Getting the hang of things

This day had the same schedule as Monday for the volunteers going to the hospital and the school. During the morning meeting we also made a plan to go to an Italian restaurant for the evening meal. Mihaela went to the school with the teaching volunteers and Dan went to the hospital with the volunteers caring for the children. Teaching went more smoothly for Rich and me. We are beginning to get the hang of things! Lori has loaned us some of the game to play with the students and that is a big help. Flexibility is the key. Today Lori learned a new Romanian word, insecta, which means “insect” in English. Some verbs are close to English, too, but most are very different.

The hospital volunteers found things a little more difficult today. The kids slept more, seeming to be tired out from the all the activity and stimulation by the volunteers on Monday. The children also cried more today when the volunteers left. Delia, daughter of Dan and Mihaela, is with us much of the time. She is delightful! Her English skills are above average because of her exposure to the Global Volunteers.

Hotel Moldova is better than our expectations. It is clean, has nice bathrooms, and we get fresh towels daily. The restaurant has good food.

Today was also a pastry day. Both groups went to the Berlin Café; the teaching volunteers went with the school principal where they were privileged to hear Mr. Stefanik’s memories of the revolution and how it played out in Bârlad. The evening meal at Trattoria da Vinci was especially good. The team members are having fun getting to know each other better.  Good communication!

Entry submitted by: Margaret

Message of the Day – Corey: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson