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.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
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.
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