Our
time in Romania has come to an end. We
left at 3 am Sunday morning and began our 14 hour van ride to Chisinau, Moldova
where we met up with our entire squad for one night. After a cultural debrief we
once again packed up our bags and hopped on a bus to Censua where my team will
be spending the next two weeks. Somehow
Eastern Europe turned into Africa during our four hour long bus ride. The ride was only supposed to be an hour and
half now that I think about it. Only in
Africa does time not mean a thing and you can normally expect to double or
triple each hour from what you have originally been told. So anyway, I’m now back in Africa um, I mean
Moldova and I’m in yet another outhouse squatting over yet another hole in the
ground.
time in Romania has come to an end. We
left at 3 am Sunday morning and began our 14 hour van ride to Chisinau, Moldova
where we met up with our entire squad for one night. After a cultural debrief we
once again packed up our bags and hopped on a bus to Censua where my team will
be spending the next two weeks. Somehow
Eastern Europe turned into Africa during our four hour long bus ride. The ride was only supposed to be an hour and
half now that I think about it. Only in
Africa does time not mean a thing and you can normally expect to double or
triple each hour from what you have originally been told. So anyway, I’m now back in Africa um, I mean
Moldova and I’m in yet another outhouse squatting over yet another hole in the
ground.
Here are my thoughts:
“After sixmonths of squatting over toilets and holes, I really should have this thing
down to perfection. How is it I am still
worried about peeing on my feet and I still can’t keep my balance without holding
the dirty wall in front of me?” (tip:
squat as low as possible keeping pant legs right around the knees to avoid any
accidents.)
“It sure would
be nice to wash my hands after I finish up in here. There’s no running water though, or
soap. I guess I could walk to the well
to get some water but it’s really, really cold. I could heat it but wait, there’s no gas for our stove. Aaaah, well, there’s always tomorrow.” (tip: hand
sanitizer only works three times in a row. After that, better find some soap.)
be nice to wash my hands after I finish up in here. There’s no running water though, or
soap. I guess I could walk to the well
to get some water but it’s really, really cold. I could heat it but wait, there’s no gas for our stove. Aaaah, well, there’s always tomorrow.” (tip: hand
sanitizer only works three times in a row. After that, better find some soap.)
“How many days
have I been wearing these clothes now? 4
I think. And I haven’t showered in the
same amount of time. And now I discover
we won’t have access to hot showers for another 13 days. Can I go 17 days without a shower? That’s a new high. I wonder if I’ll change my clothes between
now and then. They are comfortable and the
warmest I have. Probably not.” (tip: as you step
into your hot, steamy showers today and have a warm, fluffy towel awaiting you
be very, very grateful.)
have I been wearing these clothes now? 4
I think. And I haven’t showered in the
same amount of time. And now I discover
we won’t have access to hot showers for another 13 days. Can I go 17 days without a shower? That’s a new high. I wonder if I’ll change my clothes between
now and then. They are comfortable and the
warmest I have. Probably not.” (tip: as you step
into your hot, steamy showers today and have a warm, fluffy towel awaiting you
be very, very grateful.)
Welcome to an inside look
at our first two days in Moldova. It
feels like I took a step back 100 years. I have only seen one car as most people use horse and carriages for
transportation. It’s pretty here though, sort of looks like a gloomy fairy
tale. The sunsets and star filled skies
may have Africa beat. This is looking to
be our roughest living conditions yet but we can handle anything for two weeks,
right?
at our first two days in Moldova. It
feels like I took a step back 100 years. I have only seen one car as most people use horse and carriages for
transportation. It’s pretty here though, sort of looks like a gloomy fairy
tale. The sunsets and star filled skies
may have Africa beat. This is looking to
be our roughest living conditions yet but we can handle anything for two weeks,
right?
One more fun
fact for all my dear readers: we walked
to “town” yesterday to stock up on groceries. Town ended up being one teeny-tiny grocery store with very limited
amounts of food. We stocked up on enough
pasta to last a week and when the team was told they could each pick out a
small treat, Tyler chose a battery. (That’s how you know desperation on the race has reached a new high!) On the way home, I stepped in the hugest pile
of cow manure I have ever seen. I
somehow managed to squish it between all 5 of my toes and all throughout my
flip-flop. Did I mention I have no idea
when I will get to shower next?
fact for all my dear readers: we walked
to “town” yesterday to stock up on groceries. Town ended up being one teeny-tiny grocery store with very limited
amounts of food. We stocked up on enough
pasta to last a week and when the team was told they could each pick out a
small treat, Tyler chose a battery. (That’s how you know desperation on the race has reached a new high!) On the way home, I stepped in the hugest pile
of cow manure I have ever seen. I
somehow managed to squish it between all 5 of my toes and all throughout my
flip-flop. Did I mention I have no idea
when I will get to shower next?
These are the moments I am going to miss. I come home in less than three weeks and
cannot believe how quickly time has flown. I can’t wait to catch up each of you back home who have loved and
encouraged me throughout this crazy journey. See you soon!
cannot believe how quickly time has flown. I can’t wait to catch up each of you back home who have loved and
encouraged me throughout this crazy journey. See you soon!
