I've been back in the United States for a couple of weeks now. I meant to write a concluding post a long time ago but just found myself too incredibly busy. I've been enjoying sharing the experiences I had in Moldova with new and old friends. I even performed one of my host mom's favorite songs (A Na Posledok Ya Skazhy) at the staff talent show where I'm working now. I'm very much looking forward to meeting a bunch of Moldovans when I move to DC. I know there are a lot of them down there.
Some things I miss about Moldova:
-My host family and our kitten
-Hearing a mixture of Russian/Romanian spoken everywhere
-Watching guys go crazy on the dance floor the way only Europeans know how
-Being able to go to great concerts/operas/plays any day of the week for every little money
-Food: mamaliga, borscht, placinte
-Homemade wine
-My students at the university and Educational Advising Center
-The Winrock staff
-The park near my house
-Talking about Moldovan politics
-Seeing the crazy outfits Moldovan women wear and think are totally normal
Things I don't miss so much:
-The constant feeling of fear while crossing the street
-The stray dogs
-Inevitably reeking of cigarette smoke after going to any bar or restaurant
-The incredibly hot and stuffy minibuses
That's about all I can think of for now. I hope I'll be able to go back to Moldova somehow in a year or so!
Hi Malina! My name is Emily, and I am a grad student at American University in DC. My concentration is in gender and project management, and I'm really interested in human trafficking in Moldova. I was able to go there for several weeks last fall and do human trafficking educational programs at several orphanages, and I am hoping to go back next summer to do research for my graduate thesis. I would love to connect with you and hear more about your experiences. I'm also looking for a specific anti-trafficking program in Moldova to use for a project for school this semester, and was wondering if you might have some suggestions. If you're at all interested in connecting, you can send me an email at eb9995a@student.american.edu. I'll look forward to hearing from you!
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