Why is he called Lenin? Is he always having the hat in his hand or on his head? Is he always reading lots and lots of books? Is he telling the other cats: "Come to this country, and we start revolution?"
-One of the guys I met at Clipa asking me why the cat down in Macon is named Lenin. (Just thought I'd share that with you, I thought it was pretty funny.)
Anyway, I've begun playing a few games ever since I started venturing out into the city on my own and I thought I'd share a few of the rules for them. Some are pretty fun and pretty funny, others, not so much.
Laugh at the Bumbling American: Now this one is by far the one I play the most when I'm down in the centru. In order to play this game you need: One American who speaks a few words of the native language. One or more Moldovans who speak a few words of English. And, last but not least, any sort of situation where communication is necessary between the two. Once you have the required equipment, it's actually quite easy to play, and, best of all, you can play practically anywhere! Check it out, it works best at restaurants and grocery stores.
Wait for the bus: Now this one is not my favorite game to play, but unfortunately it's one I play quite a lot. In order to play this game you will need: Freezing cold weather and a bus stop with a schedule that is completely wrong. Once you've got that, it's pretty self explanatory. You get bonus points if its after 9:00pm and the temperature drops below -5 degrees C.
I'll keep posting up new and fun games as my time here goes on.
Seriously though, I am having a great time here. Things are starting to settle down and my routine is getting smoother and smoother. I'm getting my bearings on the city and moving around is becoming a lot easier.
Not much to report on over here other than that. Enjoy the games and try them out when you get a chance.
By the by: watch Super Troopers
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Fog Begins to Lift as the Snow Begins to Fall
Alright, it looks like things are starting to fall into place. Sylvia and I went over to the university where I will be studying today and met with my contact there. It was the first time I've seen her or spoken to her since I left in March and needless to say she was a bit surprised. I got some of the details as to what I'll be doing over there and it seems like a fairly decent class load. Six hours of Russian a week as well as my international affairs class. On top of that, it looks as if my international affairs class will be taught in Russian towards the end of the semester. The word "class" may be a bit misleading, all of my courses are going to be one on one tutorials taught by teachers at the university. Either way, it's going to be an experience I will never forget. My orientaion with the university is going to be in a few days, probably on Thursday or Friday. The only reason it's been so uncertain is because I still don't have internet at the apartment and, as such, haven't been able to get contact info for the people I need to speak with, but that is changing. I'm meeting up with Irina tonight for dinner and she'll have all the contact info I need.
On the way to the university today it started snowing. While it wasn't a lot of snow and it wasn't cold enough to stick, it was still the most snow I've seen since I was up in Wisconsin when I was thirteen. Hopefully the weather won't affect the culture shock too much in a few weeks.
All in all, things are beginning to look up. The uncertainty about what the hell is going on is beginning to dissipate, and I've got a better idea of what's going on, what's expected of me, and where I need to go to get what needs to be done. I've been assured that securing a visa for me (as I don't have one at the moment) will not be a problem, and that the university has already begun the process for getting me an intership with the government. I feel as if, as the week goes on, I will have a better idea of my place in this far off land.
(It may not be as far off as I thought, however. As I write this there are several Americans speaking behind me at the internet cafe. I know I've only been over here for four days, but it still feels good to hear some English.)
Alas my dear friends, my time on this blog for today has come to a close. Wish me luck on this fantastic voyage I have embarked upon.
By the by: listen to The Descendents and The Pixies.
On the way to the university today it started snowing. While it wasn't a lot of snow and it wasn't cold enough to stick, it was still the most snow I've seen since I was up in Wisconsin when I was thirteen. Hopefully the weather won't affect the culture shock too much in a few weeks.
All in all, things are beginning to look up. The uncertainty about what the hell is going on is beginning to dissipate, and I've got a better idea of what's going on, what's expected of me, and where I need to go to get what needs to be done. I've been assured that securing a visa for me (as I don't have one at the moment) will not be a problem, and that the university has already begun the process for getting me an intership with the government. I feel as if, as the week goes on, I will have a better idea of my place in this far off land.
(It may not be as far off as I thought, however. As I write this there are several Americans speaking behind me at the internet cafe. I know I've only been over here for four days, but it still feels good to hear some English.)
Alas my dear friends, my time on this blog for today has come to a close. Wish me luck on this fantastic voyage I have embarked upon.
By the by: listen to The Descendents and The Pixies.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Well the past three days have definitely been interesting as I thought they would. It's been a bizarre polarity of emotions and stress levels since I took off from Atlanta. Almost the entire time I was in the Rome airport I felt like total garbage. Probably a mixture of the lack of sleep on the plane, nervousness, anticipation, fear, and who knows what else. Needless to say the six hours I spent in Rome were some of the most stressful times of my life. It didn't make it any better that the Rome airport is one of the worst airports I have ever seen. I really didn't expect to see pigions flying around in the rafters of the main lobby, but that's just me.
Things changed once I got into Moldova, however. After waiting for about twenty minutes at the passport line, I grabbed my bags and met Sylvia and her friends who were waiting for me. From there we hopped into an old BMW 3 series and were off to the apartment.
The apartment is pretty damn cool. It's just beyond the Gates of Chisinau in the Botanica district of the city. It looks like it was built sometimes in the 1960s or 70s and, in keeping with the architecture of the city, looks like total shit on the outside. I must be honest; I did not have high hopes for the place when we first entered. The interior of the building looked like a stereotypical beat up, run down Soviet block apartment: the lights were dim, the smell was "unique," the floor of the elevator bowed downwards when we got on, etc. However, upon entering our apartment, my mind was completely changed. It is a very nice, well heated, well insulated place which, anywhere else west of here, would I'm sure cost a pretty penny. The balcony which is connected to the kitchen is also pretty sweet as well. Since we're on the 13th floor, from the balcony you can see almost the entire city. I feel as if I am going to like this place.
Once we got to the apartment, a bunch of Sylvia's friends came over and we, of course, had some wine and a few beers and I got to experience the joy of Moldovan food once again. I have no idea what this one thing was but it was similar to flavored croutons and came with some sort of dipping sauce. I'm sure I don't really want to know what they really are but I chowed down on those for a while, they go great with a Baltika 7.
That pretty much sums up my time so far. Didn't do much of anything yesterday, just caught up on sleep and watched a movie or two. Today I got my new phone number with Moldcell (which is 79389359) and got a few things for the apartment. If you want to send me a text message you can do it by going to: http://www.moldcell.md/eng/sendSms/ clicking on the +373 793 option, then fill in the rest of my phone number. Until next time good friends of mine I wish you прощается and bun (goodbye).
By the by: The award for the worst movie title for a good movie goes to Lucky Number Sleven
Things changed once I got into Moldova, however. After waiting for about twenty minutes at the passport line, I grabbed my bags and met Sylvia and her friends who were waiting for me. From there we hopped into an old BMW 3 series and were off to the apartment.
The apartment is pretty damn cool. It's just beyond the Gates of Chisinau in the Botanica district of the city. It looks like it was built sometimes in the 1960s or 70s and, in keeping with the architecture of the city, looks like total shit on the outside. I must be honest; I did not have high hopes for the place when we first entered. The interior of the building looked like a stereotypical beat up, run down Soviet block apartment: the lights were dim, the smell was "unique," the floor of the elevator bowed downwards when we got on, etc. However, upon entering our apartment, my mind was completely changed. It is a very nice, well heated, well insulated place which, anywhere else west of here, would I'm sure cost a pretty penny. The balcony which is connected to the kitchen is also pretty sweet as well. Since we're on the 13th floor, from the balcony you can see almost the entire city. I feel as if I am going to like this place.
Once we got to the apartment, a bunch of Sylvia's friends came over and we, of course, had some wine and a few beers and I got to experience the joy of Moldovan food once again. I have no idea what this one thing was but it was similar to flavored croutons and came with some sort of dipping sauce. I'm sure I don't really want to know what they really are but I chowed down on those for a while, they go great with a Baltika 7.
That pretty much sums up my time so far. Didn't do much of anything yesterday, just caught up on sleep and watched a movie or two. Today I got my new phone number with Moldcell (which is 79389359) and got a few things for the apartment. If you want to send me a text message you can do it by going to: http://www.moldcell.md/eng/sendSms/ clicking on the +373 793 option, then fill in the rest of my phone number. Until next time good friends of mine I wish you прощается and bun (goodbye).
By the by: The award for the worst movie title for a good movie goes to Lucky Number Sleven
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The day has come.
So I've been saying that I was going set this up for the past few days, but in my typical fashion I waited till the absolute last minute to do so. As I write this I'm sitting in the international terminal of the Atlanta airport. It's about 2:15 which gives me about two hours in the good ol' U.S. Today was crazy as hell: I only got about three hours of sleep and the second I woke up I had to go and do some last minute shopping for a few items I had forgotten to pack. And of course, I had done absolutely no packing until about an hour before dad came by to take me to the airport. It did get done though. I guess you could call my planning style Moldovan, there's no real apparent method to the madness but in the end it all works out (and it's fun).
It's been dawning on me for the past week or so that this trip will signify the longest time I've been out of the country. What makes that even weirder is the fact that I will be the ONLY American student in Moldova that's not a part of the Fullbright program or in the Peace Corps. Quite an odd realization. The next few months will definitely be interesting. But I'm sure since you're actually taking the time to read my ramblings about life in the former Soviet Union you will hear of my exploits and the general insanity of the situation I've put myself into. The next time I write in this blog I'll be settled into my apartment in the capital of the Republic of Moldova. Thanks for reading.
By the by: listen to The Frames and watch Californication.
It's been dawning on me for the past week or so that this trip will signify the longest time I've been out of the country. What makes that even weirder is the fact that I will be the ONLY American student in Moldova that's not a part of the Fullbright program or in the Peace Corps. Quite an odd realization. The next few months will definitely be interesting. But I'm sure since you're actually taking the time to read my ramblings about life in the former Soviet Union you will hear of my exploits and the general insanity of the situation I've put myself into. The next time I write in this blog I'll be settled into my apartment in the capital of the Republic of Moldova. Thanks for reading.
By the by: listen to The Frames and watch Californication.
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