity. They have windows. They have access to water through pipes, personal wells, or communal wells. Does this all make their struggles any less important? No – absolutely not. It does, however, underscore the vast differences in the way many in America live, and they way people labor to get by in places commonly perceived as developed – such as portions of Europe.
ONE OTHER NOTE: The above paragraph is not meant to guilt anyone into donating money to nonprofit organizations that seek to alleviate poverty (though if you’d like to do that, it would be cool), nor is it in any way meant to suggest that you, the reader, are not adequately addressing world suffering. Indeed I perpetually struggle to find my role as a relatively privileged person in a world of extreme inequality; I grapple with the topic frequently and have, to this point, been unable to come up with a cogent solution.
Why then, am I discussing poverty in somewhat stark prose? My main purpose is to create a context for my next two years of service here. So, to end a long post with a few short words I will say this: Moldova is a beautiful, impoverished, interesting, fun, frustrating, and amazing country with great people, great food, and great potential. I hope my time here will, in some tiny way, lurch an enclave of this land toward greater prosperity and happiness. So now, there is only one question left: How? And the answer to that is…ummm….hmmm… well, I’m not sure if I have that question completely worked out yet…but, check back later…maybe I’ll have an answer then.
Two weeks….do you guys like goats? (written june 29th)
Well right now I am sitting on a balcony outside my bedroom at my new/temporary home in Vasieni. I have just finished week 2 of PST (pre service training) and everything is going well. I have adjusted life here in Moldova relatively easily. Despite the moments of “tongue in cheekiness” in my last post, everything here is cool. Let me give you folks a quick rundown of what has been going on lately:
1. I am in Vasieni with twelve other volunteers. They are in the COD program (Community and Organizational Development). The remaining Peace Corps Trainees are grouped together based on their future jobs as well. The other jobs are English Education, Agriculture and Business Development, and Health Education. Basically we are all attending language classes together at our specific sites, and we meet twice a week in a hub city (called Ioloveni) for group classes and Peace Corps Info Sessions.
2. There are a lot of goats here. The goats are funny. That is all.
On Sarcasm…
Sarcasm it seems is an acquired taste. I say that on the heels of several sarcastic jokes that would have killed in the Good Ole’ USA but have flopped here in Moldova. This is both a bad and a good sign. It is bad because, as many of my fellow compatriots know, we Americans like to tread with a poignant, dry wit – one that is best enjoyed with a glass of scotch. Unfortunately, such comedic stylings just will not hack it here in Eastern Europe. On the flip side, this is positive for two reasons. First, it will force me to adopt a more genuine sense of humor that does not seek to elevate myself above my fellow man (speaking of which - as for alternatives to sarcasm, what does everyone think about ventriloquism?). Second, this is also a good sign because it means that my Romanian skills have at least advanced to the point where I am even been able to make a sarcastic wisecrack. Anyway, this entry pretty much sums up my meandering thoughts as I fall asleep on another lovely night here in vasieni.
By the way, I had food poisoning the other day. But that story really does not deserve an entry…unless you like hearing about that sort of thing. I should just say this: I felt like puke. I almost did puke. But nothing exited my body in an objectionable way (at least, not in my opinion). And I am much better now. PS – don’t be worried – the Peace Corps Medical Office has extremely attentive physicians. So trust me, I am in good hands.
PARTAYYY-TAYYYY!! (Written June 30th)
You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high flyin’ flag ….on Saturday I am going to be rubbing elbows and clinking glasses at the swankiest US outpost this side of the Nistru River. I am attending the American Embassy’s 4th of July Party. I am pretty pumped. Let me just tell you: I have tons embassy jokes that I have been sitting on for a long time. I will finally be able to use them (wow, that sounds ridiculously nerdy)! I will fill you all in on how it goes. But that’s about all for now.
One more quick thing – I know the philles have kind of sucked lately but, is Raul Ibanez still having a sick season??? Just wondering….
Okay, Things Happened…. (Written July 7th)
We had our Fourth of July Party last weekend, and let me just say “God Bless America.” I ate the first hamburger that I have had in weeks and it was glorious. When that processed cow flesh touched my tongue I tasted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I can’t be sure but I think overindulging in food and beverage at some party in Moldova is exactly what Thomas Jefferson had in mind when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Prior to the party I sang the standard (i.e. my favorite) Fourth of July carols – “Your’re a Grand Old Flag,” “This Land is your Land,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The party had music, Americans, Moldovans, other Europeans, and lots of booze.
By the end of the night I was so intoxicated by patriotic feelings (and beverages) that I misplaced my wallet. Don’t worry, I found it the next day. But suffice it to say, the party was great.
Host Family
After two sessions of Romanian language classes the new trainees were loaded onto buses with their luggage and driven out of the capital city to surrounding villages to meet their host families. (ONE NOTE: the first 10-12 weeks of Peace Corps is intensive training. Approximately ten trainees each live one village with different host families and meet daily for language classes. Twice per week the new trainees from all of the villages meet in Iaolveni (a hub site) for technical workshops.
My village is called Vasieni, and my host family is an older married couple who have lived there for, I think, roughly thirty years.. Yesterday evening, the van dropped me off at around 6 pm. My language instructor accompanied me to their door, where she facilitated the introduction. Meanwhile I stumbled over the little Romanian I knew in order to express my gratitude and say hello. Prior to parting ways with the other volunteers that evening, I joked that if communication got difficult with my host family, I would pretend I am on a wacky American sitcom. Little did I know then, how close this is to a sitcom. I will discuss in more detail next time…right now, I’m going to bed.
Monday – (written june 15th)
This whole trip got much funnier about forty-eight hours ago when an elderly Moldovan couple that speaks no English began hosting an idealistic twenty-something Peace Corps volunteer who speaks no Romanian. Cue the laugh track and the 80s sitcom theme song, because these hijinks are going to be fun for the whole family. Matt McCaffrey stars in: From Moldova with Love (and Giardia).
My first night with a host family was a virtual collage of America’s greatest TV moments. For example, miscommunication led me to stumble through the house after dark with a mouthful of toothpaste and saliva searching frantically for a place to spit without waking up anyone. I had a “will they or won’t they” moment with the outhouse (and just like on TV, sparks did fly). I woke up at one point in the night believing that the past few days had all been a dream. So, in some ways the last couple days have been hilariously stereotypical.
Of course, that description does not do justice to how interesting/exciting my living situation is. First of all, I don’t have Giardia. I do, however, need to distill my water, or boil and filter it – unless I want to subsist on the bottled variety. Apparently my weak American stomach is not up to snuff ‘round these parts.
As I may have already mentioned, I am currently in the village of Vasieni; approximately a 35-minute bus ride from the capital, Chisinau. It only has a few paved roads; though the deep rifts and numerous potholes on the main thoroughfares force one to adopt a different definition of the term road. Indoor plumbing is affordable to only the wealthiest residents. Although automobile traffic on Vasieni’s streets is not necessarily busy, cars and motorcycles commonly rip down the windy, main stretch at 40+ miles per hour.
The intermittent mix of hi-speed steel jalopies notwithstanding, the streets are commonly host to horse carts, pedestrians, children playing, large and small ducks, chickens, goats, and cows. There is a sense of shared vitality. On the road, everyone is in it together. They are part of something. They did not consciously choose to be here, but there is an implicit acknowledgment of others, and a tacit sense of empathy. It is not always kind or friendly in the American sense. It is devoid of pretense and, therefore, possesses all of reality’s jagged edges. It is not cold or sterile – not packaged or manufactured. The hardships Vasieni’s residents endure in order to exist on this planet have sharpened them. People are genuine. Lovingly genuine. Frighteningly genuine. Exhaustingly genuine. Excitingly genuine. Genuine.
In spite of some of the poverty I describe in Vasieni, one should not come away with the perception that the people have nothing. There are poorer places in the world. Villages and regions exist on every continent that equal and surpass this type of poverty. The people of Vasieni have their own houses. These houses are not tents or shacks – they have walls made of brick, stone, and concrete. These houses have electricity. They have windows. They have access to water through pipes, personal wells, or communal wells. Does this all make their struggles any less important? No – absolutely not. It does, however, underscore the vast differences in the way many in America live, and they way people labor to get by in places commonly perceived as developed – such as portions of Europe.
ONE OTHER NOTE: The above paragraph is not meant to guilt anyone into donating money to nonprofit organizations that seek to alleviate poverty (though if you’d like to do that, it would be cool), nor is it in any way meant to suggest that you, the reader, are not adequately addressing world suffering. Indeed I perpetually struggle to find my role as a relatively privileged person in a world of extreme inequality; I grapple with the topic frequently and have, to this point, been unable to come up with a cogent solution.
Why then, am I discussing poverty in somewhat stark prose? My main purpose is to create a context for my next two years of service here. So, to end a long post with a few short words I will say this: Moldova is a beautiful, impoverished, interesting, fun, frustrating, and amazing country with great people, great food, and great potential. I hope my time here will, in some tiny way, lurch an enclave of this land toward greater prosperity and happiness. So now, there is only one question left: How? And the answer to that is…ummm….hmmm… well, I’m not sure if I have that question completely worked out yet…but, check back later…maybe I’ll have an answer then.
Two weeks….do you guys like goats? (written june 29th)
Well right now I am sitting on a balcony outside my bedroom at my new/temporary home in Vasieni. I have just finished week 2 of PST (pre service training) and everything is going well. I have adjusted life here in Moldova relatively easily. Despite the moments of “tongue in cheekiness” in my last post, everything here is cool. Let me give you folks a quick rundown of what has been going on lately:
1. I am in Vasieni with twelve other volunteers. They are in the COD program (Community and Organizational Development). The remaining Peace Corps Trainees are grouped together based on their future jobs as well. The other jobs are English Education, Agriculture and Business Development, and Health Education. Basically we are all attending language classes together at our specific sites, and we meet twice a week in a hub city (called Ioloveni) for group classes and Peace Corps Info Sessions.
2. There are a lot of goats here. The goats are funny. That is all.
On Sarcasm…
Sarcasm it seems is an acquired taste. I say that on the heels of several sarcastic jokes that would have killed in the Good Ole’ USA but have flopped here in Moldova. This is both a bad and a good sign. It is bad because, as many of my fellow compatriots know, we Americans like to tread with a poignant, dry wit – one that is best enjoyed with a glass of scotch. Unfortunately, such comedic stylings just will not hack it here in Eastern Europe. On the flip side, this is positive for two reasons. First, it will force me to adopt a more genuine sense of humor that does not seek to elevate myself above my fellow man (speaking of which - as for alternatives to sarcasm, what does everyone think about ventriloquism?). Second, this is also a good sign because it means that my Romanian skills have at least advanced to the point where I am even been able to make a sarcastic wisecrack. Anyway, this entry pretty much sums up my meandering thoughts as I fall asleep on another lovely night here in vasieni.
By the way, I had food poisoning the other day. But that story really does not deserve an entry…unless you like hearing about that sort of thing. I should just say this: I felt like puke. I almost did puke. But nothing exited my body in an objectionable way (at least, not in my opinion). And I am much better now. PS – don’t be worried – the Peace Corps Medical Office has extremely attentive physicians. So trust me, I am in good hands.
PARTAYYY-TAYYYY!! (Written June 30th)
You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high flyin’ flag ….on Saturday I am going to be rubbing elbows and clinking glasses at the swankiest US outpost this side of the Nistru River. I am attending the American Embassy’s 4th of July Party. I am pretty pumped. Let me just tell you: I have tons embassy jokes that I have been sitting on for a long time. I will finally be able to use them (wow, that sounds ridiculously nerdy)! I will fill you all in on how it goes. But that’s about all for now.
One more quick thing – I know the philles have kind of sucked lately but, is Raul Ibanez still having a sick season??? Just wondering….
Okay, Things Happened…. (Written July 7th)
We had our Fourth of July Party last weekend, and let me just say “God Bless America.” I ate the first hamburger that I have had in weeks and it was glorious. When that processed cow flesh touched my tongue I tasted life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I can’t be sure but I think overindulging in food and beverage at some party in Moldova is exactly what Thomas Jefferson had in mind when he wrote the Declaration of Independence.
Prior to the party I sang the standard (i.e. my favorite) Fourth of July carols – “Your’re a Grand Old Flag,” “This Land is your Land,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The party had music, Americans, Moldovans, other Europeans, and lots of booze.
By the end of the night I was so intoxicated by patriotic feelings (and beverages) that I misplaced my wallet. Don’t worry, I found it the next day. But suffice it to say, the party was great.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Someone mocked my lazy attempt to avoid writing anything new...
Ryan (my friend ryan jones) posited a complaint (via email) earlier today about my scheme to post old entries onto my blog. Apparently some of you think that I am lazy. I would argue that I am too busy. (But, one man's lazy is another man's busy). Regardless of the truth, here is what I will do:
I am going to post a new entry alongside the old one. This could be confusing, or disorienting....but, it's a risk I am willing to take.
So here is something that happened to me recently that was interesting:
As I was studying Romanian the other day, I was paging through a book put together by former Peace Corps volunteers and language trainers. The title is 1001 Romanian Verbs. Normally in our lives, we take titles of books for granted. We do not think they lie. We do not think they are incorrect. When we pick up a book with ATLAS written on the cover, we do not think that the pages inside will be the dessert menu at Denny's. Yet, for some reason I had a hunch that there were not actually 1001 Romanian verbs in that book. The weight of its pages and the amount of ink used just did not add up. Moreover, given the fact that my current job is slow and the person who is responsible for training me is on vacation, I decided it was as good a time as any to count verbs.
GUESS WHAT: there are 1076 Romanian verbs in that book. Yeah, that's right - I proved that stupid book wrong. I believe the appropriate term here is "BOO YA."
...LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, This game's score is...
MATT: 1 PEACE CORPS: 0
That's right Peace Corps - you've got to get up pretty early in the morning to pull one over on old Uncle Matt.
Anyway, that is my post...I hope you're happy Ryan, because that's all the new stuff I've got right now.
BLOG ENTRY - Arrival in Chisinau (written June 14, 2009)
Hey guys, I think I have about four or five publishable blog entries backlogged. I think what I will do is post one every few days until we are up to the present. This one was written after my first few days in Moldova...it's really just a status update - pretty standard stuff, and I tried to keep it short.An Extremely busy few days…
Hey all, I write this on Sunday evening at my host family’s house. That is a long way from Wednesday in Istanbul. I do not want to bore you with everything that happened between then and now, so I will again attempt (hopefully with more success this time) to keep things brief. Let’s get right to the highlights:
1. Arrival in Chisinau @ 6:30 pm: Chisinau airport is the only international airport in the country. It is tiny. When we arrived, rather than the jet pulling up to a gate at the airport, it stopped on the runway about 200 yards from the main building. A shuttle bus came out to meet us when we stepped off the plane.
The entire group, though dragging, found new energy in the adrenaline of arrival. Awesome, impressive, exciting….I don’t really know what else to say in this small amount of space, so email me if you’re interested to know more eloquently expressed details – I’d be glad to tell you.
2. The Peace Corps Mentors Program is a group of current PC volunteers in Moldova who greeted us at the airport to assist the Peace Corps staff in our arrival. Once we cleared customs our group of travelers walked through a set of doors to be met by the applause of dozens of mentors holding signs with our names on them. We might as well have been the Moldovan national futbol team returning home from a glorious world cup victory.
3. We stayed in the Hotel “Turist” in downtown Chisnau. It’s not a beautiful hotel, but it’s not terrible. Fairly unremarkable. Again, email me if you want more observations.
4. The first 36 hours in Chisinau were filled with more meetings and paperwork, plus time with mentors. Each mentor assists with three trainees. As luck would have it, my mentor is the head of the Mentors Program. The other folks are great, but she is outstanding. Her knowledge, effort, and kindness must be mentioned here – I am both thankful for and impressed by those gifts.
5. I am having fun – Through all of the description, I should mention that I am really enjoying this experience so far. It promises to get more difficult, but everything to this point has been awesome.
That's all for now. Next up: an entry about my new host family, my training village, and the surreal experience of arriving in this town.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
SUCCESS!!!!!! here's a picture...
Hey all, I think I have internet access whenever I want it now! That's pretty cool...and it better be cool for the trouble I went through to get it. You know how annoying it is to resolve computer problems? Well, imagine trying to do that in broken Romanian to a servicer who understands no English. Let me just say - it was a frustrating few hours. But, I think that is all over now so, expect me to post a few more entries that I wrote over the past few weeks. WARNING: I am not sure if I will post all that I wrote, as Peace Corps is pretty strict about the amount of 'opinion' that can be included on volunteer blogs. Some of it might be edited...and some of that editing might take time. But anyway, I'll post something soon.
Monday, August 17, 2009
I am thinking about changing my name to Usain Bolt
Hey everyone... did you all see that insane 100 meter dash by Usain Bolt. I mean, I'm pretty fleet of foot, but I don't think that I would be able to run that fast for much more than 92 meters.
Anyway, I realize that I have not dilligently updated my blog over the past few weeks. And the rushed updates I have been able to provide are not what you might call pilars of english grammar (did I use that metaphor correctly?). But, I think I should inform you all that I am one modem shy of having a consistent internet connection. I have signed up for a dsl plan with MoldTelecom and have even paid for the month of august. So, in the interest of not wasting my money, I intend to have a modem soon. At which point, rest assured, that you will have much more frequent updates of my daily life. For example, I may discuss what it was like tying my shoes this morning. Or, perhaps I will post about my resting pulse rate. Another potential update could be about, the time when I had to decide whether I wanted coffee or tea with my breakfast. I could go on and on.
But, if those particular examples do not sound interesting enough, I also hope to discuss a few things unique Moldova and my Moldovan experience. AND, if none of those things sound interesting then I suggest you ditch this blog and watch this amazing video.
Anyway, I realize that I have not dilligently updated my blog over the past few weeks. And the rushed updates I have been able to provide are not what you might call pilars of english grammar (did I use that metaphor correctly?). But, I think I should inform you all that I am one modem shy of having a consistent internet connection. I have signed up for a dsl plan with MoldTelecom and have even paid for the month of august. So, in the interest of not wasting my money, I intend to have a modem soon. At which point, rest assured, that you will have much more frequent updates of my daily life. For example, I may discuss what it was like tying my shoes this morning. Or, perhaps I will post about my resting pulse rate. Another potential update could be about, the time when I had to decide whether I wanted coffee or tea with my breakfast. I could go on and on.
But, if those particular examples do not sound interesting enough, I also hope to discuss a few things unique Moldova and my Moldovan experience. AND, if none of those things sound interesting then I suggest you ditch this blog and watch this amazing video.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
HEY EVERYONE - Pay attention to this...please
Hey guys,
If at times this blog seems a little light on the political analysis of Moldovan, it is not because I am uninterested. Rather, Peace Corps has strict regulations regarding what I am permitted to talk about. Politics off limits.
With that said, next week is the second round of elections that were originally held in April. Alot of interesting stuff happened then - if you'd like to learn about that, I encourage you to check the BBC or NY Times. Now, the next round of elections is scheduled for July 29th (next Wednesday). So PLEASE, pay attention to this (but please don't make any politically charged comments on this blog.)
Anyway, from my limited knowledge, I would suggest you check the BBC as they might possibly have evenhanded information. Regardless of how you get your news though, please pay attention.
Until next time, Noroc.
Matt
P.S. I still have some more backlogged posts from earlier weeks that I fully intend to add to this blog as soon as possible.
If at times this blog seems a little light on the political analysis of Moldovan, it is not because I am uninterested. Rather, Peace Corps has strict regulations regarding what I am permitted to talk about. Politics off limits.
With that said, next week is the second round of elections that were originally held in April. Alot of interesting stuff happened then - if you'd like to learn about that, I encourage you to check the BBC or NY Times. Now, the next round of elections is scheduled for July 29th (next Wednesday). So PLEASE, pay attention to this (but please don't make any politically charged comments on this blog.)
Anyway, from my limited knowledge, I would suggest you check the BBC as they might possibly have evenhanded information. Regardless of how you get your news though, please pay attention.
Until next time, Noroc.
Matt
P.S. I still have some more backlogged posts from earlier weeks that I fully intend to add to this blog as soon as possible.
Friday, July 17, 2009
I am tired, smelly, and disoriented in the Turkish Airport
yet another late post from my trip to Moldova....I wrote this in Turkey....I wish the grammar were better, but I don't have much time to clean it up:
As the title of this post suggests, I’m exhausted. So I will try to make this brief. We landed in Turkey at about 3:00 AM NY time/ 10AM Istanbul (and Chisinau) time. Unfortunately, the excitement-induced sleep-deprived state I was in prior to this trip has been compounded by the time change, the layover, and my freakishly lanky frame (which made any rest aboard the first flight impossible). For that reason, I’ve decided to try to stay awake until I get to Chisinau in an attempt to tackle jet-lag HEAD ON(*apply directly to the forehead). Anyway, we leave for Chisinau at 10:40AM NY time, 4:40 PM Istanbul time.
Oh yeah, also this: I might smell. You see, the temperature outside is about 90 degrees and I am wearing a suit, with a thermal shirt and a t-shirt underneath. Why would any person in the world put themselves through 24+ hours of travel dressed this way? Well, allow me to plea my case: My luggage is completely full, and its weight is approaching surcharge territory. Therefore to conserve space and save money, I decided to wear as many clothes as medically possible. I think I have accomplished that. Furthermore, the Peace Corps wants us to arrive looking presentable. Some are choosing to change their clothes just prior to the flight out of Istanbul. I however, have chosen a different path. And, I see no problem with that.
I’m not the only one who is tired. Those who began their travels the day before me may be worse-off. The group’s exhaustion level however, has in no way diminished the feelings of excitement and enthusiasm – which are palpable in conversations, gestures, and expressions. Perhaps you could say this about every Peace Corps group but, these are truly fantastic individuals: the least of whom will change tens or hundreds of lives, and the best of whom will pull together disparate flecks of granite humanity into a smooth marble tableau. I can only hope to hang on and keep pace.
With all of that said, I’m tired and nothing is really happening here inside this airport food court. So I will leave you with two notes:
1. The Turkish airport is nicer and much more interesting than JFK. For example, there are free samples of “Turkish Delights” candy – in five different varieties. They have pecans, dates, and a lot of other flavors that I can’t identify. They also were giving out free samples of Patron and other fine alcohols earlier in the duty-free shops. In other words, what I’m saying is this: Next time your family plans a vacation, just fly to the Turkish airport and live here for a few days. You will save on hotel accommodations, you can dine on exotic Turkish candy, enjoy the nightlife at the Duty-free shop, and get pampered by the Aquamasage (you have to click on this, it’s pretty awesome.)
2. The only other noteworthy thing I have done in Istanbul is taste Turkish coffee. In case you’re not familiar, it is a thick, dark coffee served in a tiny espresso cup. It is not really filtered and has some pretty strong grounds floating in it. Apparently, you are supposed to drink it fast, but not eat the grounds that it leaves on the bottom of the cup. I ate those grounds. Then I proceeded to implore everyone who inquired about it to do the same. It was not until later that a more ‘enlightened’ member of the group informed us that such consumption is patently absurd; you really are not supposed eat them. Nevertheless, if I get Turkish coffee again, I think I will still lick the cup clean.
Friday, July 10, 2009
The beginning of my trip (belatedly)
Hello folks, I figured it has been a long time since I've posted on this blog thing....so here goes. Below is the blog post I orginally wrote at the beginning of the trip, but have not had consistent enough internet access to post. Please read below....and I have more posts saved on my computer - they will come soon. For now...enjoy:
Hey everyone…as many of you know, Tuesday 6/9/09 was the beginning of my trip to Moldova. Although not extremely eventful I will give you all a brief run-down of what happened:
Tuesday was an event that Peace Corps calls “Staging.” Essentially it is an orientation/ “meet-and-greet” for all of the new volunteers who are departing for one particular destination. There are approximately 65 of us headed to Moldova. I lucked out in that Peace Corps decided to hold our staging in Philadelphia. Other invitees however came from places as far as Seattle, meaning they began their travels a day before me.
In the morning my family dropped me off at the Sheraton Hotel in University City. After a misty-eyed “farewell moment” in the lobby I stepped into the elevator. What was I thinking on that elevator ride? What enlightened thoughts flitted through my mind in the first seconds of two years’ worth of physical separation from my family and friends? I think it went something like this: “Sweet! I have a room on the nineteenth floor – I can’t wait to spit out the window.” Oh well…I suppose the best words don’t always come at the appropriate moments (And besides, much to my dismay, the window was sealed shut).
I entered room 1923 and deposited my luggage. At this point a tiny thing happened that I had not experienced in any (significant) way before – I got a little nervous about the trip. It was a fleeting moment however, wisped away when my roommate Greg entered with his father. Greg, coincidentally, is from the Philadelphia area too, and his father’s Phillies cap was enough to quell my subtle discomfort. Is it a cliché to say that there is something in the simplicity of baseball that cuts through the veneer of the world’s seemingly more complex problems? Yes. But, it is also true. (And would be even truer if the Phillies had defeated the Mets that same night).
The Staging session began around noon – shortly after I checked in. Sparing you all a long, boring, detailed description, I will sum up the next few hours in a several loosely connected words and phrases: a lot of paperwork…I was the only person who forgot a pen/ I borrowed one from another volunteer… team-building…warnings, suggestions, recommendations on health, security, etc…. meeting new, interesting people…tending to administrative matters….travel itinerary…and some more stuff that is unremarkable.
The session ended at around 7:30 pm; at which point the newly minted Peace Corps Trainees went out in the city of brotherly love for some drinks, dinner, and brotherly love-making (okay…not exactly that last thing, but we did establish friendships that will play a critical role in keeping our sanity over the next 27 months).
The next day, we awoke and boarded buses to New York’s JFK airport at about 7 the next morning. We arrived at the airport at approximately 10:30am. Fortunately we made it there JUST before our flight was scheduled to leave for Turkey; and by “JUST before” I mean that we were 7 hours early. After a relatively painless baggage check and security walkthrough, we waited at the gate for our flight. The full travel plan is as follows: a ten hour flight to Istanbul, Turkey followed by a layover of an additional seven hours, and then a 90-minute flight to Chisinau, Moldova. Sounds long and annoying, but we are all excited. I am writing this, my first post of the trip from JFK eagerly awaiting the first leg of my trip.
Hey everyone…as many of you know, Tuesday 6/9/09 was the beginning of my trip to Moldova. Although not extremely eventful I will give you all a brief run-down of what happened:
Tuesday was an event that Peace Corps calls “Staging.” Essentially it is an orientation/ “meet-and-greet” for all of the new volunteers who are departing for one particular destination. There are approximately 65 of us headed to Moldova. I lucked out in that Peace Corps decided to hold our staging in Philadelphia. Other invitees however came from places as far as Seattle, meaning they began their travels a day before me.
In the morning my family dropped me off at the Sheraton Hotel in University City. After a misty-eyed “farewell moment” in the lobby I stepped into the elevator. What was I thinking on that elevator ride? What enlightened thoughts flitted through my mind in the first seconds of two years’ worth of physical separation from my family and friends? I think it went something like this: “Sweet! I have a room on the nineteenth floor – I can’t wait to spit out the window.” Oh well…I suppose the best words don’t always come at the appropriate moments (And besides, much to my dismay, the window was sealed shut).
I entered room 1923 and deposited my luggage. At this point a tiny thing happened that I had not experienced in any (significant) way before – I got a little nervous about the trip. It was a fleeting moment however, wisped away when my roommate Greg entered with his father. Greg, coincidentally, is from the Philadelphia area too, and his father’s Phillies cap was enough to quell my subtle discomfort. Is it a cliché to say that there is something in the simplicity of baseball that cuts through the veneer of the world’s seemingly more complex problems? Yes. But, it is also true. (And would be even truer if the Phillies had defeated the Mets that same night).
The Staging session began around noon – shortly after I checked in. Sparing you all a long, boring, detailed description, I will sum up the next few hours in a several loosely connected words and phrases: a lot of paperwork…I was the only person who forgot a pen/ I borrowed one from another volunteer… team-building…warnings, suggestions, recommendations on health, security, etc…. meeting new, interesting people…tending to administrative matters….travel itinerary…and some more stuff that is unremarkable.
The session ended at around 7:30 pm; at which point the newly minted Peace Corps Trainees went out in the city of brotherly love for some drinks, dinner, and brotherly love-making (okay…not exactly that last thing, but we did establish friendships that will play a critical role in keeping our sanity over the next 27 months).
The next day, we awoke and boarded buses to New York’s JFK airport at about 7 the next morning. We arrived at the airport at approximately 10:30am. Fortunately we made it there JUST before our flight was scheduled to leave for Turkey; and by “JUST before” I mean that we were 7 hours early. After a relatively painless baggage check and security walkthrough, we waited at the gate for our flight. The full travel plan is as follows: a ten hour flight to Istanbul, Turkey followed by a layover of an additional seven hours, and then a 90-minute flight to Chisinau, Moldova. Sounds long and annoying, but we are all excited. I am writing this, my first post of the trip from JFK eagerly awaiting the first leg of my trip.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Hey guys....
I have been lacking consistent internet access since I have been here. That will change eventaully. At the moment I am in an internet cafe in a suburb of Chisinau, Moldova. I have been writing a few entries that I intend to post however, they are saved on my laptop. Said computer is not with me right now. So, you can expect a number of posts soon. Until then, I should say this:
eu sint foarte bine ("I am doing very well," in Romanian). So far so good, and I will talk to you all soon!
eu sint foarte bine ("I am doing very well," in Romanian). So far so good, and I will talk to you all soon!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
EXTRA EXTRA: Matt Leaving for Moldova Soon - Stay in Touch: Follow his BLOG
Well folks, whether you intentionally found this page, stumbled here, staggered here, or were otherwise bamboozled into looking at this site, I am glad you made it. I'm Matt, I'm 24 years old, and I'm about to travel to the Republic of Moldova to begin Peace Corps service. I encourage you to enjoy this blog and all it has to offer. I intend to update it regularly throughout my service...although, I wouldn't put it past me to get lazy, forgetful, or neglectful at some point. But for now, I am excited and enthusiastic about having my very first blog. I'm not sure how to handle this much power...
Will Matt become so intoxicated with a sense of self-importance that he will publish line after line of egotistical schlock? Or, will Blog-Operating Matt be just a slightly nerdier, yet harmless, version of Blogless Matt? There is only one way to find out - subscribe to all of Matt's M.O.L.D. updates. You'll love them, I promise. (Disclaimer: there exists a slim chance that you will not love all or any of my posts. Though hard to believe, such an outcome could technically happen; and as an expert blogger, I must acknowledge all possibilities)
So to close this sales pitch: please fill out the email form on the right side of this page and you will be given an unobstructed view of my zany adventures while abroad. Everyone's doing it, so you should too.
Will Matt become so intoxicated with a sense of self-importance that he will publish line after line of egotistical schlock? Or, will Blog-Operating Matt be just a slightly nerdier, yet harmless, version of Blogless Matt? There is only one way to find out - subscribe to all of Matt's M.O.L.D. updates. You'll love them, I promise. (Disclaimer: there exists a slim chance that you will not love all or any of my posts. Though hard to believe, such an outcome could technically happen; and as an expert blogger, I must acknowledge all possibilities)
So to close this sales pitch: please fill out the email form on the right side of this page and you will be given an unobstructed view of my zany adventures while abroad. Everyone's doing it, so you should too.
I heard the internet is lacking blogs...
Okay, okay maybe the internet doesn't need another blog. But, this one is going to be different. How? Well, I haven't really thought that far ahead yet...but...let's make a rule: I will only post about important things. So, without further pomp and circumstance, here is my blog:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
