Greetings family and extended team. We're all still here in Moldova struggling to finish the last 2 weeks of PreServiceTraining (PST), take our language exams, and actually move to our sites and start working.
First, thanks to Aunt Mary for the hot chocolate & Twizzlers and to Bethie & JennyFae for their letters. And to anyone who has emailed - I SO APPRECIATE IT.
On to the updates - Kristi is doing much better (note:KristiLee, the aforementioned facial abscess sufferer has had her gallbladder out here in Moldova. Hospital and doctor v.American. Now she's living in the PC Sick House for another couple of days) and getting language tutoring. She's bored - even though she has MTV and a hot shower. Some people. ;).
My health - I've dropped 25 pounds by walking everywhere and not eating a lot of the truly funky things put on the table (i.e. raw pork skin, giblet paste, anything related to a hot dog), have had a cold/allergy thing for 6 weeks and finally talked to Lica, our doctor, last night. She thinks: a)I'm allergic to mouse poop (Ick. Ick. Ick. I've been finding what looks like poppy seeds i.e. poop on my desk, on my Kleenex, all over really. She told me I needed to poison Herman and his new grey friend - and when I mentioned that action might result in the cat eating a poisoned mouse - she told me she really didn't care about the stupid cat.) b)I may have an irritated gallbladder (thanks Kristi for getting gallbladders on Lica's radar - ALL of us PCVs in Moldova are now going to be accused of having funky gallbladders) and c)my personal favorite, in 8 short weeks, I think I've contracted my first parasite!!!
Literally, Lica thinks I have a bug up my a$s. Lica & doctors in DC are, um, analyzing now.
So I got nasal spray, allergy pills (ClaratinD), antibiotics (sweet!), vitamin C, and strict orders to annhialate (or relocate as I suggested) Herman and his pal.
Language - Saying I hate Romanian would be a little harsh but in the ballpark. We've cleared the easy constructions and vocabulary and are into all the irregular and truly funky pronoun stuff that even confuses native speakers. Grrr. I have another language assessment today and the big one on Nov. 17. I will be fine.
Family - Still passive aggressive. And at this point I think there is such a thing as too much fried potatoes. We haven't had water in the house for 4 weeks now. And the reserves in the garden died this week -- meaning that not only could I not bathe - the indoor toilet no longer works (have I mentioned how much I love my friends and their WetWipes?). So I've been hitting the "vecheu afara" (outhouse - building on a raised concrete platform w/ a hole). Benefits: a)excellent for quads b)more sanitary than the indoor bathroom b/c you don't have to touch anything and c)the dog keeps me company - sticking her paws under the door as if to reassure me.
Other - I've been tutoring 2 kids in English - Cristina and Valentine. Actually they speak really well and I'm just going over the alternative meanings of words like "stick" and "split" as well as the proper use of the term, "dork". We've also gone for several nice walks around the village and to the monestery. Did I mention that my village, although not my cup of Earl Grey, is really picturesque? Also, I've made friends w/a college student named Hope (although her family calls her Nadia). She popped over to my house one night w/an American college scholarship she had just found - and it was due the next day. Never to turn down an opportunity to write an essay - we pounded out 3 essays, a personal statement, and my recommendation in 5 hours. I don't think she got her transcripts submitted in time - but she has 3 rockin' essays to use for the next one. Hope is also my buddy/bodyguard at the local disco - I'm popular w/the drunk&over 30 crowd. Ick. Ick. Ick. Also - I see Pacii every morning and have formed a good working relationship w/Pacii's host mom.
So at this point, I've got 2 weeks of training left before Swearing In, then off to Cimislia, then back again to Chisinau on 11/27 for the All Volunteer Conference/Thanksgiving Fiesta. I hear we're getting Butterball turkeys and have quite a shindig planned (I'm still injured - ankle - so I'll be coaching the Bring-It-On-Esque PCMoldova cheerleading squad). I'm relieved that they realize that will be a tough time for us - and are proactive about it. I'm still thinking Christmas will be weird. But let me worry about that AFTER I've played MouseHunter "Aye, he's a big one!"(I'm so jonesing for AnimalPlanet).
In total - I'm good. My friends are good (Kristi will be home Monday, Will has a lingering thing w/antibiotics as does Becky, heck - we all have something or other going on). My village and language are good.
And all my pants are loose.
Later - S