I just wrote on Walt's page and I don't know who to move it so I decided to write some more. The 19th Century is Arlana's handiwork I'm sure you all know.
To day we got up at 5:30 and met our interperter at the bridge on our way to a village called Festelita. It is a beautiful village quite large and has been trying you years to get clean water to the homes of the people. They contacted the church who said "Okay lets do something." When the Ministry of Environment heard we were helping they decided to help, too. So with the help of the government and the church a large water tower was built and pipes were laid pumps and electrical wires were put in. Today was the celebration of the completion of that project.
We left the apartment at 6:40 picked up Doina at 7 and arrived at the village at 8:30. The first plan was to start at 10 then it was moved to 9:30. We waited by the mayors office for 30 min then went to the water tower. It looks beautiful and we could hear it filling with water. We also went down to another pump site and saw what was happening there. Then back up the hill to the water tower. The Priest was there at first then went down to the pump to walk the way up to the tower and bless the pipes etc. A few of the villagers came up to join us and the Minister of Environment came with the Mayor. We were finally ready to start it was 10:30. The Mayor, Minister, the Vice President of the Raeion (county) Walt, Lidia our friend the engineer and her son all spoke. The people also presented each of us with a circle loaf of breaded bread and a towel with a candle and matches. There was a National news reporter there and he recorded all that was happening.
A women''s choir dressed in traditional dress sang several lively songs accompanied by a man on an accordion. I was tapping my foot along with their beat. While they sang the food and wine was brought out and we were invited to eat. They were stressed when we wouldn't taste their wine. Some one went and got some juice made from grapes, (white and purple). It was ok to drink that. We were grateful for Doina who protected us. The wine was in 2 liter bottles and looked like pop. She let us know what it really was. The food was good traditional salads and potato and meat dishes and bread of course. Very good. After the ladies quite singing and we had eaten the Minister had to leave for funeral. We were going to go sign some papers but they ask us to wait until all the people had eaten with the mayor. The people didn't eat until we had. So we watched them eat and tried to not have them filling our cups with more drink. We finally decided to have a cup of juice and not drink it until it was time to go. This guy who was seeing to our needs filled my coat pocket with chocolate candy. I didn't mind. He also invited us to his house which I would have liked to do but we didn't go back after the paper signing. He was a very happy man.
It was a fun day to meet with the shy, kind people of this village. They so much appreciated the clean water coming to their homes. It will change their lives. I took a picture of this sweet old lady. I wanted to hug her but decided I shouldn't. She said I could take her picture. We also had our picture taken with the singers.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
First day of School
The first Monday in September is the starting date for school.
We were invited to a Chisineu school where the church had renovated bathrooms. We were guest of Honor representing the work of the church. There are 1110 children attending this school. They are from 1st to 12th grade. All the kids and lots of parents were there as well. Everyone was around a cement slab about half the size of a football field. We stood at the narrow end with the Director of the school, the vise mayor of Chisineu, a priest and his helper and other school authorities and I think some of the senior kids who were the MC's or announcers.
They announced the first year students who came in two at a time holding a hand of and adult. The kids were all dressed in black and white. The girls had big white bows in their hair. They all looked so sharp and beautiful. There were over 100 first graders.
They had some welcoming speeches Walt gave his speech and we presented them with the basket, volley and soccer balls. They all clapped and children brought us flowers I had about 10 boquets, Walt got 3, that was awesome.
They announced a famous rock singer from Moldova. He sang 3 songs and the little kids went out and danced around him and had fun. Two of the older boys went out and joined with the little kids. They gave him flowers too.
Some more talking went on.
Another Folk singer also sang 3 songs. He goes out in the villages and holds concerts for the people there so he is very popular also He sang about the conditions in the villages which is a sad story but he gives hope because he uses an upbeat melody to tell his stories. He looked a lot like our Elvis. The kids big and small were out dancing with him.
Another number they had was a group of young people dressed in traditional white bloused with red embroidery. The girls skirts were white and may have been just the long blouse, with a red and black checked apron. The boys had on light tan trousers. They did a traditional dance that was quick footed and a lot like the Russian dances.
The part I liked the best was when a Senior boy picked up a 1st grade girl and put her on his shoulder. They each had a bell to ring. The girl a small gold bell and the boy a larger dark gold bell (well used). The young man carried the girl around 1/2 of the field both of them ringing their bell. This represented the bridge between the old and younger students. There is also a bridge form the teachers to the students. They are all trying to build bridges.
Toward the end they had a dance with traditional song. The kids big and small were out dancing a round dance. The little kids were dancing inside the circle of the big kids and some circles were all of smaller children. Circles in circles. It was great to see.
At the end the priest gave a blessing and sprinkled everyone with Holy Water. It was a reverent time. Then the kids were released to go to their classes.
We took pictures of us with the Director etc. Then we were taken to the restrooms we had provided. They looked good. Two boys were trying to find a place for the balls we brought. We saw them go by once on the second time they were going to leave them in the hall. The lady with us told them were to put them and they followed her directions.
It was a wonderful way to start the new school year.
We saw children all over town dressed in black and white and carrying flowers.
We brought home 14 bunches of flowers. They were heavy. I have 4 gallon size jars full of flowers.
We were invited to a Chisineu school where the church had renovated bathrooms. We were guest of Honor representing the work of the church. There are 1110 children attending this school. They are from 1st to 12th grade. All the kids and lots of parents were there as well. Everyone was around a cement slab about half the size of a football field. We stood at the narrow end with the Director of the school, the vise mayor of Chisineu, a priest and his helper and other school authorities and I think some of the senior kids who were the MC's or announcers.
They announced the first year students who came in two at a time holding a hand of and adult. The kids were all dressed in black and white. The girls had big white bows in their hair. They all looked so sharp and beautiful. There were over 100 first graders.
They had some welcoming speeches Walt gave his speech and we presented them with the basket, volley and soccer balls. They all clapped and children brought us flowers I had about 10 boquets, Walt got 3, that was awesome.
They announced a famous rock singer from Moldova. He sang 3 songs and the little kids went out and danced around him and had fun. Two of the older boys went out and joined with the little kids. They gave him flowers too.
Some more talking went on.
Another Folk singer also sang 3 songs. He goes out in the villages and holds concerts for the people there so he is very popular also He sang about the conditions in the villages which is a sad story but he gives hope because he uses an upbeat melody to tell his stories. He looked a lot like our Elvis. The kids big and small were out dancing with him.
Another number they had was a group of young people dressed in traditional white bloused with red embroidery. The girls skirts were white and may have been just the long blouse, with a red and black checked apron. The boys had on light tan trousers. They did a traditional dance that was quick footed and a lot like the Russian dances.
The part I liked the best was when a Senior boy picked up a 1st grade girl and put her on his shoulder. They each had a bell to ring. The girl a small gold bell and the boy a larger dark gold bell (well used). The young man carried the girl around 1/2 of the field both of them ringing their bell. This represented the bridge between the old and younger students. There is also a bridge form the teachers to the students. They are all trying to build bridges.
Toward the end they had a dance with traditional song. The kids big and small were out dancing a round dance. The little kids were dancing inside the circle of the big kids and some circles were all of smaller children. Circles in circles. It was great to see.
At the end the priest gave a blessing and sprinkled everyone with Holy Water. It was a reverent time. Then the kids were released to go to their classes.
We took pictures of us with the Director etc. Then we were taken to the restrooms we had provided. They looked good. Two boys were trying to find a place for the balls we brought. We saw them go by once on the second time they were going to leave them in the hall. The lady with us told them were to put them and they followed her directions.
It was a wonderful way to start the new school year.
We saw children all over town dressed in black and white and carrying flowers.
We brought home 14 bunches of flowers. They were heavy. I have 4 gallon size jars full of flowers.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Traditions
There are a lot of traditions here in Moldova.
The one we have experienced is what happens on special occasions. They made a hugh loaf of round bread the top is braided and about 6 or 7 inches high and 12 or more inches across the bottom. Each person who is visiting the special ceremony is to break of a piece of bread and dip it in salt then eat it. It means good luck or well wishes. They also serve wine but we don't partake of that. The last one we attended was this week had 2 children, about 8 years old, holding the bread and wine. The honored guest goes first and others follow. Walt was the first to take the bread I went 2nd. He was one of the 2 honored guest because we helped with the donations to a clean water project. Walt also got a large pot which would make a good cookie jar. After all the speeches we went inside and were given front row seats to watch some children sing and give little stories about water. Then the children danced. They were dressed in their traditional white blouse with red cross stitching and red skirts. The boys had a different cross stitch design and black pants. The children were 6 or 7 and did a very good job. From there we went into a room that had a large table with food, open faced sandwiches fruit of many kinds and wine or water or juice. It was a beautiful table.
That is the story for today.
The one we have experienced is what happens on special occasions. They made a hugh loaf of round bread the top is braided and about 6 or 7 inches high and 12 or more inches across the bottom. Each person who is visiting the special ceremony is to break of a piece of bread and dip it in salt then eat it. It means good luck or well wishes. They also serve wine but we don't partake of that. The last one we attended was this week had 2 children, about 8 years old, holding the bread and wine. The honored guest goes first and others follow. Walt was the first to take the bread I went 2nd. He was one of the 2 honored guest because we helped with the donations to a clean water project. Walt also got a large pot which would make a good cookie jar. After all the speeches we went inside and were given front row seats to watch some children sing and give little stories about water. Then the children danced. They were dressed in their traditional white blouse with red cross stitching and red skirts. The boys had a different cross stitch design and black pants. The children were 6 or 7 and did a very good job. From there we went into a room that had a large table with food, open faced sandwiches fruit of many kinds and wine or water or juice. It was a beautiful table.
That is the story for today.
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