Monday, May 28th, 2012:
Today a party was held for one of the teachers. She is now old enough to collect a pension. The age for receiving one's pension is 57 for women and 62 for men in Moldova. Most teachers seem to continue working after they start receiving their pension, like my partner teacher.
Many former teachers came to the party. The celebration started with a skit which resembled Little Red Riding Hood. The teacher whose party it was played little red riding hood. Another teacher played her mother, the director played her grandmother, and her husband played the wolf. I think the dialogue had to do with reaching retirement though I am not sure because it was in Romanian and I didn't understand everything.
After the skit, teachers presented the woman with bread, flowers, and one other thing. Each item symbolized something that the teachers wanted for the teacher whose party it was. I don't remember what each thing symbolized, but I think it was basically health and happiness. The teacher was also given money collected from each of the teachers earlier in the day.
Then, it was time to eat. Tables were set up in one of the classrooms. On the table were sausage, cake, placinta, vegetables, candy, fruit, wine, water, cognac, salad, and sarmale. The food was pretty typical for a masa (feast). We ate for a while and then various people stood up and gave toasts. First, retired teachers spoke and then a representative from each of the departments. The school is divided into roughly 4 departments. The departments are languages, maths and sciences, primary classes, and arts and technology.
It was an interesting experience. I don't know exactly what retirement parties are like in the US, but it seems like the one in Moldova was a bigger deal.
Thursday, May 31st, 2012: Last Bell
Thursday is the last day of school in Moldova. Instead of classes, there was an assembly outside in front of the school. The students formed a "U" around the front steps by class, with their class teacher and parents behind them. The teachers without a class stood at the end of the U across from the 1st and 2nd grade classes. At the assembly, some students spoke and the 12th grade class stood on the steps. All of the 12th graders were wearing red sashes with something in Romanian and the year 2012 written on them. The second major thing that happened was the handing out of diplomas. The director and one of her assistants read names of students by class who deserved a diploma. In primary school, it seemed like all of the students from the class got one, while in the older classes, only the best students did. Diplomas were also given out to parents who had been especially helpful to the school and there were special diplomas from the various competitions and contests that had taken place throughout the year. After the diplomas had been given out, the two parents of the 12th graders spoke. One of them spoke in Russian and the other spoke in Romanian. Then two students from 9th form spoke. Again, one of them spoke in Russian and the other spoke in Romanian. After them, some of the siblings of the 12th graders spoke and wished their older siblings luck on the bac. The BAC, or Baccaleurate, is the graduation exam. Students take it after the school year has ended. It consists of a test in Math, Foreign language, an elective, and a science.
After the people spoke, the 12th graders danced. The MC called it a "flash mob." Several songs were played, one of which was the chicken dance although the words were in Russian. After the flash mob, there was some more dancing and speaking and then the 12th graders released doves and pigeons into the air. The whole thing ended with the mayor speaking and dancing the hora. The assembly lasted a little over an hour.
After some waiting around, the teachers had their won celebration which consisted of champagne and food. Then it was time to go home.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
A Moldovan Wedding
5/12/2012: Moldovan Wedding
Today I went to a wedding. It was basically just the reception part. I guess only a small group of people go to the ceremony at the church. We left the house at about 7:30pm and walked to the bar where it took place. Even though we arrived at 8:00, we were some of the first people there. Most people arrived later, with some arriving after 10pm. While we waited for other guests to arrive, we danced. Most of the dancing involved a moving circle. One of the dances we did is the hora.
After the rest of the guests arrived, we went inside to have some food at around 12pm. I though it was the main part of the meal, but it was actually just the appetizer. We ate for a bit, and while we were eating, some of the guests chanted for the bride and groom to kiss. The guests then counted how long the couple kissed for. They did this a few times. After some eating, people went back outside to dance. One of the dances they did is called the penguin Dance. There was about an hour of dancing between the appetizer and the hot food. The hot food consisted of Moldovan sarmale (rice inside a cabbage leaf), and blini. Blini are kind of like crepes, but thicker. These ones were filled with sweet brinza (a type of fresh, soft cheese).
We ate for a while and then people started giving gifts to the bride and groom. One group of people gave the couple a new flat screen TV. Before they gave it to them, they danced around with it. People danced with the other gifts they were giving too. Then, people toasted and gave the couple money. The amounts ranged from 1,000 dollars to 100 dollars. People gave both euros and dollars. After the people who wanted to say something gave their money, the wedding party went around with a white floral basket and collected money from each of the tables. It reminded me a little of collection at a church. This took place at about 2:30am. After the money was done being given and the toasting was over, the three of us (my host mother, my host sister, and myself) went home (at around 3am). Apparently the dancing usually continues until 6am. All of us were too tired to stay until then however. Overall it was an interesting experience. It wasn't that much different than a reception in the US, although the length and timing certainly was.
Today I went to a wedding. It was basically just the reception part. I guess only a small group of people go to the ceremony at the church. We left the house at about 7:30pm and walked to the bar where it took place. Even though we arrived at 8:00, we were some of the first people there. Most people arrived later, with some arriving after 10pm. While we waited for other guests to arrive, we danced. Most of the dancing involved a moving circle. One of the dances we did is the hora.
After the rest of the guests arrived, we went inside to have some food at around 12pm. I though it was the main part of the meal, but it was actually just the appetizer. We ate for a bit, and while we were eating, some of the guests chanted for the bride and groom to kiss. The guests then counted how long the couple kissed for. They did this a few times. After some eating, people went back outside to dance. One of the dances they did is called the penguin Dance. There was about an hour of dancing between the appetizer and the hot food. The hot food consisted of Moldovan sarmale (rice inside a cabbage leaf), and blini. Blini are kind of like crepes, but thicker. These ones were filled with sweet brinza (a type of fresh, soft cheese).
We ate for a while and then people started giving gifts to the bride and groom. One group of people gave the couple a new flat screen TV. Before they gave it to them, they danced around with it. People danced with the other gifts they were giving too. Then, people toasted and gave the couple money. The amounts ranged from 1,000 dollars to 100 dollars. People gave both euros and dollars. After the people who wanted to say something gave their money, the wedding party went around with a white floral basket and collected money from each of the tables. It reminded me a little of collection at a church. This took place at about 2:30am. After the money was done being given and the toasting was over, the three of us (my host mother, my host sister, and myself) went home (at around 3am). Apparently the dancing usually continues until 6am. All of us were too tired to stay until then however. Overall it was an interesting experience. It wasn't that much different than a reception in the US, although the length and timing certainly was.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Victory Day
May 9, 2012: Victory Day
May 9th is Victory Day in Europe. The holiday commemorates the end of World War II in Europe. Because of the holiday, I did not have school. Instead, I went to a celebration in the center of the village. It took place in front of a statue dedicated to those who had died in World War II and other wars that Moldova fought in. Veterans of World War II sat in front of the crowd. The celebration began with a speech by the mayor. Then there was some singing. Some students also spoke. It seemed like they were reciting something. There was also a lot of dancing from various age groups. In general it was interesting, although I had seen some of the dances before. A couple of the songs that the students danced to were in English. In Moldova, V-E day seems to be a lot more important than it is in the US, although we have memorial day.
May 9th is Victory Day in Europe. The holiday commemorates the end of World War II in Europe. Because of the holiday, I did not have school. Instead, I went to a celebration in the center of the village. It took place in front of a statue dedicated to those who had died in World War II and other wars that Moldova fought in. Veterans of World War II sat in front of the crowd. The celebration began with a speech by the mayor. Then there was some singing. Some students also spoke. It seemed like they were reciting something. There was also a lot of dancing from various age groups. In general it was interesting, although I had seen some of the dances before. A couple of the songs that the students danced to were in English. In Moldova, V-E day seems to be a lot more important than it is in the US, although we have memorial day.
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