Let the Games Begin

Сейчас, мы начинаем.

Good bye, my beautiful family! You are so loved 🙂

Let me give you the lowdown on life so far. Barring the possibility that I may never get used to this time schedule, Кишинёв is excellent. The Untouchables is a surprisingly great movie to watch on an airplane and in the morning I will almost certainly drink tea. That’s life.

Also, I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to people on airplanes. I meet the nicest people on airplanes and this trend leads me to believe that people on airplanes are universally considerate. At least the ones I sit next to. The man who was so kind? Well, sir, you know who you are.

I remember telling you last year that I bought my suitcases (bright red with gold elephants) so that they wouldn’t get lost. So much for forethought. I guess it doesn’t matter how gaudy and ostentatious your bags are. They will get lost. Both bags were lost plus the other 30+ of my compatriots. Not to worry, though. Even when bad things happen, good things are sure to follow. Delightful efficiency in the return of all bags just a few hours ago.

Very clever. I see what you did there.

Today was my second day in Moldova, and I have to at least try and express my awe at how beautiful the city is. As I put it today, it looks like nature is busting it’s way out of the concrete. It is colorful and bright and generally conducive to adventures (read: I will be getting lost). As of yet, I have not much interacted with the locals besides my host family. Today we had an arrival orientation (No river swimming. If I got anything it was that.) and then a historical tour of the city, of which I will post photos below.

The Eternal Flame at the War Memorial

The “pillars” are rifles surrounding the flame. Very imposing, and humbling to be sure

In any case, I adore my host family already and will make every effort to communicate this throughout the next four and half months. There really are wonderful people all over the world. Perhaps they should have a convention so they all can get together sometime.

The best part is, having a 5-year-old sister seems to mean that you get fresh flowers in your room everyday. She is precious…one of those little girls you write books about. I knew I liked her when I heard her watching The Animaniacs last night. I didn’t even know that show was still running.

Darling girl brought me these yesterday

Thank you, kind world! You are too often mistaken for cruel…but this is a wonderful place to give me a break. Cue Annie music, “I know I’m goooonnnna like it here!”

Best to you and yours.
From Кишинёв with Love,
Anna