Grand Adventures... Moldovan-Style (Only).

I'm supposed to be on a grand adventure around Europe right now with my sister and her husband, but instead I'm in Moldova nursing an injured knee.  (The day before Sarah and Joe came, I decided to be the good host sister and play soccer with my little host brother… fail.) I've been a bottle of emotions the last week or three, but I think I'm moving on. Just like I would always prefer glorious, colorful sunsets and fierce, angry thunderstorms over a series of dull, gray days, whether I like it or not sometimes I let my emotions run wild even if it's ugly.  In the end though, it's my choice to have more up's than down's and live with purpose and positivity rather than apathy and/or negativity.  So I'm doing my best to take the up's, manage the down's, and live faithfully and positively.  Happiness is a choice, I'm reminded. I imagine myself pulling myself up by my bootstraps. (My sister did bring me my cowboy boots, and that does make me happy!)

I'd like to share with you a few photos from my adventures with Sarah and Joe, while I hobbled around.  But first, I'd like you to help me accomplish a project.  I can't do it without you.  

A great need exists for students to learn about the nuts and bolts of business, as no business/economic classes or extra-curricular activities focused on business are offered (other than from Junior Achievement in a few schools) in this post-Soviet country.  The business environment as well is not so welcoming in Moldova, and the small prospects of opening a successful business here are often disheartening to young, bright Moldovans.  They will easily look to move abroad upon graduation.  To help fight these difficulties, we are planning an Innovation Camp which gives students an opportunity to develop creative business ideas and address the problem of a lack of rural economic activity in Moldova. 

Along with staff of Junior Achievement Moldova and a few other PCVs, I am helping organize the event, which has a few similarities to Start-Up Weekend.  We hope to inspire youth to think creatively and strategically about forming businesses in Moldova and also allow them to feed off of one another their ideas and passion for entrepreneurship.  What will be different is that the camp will be at the most basic level of small business, naturally more educational than business-launching, and for high school students in Moldova.  We've gained financial and logistical support from Moldovans as well as in-kind contributions, but we need more help from you!  If you are able and willing, I would be most grateful if you helped support financially the Innovation Camp we will host in September.  Sixty Moldovan teenagers will benefit!  That's a lot.  The donations are tax-deductable, and it's easy and safe to do online.  Also, feel free to spread the word and pass the link around to friends, family, colleagues, Bill Gates, and Howard Buffett. Every little bit helps!

Now, after you have graciously foregone 2-3 large latte's or beers and a burger and fries to donate 20 bucks or so, allow me the pleasure of sharing a few photos from Sarah & Joe's visit:

My co-worker, Mr. John, invited us to his house in Zaim.  He has a beautiful front yard, where you can find an abundance of fresh flowers, fruits, healing herbs, and wonderful scents.

Mr. John's greenhouse.  Joe and Sarah, professors of ag & resource economics, were happy to see this!

A real burger and fries in Moldova?  Yes, please!  First burger in a loonngg time (a YEAR I think).

Champagne (or spumante) factory at Cricova Winery

Sarah & Joe, my beloved guests in a tasting room at Cricova.

My PST host family meets my sister and her husband!  It was so nice for them to meet Stela, Carolina, and Stefan.  Joe and Stefan got a few good hours of playing in as well.  I feel like family truly whenever I go back.

My host family in Causeni and the three of us at a nice masa!  My family here is so kind and knows me pretty well.  It was something special and unique to have my Moldovan family and my real family meet.

We also had a lovely day in the raion of Stefan Voda.  We visited the town of Stefan Voda, where my friend Philip lives and then tasted some top-notch wine while overlooking the countless rows of lush green grape vines of Et Cetera Winery, my absolute favorite.  Did I mention my dream job of a vitner before?

All in all, I feel so blessed that my best friend (my sister!) and my brother (in-law) came to Moldova.   As I hobbled around, it wasn't at all the effortless, smooth few days I had been imagining for the last few months (yes, months).  But it was reality.  I'm sure that will prove to be an experience which will bring us closer in the next year and which will leave us smiling in the coming years.