MoldovAnn

I can’t believe I forgot to mention the other people I saw while in Moldova! That stressful end really overshadowed much of the rest of the trip.

In Tvarditsa, I had a very nice visit with Natasha and Galya, two girls from my English Club. Both are doing well, growing into lovely young women. Petya, my old walking buddy, is in Russia now, starting University outside of Moscow. His sister Maia is also in Moscow this summer with their mother, who works there. I didn’t manage to see their younger brother Nikolai, but we talked briefly on the phone. The crazy lady who always wanders up and down the street remembered me, much to my surprise. I saw from a distance the weird guy who followed me around the first few months in Tvarditsa, but managed to avoid having to actual talk to him. I saw the librarians, and of course the gang at the Primaria.

Wednesday morning I went to Ialoveni to visit my host family from PST – Tamara Ivanovna and Fyodor Ivanovich (Alyona’s parents). Their granddaughter Ksenia was there as well. She has simply blossomed in the past year! When I left Moldova, she was in that awkward pre-teen stage, all arms and legs and shyness. Now she is a beautiful young woman, clearly becoming comfortable in her body and her person. I had a wonderful visit with Tamara Ivanovna, and really wished I could have stayed longer with her. She complimented my improved Russian, which made me feel great! As a retired Russian teacher, she has high expectations, and I value her opinion very much.

Tamara Ivanovna was always very proud that I had been selected as one of the PCVs to give a speech at our Swearing-In Ceremony. I talked about one of my favorite books, Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. I recently found it in Russian translation here in Kyiv, and bought about 5 copies right away! I took a copy to Anya in Tvarditsa, and gave one to Tamara Ivanovna, as well. I hope they enjoy it as much as I do.