Responsability

I like the 6th graders.  A couple of them are chatty, but they're generally well behaved.  Last year I had class with them first thing in the morning, this year it's the last class on Friday afternoons.  I've noticed a difference in the energy level.  I might start taking them stickers as an incentive to respond to questions more.


But anyway, the title of today's lecture for the 6th graders was "The Impact of my Decisions".  We talked about personal responsibility and how it affects our lives; negatively and positively. 

My partner-teacher, Maria, asked the kids to raise their hands if they think they are a responsible person.  All of the students immediately raised their hands and were very adamant that they are all responsible.  Maria picked up the catalog which holds all of their grades for every class.  "Oh, really?  So if I look through this you will all have perfect grades?"  Half of the kids lowered their hands.


But even though most of them don't have perfect grades, I do think that a lot of the children in Moldova take on much more responsibility than children in America.  My childhood chores consisted of vacuuming, dusting, helping with dinner, and keeping my room clean.  I never had to work in the garden every day because that would determine how much food we had or feed the animals at dawn.  Never had to help clean the school.  It was never my responsibility to look after younger siblings because our parents worked out of country or make sure that Brian was fed.  Sometimes being in Moldova reminds me of the arguments that childhood is not a natural human phenomenon, but something invented by certain societies and cultures. 

What I will miss

My days left in Moldova are numbered, 140 to be exact, and I've decided to make a list of the things I will miss once I'm back in America.


Things Jessie will miss about Moldova

• Getting candy from the cashiers at stores when they don't have correct change
• The Russian chips, the bag is always full unlike Lays which is always half empty
• Cheap, fresh local produce
• Getting a whole week off of school for Easter
• Older women being extremely impressed that I know how to crochet
• The Multifrut flavor of Letto soda
• Going to Opa with other volunteers
• Drinking vodka to cure the flu
• McDonald's delivers
• Campy 80's music on the radio
• Being able to wear the same two shirts to work all week

What I do

This has become a popular trend on the internet over the last couple of days.  Yesterday I posted one for social workers, here's today's for Peace Corps volunteers.

The really funny thing is that the tub this girl is sitting in looks exactly like the one I have.

Social Workers

I found this online today.  It's kind of amusing.

Hey all

Not much to report.  Lots of snow, as you might have seen in the news.  The buses weren't running on Monday so I've had a pretty relaxing week.  Reading the Hunger Games books and writing lesson plans.  Also found out that my Close of Service (COS) date will be July 18th, meaning that I have 159 days left in Moldova before I head home.

Any who, during my service I haven't done much fundraising/grant writing.  Not the biggest fan of grants in the first place, but the two my partner and I planned on doing the principal of my school got funding for from the mayor's office.  Which is kind of cool in of itself.  It means that the administration and teachers at my school know what they need, are able to advocate for themselves to get the funds, and have the projects completed quickly.  Yay!

However, a fellow health volunteer (and social worker <3 ) needs some help with fundraising for her students.  Here's her statement:


Cristy Hickson
 Hi, noroc, привет!

I hope everyone is doing well! I have some very exciting news to report! My team, The Beetles, took first place at the National Odyssey of the Mind Competition! Woohoo! We are all very excited! My students have spent the last few months staying after school every day writing their script, creating costumes and props, and rehearsing. Many nights staying at the school past 8pm! Since we placed first at the National Competition, we now have the opportunity to go to St.Petersburg, Russia for the international competition, EuroFest!!! As excited as I am to go to Russia with my students, my stomach is full of butterflies! We have to figure out how we are going to pay for the trip. Yesterday I received an email stating that every student must pay $450 to attend EuroFest. Yikes! This would be a lot of money to fundraise and gather in the U.S., but it is especially challenging here in Moldova where most families live below the poverty level and struggle meeting their basic needs. Our goal is to raise $3,600 to pay for transportation costs, food, and lodging for both my students and myself. My students have worked incredibly hard and I want to illustrate to them that hard work really does pay off. They are going to continue working hard during the next few weeks preparing fundraisers throughout our community and searching for sponsors, however I think it will be nearly impossible to raise $3,600 because of the financial situation here in Moldova, so I am asking for your help! Would you be willing to donate a few dollars to help my students go to EuroFest? If yes, please check out this website: http://cristyhickson.chipin.com/odyssey-of-the-mind-eurofest. A few people have been unable to donate using this site, if that is the case you can also donate using PayPal (my account is under my email, hickson.crystal@gmail.com) or you can mail a check to my sister’s address (531 Compass Road, Baltimore, MD 21220) and she will deposit it in my checking account.




For students from Moldova to achieve something so great is wonderful.  And it is unfortunate that the poverty in this nation is keeping these kids from being able to follow through on this all the way to the end.  I encourage anyone with some extra cash to please help out these students.  Maybe skip that morning latte?  Eat at home tonight?  These students worked so hard and it would be sad for them not to be able to represent their country at this international event.

Italy!!!

Canal in Venice

View from the bus station

Rialto Bridge

Jackie and me at the Bridge of Sighs

Wall of masks

Pompeii

Pompeii

Making a wish at the Trevi

Trevie

There was a surprising amount of pagan art at the Vatican

Just looks 3D, artist had skills

Famous philosophers

Double helix staircase in Vatican

St. Peter's sqaure

St. Teresa, patron saint of social workers

Swiss guard

Castel san Angelo

St. Peter's basilica from the Castel

Mine?

Colosseum

Colosseum, with a small bit of restoration at the far side

Roman Forum, ruins of the house of the Vestal Virgins

What's that singing?

On Fridays I teach three lessons at the school.  I have Class 7, then a two hour break, then Class 5, and finally Class 6.  During my break I always hang out in the teacher's lounge and read and eat my lunch.  I'm usually the only person in there as well.

Today I was hanging out, reading my Kindle, when I heard some really pretty singing coming from the corridor.  At first I figured it was probably the music class or maybe the religion class, so I didn't pay any mind.  Then I realized that it couldn't be the classes because 1) there were only two singers and 2) they were both adult voices.

While I'm sitting there trying to imagine what could be going on the door is suddenly pulled open and in walks the village priest (whom I've never be introduced to), a young boy carrying a bucket of holy water, and a nun.  The priest paused to say good morning to me, then continued singing and anointing the room with holy water, using a bundle of twigs to spray it.  Before I could decide if I should move or get up I had been sprayed down and they continued on their way.

I sat there for a minute unsure of what to do.  The vice principal who had come in behind them said "Don't be mad" and walked out.  A few minutes later I just started laughing.  I guess this is just something I can check off my experience list for Moldova.



Blessed by village priest.