Putting Moldova on the Map : And we back

Okay enough about Italy. I still have a little over a month to get Moldova on the map.
Being back has been surreal, like in my mind when I got on the plane leaving Italy, I thought that I was on the plane home. But, then we landing in Chisinau and I was like, ''Right. Moldova. Here we go.''

Okay, so here we go.

Things that happened that you might care to know about but maybe not:
That first day back I mostly napped and got resettled in. I was extremely grateful that my boss didn't have me come in that day because I was exhausted from only getting three hours of sleep the night before.
Work the next day was uneventful, I think I was still in post-Italy shock from having achieved my life goal of seeing Venice. Wednesday night, us American girls went to a traditional Russian-Romanian restaurant to celebrate Lauren's birthday (American Embassy amigo)! The food was so great, but ordering was tough because even though the menu was in English, we didn't know what any of the dishes were.
Wednesday, Inga and Ana-Maria brought home the biggest crate of raspberries I've ever seen. They were so good. I was a raspberry fiend, I couldn't eat them fast enough. Just reiterating that Moldovan fruits and vegetables blow our tasteless American (or imported) ones out of the park. The fresh produce is reason enough for me to stay in Moldova forever.
Only joking. Don't worry Zach.
I crack myself up.
Anyways! The raspberries were amazing. Then Thursday, the host sisters just had to top the previous day's produce with these super sweet black cherries. I feel like I'm constantly blogging about the food here, but it really is good.
With all this food I've been eating, of course I have to workout!
*sigh*
So I've begun running in the mornings, yesterday waking up at 5:30 for a long jog before work. I think I only saw one other runner out, everyone else gave me pretty funny looks... like ''Who is this weirdo American and why is she running''. My host sisters assured me that running isn't weird, but most people run in the parks or around the lake. Other than running, I am suppose to do body circuits and weights for rowing. Upon telling coach that I most likely wouldn't be able to do this in Moldova because it is just a developing country (though many of you would consider it more of a third world...) Coach told me that it wouldn't be an issue and that I would ''have to work on a creative training plan'' and I ''would be just like Rocky 4 where he uses all sorts of weird things to train in Serbia'' Hahahah, very funny coach. Yeah okay so I'm basically going to be the Moldovan Rocky. I plan to run the stairs of my apartment complex tomorrow. That should be fun.
Other fun things: Today I squished onto a bus that was packed to tightly that the doors kept closing on people, and the bus would begin to drive with the doors still open. Not going to lie, the door closed on me..and them my shoe got stuck in the door, and then I found myself near tumbling out of the rolling death machine that they call trolly buses here. That thing was more crammed that the center pit of a prep mixer (Philly Catholic school reference anyone?) But, in all seriousness, it was nuts, no one could move. Every time one person got off, six more would try (and astoundingly successfully) squeeze aboard. On the bright side I was so completely packed in that I wasn't able to fall every time the bus lurched (which is quite often. These bus drivers definitely value efficiency over comfort.)

Things I miss:
I never thought I would, but I miss summer swimming. Last year I coached, and before then I had swam on a summer team from age five. Summer swimming easily was an integral part of my childhood and not being a part of it is bitter sweet. It was absolutely time for me to grow up and let this part of my life go, but it stung a little hearing that last night was my siblings' first meet of the season. For the record, the Wescotts have always made up a big part of any swim team we've been on... we basically have a kid in each age group and at one point could fill two Wescott relay squads. SO to any of my swimming babes reading this, I was thinking of you all last night and hope you swam hard. Also @ Will Wescott, it's about time you break a pool record, I expect to hear big things when I get home!

That's all for today! It should be a busy weekend, but I'll try to keep up!