Life in Moldova has been different than anything I expected. Let’s just say, I have realized that there is a lot my 16 years of schooling failed to teach me.
Like how to sift through concrete rocks using an old bedspring.
And so although I completed my bachelor’s degree in a rather useful area of study, the Moldovan life has brought on its own form of an education.
First came the knowledge associated with construction:
-How to shovel rocks with both a scooper shovel and a spade shovel
-In fact, even knowing the difference between the two
-The systematic science to demolishing a house
-Doing so in a way to conserve as many of the resources as possible
-Placing rocks between concrete layers for a fence foundation
The most important lesson I learned on the construction site was very easily “brains over brawn.” Turns out, I had neither… And so I took to the apprenticeship of Pastor Vasile who taught me how to properly use each tool (disclaimer; this was not an official apprenticeship, it was more so self-proclaimed). Still, work was a struggle during my construction days. I got done in a day’s work what Pastor Vasile could get done in 10 minutes. Thank the Lord he had patience with us unexperienced Americans.
But then came the knowledge associated with “working the land”:
-Using a sickle to weed an obnoxiously over-grown lawn
-Using a ho too, but I gave up on that quickly
-Shucking corn
-How doing so tears up one’s hands
-Picking grapes
-Using one’s apron as a grape basket during the process
I found that I was better at these jobs than those at the construction sites. But still, I continued to work so much slower than the native Moldovans (as is expected).
Sidenote: my favorite of all these was picking grapes to then be sold to winemakers. I settled well into that job assignment and was even told by Pastor Tudor that I looked Moldovan with my apron full of grapes. It helped that we got to eat as many grapes as we wanted on the job 🙂
And, of course, the knowledge associated with cooking and food:
-It is not littering to throw an apple core or a watermelon peel into a field
-Honey crystalizes when left out for a long long time, and is apparently very healthy with vitamins
-Cocoa powder mixed with honey tastes like homemade chocolate
-Compote is made by boiling fruit and sugar water together and jarring for a long time
-Raspberry jam has a 1kg of raspberries to 1kg of sugar ratio
-Manka is best made with a 2 big-mugs of milk to ½ small-teacup of gris ratio
-Mammasomethingsomething (forgot the name) is most easily cut with a piece of string
-Plums are amazing but one must abide by the 5 plum per meal limit (exceptions can be made)
-It’s always a fair assumption that people feed you a feast when you help them work
-The quickest way to cut a “watermill” (what Moldovans call watermelon with their accent)
-Placinte is a national favorite pastry
-Fruit crepes exist this far east
And to be honest, the list could go on… We have been treated to a lot of amazing food this month.
But something I realized this month, and more towards the end of our time here, is that one learns a lot just from conversations with people. From the elderly couple from Ukraine who originally moved to Moldova because the Soviet Union sent them here for a job assignment. From Pastor Vasile who spent several years in the U.S. decades ago, became a U.S. citizen, but returned to Moldova because of God’s calling. From the friends we made in Chisinau, who work for Campus Crusade and minister to students who were raised to care only about the appearance they portray. From students themselves, who aim to leave Moldova because although there is work, salaries do not match the cost of living. From our interpreter Anya who is ethnically Armenian and brought her brother and mother to Christ after finding faith of her own. From the Swiss missionaries Simona and Tobias who rejected their seemingly comfortable life in Switzerland to live out of a trailer truck in Moldova just to spread the Gospel to the community of Ungheni. Again, the list could go on…
And I’ve come to understand that my education hasn’t stopped. Each day, I’m still learning things I never knew I didn’t know. And through all this, through these lessons and these stories, my perception of this world is being constantly opened to greater expanses. And it’s beautiful.
“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” -1 Thessalonians 2:8
