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.
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