Bringing in 2013

The biggest holiday celebrated over what we call "the holidays" in the states is most definitely New Year's. Santa Claus actually comes to Moldova on New Year's, not on Christmas. (Following a tradition from Soviet times, where Santa was forbidden to come on a religious holiday, I am told) And in fact, most Moldovan's don't celebrate Christmas on December 25 but rather on January 7, following the tradition of the Orthodox Christian calendar. So what does that mean for me? I celebrate them all! I celebrated "new" Christmas with fellow volunteers. I am staying home with the host parents for New Year's Eve. (They seem to have built it up a little too much... Come to find out, it will just be the three of us!) I'm headed to the mountains of Romania for a few days later this week, and then I will be back in town for Christmas here on the 7th. (Perhaps we'll also have a small celebration of Old New Year's on the 14th.) Work essentially comes to a halt and celebrations/relaxation continues these few weeks.

As we've got a good amount of snow and then some sunshine this month, sidewalks and streets are often snow-packed and glazed over with ice. It's cold outside and in some rooms in the house that are cut off to heat, it's cold inside as well. (our bathroom for one is cold- which makes the thought of showering not near as attractive).

At the end of every year, I do think it's wise to look back, take stock, and prepare for the future. So as I look back at the last year, I think to myself, Whoa! What a year! Over the last year, I’ve moved from Washington, DC, to this little country in Eastern Europe called Moldova.  I’ve made more than a handful of new friends, who have supported me since arriving in June.  I’ve learned the basics of a whole new language and quite pleasantly settled into a new town, into a new culture, and with a new Moldovan family.  And every day, I seem a bit more grateful for where I’m from, for my family and friends back home, and for all the simple things I have often taken for granted.  I can’t help but feel so blessed for all that God has given me.  

As I look ahead, I couldn't feel more assured that where I am is exactly where I am to be and that 2013 will be a year of learning, teaching, working, relaxing, traveling, and living my dreams! Challenges from day-to-day will arise. A good attitude will be necessary. And like I said before, I already know that the support of my friends/fam will come in handy. So as we look forward to 2013, I leave you with this great new "Recipe for a Happy New Year" that I found from an anonymous cook:

"Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor."

La Multi Ani!  Happy New Year!

Christmas already?

I can barely believe that Christmas is just around the corner.  Well, that is the first Christmas I will be celebrating.  It's going to be about a month of celebration.  Moldovan's celebrate primarily New Year's Eve on December 31st and Christmas from the Old Church calendar (Orthodox tradition) on January 7.  In between those two holidays, I will spend four glorious days outside of Moldova in the mountains of Romania.  This will mark my first trip outside of Moldova since arriving over six months ago!

I'm trying to figure out how exactly time has slipped away and how exactly I've spent it in the last few weeks.  As a Peace Corps volunteer here, a lot of activities happen on the weekends, related to Peace Corps initiatives and activities (i.e. GLOW/TOBE, Peer Supporting, etc.).  Thus, one week transitions into another with less of a stop and pause between them.  I really don't enjoy this process and weekly try to step back at some point and establish my priorities/to-do list for the week.  Don't get me wrong though- the flexibility of my service is something I really enjoy!

Winter has arrived here, and snow and cold came with it.  Some places in the north of the country have been snowed in for a few days.  In the southeast, we have had less than a foot of snow (8 inches maybe?).  So if you ask me how I'm doing, it will depend on the moment.  At about 4:30 pm when it's already getting dark and I'm walking home from class in the freezing cold, I might want to cry through my frozen face.  If it's an hour later eating dinner with my family, then I might be rather jolly.  If it's the third day since I've showered and I have to shower in the cold bathroom, I may have mixed emotions.  Mixed emotions.  That's what I have quite often.

Back to what I've been up to the last few weeks, here is a summary:

• Class- I'm wrapping up class with my 25 students with Business Plan Presentations.  I ask them to create a business (the more realistic, the better) and use all that we've learned to create a business plan.  Yesterday, I had an expert judge (i.e. another business volunteer) come in and offer suggestions for their presentations, which was actually helpful and fun for them.  Evaluations from the students are telling me that they enjoyed class, that it was helpful, and that they want more!  So it appears I have no excuse to be without activities in the next few months.
• Grant writing- I helped our town hall complete a grant application for cultural preservation for restoring the exterior parts of our old historic church in town.  This took up some significant time at the beginning of the month and was a good practice in Romanian (the grant had to be written in English so I had a lot of communicating to do before I could draft the proposal).It was my first try in grant writing as a PCV and a good team building exercise for me and those at the Primaria (town hall).  Now we get to sit and wait a few months to see if we will win the grant.
• Events in Chisinau- 
• I attended a Winter Charity Bazaar, where multiple embassies and organization sell crafts and goodies, with all proceeds going to charity.
• GLOW/TOBE Meeting- we're upgrading the training materials, and I'm excited about it and thankful for my background with Nebraska FFA and summer camp for this!
• I attended Vernisajul Vinului, a wine tasting event at the National Palace, where Parliament usually meets. I was reminded of receptions on the Hill, as the room was filled with young bucks that are pretty cool or think they are anyway (me included!) or older politicians/NGO leaders/ex-pats, making the rounds and shaking hands.  Also add on the actual Moldovan winemakers and wine enthusiasts, who make the whole event worthwhile. 
• Staying warm- Here's a list of theories/strategies- tea, shots of cognac, izvar (the delicious hot, sweet, peppered wine), real heat, layers and layers of clothing, eating raw pork fat (I choose not to participate), and soup
• Staying happy in gray Moldova- And another list of strategies- get in the sun when it's out (it hides behind clouds quite often), exercise in your room (i'm sore from 10 minutes of exercise- not a good sign), take your vitamins, do things that make you happy (emails, skype dates, ukele playing, reading, hanging out with other volunteers)

DYK (Did You Know):  Moldovan's actually give sleigh rides to their kids as a means of transportation.  I guess there's one reason they don't so much shovel the sidewalks.