McLauchlan's Moldovan Musings "Top 10"

Inspired by the Late Show with David Letterman's "Top 10 Lists," I thought I would draft a "Top 10" list of my own.

The Top 10 Reasons this Fulbright to Moldova was the highlight of my academic career:


1) Serving as an international elections observer during the Constitutional Referendum in September and the Parliamentary Elections in November

2) Speaking at ULIM's Opening Ceremony, before the Rector of ULIM, the President of the Republic of Moldova, the distinguished faculty, and incoming students

3) Taking my students on a field trip to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Moldova and meeting with its President

4) Sending Peggy to the International School, for her first real academic experience (Kindergarten!); having her study a foreign language at school, learning about other cultures and traditions, not just from books, but in real life! (I was also pleased that, for the first time, Peggy (a Florida native) lived in a place with seasons. We were in Moldova for summer, fall, and winter. She even was able to go sledding for the first (only) time in her life!)

5) Watching the 30-second TV ad that a group of women students in my Campaigns and Elections in the United States course created for "The Feminist Initiative Party"

6) Teaching at ULIM and working with such bright and interesting students and colleagues. So many memorable exchanges! I was especially proud of my students' participation in the simulations (the mock U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing and the mock U.S. Supreme Court Oral Argument). I feel truly blessed to have been assigned to ULIM. And kudos to the Office of International Cooperation and its Vice Rector and staff!

7) Working with colleagues (many of whom were Fulbright alumni) at the American Studies Center at Moldova State University, especially having the opportunity to participate in the conference on "Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement"

8) Living in the City Center, in the perfect apartment, overlooking the courtyard of ULIM, with easy access to to all of the restaurants and festivals and parks and playgrounds in the vibrant Chisinau downtown

9) Traveling around Moldova delivering guest lectures, especially the opportunities that I had to visit the U.S. Embassy's "American Corners"

10) Learning more about the history, politics, and culture of Moldova. Tasting Moldovan cuisine. Visiting Moldovan landmarks: the monasteries, vineyards, courthouses, museums, theaters.... Making Moldovan friends!


And here's a link to David Letterman's Top 10:

http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/top_ten/

KIV: Take 3

At 2:45 AM, the taxi arrived, and we made our third trip to the Chisinau airport (KIV). For the third time, we loaded all of our luggage into the taxi. And waved Good Bye/La Revedere to our favorite Chisinau landmarks. Wondering if this time, all would go smoothly with our flights home.

We arrived, checked in, went through passport control, security, the waiting area, got on the shuttle bus out to the tarmac. Wow. Could it be that we were actually getting on the plane to head home to Florida? We had been frustrated that things didn't go as planned. That we had shut down our apartment and turned over the keys, only to find that we needed a place to stay. That my parents were in Florida for a visit, but we were not. That Ramsay's parents were expecting us for a holiday visit that would also be delayed.

But here we were, actually on the shuttle to the plane. Which was actually on the tarmac, waiting for us to board. And it was sad.

We had a long day, a very long day, of travel ahead of us. And unlike to flight TO Europe, much of which was overnight, this trip home would take place entirely during waking hours. We had quite a large bag of activities and toys and treats. As it turned out, the flight home did not have the nifty video players at each seat. But we didn't need videos, when we had coloring books and paper dolls. Peggy was happy and entertained the entire trip, which included a very long layover in Frankfurt. She is a great travel companion, and I am so happy she came along with me for this grand adventure.

Sleepover!

As if getting to see Tangled (in Russian) again -- and sledding for the first time! -- were not enough, the fun on our bonus day in Chisinau continued when another friend from school came over to join the girls for a sleepover.

Using a projector, the living room was transformed into a movie theater. (Barbie's Christmas Carol!) And the girls enjoyed hot cocoa and other treats. Yum!

We needed to get up at 2:30 AM for our taxi to the airport. And Peggy's friends got up in the middle of the night to say Good Bye.

Was it really Good-Bye this time?? We would only know for sure when we got to the AirMoldova check-in desk . . .

Рапунцель / Tangled (2010) Russian trailer

Tangled!

We had been wanting to go back to Mall-Dova to see Tangled in Russian again, one more time before we left. This was our big plan for Christmas day, but, the timing just didn't work out.

But, here we were, with a bonus day in Chisinau! So, off we went to Moldova with our friends to see Tangled! Even better, they speak Russian so we were able to get some assistance with translation

Sledding in Chisinau!

After we returned to our friends' home, the stress of the airport saga melted away and we very much enjoyed our visit.

Monday evening, it started to snow, and it snowed through the night. Several inches. Everything looked so beautiful and peaceful, covered in a blanket of white snow. (Here is a photo of the back garden)

There was only one thing to do: Go SLEDDING!

Peggy had *never* been sledding in her life. I can't remember the last time I went sledding, but it could have been 30 years ago. I had been hoping that Peggy would have a chance to go sledding while we were in Moldova, but it just never worked out.

Here we were, with this extra bonus day in Chisinau, and we were able to go sledding with our friends!

Turns out that the park behind the American Resource Center has some great hills for just this purpose

Wow! Did we have fun! What a treat!

Peggy rolled over her first 2 times and wanted to give up. Then our Swedish friends gave her some tips, and on the third time, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Sledding!!