Tomorrow (December 13) is a holiday in Moldova that is celebrated on the saint day of Sfantul Andrei. I think it's one of the most interesting of Moldovan holidays and there are many varied traditions associated with it, most of which occur tonight. Of the traditions, the most prominent (and most unusual to us Americans) … Continue reading Sfantul Andrei Traditions
Last Friday I was at school and heading to a class when Doamna Angela, a 3rd grade teacher, approached me and asked if I was busy that afternoon and evening. Doamna Angela and her husband, Alexandru, run the traditional music and dance school in our village. I told her I didn't have plans and she … Continue reading Constelatia Talentelor (Constellation of Talents)
Each year, Moldova celebrates two major holidays during the last week of August. Independence Day is celebrated on August 27th, and Language Day, a celebration of the Romanian language, is celebrated on August 31st. Last year, I attended Independence Day celebrations in Chisinau, but this year I celebrated the two holidays in my village, along … Continue reading Language Day
As I mentioned in my last post, we got the opportunity to visit the National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History in Chisinau yesterday. The museum was quite large, and had some great exhibitions, but it also has little funding. It is housed in a beautiful, old building. The architecture was quite stunning but building is also … Continue reading Cultural Excursion: National Museum of Ethnography and Natural History
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have moved in with my host family in the town of Costeşti, with is southwest of Chisinau. On Tuesday, we went to the "hub" site in Chisinau. There, our language instructors taught us a bit more about Costeşti. Costeşti has a population of over 12,000 people. This … Continue reading Some Facts About Costești (My Temporary Home)
The Oke Den 