It is already over halfway through November, almost Thanksgiving time and for the last two weeks it has been in the 50s at least. I have a hard time believing it is November and I feel like my seasonal clock is all messed up, I should be walking through snow and wearing snowboots and various other winter gear. I could probably still use that gear because they have delayed turning on the heat because of the warm weather and it is getting cold again, but still it isn't quiet the same without snow. I may be singing, and meaning it, "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas". Not that it wouldn't be the first time, but it makes me a little said every time I have to mean it.
Classes this past month and a half have been smooth for the most part because we had a whole group of student teachers from the university doing their practicum at my school. This meant that the bulk of my classes were being taught by someone else and I didn't have to do visual aids for five different classes. You would think that meant I did less work but instead I worked out a alarming large amount of visual aids for the remaining two classes I was actively teaching. I hope they appreciate how much construction paper I used for them. They at least always said wow whenever I brought out whatever I had made for them the day before. Wows can be very satisfying when you have worked for 2 hours to get a 10 minute activity ready.
I also have to say that I love the younger students in my school. Every time they see me they say "Miss Carolyn! Miss Carolyn!" and I get a lot of hugs, often group hugs. The best part is... they are all shorter than me. :) (To those of you who stumbled across this blog hoping maybe for information on volunteering in Moldova, I am fairly short so being taller than someone is an inside joke with all my friends)
I am still ready for a break. I know that I have said this in almost every blog post to this date but it is the truth. Here in Moldova there is a fall break, just like spring break at the beginning of November, however that break is spent by first year volunteers in training sessions. The training sessions did have a lot to offer and helped me get some new ideas for classes but it would have been a week long break that I didn't get. Sigh. However second year volunteers do get that break off, unless they help with the training sessions, but still the option is there. Also on the plus side being together with our whole group meant spending some time in English and eating at some really great restaurants and getting to know some of the second or third year (extendees) volunteers better. It was a great time for idea swapping and talking out some of the frustrations of the job. I just wish I could have done the whole thing in my pajama pants, that's all. :)
So far I am busy every day and every weekend. Making materials, trying to get clubs off the ground, running around Comrat. It is good but slightly exhausting, like I keep saying. But teaching is so energizing. For example this morning I was in a funk. I just wanted to stay in bed, I wanted a me day. I spend the first 2 hours of the morning in that funk. But once I started teaching, talking with the kids, doing activities with them that funk just disappeared. It felt great to be back in all the classrooms and working with the kids. I supposed that means that I was meant to teach. And I feel like I really have a place in the school, the kids were glad to be working with me again and the classes I was working with during the student teachers' practicum are still excited to see me everyday. It is a great feeling and makes me feel like I really made the right choice to join the Peace Corps. But it is also tough. Like I said sometimes you just want to take time to do nothing, then you remember the kids, and your job, and all things you still have to do that day and just push through.
However, when Christmas break gets here I will definately be taking some of that me time. In fact I am going to Spain, yes Spain, for a week. I am looking forward to the food, the sites, and the SPANISH!!! I plan to talk to just about every person I see, well, with in reason, but still the point is I will be surround by Spanish and Spanish speaking people and Spanish sounds and... I get little shivers just thinking about it. I am Spanish starved. I plan to soak up that Spanishness and use it to get me through the next 6 months.
I also want to say CONGRADULATIONS to my sister and her new husband Matt. They just got married and are going to have a baby and I am going to be an aunt!!! I am looking forward to visiting them and seeing my new niece or nephew where they come.
Other than that life is good here. I did have a slight brush with giardia and food poisoning. I know that this would count as the second time I got giardia but as I told my mother it was not because I was drinking from puddles. Giardia is endemic here in Moldova. If anyone knows how to detect giardia or get rid of it from a water source such as a well please let me know, I would love to share the knowledge with my host family and all of my students, some of whom are not really aware of what giardia is. It took me two and a half weeks to fully recover but I'm back on my feet and probably doing better than before since my system is now squeeky clean. :)
As a reminder too, if you want to send me anything I can always use stickers, art supplies, and construction paper.
Love to everyone and I miss you all!
