My Walk to Training

During PST (pre-service training), we have language and technical class six days a week.  In general, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays we meet for class at a local high school (we meet together with the other programs at the hub site in Chisinau on Thursdays).  Costeşti is a big town, so although all of the EE (English Education) trainees are living in the same town, we attend language class at two different schools.

I live only a 10-15 minute walk from the school I go to for training, but some people are a bit further.  My first day of classes, my host brother Lucian walked with me to the school, but now I know the way myself (I sometimes walk with other volunteers that take the same route to the school).  It’s a pretty walk on both very uneven unpaved roads and nicer, paved roads with asphalt sidewalks.  I pass numerous houses and gardens on my way.

Outside of the large cities in Moldova, villages always have wells along the roads where people can get their water.  These water sources are almost always contaminated- they contain heavy metals, dangerous protozoa, and chemicals.  Although not all villagers rely on these wells as their primary water source, many do.  Despite the water conditions, the wells are almost always very pretty.  Many of them are accompanied by small (or large) shrines.

So far, the weather has been nice here!  I’m not sure how I’ll like walking along the dirt roads when it’s rainy or during winter, but during this time of year, my walk is quite beautiful!