Big Things Happening in a Small Country

Why hello again. Tis I, your friend/brother/son/newphew/grandson here in Moldova. I realized a few pretty important developments and other cool happenings have occured since the last time i wrote, so I figured I would let you in on them.



This past weekend, we regretfully said goodbye to a good friend Jill, who left to head back home and start her career in social work, so I wish her all the success in the world. Needless to say, we had a nice little send off party for her, which was a very good time. Upon arriving back in site, a big week was laid out. Being Earth Day, our after school club has been preparing a presentation for a 4th grade class. And by preparing, I mean 5 weeks of poster making, poetry writing, research, and general organization all revolving around environmental protection. We chose to focus mainly on water and air pollution and the effects on human health (sounds awfully close to the Master's program). Ths kids did a great job and a few administators were on hand as well. I am working to put the photos up. For all the headaches the last few weeks, trying to keep these kids on task, and the feeling of an immenent failure, the kids did great. We are planning on going to the school for children with disabilities next week to do the same presentation. Also, tomorrow we are planning to clean up the school grounds of trash, which there usually is alot everywhere.



Today also proved to be very eventful as well. Going into the day, Ifigured it would be just like any other Thursday, filled with lessons and my language tutoring. Well, a few changes were mixed in, which made it all the more fun. After the foutrh and final lesson (a thrilling one I must say about Hepatitis) my kids invited me to go to their next class of Physical Education. Usually, this time is spent with me taking a walk or reading alone trying to cool off from the kids driving me nuts. So, i headed out to the basketball court and scored almost 10291298 points. It wasnt even fair, but one kid was taller than me, so I had to play well. After the massacare, the kids invited me to their Biology Contest. This through me off a bit, not knowing exactly what they meant. Turns out, it was a poetry/essay contest in which the participants brought in their pets. Looking back on earlier in the day, I saw a girl with a dog in school and wondered what was going on and why no one didnt say anything to her. Turns out she won the contest. Kids brought in dogs, chickens, and maily cock-a-too type birds. But one kid had quite a story of his dove. He said his family collects them from different countries all around the world and they have 85 and this particular one is from Indonesia...?!?!?! I heard him say all this and I turned to the Bio teacher and asked for verification, making sure I didnt get the translation wrong, but its true. It was very cool to see some of my students engaged in something other than our usual setting.



In other news, I found out today that I landed a 2 year Graduate Assistantship at the University of Maryland. In short, I will work in the development and implementation of the new Global Health undergraduate program, while taking my Grad classes. Also, this means that I will only have to pay for 2 credits each semester at an in-state rate, while getting paid above and beyond it all. Seems, that I will end up making money, instead of more student loans, while getting a Masters. Things seem to be falling into place, and I am getting more and more excited about the next step in my life. Makes me want to run home now, but I still want to get as much out of Moldova as I can in the last month or so. Hope this finds you all well and healthy. Miss and love you all terribly.



" Human nature is not of itself vicious" - Thomas Paine