Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

I’ve recently moved into my own Soviet-bloc style apartment. While you envision the stereotypical images of uniform, gray-colored buildings, with laundry hanging on the balcony, continue to do so. It really is how they look on the outside. But inside, it’s quite the opposite. The lady whom I am renting from worked in Cyprus and little by little she has remodeled her apartment. I feel very fortunate to have gas heating, a nice stove, refrigerator, freezer, and running warm water on occasion.

When I put the word out that I was looking for my own place it was quite stressful. My colleague, Nadia, made a list of people who had empty apartments and got to calling. Every single person said their apartment was basically unlivable, and in need of dire repairs. There are four apartment buildings in my village and I could see on my way home in the evenings that there were many empty places. I thought moving out wouldn’t be so difficult. But, it turns out many people in my village leave to work in Russia or Turkey and return in the summer to their apartments. Or, they leave them empty and out of shape hoping to sell them. I got extremely lucky with this opening, and of which also may have been my only hope. The woman bought a house and was looking to move into it after the winter. She told me she also wants to sell the apartment, but was content with letting me rent it for the next year and a half. It is a 2-bedroom apartment, but one of the rooms is locked off for her own storage.

I wasn’t having any serious issues with my original host family. I simply needed my own space. For those of you who know me personally, you know how I feel there isn’t a price for independence and personal space. I loved the interaction with my host sisters and the delicious, healthy food prepared for me by my host mom. However, ever since Christmas I realized I was beginning to isolate myself… I needed a break from Russian and people after each day of work. I needed to be my own Haziaka (master).

I was concerned with how my host family would take the news, but they were quite supportive, and agreed that it was better for me, and also for them. My host dad’s brother moved in with us over Christmas and they will soon have family visiting home from America in the coming month. I know they could also use the extra space and room for guests. Anyways, I digress...

I’ve been moved into my apartment for a week now. I can already tell it is going to be a lot more work than I remember from living alone in the States. Last week I had to hitchhike to and from the county center to buy groceries. I could only buy about a backpack full of things, so I imagine this will be a weekly affair. Fortunately there is a small produce market in my village center, so I can buy fruits and vegetables daily, as needed, though it’s a bit pricier. I can buy fresh eggs from my tutor’s neighbor, who sells any extra eggs from her chickens she doesn’t need. Also thanks to everyone who has sent me Ziploc bags in my care packages… I’m making use of proportioning out meat and meals to freeze.

The most important thing now is that I feel so much like myself again. I still have a long list of things I want to start and accomplish here, and I can see that I am back to my old self—-prioritizing my time, work, planning ahead, and efficiently getting things done. On top of that, it makes me happy to be able to be in the kitchen dancing solo as I prepare my morning coffee. Ah, personal freedom!

What’s interesting about the living situations in Moldova, is that they aren’t like anything I expected as I prepared mentally to join the Peace Corps. I think most volunteers here would agree with me. Although conditions vary from volunteer to volunteer and family to family, I have running water, electricity, Internet, heat, indoor plumbing (I must note here though, that many volunteers do have to use the restroom outside, as well as at many public offices and buildings). Sure, it’s not always as convenient as things in America; I have to boil and filter the water to drink, and only have running water in the morning and evening, hand wash clothes, and bucket bathe instead of showering, but I’m sure my living situation is much more convenient and advanced than other volunteers and people in other poverty-stricken and developing areas around the world. This creates an odd complex, of which Moldovans have access to the same amenities the western world has, but yet they don’t have the same opportunities. Additionally, it all comes at a price, and for those that are without work, living on a poor pension, or waiting to receive money from abroad, it’s difficult to see and have the communication with others in more prosperous environments. Your next door neighbor may have everything convenient and yet you have to go to the well to get your water.

However, from my own volunteer perspective, not having to worry drastically about day-to-day survival allows us to really focus on the work that needs to be done here, the development of individuals and communities and the advancement of technology, infrastructure, and processes in the schools, businesses, organizations, and hospitals.

Lastly, let me give you an update on my PA group: They had decided the problem they ultimately wish to tackle is smoking and alcohol use in the community among their peers. They renamed their group “Step Forward” and on Friday they prepared a presentation to give to the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grade classes (we don’t have a 10th and 12th grade in my village… not enough students). When I walked into the theater to meet them before the presentation I was so shocked to see how many students they were presenting to, at least 100. The students introduced themselves to their peers, who they were as a group, what they were about, an introduction to the day’s topic of alcohol use, showed a documentary, and then had a conclusion. I am so proud of them. One of the students prepared a poem he memorized for his speech. There are definitely some presentation tips I will have to pass along to them, but overall they continue to impress me with their initiative and effort. Along with a teacher we guide them in the right direction and facilitate our weekly meetings, but ultimately they did all of this work on their own.

Hugs to everyone back at home! Until next post, my door is always open and I would love visitors!