My Moldovan Summer as a PCV

July flew by faster than expected.  We began with GLOW/TOBE's Camp Empower with the help of the organization, Forul.  I had therapy daily at the hospital the following week, followed by the last few weeks of self-directed physical therapy.  We moved into a temporary apartment and just this week found an apartment for the long-term (with heating and hot water), which we will move into in September.  The last two weeks, I have made visits with ACSA (my rural development office placement) in the villages and spent one weekend in Causeni and one in Odessa.  I write this from a hot rutiera, as we wait to leave to go to Chisinau.  This weekend is a language training with Peace Corps, postponed from the winter. 

In the last couple of weeks, I have also started preparing for the next few months and realize that they will be busy.  A few of my projects include my rural development agency work, GLOW/TOBE's Innovation Camp (don't forget to donate here if able!!!), a GLOW girls' leadership academy of sorts in Causeni, an international youth exchange in our town, and a global entrepreneurial contest for youth using the lean canvas.    That's a lot of work for a lot of good causes!  I'm also looking forward to my parents' visit in two weeks and the trip we have planned following their stay in Moldova for a week.  Also, with much relief, my knee is healing!  I can at least move around pretty easily and look forward to running... or rather jogging slowly in the near future. 

And now, the month of July in pictures:

The Causeni team at Camp Empower in Chisinau.  The second day was devoted to planning an event in each team's community.  They planned an already implemented a "flash mob" as Moldovans say, asking local community members to stand up against domestic violence.  I'm proud of this team!

The whole group at Camp Empower consisted of 6 teams with 4 members.  Each team leader prepared a workshop in advance with a Peace Corps Volunteer, utilizing the training guide that GLOW/TOBE offers.  It walks them through how to assess the needs of the community/population to be reached; planning objectives and activities; organizing logistics and local fundraising strategies; practicing; and implementing the event.

This pretty much characterizes the uphill battle of especially my first two weeks of July.

This characterizes how awesome all of you are in America who decided to write me or send me a package for my birthday.  Little did you know that it was such a big pick-me-up!  I received so many letters.  My mom put an advertisement in the local newspaper, telling the readers to send me a message/note for my birthday.  Impressive!  I also had a nice, pretty spontaneous birthday party at my favorite wine bar.  

Kerry, on the right who lived just down the rode from Lindsey and me, just finished her two years of service. We miss her already!  

The beach in Odessa with my friend, Laura, and her salsa-dancing friends.  Even though from land-locked Nebraska, I absolutely love the sun, sea breeze, and water.  I could have spent a few more days here.

Nelu, a member of our Business Club, was on camera for a 30-second publicity video for the Novateca Library (funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) that we have in our town.  The last month in our biz club, we have focused on the lean canvas model.

This is a small Ukrainian-settled village in our raion called Grigorievca.  

My colleagues and I at ACSA (or Service Agroinform) talked with farmers this week about the financial assistance recently made available for those who were affected by the 2012 drought.  After the presentation made in the mayor's hall, this elderly woman did not seem so encouraged that the assistance would reach her.  Although she spoke only in Russian, I believe her corn plot was too small or split into too many small parcels, a common problem it seemed. A person can apply if they had a minimum amount of land (1 hectare?) planted with corn in the same area and owned by that same person (details something to that effect anyway).

The project's name is "Support of Urgency for Moldovan Agriculture," even though the drought was last year.  Better late than never, I guess.  Thank you, government of Moldova and World Bank.

This is the Moldova I love.  The old Nistru River is what you see down in the valley.

On the road down toward the Nistru.

The village of Copanca

Orthodox church in Copanca.  Almost every village has a church of a similar design.

Small piata (market) in Copanca.  Cheese tasting.