After our summer camp I invited a fellow PC volunteer who had a dance studio in Harlem to come and teach our health club how to do a flash mob dance. Many children here have never seen an African American. New experience for them to learn a flash mob dance and have an African American teacher. We had fun learning and have practiced the routine 2X week all summer to do a dance for some festivals we have here. But only a few girls showed up after the 1st practice and they are not well synchronized so we did not perform yet
Life in summer for the 90 degree days is spent at the Nistu with friends. You can see how low the river border is, the water is dirty but cooling....
The bounty of summer ripening on the vine.
A short trip to Croatia in the last hot (90-100) week of summer when everyone else in W Europe was there too. Beautiful but not as relaxing as we hoped. Katie and friends from Montana came and we enjoy time together in this beautiful part of the world on the Adriatic Sea
After vacation we came back to Peace Corps our mid service conferance held at a really nice hotel. Yes, We have made it 1/2 way! Here is a picture of our still strong gang of health educator. We have only lost one person who went home to get married.
Speaking of Marriage! We were invited to a traditional Moldovan Wedding. In Uganda I went to many weddings, this was my first here. We did not go to a church but rather a reception that you pay $50 each to attend. That is your gift unless you are related.... It starts when a bus brings the guests and the bar is open at 7 with presentation of bride and groom & first toast of welcome. Then you eat fruit, listen to music and mingle.
At 8:30PM you go eat and this is just the first course. There are 3 more to come with different traditions enacted between courses. And fresh wine, cognac, and rique (sweet stronger wine) when a bottle is empty. The wedding goes on until the bus that brought visitors leaves at 4AM. That is why so much food and alcohol, music, dancing, gift opening, traditional dancing, more food...
10PM These are the family members I know best. It is the grooms brother. His wife Liliana is my Romanian teacher and they are wonderful and inviting people. We appreciate having them to talk to and are invited to family events at Constantine's home when they are there. Like picking strawberries, preserving tomatoes, picking grapes, celebrating birthdays or just having a conversation. It has made our time here much nicer and more interesting in learning about the Moldovan way of life.
1 AM This was part of the beautiful traditions that was shared at the wedding. A colac (round loaf of decorated bread) was presented to the bride. Together the bride and groom eat from the colac first, then they take the bread and share it with all the guests each of us taking a piece. The symbolism to me was beautiful of sharing bread, sharing joy and sharing life with the new couple.
I had to take this picture. It is now 2AM the bride is going around greeting guests again and this woman in the back ground is scrubbing the floor all around the tables as people are out dancing. It felt like she had to work to do, and I am doing it so I can go home....
3AM This is the couples NASH sort of GodParents. They offer a toast later in the evening/morning. They are an older couple that are invited to watch over, interfere, and help the new couple. They opened the gifts and dressed the couple in all the gifts so tomorrow as they start life. Where the husband goes to work and the woman works at home...
Finally 3:30AM cake is cut and served. Thin layers of cake with sweet cream between layers and all over the top....
After the cake the ladies take plastic bags out of there purses and load up what ever is left on the table to take home. I remember my sister telling of people coming to the *all you can eat barbecue* where she worked and hauling food off in bags so I thought this was kinda cheap. I took a small bag to be polite. The next day I remembered that everyone pays for the reception so you have really paid for the food and you should clear the plates left. If I go to another wedding, which I doubt... I will take my baggies too...
Now the bus comes and everyone leaves happy, stuffed, a bit drunk, and joyfully tired.
The day before school starts and of the 10 teachers we have to teach class 1-9 in our school, here are 5 of the 6 that will teach now. 4 teachers are working in W Europe until Oct-Nov.
We are celebrating my partner teachers birthday with cake and champagne at 10AM...
Moldovan tradition
Below is 1st Bell Ceremony, speech's , each class is introduced, and the new 1st graders do a program. Then this springs outgoing class of 9th graders carry 2 of the kids around and they ring the bell that says class is now in session. Beautiful Tradition!
