Another day, another celebration.

Last night brought back another sudden awakening. Bad dreams, waking up delirious. Where am I? I think I have a test coming up in some subject, forgot to feed the dog...Wait, I don't have a dog. Am I at my friends house and I'm going to walk home at 4 a.m. again? Dang, I hate walking home.

Oh yeah, I'm not in Kansas anymore.

I woke up around 7 a.m. finding host mom Nina frying something up with sunflower oil. It smells good, I hope she's got the coffee going. Yes, I smell coffee! Today is the celebration of the Romanian Language in Moldova. 20th annual if I understood correctly.

I walked to the center of the town, just next to the Ştefan Cel Mare statue. Everyone has flowers. I'd better go buy some too. I walked to the florist and ask her for help. I don't know what I want, but I have money, and want something beautiful. I spend 25 lei, which is just a little over 2.5 bucks. It's a pretty bouquet although, I'm not sure what constitutes pretty. I walk with the bouquet to the center but not before I'm stopped by a russian speaking man. His town sounds aggressive, but that's normal. He says something with the word bouquet. And not knowing a lick of Russian besides "Yes, No, Beer, lighter" I smile and say a polite, "Poftim?" or "Come again, excuse me" Then continue walking.

At the ceremony the Romanian teacher at the high school gives a speech about the importance of the Romanian language, and that Russian speakers should attempt at learning the countries language. Then I hear my name. Surprised I remember the conversation we had earlier about "saying a few words" Oh lord. I thought we were talking about tomorrow's inauguration to open the school year. I hadn't prepared anything, I'm decent in conversation, but anything requiring a full-blown speech is going to take some preparation.

"We have a Peace Corps Volunteer, Ahmad...Ahmad where are you"

My heart forgets to beat for a second or two. I walk forward and throw my arm in the air. Smiling, nervously.

She continues to talk. Thank god. The speech will wait until tomorrow. Thankfully.

"Ahmad has been in Moldova for 2 months, and he speaks Romanian beautifully" Thank you for noticing I thought to myself, I know a word or two. Heh. I set back into my spot and receive the comment that I was used as an example with a chuckle and a relieved smile. Safe with my flowers and my briefcase, I hide back in the crowd.

The speech is over and I thank the Romanian instructor, I think I just found my tutor for the upcoming months. Then something happens, it starts to rain and I'm in the middle of dancing the Hora. The national dance of Moldova. I haven't really danced the hora and considering there are a few multiple forms I'm relieved yet again to find out that we are doing the simple, "in and out slightly moving right" version. The dance is over and a well dressed older man approaches me.

We talk, and I practice my speech I had written for the next day with him. Who I am, where I've been, where I lived, my family, no I'm not married, I don't know if I want to be, maybe, ok we'll see what happens in two years. He's a very polite man and begins to reach into his briefcase. He gives me a book filled with Romanian poetry. I'm filled with joy as he begins to sign the inside cover addressing it to me.

I thank the man, hand's me his card and we're on our way. After the most intense hour I've had in a long time, I walk to the predominately Russian speaking Piaţa (market) and practice my non-verbal communication. I need bed covers and a roll of toilet paper.

Better make that a couple rolls of toilet paper.

Peace.

Normal is a good thing.

Today was good, or normal, whichever way you want to look at it.  Cleaned up from last night's festivities before Costea woke up.  The look on his face when we went outside expecting a mess and finding it almost spotless was nearly histerical.  Dishes washed, masa cleared, ground swept.

After working on the long term plan for a couple hours, I talked to my sister and a few friends over the internet, then went for a jog.  Been running everyday for about a week.  Feels great, my mood has improved greatly, giving me time to think.  Thinking in a mixture of broken romanian and english is interesting.  Dreaming in romanian is also interesting.

My host parents returned from their trip to Ţiplova.  They visited my host mom's sister there, I understand she's alone there and life is a little difficult for her at times.  Makes me think about my own family and how much I miss them.  It's only been a couple months, and understanding the length of two years makes it hard at times.

I've read the rest of my american literature, a collection of books I borrowed from the Peace Corp's library.  Just in time too, I'll begin working at the highschool starting Tuesday.  A little nervous, but that is normal.  And normal is a good thing.

House party

Costea threw a bash last night. Not with tons of people but enough.  I felt like I was in a Snoop Dogg video.  Something about the party not stopping til 6 in the morning.  I've noticed something, I can not hang with the youths here.  They stay up way too late.  If I'm not in bed by 10 p.m....well let's just say I'm in bed by 10 p.m. otherwise I'm sleeping on the ground.

Today was interesting, with the start of the school year looming I wanted to get cracking on my long term plan.  It's been difficult meeting with my partners with some of the holidays and all, so I started one up by myself to get the feel for the format, and the whole...not writing/speaking/teaching in english thing.

That's still a trip.  I need a tutor badly, I learn a few words here and there but not even close to the rate at which I was learning during language school.  Those days were more tired, structured though.  Structure is good.  I am doing well in the language however, able to get certain things across.  And when people are not speaking russian, I can gather the gist of the idea.  Thank God for hand motions and non-verbal forms of communication.  Something I'll definitely teach in the coming months.

Ok I'm leaving bye.

no news is bad news.

Is this thing called the...internet? I forgot how to use this amazing creation. I also forgot a little bit of English, so if I use the same words over and over. Ma-scuzi. So much has happened to me since, oh my word when did I leave the states. JUNE! So much has happened since June 10. I would explain it all in detail but today is a holiday and I have some serious resting to do.

My name is Ahmad Abdul. I live in Moldova. As of last week, I am officially a Peace Corps Volunteer. However, it should be mentioned that this blog is solely my opinion and does not reflect the Peace Corps in any way, shape, or form. This is my story...
Sometime in June, around 60 potential volunteers departed from JFK International. The trip was long with tons of layover time, and plenty of, "look what the cat dragged in" kind of stares.

When we arrived in Chisinau, we were greeted by current volunteers. I can't explain to you in words how good it felt to have such a reception after some of the things we'd been through.

Personally, my bags were sent to Istanbul rather than Chisinau. Alone, I bought a Visa, went through passport control, lost and found, customs, and re-checked my bags for Moldova.

Thank you, lady at JFK international.

We hit the ground running with a couple days of language training in the capital, a site that would serve as our swearing in location 3 months later. We learned the "survival phrases" I need water, Hello, Good Day, Give me a beer please, I am American...I need beer.

After a couple days of this, we were split into job-specific groups. I lived in a village just outside of Chisinau named Rusestii Noi along with 6 other Future Health Education Volunteers.

We trained on language and our job skills practically every day. I made a lot of friends both American and Moldova. But when training was over, it was time to pack our bags yet again for our swearing in ceremony.

There we were officially named as Peace Corps Volunteers. We then split up as individuals and embarked to our permanent sites.

I now live in a beautiful raion center which has everything my town in the U.S. has...except maybe a Boarders bookshop. Damn, I could go for a Chuck Palahniuk novel right now.

I begin my work teaching Health Education on September 1st. I'll be teaching in Romanian with 2 different partner teachers. A little nervous considering I have never taught a class before, and my partners have never either.

I will also work at a....ok, I can't think...what is it called. Health Center! Yes! I remembered. Not sure what my work will entail, but with a Food Science degree (not a chef) I can maybe drop some knowledge on Listeria monocytogenes.

So, yeah. It's been a wild ride, and I'm 0 months in on a 24 month committment. I am going to be awesome.

Peace.