What country is this anyways....
This is olive oil and vinegar, took a small bank loan to buy it :-) No such thing as salad dressing here, everything is covered with oil and/or mayonnaise - thanks to American friends Carolyn and Lisa I now have some!
Still cracks me up seeing M&Ms with Russian writing on it. By the way, it has been agreed that KIT KATs here are WAAAYYY better than in US! The chocolate is about 3 times the thickness. And this candy bar called "bubbles", I don't think it's in the US is it? It is awesome but the problem is that it's about 50% air, that means eating one takes a minute and then you want more.
It is very rare to find plain potato chips with just salt. Very odd, they even have KETCHUP FLAVORED and BACON flavored (doesn't taste like bacon at all - by the way, though I miss many things about America, crispy bacon is high on the list, mmmmm crispy bacon with French toast and maple syrup).
YUM!!! These are very expensive and I do not buy them often. They are available in one small market in town, not even the 2 large stores carry them! Funny, they remind me of my Mom, she always had a supply at the nursing home and it is where I learned to love them.
There are stores and stores of beauty supplies - here is olive oil soap I just bought. When I think of how much space I wasted, as well as how much precious weight I used, bringing these things with me form home it kills me. I am only about 1/2 way through the lotions I brought. And many of the supplies are American brands! In fact in the middle of the city is a giant AVON COMPANY!
Notice the clothes soap - "MANUAL" oh I can't WAIT until I have a washer and drier again. By the way, no one has driers here - everything is hang dry. A friend in Serbia told me this years ago, didn't realize it was actually TRUE until I saw it for myself. The closest I've seen is an air-spinner thing to get the water out before hang drying.
Thai Spices!! And here I just had a friend send them from home never imagined I'd see them here! They are in the city at the "hypermarket".
MALL DOVA (get the name?) :-)
My first visit to the real mall in the city....
Talk about being confused as to what country you're in!? These are very expensive stores and as in all stores in Moldova the clothes range from size 0 - 9ish. Middle-age and older woman are larger (and have another world of shops to choose from, where they are I don't know) but the woman shopping at these stores are TINY! Actually that goes for the young men too, I had this stupid idea I'd find a new shirt.... I had a bit of a chance with men's clothes but I was too embarrassed to do it.
Another PCV, Sydney, and I found a food court in the mall!!
This is Sydney, we were beside ourselves with excitement when we found a MEXICAN RESTAURANT! It costs more than a PCV should be spending on a meal with our small budget, but that it what $$s are for. Not often I dip into my US account but this was a special occasion. We moaned and groaned with joy and appreciation throughout the entire meal. Must have sounded like crazy people, but OH THE JOY!!!!
Next visit was to KFC (two days later not after Mexican). Due to the fact that this isn't the healthiest food in the world I avoid them at home. Though once in awhile it is a treat, but here?! OOOHH HOW SWEET LIFE CAN BE!!! I thought what would Colonel Sanders think if he could see his face on a wall in Moldova? A country that was communist when he was alive no less....
This was a case of "my eyes were bigger than my stomach" Ordered an 8 piece chicken strip meal, after 4 I began to force them down refusing to give up, though I felt I was turning a bit green. I made it to the 7th. Killed me to throw out number 8.
We saw a group of people with USA t-shirts, turns out they were indeed Americans! I tried to give that 8th to them, but no go... They were volunteers working with Moldovan youth. Americans pop up all over the place when you're in the city. At the hostel I stayed at there was a young man from BOSTON of all places. He told me he is a self-proclaimed communist and spent a lot of time bashing America, like a good PCV I kept my mouth shut (while thinking 1. I am SERVING my country with this job that most likely means I'm PRO-AMERICA you jerk 2. If you don't like it then MOVE OUT OF IT! WE DON'T WANT YOU THERE).
When you hear English being spoken, as you can image it catches your attention. While in the mall a woman came up to us "do I hear English!?"She was a Canadian missionary working with young woman against sex-trafficking (Moldova is number 6 in the world for victims). We have a number of PCVs also working on this, I did several presentations in my classes, the kids are shocked to find out they are number 6.
We provide contact information and tell them to call before accepting a job out of the country. We also make sure boys understand it is NOT only girls this happens to. This is Anna, I asked her to make a poster, I keep it hanging in the back of the room.
While sitting outside at McDonalds (one of my several trips I make each visit - again, due to the fact it is not the healthiest food in the world I rarely visit it while at home - now it is considered "gourmet" to me and a must-do for at least one visit. (Besides they have AWESOME bathrooms - real flush toilets). I heard LOTS of English around me, there were about 20 American Cadets, (very HANDSOME cadets may I add). I asked why they were in Moldova, they responded something about getting to know the culture (huh?) As I thought about the situation in Ukraine, and the rumors of Russians, Americans and the rest of the world keeping an eye on Moldova, I felt it best not to ask for any details.
MY FAVORITE FOOD - something I never thought I'd see in Moldova, in fact I just had some shipped from home, I'm looking forward to trying it.
Throughout the city are many cafes that look as American as it gets. I took this photo because I thought it odd they have a menu section "CANNABIS MENU Don't panic it's organic". I don't know what to make of it - is it real cannabis in the coffee? Maybe next time I'll try some, although... is it a good idea for me to be eating cannabis while in a foreign country where I get lost if I turn in a circle too fast and can't understand the street signs and am surrounded by languages I don't understand?" probably not unless I'm with a friend who can be my "designated walker"
One thing this country is not short on is ICE CREAM! It was one of my first Russian words that I learned. мороженое, which soon graduated to я люблю мороженое (ya loolblyou maroshinah) I love ice cream)! Now THIS Basking Robbins is expensive on my little PC budget.... dipped into $$ again! Everywhere in town there are freezers full of ice cream - Dove bars, Eskimo bars, to name just a few.... haven't made it past a store since spring without grabbing one for the walk home - and I am a bit embarrassed to admit - sometimes I get one at the beginning of the walk and one at the end. No surprise my clothes are getting tighter.
My first ICE CREAM SUNDAY! YUM!
REALLY?! Huh...
Nor is this country short in any way of sweets, cakes, and pastries, this is just part of this display. This is at the "Hypermart" in the city, in my town there is a tiny section in each case. Next to chocolate my favorite dessert is tiramisu - much to my surprise what I've had here is BETTER than any I've had in USA. Despite the fact that a friend and I almost choked to death by accidently inhaling the 1/4 inch of chocolate powder on it, I still order it. :-)
Lipton tea display
My favorite city find.... AMERICAN CAFE!
American coffee
A wonderful couple opened this - he is from New York, his wife is Moldovan. Nicest people you could hope to meet.
Doughnuts - hot dogs - corn dogs - pancakes
No surprise I ate WAY too much while visiting the city.
My next blog will be my 7 days, that-extended-to-10-days, in the city (I refused to go home). I played Moldovan tourist and saw the sites, visiting monasteries, churches, a winery, art museum, had fun with other PC members. This visit did WONDERS for my spirit, oooohhhhh it was MUCH needed. I said it before I'll say it again, though I show you the good stuff , THIS IS HARD very hard (I feel the tears welling up just thinking of it) :-( It is very easy to get pulled down into depression and loneliness.
The day I decided to finally go home I came down with the flu. In denial (I thought it was due to coffee withdrawals as I stop drinking any fluid mid-afternoon the day before I get on a Marshrukta, that is torture in itself) I went ahead and got on a Marshurkta (mini-bus) and bounced and was tossed around in my seat for 3.5 hours. TORTURE! Ate PEPTO all the way home, every muscle and inch of my skin ached. I should have extended one more day but it was too late. I had 4 heavy, awkward to carry, bags of supplies to lug home (much needed clothes, candy - my favorite chocolate covered peanuts and peanut butter cups - not available here), spices, and more. OH and a brand new NOTEBOOK COMPUTER thanks to the help of Lisa and Rob (thankfully it made it despite the iffy shipping situation, I said many payers to the postal-gods). NEVER AGAIN it's way to hard getting this stuff home. I can't believe my luck that this Marshrukta went past my house and dropped me off at my door (many prayers to the Marshrukta-gods, next time I pray for less holes in the road but that is probably the road-god not Marshurkta god?). How I would have walked 45 minutes sick with 4 bags, I don't know. Oh and a cute thing, speaking in Russian I attempted to ask if he was going down my street. Mostly I grunted and pointed to the street though he had already started down it so I sort of had my answer. The man behind me mentioned I was an English teacher (Maybe I met him before or he was on with me before) and the driver said something like "you were with Natasha" "DAH" I said. Then I was able to point to my home and he said "да я знаю" (da ya znio) "yes I know". That was a nice feeling. I really do like that the people are so helpful, thank god! Who knows where I'd have ended up many trips back and forth from the city. There are many PCV stories of ending up in the wrong towns, scary....
Upon arrival I dropped everything and fell into bed, slept until 11pm, had some toast, woke up at 3 am and ran to the outhouse (managed to grab my flashlight first) and step into my "outside shoes"- I didn't make it in time (because of hesitating to grab my flashlight and to put on my shoes), no need for details here - lets just say at 3am I lugged a bucket of water in the dark for a quick wash of the floor (GROSS), carefully stepping over A MILLION SLUGS, some inside my front door. OOOHHHH YES... welcome back to reality.
Clearly I am feeling better because I am enjoying, immensely, my peanut butter cups from America while I write this (THANKS CAROLYN). Yum who would have thought throwing together peanut butter and chocolate could be so darn good?!.
OK Now, raise your hand if you thought I was in a foreign country!? In the PEACE CORPS! ME!? Right.... !!! Well didn't I have you fooled... but seriously, all of us realize the LUCK of being stationed in EUROPE, in Moldova. Just when you can't take one more day of daily life in a village you have the city with it's luxuries and sanity to run to.
OH AND ONE MORE THING....
to that young man that is a self-proclaimed communist America- hater "GOD BLESS AMERICA YOU IDIOT, don't let the door hit you on the way out"
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