Ireland December 2011

December 2011

One week left! One week left! I never imagined that teachers celebrate the end of a semester just as much (if not more) than students do. I have one week left in my first semester of teaching health in Moldova, and I could not be more excited for the two week long vacation that awaits. December 8, 2011 marked my 6th month in Moldova, half a year! People ask if it has gone by quickly, and my answer is always difficult to explain. The days are slow... really slow, but then you blink and a week, a month, six months have gone by. I can't believe that I've been living in Moldova for half a year... my Romanian should really be better :) Eh, I just taught a whole semester of health. I'm awesome haha. I even managed to teach a few times this semester by myself. I could handle my adorable 5th graders alone,  but the 8th graders were another story. They were... difficult. It's sad when 5th graders can be more mature and well behaved than 8th graders, but hey 14 is an interesting age.

This semester I also began a project about HIV/AIDS prevention and healthy relationships among adolescents. The project will include discussions with students in grades 9 and 10, a fundraiser talent show, and a mural project. I am working with a new partner for this project. She is a nurse at the medical center in my village, and she is so wonderful/fun to work with! I look forward to working with her, and getting to know her. Our idea for the mural is something like a mosaic made from colored tiles/stones placed in cement in the ground by the school. Something like the following picture is what we're thinking. However we'd like to use red, yellow, and blue (Moldovan colors), include a map of Moldova, and have a different quote.

The following pictures are of my host mom and I chopping down a tree for the fire place, and my host mom's brother's birthday party. Oh, and I also cut off 10 inches of my hair last week :)

Tipala Hram (Village Day) November 21, 2011

Concert during the Hram of my village, Tipala. 

I really enjoyed this tradition. All of the couples celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year come to have their vows renewed in front of the whole village.

I thought she was adorable, and she reminded me of Candy Land.

My host mom on the right. 

The couples renewing their vows arrived by caruta (horse drawn wagon).

Toamna de Aur- Golden Autumn

Toamna de Aur (Golden Autumn) was celebrated on Wednesday, November 16th at my school. Each class put together a small art exhibit.

My host mom is the homeroom teacher of this class (8B).
 I especially like the tomato on the bottom left :)

Some of my wonderful 5th grade girls.

Life in Tipala, Moldova

Teacher's Day at the school. Each teacher selects an older student
to teach for them for the day. Students sing, and bring flowers
to the teachers. At the end of the day all of the teachers enjoy
lunch together.

Teacher's Day is also celebrated in the raion center (similar to a
state capital) with a concert and presentation of certificates for
certain teachers.

My second wedding in Moldova. Very exciting, and lasting until
about 4am (when I asked my host mom if we could go home to sleep).

The same wedding. 

The Hram of Chisinau (the capital city of Moldova).
It was a large celebration with great food, and a concert
that lasted all day and into the night. 

My host sister and I at the Chisinau Hram!