Not knowing how to put the extra Romanian letters (there are five of them) on my English keyboard, I will have to make do with a rough approximation of “How are you?”  This literally translates to “What more you do?” – one of those confusing things about trying to capture the idioms of another language.  I have been working my way through a series of Romanian lessons during the last week; it has been enormously helpful to just listen to the way native speakers pronounce words.  There are a bunch of sounds – schwe, tsi, a very long and deep “ew” that you don’t hear very much or at all in English.  It has a lyrical cadence and musicality to it that makes it quite beautiful to listen to.  Of course, once I’m in Moldova and people are speaking a mile a minute it probably won’t seem so enjoyable.

It is marvelous having Facebook and blogs and email, I must say, as I already am acquainted with many of the current volunteers in country and have received a ton of information about packing and electronics and communications and traveling and food.  I’ve seen YouTube videos of volunteers’ housing and host families and been given a briefing on the Community Development work projects. It feels a bit like cheating, though.  Nothing like the experience of a PCV who signed up ten or twenty years ago, I’m sure, when you got on a plane with little to no idea of where you were headed or what your life would be like for the next 27 months.

I’m starting to add some current Peace Corps blogs I’m following under my “links” heading.  Many of them are quite funny and very informative about life in Moldova.  It doesn’t look all that different from here, actually.  Certainly not as depressed or poor as places I visited in Central or South America.  I do understand it gets very, very cold though.  Anyone have good brands of raingear or winter coats to recommend?

On Wednesday morning, I woke up and somehow just knew: Today is the day! I actually posted some musings on the topic before making the drive to my parents house – my “official” Peace Corps address.  Little bro wanted some help with a resume and I might as well make myself available for news to find me.  Around 3:00, my dad called up the stairs: Your package is here!  And everyone in the house – parents, grandmother, two brothers (and Zoe the dog) gathered round as I slid the paperwork out of the UPS envelope…..MOLDOVA!!!

That I am going to Moldova is another element in a long string of coincidences and serendipity that have trailed me since deciding to enter the Peace Corps.  My initial meeting was with a delightful recruiter who had served his two years in that country.  When I related this to my husband, he immediately locked onto the name – liking the way it rolls off the tongue while still conveying the mystery of a former Soviet state.  From that point on whenever I speculated about my country assignment, he always maintained that I was going to Moldova.  So I have a psychological – if not actual – familiarity with the country that leaves me not the least bit apprehensive about my departure.

Now I am faced with a daunting number of tasks to cross of my list: new passport, additional writing assignments, final health appointments, new wardrobe (I’m not living in sunny SoCal no more!) gathering personal effects, obtaining good luggage, granting Power of Attorney (doesn’t that sound official), transferring voting registration, etc. I can’t imagine being able to plan and pack effectively while trying to work full-time or complete finals for school – I am so lucky to have this time to focus.