As we entered the festival, we were greeted by children dressed in traditional clothing and during the event there were dance performances by adults and children. Activities for attendees included playing games, competing in wrestling and viewing high-wire acrobats. There was amazing food and lots of hand crafted items for sale.
On Sunday May 5th, I went to the Gagauzian Hederlez celebration in Ceadir-Lunga, Moldova. It is the celebration of the beginning of summer and when livestock starts to go out to pastures again. One of the main activities at this celebration is horse racing. #Hederlez2019 First up are the beautiful mares and foals. Next up, … More Gagauzian Hederlez Celebration- The Horses
Today marks 90 days left for me in Moldova, sometimes I feel like I just got here and other days like I have been here for a longer period of time. It is amazing how time can seem slow and fast. Through the next 90 days, I’ll be taking some time to share more about … More Last 90 Days
When I go from my village to Chisinau, I pass through 3 Raions: Stefan Voda (the raion I live in), Casueni and Aneni Noi. The signs as you enter and exit are beautiful along with a statue of the sun, grapes and storks, the bright yellow church and the rolling hills. Beautiful Moldova! … More Moldova- Raion Signs
In early October, 2018, I helped to pick an acre of corn plus a few roles of alfalfa on a Saturday morning. My host family had a tractor cut down the stalks so we didn’t have to walk through the stalks and weeds; a lot easier than it was last year. It always feels good … More Picking Corn 2018
On September 2, 2018. I ran a 10 K with my friend and fellow PCV, Stacey. It was at the beautiful Pucari Vineyard and featured a taste of one of their wines every few kilometers. It was so much fun running through the fields of grapes. Then at the end of September, I ran the … More Pucari Wine Run and Chisinau Half Marathon
I met some new animal friends and enjoyed the start of the colors of fall, the pinks, oranges, and golds. I tried a new type of date and discussed dates and figs with Tatiana. She is the curator of the local museum and the mother of my PC work partner, Liliana.
On Saturday August 25, I visited one of the most amazing places in Moldova, Eco-Village Moldova. It is a sustainable living and community space. The buildings were created using local materials and the inside walls were painted with mineral paint. Straw was tested against reeds for construction; reeds won as they don’t compress as quickly. … More Visit to Eco-Village
August 16th marked one year in my village. I have learned so much and have come to love living in a village. I appreciate even more the beauty of nature, the cycle of life and death, living in the moment and enjoying everyday meals with friends and family. I very grateful for my M32 cohorts … More One Year of Service
At the beginning of August, people in the village were harvesting more items for the winter. For my host family, it was beans. The bean plants grow between the rows of corn. I helped collect the plants in one of their fields below their house. The plants are left to dry out and then are beat … More Harvesting Beans
