I Can NOT wait!!!!

I had a fun week, and still I cannot wait to be home. This past week Lidia was at a conference away from the village. She asked me if I would stay here and cook for Ion, and I politely declined. The women that I work with could not understand why I wouldn't want to do this, and how he would be able to survive without a woman cooking for him all week. I do miss cooking and baking sometimes, but really, I don't want to get into doing that while she is away. I have known about her not being here for a month or so, and I had made plans to visit other volunteers. This was the week to visit, and I really did have a good time. I met with my English club students last Monday afternoon, and headed out at 5 am on Tuesday morning.

My first stop, after stopping in at the Peace Corps office for a nice hot shower, was to the city of Balti, in the north. I was there for two days, visiting with Cristine, Marilyn and David. It is a really nice city, much smaller and more accessible than Chisinau, but with everything within an easy walking distance of the downtown area. I spent both nights with Cristine. She has a great little apartment in the center of town, and she is a really great hostess. Wednesday morning there was a dusting of snow on the ground, and it was pretty cold outside most of the time that I was there. I did walk around the piata and went into some shops, and just visited and had a great time. Thursday morning I took a rutiera back to Chisinau, and in the late afternoon I headed to Orhei to stay with Craig and Macie. Good food, good beer, good conversation...fun times! Friday it was on to Teresa's for the night, and then last night back to the village for my final few days before we leave! A lot of running around, and a good time to visit with other volunteers and hear about what all they are doing in their communities.

This week has also brought about serious concerns about the swine flu around Moldova. When I left my village on Tuesday morning, I had not heard much about it locally. When I arrived back in Chisinau from Balti on Thursday afternoon there were people all over town wearing masks! The schools are closed next week, and when I arrived back in the village last night, Lidia told me that she had been home since Thursday because her seminar was cancelled at that time due to concerns about the flu. I have not heard of any quarantines, and this scare had better not interfere with my plans to come home!! I am a little worried about it, since there does seem to be a fair amount of panic, at least in the capitol, about it. The Ukraine apparently is limiting land travel in and out of the country, but I don't believe they have limited air traffic, and I have not heard of Moldova instituting anything yet...I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

This morning I went to work, and not long after arriving there, I was told that there is no gas service to the village right now. This just happened this morning, and apparently there will be no gas for about a week. It is inconvenient, but not not too bad, really. The house is heated with wood, there is still electric service so I can use the computer, and the electric tea kettle. All is good in the world! I am now down to counting the hours!! I love and miss you all. xoxo, Jami

The first of November

Today is the first day of November. Yay!! I'll be home in less than two weeks for a visit!! Today there were flurries in the air, and it is cold and damp. The days are shorter than ever. Having moved the clocks back last weekend, this week the days have seemed to be over almost before they begin. This week seemed even shorter, and the time went by quickly, as there was a training in Chisinau on Thursday and Friday, and I just returned back to the village a few hours ago. It is dark here already at 5:30.

The training brought together all of the volunteers from our group, the 22's, along with volunteers from the most recent group, the 24's. Coincidentally, there are 22 of us still here from our group, and we have not all been in the same place at the same time since last January, at an earlier training. It was nice to connect with so many great people. Even though we all split into our usual peer groups for evening activities, the daytime training time was shared time, and lots of fun. It was good to hear of all the good work that people are doing, and a pretty inspiring couple of days.

There isn't much time left before I come home, and I am so, so ready. I have been packed for weeks, and now there is just the waiting. This week it is school vacation week in Moldova, so I am planning a trip to the city of Balti, in the northern part of Moldova for a few days. It will help to pass the time as I am now down to counting the hours until I am home. Happy birthday yesterday to my son-in-law, Joe, and happy first anniversary this week to Linnea and Joe. May you have many happy years together. I miss you all! xoxo, Jami