Venture for Peace

September 1 marks the start of school throughout Moldova. From the smallest kindergartener to the university graduate student, school begins in this tiny Republic on the same day for everyone.

In the village of Rusestii Noi, it is definitely an important event for students, teachers and families. I was pleased to be part of the celebration and excitement. My day began at the Liceul Teoretic (middle-high school for grades 5 through 12) main campus where all students including those from the Blocul Claselor Primare or Primary School (grades 1 through 4) gathered in the courtyard before the school's main door. The entrance to the school was festively decorated with flags, banners and balloons. Most students were dressed in fine clothes and carried bouquets of flowers.

The program began with the playing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Moldova. The Director of the Liceul Teoretic welcomed everyone as did the Mayor. The priest from the Orthodox Church offered a prayer. A women graduate spoke and then I was asked to speak.

In anticipation of this eventuality, I had prepared brief remarks and practiced my Romanian. Thus fairly smoothly in my limited Romanian I told the gathering that I was an American from the State of Ohio. I explained that I was a Peace Corps volunteer, had come to Moldova three months earlier and was studying Romanian. I am a community consultant who hopes to collaborate and work with the Primaria, library, schools and organizations for youth, the elderly and women. I am happy to be in Molodova. I told them that I like Moldova because it is a beautiful country with friendly people, fresh fruits and vegetables, and very tasty food. I wished them all success in school.

My remarks were well received and applauded and I was presented with flowers by students. Whether what I said was completely grammatically correct did not seem to matter. I made the effort to speak their language, expressed an interest in their country and a desire to learn and work.

Following the speeches. the first graders were each presented with their first book. Several spoke reciting verses and one sang. Three first graders accompanied by two twelfth graders then paraded around the courtyard ringing the bell. The students then entered the school amidst picturing taking and the giving of flowers to teachers, administrators and us guests.

After this celebration, the Mayor and I were driven to the Gradinita or kindergarten in Rusestii Vechi which currently serves about 30 young children. We greeted the children playing in the playground. We then entered one of the classrooms and spoke to the parents who were assembled. I again made my brief presentation in Romanian and was affirmed by applause and smiles from the parents.

Next we went to the Gradinita in Rusestii Noi which is serving 120 small children this year. We went into three different classrooms and I spoke briefly n Romanian in each. I think I was doing better each time because of the practice. In any event, the parents and staff were gracious and kind.

Lastly the Mayor and I went to the Primary school as the children and parents had returned from the earlier celebration at the Liceul Teoretic. We visited a number of classrooms and spoke with parents. I was asked several questions by parents and managed to understand them and answer in Romanian. Again I felt welcomed.

First Bell is a joyous celebration and tradition. It is a special way to begin a new school year. It has been one of the highlights of my venture. I am especially grateful that I was given the opportunity to address so many children and adults in Romanian and was affirmed. Although I was clearly recognizable before September 1, I am now well known throughout the village!

Liceul Teoretic, Rusestii Noi

Main Entrance to Liceul Teoretic

Addressing all in Romanian!!

Primar, Preot and Artistic Diretor

Director of Liceul Teoretic

Gradinita or Kindergarten in Rusestii Vechi

Gradinita or Kindergarten in Rusestii Noi

Blocul Claselor Primare or Primary School

Some of the flowers I received at First Bell

It has been a little over one month since I relocated to Rusestii Noi after my Swearing In as a PCV. My Moldovan partner the Vice Primar (Vice Mayor) and new host lady or Mama gazda (Mother of the House) both attended the ceremony, and together with everything I own we traveled to my new residence late in the afternoon of July 29, 2015. We were greeted upon arrival by my host or Tata gazda (Father of the House) who cheerily welcomed me and assisted with all the luggage making sure it was placed in my room.

Rusestii Noi is about 25 kilometers south west of Chisinau in Ialoveni Raion and about 14 kilometers from the district seat of Ialoveni. There are actually two villages: Rusestii Noi (New Russia) and Rusestii Vechi (Old Russia), under the jurisdiction of the Local Public Authority or Primaria (Mayor's office) in Rusestii Noi. Between the two villages there are approximately 6000 residents and about 2000 houses. It is thus much larger than Milestii Mici.

The village is quite spread out. It is about 3 kilometers from the highway (to Chisinau) to the center of Rusestii Noi. This main road to the village center splits at the Casa de Cultura with the right branch leading to the upper village of Rusestii Vechi and the left traveling through one of the large residential sections. The road is paved in part, but interspersed with large sections of dirt and huge pot holes. Drivers weave back and forth not staying on one side or the other in an attempt to avoid the holes. The one benefit is that a car cannot really speed along too fast for too far! It is a challenge for walkers since there are only a couple of brief sections of sidewalk, and you may need to dodge cars especially when it rains and there is mud in addition to huge puddles of water.

The village is primarily agricultural and residential. There is one gas station, one auto repair shop, one business and one large purveyor of construction materials. In the center of the village is the Primaria, Casa de Cultura with the Biblioteca or library on the side, the Central Medical facility with one doctor, a Veterinarian, and the Post Office. There is also a Frizer or hair dresser and a small market or grocery store, an agricultural market where folks can sell produce, and an Alimentara for food and beverages including an outdoor area to enjoy a beer. Numerous small magazins or convenience stores are spread throughout the village. There is one restaurant or event center and another large one under construction.

Towering above the village on the side of one of the hills is the Orthodox Biserica or Church. The structure is blue and white with gold domes which shine as bright beacons in the sunlight. The grounds surrounding the Church are large and well maintained. It is a source of pride in the village.

As with other Moldovan villages, there are abandoned buildings from the Soviet era. Across from the soccer stadium or field is a large field which contains the remnants of the construction of new schools for the village. Apparently at one time toward the end of the Soviet era, construction was begun to locate all school buildings on one site and also to expand the schools for a growing population. The work did not progress very far and has not been completed for lack of funds. There are currently two kindergartens, one primary school, and one middle - high school in different locations in the village. The kindergartens in particular are apparently too small to accommodate all of the young children. It is a problem with which the village is currently struggling.

Having described the village and its rather large size, what is amazing, at least to me, is that there are no road or street names and no addresses or numbers on any of the buildings and houses. Just think about that and how you would give directions. For emergency purposes I like all PCVs had to provide a map of the village with directions to my house for Peace Corps. It was somewhat of a challenge, but fortunately there are some landmarks I could use, I was able to find the distances between a couple of key points, and my house is on a corner.

As you may have wondered, there is no mail delivery. The address for everyone and every entity is Rusestii Noi, MD 6825. Bills such as for utilities are kept at the Post Office where people can pick them and pay them in cash. There is also a machine in the market where one can pay bills including telephone and mobile or cell service.

The residents in the village that I have seen or met thus far have been friendly and welcoming. They range from small children to the elderly. There are many young children, youth, and adults of all ages. Most speak Romanian and/or Russian. Very few know little, if any, English. Mostly, it is the children or youth who will say "hello" or "good-by", but know few if any other English words. I do sense a desire on the part of some to learn English although it is my understanding that in the schools, the second languages of preference are Russian and French. I am anxious for the school year to start to determine if that is correct or if there are more young people interested in learning English and/or who know a little more English than I have found to date.

Because of the unusually hot summer weather, I have not been able to get out and explore as much as I would have liked. Similarly, the heat has kept people indoors and there are often not many out and about the village during the day. I hope in the coming months to explore more of the village and learn more about my neighbors.

Below are some pictures of the village and village life from my travels thus far around Rusestii Noi.