To Chişinău

Yesterday I took a day off and went into the capitol. It was nice to get out of the village, and it had been almost a month since I have been in the "big city." It was a good day. Sort of low key, since there weren't a lot of people around, but it felt good to be out of the village for at least a little while. I spent the night last night with Teresa and Jenna, eating enchiladas and watching this weeks Grey's Anatomy. Fun!

The week has been like most others, a little slow in the day to day routine, but busy enough in the everyday routine that I have become accustomed to. On Tuesday we had some visitors to the Center from Smaland, in the south part of Sweden. They were visiting to look at projects to fund in Moldova. My brain was working over-time to think in Romanian, try to remember my Swedish, all while translating in my head what was being said into English. Whew! Other than that, and the big countdown, there isn't much to write about.

It is a big birthday week, and best wishes go out to my nephews, Daniel and James, my friends Adrienne and Helen. Have great celebrations! It was nice to talk to my parents and my grandmother this week. I'll be home in less that three weeks! I can't wait to see you all! xoxo, Jami

Bored and cold

That's what I am: bored and cold. Its been a rainy, damp week here in the village. I am anxious to be home. There is nothing new, except that I am cold....since early last week we have finally gotten into some colder weather. That is to be expected for mid-October, but the rain that has accompanied the colder weather has made it damp and really sort of miserable.

I have finished some projects in good time for coming home, and I am not interested in starting on new projects so close to leaving for almost a month. I'm glad that I have tied up these loose ends, and I am ready to head out of here. I am thinking that coming back this time will probably be a lot harder for me than when I was home in the Spring. At least there will only be a few (cold) months left to serve. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....

It was great to speak with my parents this week, and I just talked to my nephew, Stephen, who will be flying home from Chicago on Monday. I can't wait to see him, and everyone! Safe travels this week to Linnea and Joe, Kim and Mike and all others out there on the roads...see you all in less than a month!! I miss you all. xoxo, Jami

Counting down the days...

Here it is, another week-end, and another week closer to home! This past week has been typically quiet, with not much going on. Yesterday was Winefest in Chisinau, but I am saving money for the trip home, and decided that this trip was not in my budget. I think this is an event that most of the volunteers try to attend, so I was a little sad not to see everyone and spend some time together. I know it won't matter in the long run, and the weather was not great, so it is just as well that I stayed in the village for another week-end.

I forgot to write about it last Sunday, but last Saturday another one of the volunteers from this part of the country hosted a raion (county) party. There were four of us women: Alex, the hostess, me, Jen, and Janie. Jon joined us for dinner, but only the females spent the night at Alex's. Italian food was on the menu: gnocchi, garlic bread, spaghetti. It was a nice time, and the highlight of the week. Other than that little jaunt last week-end, not much else to write about.

I was so glad to talk with my grandmother on Thursday for her birthday, and birthday wishes go out this week to Betsy. Thirty-two days until I land in Boston!!! I miss you all. xoxo, Jami

October

This past week has been a busy one. Last weekend my friend Na'Ima came for a visit. We had a great time, and it was really nice to show her around. She was here until first thing Monday morning, leaving on the 5 am bus to Chisinau. On Sunday evening we were sitting in my room, and there seemed to be an awful lot of activity at the house. We were mostly in my room, so I was only peripherally aware of this, but there seemed to be something different going on. Early Monday morning, just after Na'Ima left, Lidia was up and told me that Sunday evening her 21 year old nephew, the brother to the bride of a few weeks ago, had died the night before in an accident in the village. His head hit a tree. That was all she was able to say about it, and I didn't feel comfortable asking for more information. It was too personal, and she was too sad. She spent all evening on Monday helping her sister-in-law prepare the body, and prepare food for the services which took place on Tuesday. It was very sad around here all week.

Tuesday I had already planned to go into Chisinau for a birthday celebration for Teresa's 30th birthday. There were five of us who gathered for this celebration, me, Teresa, Jen, Jenna, and Veronica. We had a very nice lunch, and it was great to see everyone. I had just purchased the tickets for the flight from Chisinau to Frankfurt, and I was feeling so good that this was finally taken care of. The economy is stronger, the dollar and Euro are stronger, and the exchange rate was not as favorable for me as it was last Spring. The price in Euros was the same, but the heightened exchange rate made it a pricier purchase than I was hoping to have to deal with. Still, they are purchased and we will be on our way in less than forty days!!! When I got back to the village on Tuesday afternoon the funeral services and gathering was going on at the home of Lidia's sister and brother-in-law. I had some quiet time at the house, called my parents and told them that the tickets are all purchased, sent some emails, enjoyed the time alone.

The rest of the week was back to the routine: work, walk, read...not much else new this week. It was still a sad week for the family here, and a happy week for me, knowing that everything is now in place for my visit home. Happy birthday this Thursday to my Grandmother, whom I love and miss soooo much. Best of luck to my friend Kim as she gathers support for her petition to keep her community Post Office open on Bailey Island. I miss you all. xoxo, Jami