You know you are in Moldova when...
The other day I was standing and waiting for my minibus early in the morning. As I am standing there an older woman wrapped snug in a flower print scarf around her head walked by me pulling a goat behind her. We exchanged good mornings and she kept walking.
Later that day I needed to catch a minibus in the city. There was no clear indiciation of where the stop was, so naturally I ask two small kids under the age of 10. They politely inform me of where the stop was and proceed to flag down a minibus as the older brother of around 9 opened the door for his (what seemed) 5 year old sister and helped her in.
As I was heading back to my village sitting in the minibus waiting at the station for departure, I suddenly felt water hit my skin. I look up and there is a priest on our minibus tossing holy water using a basil plant to bless everyone in sight. People began making cross gestures over their chests and hand him whatever money they have.
From people tending to their animals, to kids without supervision navigating through the city, and religious experiences before transport. These are a few things that are indicative of the moldovan culture. It made me think about reactions from people back home from these situations... if a woman walked by pulling a goat, what would people say? If kids were navigating through a big american city, how would their parents be judged? If a religious experience took place on any transportation, who would be offended? As none of these questions have solid answers, it just makes you think of the perspective people grow up with and the delusion of what life is. Embrace the diversity that is life.
With all the different experiences that I encounter, I decided there is no better way to show my side of life with nothing other than pictures. Poftim.
Soroca (up north- ukraine on the right of the river):
My Village:
My training group with our moldovan partners:
