Vacanță - Christmas Eve

The first semester ended last Friday, and as I posted in Facebook, it was a semester that I will remember for a very long time. It's very hard to believe that I've been in Moldova a little over 6 months now. It seems like at least 3 or 4 years have passed. Each day zips by, but continues to be packed to the hilt.

And now, while the students are on vacation, I get a brief respite to gather my energy for the next semester. Yet, there is still so much to do. I am planning classes for the next semester, trying to decide which play to perform for English week in April, making plans for an upcoming training for the Peace Corps which will take place the middle of January, and even in my dreams I am teaching English.

Still, I'm making time to relax as well:
Christmas Eve was spent at Jennifer's apartment. Jennifer and her boyfriend Kit (both volunteers as well) hosted an incredible dinner for a number of other volunteers to celebrate the holidays. For volunteers faced with the potential of being alone on Christmas Eve (in Moldova, Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January by most people), this was so incredibly wonderful. And it was made even more wonderful with the terrific company and great food! A heartfelt thank you to Jennifer, Kit, James, Richard, Darnell, Matt, Laura, Natashia, Andy and Alexandra for a lovely celebration!

Jennifer assists while Andy carves



Kit carves the roast beast

There was roast duck, the requisite mashed potatoes, salads, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp scampi and other goodies that we don't often get to eat here in Moldova. For dessert, Jennifer made fudge and Christmas cookies!

Then, we had a magical surprise with three children knocking on the door to come in and sing us colindas or Christmas carols. All in all a magical night.