Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! It finally happened. 23 February 2007, and we have snow in my part of Moldova (up North). Not a tremendous amount, maybe 2-3 inches, but still—it’s the good white stuff and it is covering the ground—works for me. What a wonderful surprise to wake up to this morning!
Although it wasn’t completely a surprise because SOMEONE not to mention any names, sent me an email yesterday saying that it would snow today. Having spent my childhood hanging all my hopes for a snow day on this same person’s advice, I knew it to be true, anticipated it even before the Romanian radio told us it was going to happen, and then rejoiced when it began to fall.
Yes, my dad is a weather junkie. And yes, I grew up with a crush on paul cozin (spelling) because that was always the show we watched together in the winter (and he was a good one to rely on to find out about snow). But I think it is nice. When I was at college in NY, and I am sure now for Greg in Delaware, dad always tells us the weather—what is going to be happening where we are. Now he checks the weather for me in Moldova. And I am sure when Greg was in Brazil, dad was up on the weather conditions there. It is something I got so used to growing up, and I appreciated it then, as I was always (usually) dressed for the correct weather. But I can appreciate it more now. When I don’t have the weather channel to watch. And cannot understand Russian weather broadcasts. And although in Moldova it is only changing between “cold”, “colder” and “freezing” right now—it is still a nice feeling to know you are being looked after. Even though we are far away… like the corny John Mayer says “So I'll check the weather wherever you are, Cause I wanna know if you can see the stars tonight, Might be my only right…” Weather bug’s got nothing on Dad. And just so you know, dad, you have forever impeded my own ability to tell the weather myself, and thus have landed yourself a job for life.
Anyway, more on the SNOWFALL!
This was honestly a joyous occasion. Because, as you know I love snow, but also, because everyone here, and I mean EVERYONE, knows that I have been waiting for snow since I got here. My host mother woke me up early this morning to show me the snow. And at noon, my host brother called me to tell me congratulations that it snowed! (he speaks English well. Although, as we have discussed in the past, they don’t use the English word “congratulations” correctly). And we had a bet going about whether or not it would snow this winter. Anyway. When I saw my favorite kids on the street—everyone was telling me it snowed (as if I couldn’t see it) or, FINIALLY it snowed! So be happy! And I was.
Until my partner left me in the mayor’s office for two hours alone. Great, right. She kept popping in and telling me to wait a little bit more. When I could have been playing in the snow! Argh! I am very annoyed with her and we keep flip flopping. I thought we had had a productive conversation this week, about planning and sticking to a schedule and meeting more often. But when I called her today after work to ask why she abandoned me at the mayor’s office (I said this nicer), she was very defensive and wouldn’t slow down her speech (it is hard to understand Romanian over the telephone). So I just don’t know what to do with her. She has no time for me. How am I supposed to work with her? Who knows. Arghwiejr (that’s my unpronounceable sound for the day).
Anyway, today was another interesting day in Moldova. Or at least in my opinion. So this morning when walking to work I realized that people were wearing little red flowers pinned on their coats. Kind of like they did on Valentine’s day. But in general, today, I was only seeing men where this decoration. Confused at what seemed to be an emerging fashion trend… I asked someone what was going on. They said it was the day of the red army. Not really being awake enough to understand. I continued on. Then I realized I didn’t know what the day of the red army was. So I asked a lady I was sitting with at the Mayor’s office. And she said today was the day of the Soviet Union Army. Okay, makes sense. So why are people wearing red flowers? Apparently it’s like Men’s day. Or that’s what they said. Kind of like father’s day mixed with veteran’s day Or at least that is how I understood this. Anyone with a history book can probably correct me.
So I was confused, being that Moldova is no longer part of the USSR. Why are we celebrating today? (people were drinking, dancing, and having other great forms of celebrating). After asking other volunteers, and getting only blank responses as to what they were doing to celebrate today, I have concluded that today is a non-official holiday. It was official when Moldova was part of the USSR. And it is now not a holiday. But, as I am inclined to believe, my town is a communist stronghold…. And leans more towards Russia than it ever will towards Moldova itself. Why? Who knows. But as far as I am concerned, we can celebrate red army day every year as long as it leads to yummy food, interesting discussion, and Moldovans debating amongst themselves the significance of the day. When things aren’t clear, that is when they start to get interesting.
So happy red army day to you, too! (you can celebrate yourself by buying a man a red flower, drinking, or reminiscing about the days of yore. When everyone had bread… )
This entry was posted
on Friday, February 23, 2007 at 1:00 PM.
