A week of holiday

 

This has been one long week of holiday here in Moldova.  The independence day or "Ziua Independentia"  was on Tuesday, August 27th.  That marked the 22nd year of independence for the Republic of Moldova.  Not much was happening publically here in the village, but down in Chisinau there were many ceremonies, parades, and performances to mark the day.  I and two other Peace Corps volunteers marked the day by getting together for pizza in Orhei.  31st of August is another holiday called "Limba Noastra"  or Our Language.  It honors the return to the historic roots of the country to it's Basarabian culture and the Romanian language.  For fifty years this was lost under the Soviet times when Russian was the official language.  Today Moldova remains a very bi-lingual country, but Romanian is the official prime language.  So we gathered today at the Casa Cultura in Orhei to celebrate Our Language.  I myself and Molly and Stephanie...three Peace Corps volunteers joined the group singing the national anthem.  We all had red, yellow, and blue balloons to release when we were done.  That is the tri-color of the Moldovan flag.  The fellow in the white shirt speaking with microphone is the mayor of Orhei.  The program included children and adults reciting poetry,  some dance performers, and a folk ensemble.  At one point, there was even a blues duet done in Limba Noastra.  Sounded very Chicago-like.  I noticed a 3 generation picture out of the corner of my eye and had to grab it.  Mother, grandmother, and child enjoying the program together.  When I returned to my village, I was proud to see a neighbor sporting a Moldovan flag on his house.  It was a good week of holidays.  To all our friends back in the USA, we wish you a very safe and happy Labor Day!