October

The month of October saw the end of summer weather. On my runs into the fields I got a good look at the changing landscape and another chance to witness how hard Moldovans work... the sunflowers all drooped down as families were out gathering their corn; then the combines and tractors cleared the fields. Everyone, from little kids to the elderly, could be seen on the highways picking walnuts and apples. Truck beds filled with agricultural students and babyshkas were seen driving them in and out of the fields to collect grapes from the larger vineyards.

Much of my free time at the mayor's office was spent listening to colleagues argue over the different nut and grape sorts, and their frustration with lack of rain for the harvest.

Each family also collected their own grapes from their gardens and lots of land in the field to make their own "domashnee vino"...homemade wine! I helped my colleague Nadia and her husband and their friends gather grapes. It was a two-day affair that started with the ladies gathering the grapes and with with Vanya smashing the grapes. The second day was a slow process, with me slowly filtering the pressed grape juice into a bucket for Vanya to then pour into the wine barrels where it ferments for 40 days.

From the summer and into September until now food prices have been especially low. Locals have been busy canning their cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, and even watermelon to eat in the winter when food prices skyrocket. At the moment apples are less than 50 cents for 2 pounds and tomato prices are now increasing from their low of 25 cents for 2 pounds.

In this slide show are pictures from the kindergarten kitchen where we just installed a filter for the cooks to use in preparation of meals and for drinking for the 75 youngsters there.

On Monday I head to America to be at my brother's wedding. I'm so looking forward to seeing friends and my family--- it's been 17 months since I last saw everyone. I'm also looking forward to Halloween, country music radio and two-stepping, mexican food, burgers and steaks, getting some good hikes and runs in, and blending in with all the other Americans in the city! I'm afraid I'll forget my Russian language, and am nervous about some work falling behind while I am gone, but I think that is no different from when most people take a vacation--except for the Russian. For those of you in the Denver area, e-mail me to meet up over some coffee!