Sunday, December 1, 2013

November Highlights

















 
Well today is December 1st and I better share some of the highlights of the past month with you.  Our first stop is a Youth Center open house in Orhei.  We were invited guests and you see my partner-director Sergiu signing the guest book.  The event was highlighted by the Youth Council presenting their action plan for 2014 to the Orhei Raion Council President.  They did a very impressive job.  Next we switch locations to our center in Piatra.  Here you see Sergiu leading a session with 7th and 8th graders of our village about the threats of human trafficking.  A very real threat for poor people in Moldova.  Early education about the problem hopefully guards children from making future mistakes and becoming victims.  On a lighter side, here's Doamna Daria giving the children a taste test of something they're making in the kitchen.  This month we have been stuffing potatoes and apples.  In November I attended my 5th Moldovan wedding.  This one was different in so far as it was all at a home and not at a restaurant.  You see the bride and groom at the front gate greeting guests as they arrive from the next village in a mini bus.  They proceed to an inside room (it is November) to personally greet each guest.  Dancing takes place outside in the yard.  You can see that even the bride in her fancy dress joins in the hora.  Our wedding meal takes place under a tent roof.  Of course more dancing, and eating with our winter coats on.  In the end our newly weds are wrapped in blankets of love.  Switching back to work at the center, I have a few shots from our recent program for Tolerance Day.  The kids used a TV news format to present their program.  You can see me being interviewed.  Through the magic of pretend TV, you can even see the audience.   The final picture was taken today at the public square in Orhei.  It was a celebration of Ziua Nationala Romaniei or Romanian National Day.
Many Moldovans are moved by their cultural unity with Romanians and share their cultural pride.
Well November wouldn't be complete without celebrating the American holiday of Thanksgiving and that's what my next blog is going to be about.  Stay tuned.

No comments:

Post a Comment