Putting Moldova on the Map : Happy One-Month Moldova

Moldova is bae.
I sort of hate myself for saying that, and mom and dad you guys probably have no idea what that even means, so let me try a rephrase.
Moldova has become somewhat of a second home. I am definitely really comfortable here. I've fallen into a daily rhythm: Run, Eat, Bus, Work, Lunch, Work, Wander, Bus, Eat, Sleep, repeat.
I no longer stress the little things like .. Will I catch the bus? (Yes.. and there will always be another one) will people try to speak to me in Romanian? (Probably! But i have the statement "No vorbesc Roman" down stat) Does my boss hate me? (nope, she just recognizes that I'm temporary and there isn't much work for me) Am I going to be attacked by gypsies? (Ha no) How will I order lunch? (we do a lot of pointing at menus) How bad is my Romanian? (really bad)
But, I just realize how all these little things really don't matter. How my small life and little mistakes barely affect any of these Moldovans... except maybe the waitresses who get frustrated when we don't know what to order because the menu is in Russian (oops). I don't really sweat the small things here, I know I look dumb taking silly pictures or butchering simple Romanian phrases --- but that's really okay. That's not really what matters here.. or anywhere for that matter. Funny how it took me flying to the opposite corner of the world for this to really sink in.
Returning home will be very strange, as this strange Moldovan lifestyle has become my reality.
What I once considered so strange and foreign has become my normal.
Mikayla and I were talking today about how week one there was so much to blog about. We took pictures of absolutely everything... like even the simplest things. I walked the streets so wide-eyed and naive. In a way, I still with I had that initial awe of being a first time traveler. Then again, I am so proud of everything I've learned and all the little challenges i've had to figure out.
Travel is really an amazing thing.

So enough sentimental things and more of me being my silly self.
Things that I still think are really strange in Moldova:
Kids and Smiling. It is pretty uncommon for strangers to exchange smiles, and definitely never a friendly "hello". But what really gets me as that the children don't usually return smiles either. When I see them on the bus on my early morning commute, I can't help but smile because they remind me so much of my little brothers. But every time they see me smiling, the either stare stoically back or say something to their parents who then shoot me an even more stoic look. The are probably asking why this strange rando is smiling at them. Yep, I'm basically a Moldovan creep.

Things that cracked me up.
Today Karina showed me the Lehigh study abroad instagram which has apparently been featuring all our photos! Very funny, I had no idea, but I am slightly flattered. Just putting Moldovan on the map.

Things that I am grateful for
I could make a really long list of things, but I just want to take a moment and talk about Ana who is my really amazing coworker. Ana is awesome, not only because she has this sick curly red hair, but she is just generally silly. We both joke about how disorganized everything is and how there is no work because of the general confusion of what people are even suppose to be doing. Ana is always translating things for me, keeping me in the office loop. She also helps me order lunch when we pick it up at the market. I sort of see her as my Moldovan big sister. She looks out for me and explains things that I just really did't understand about Moldovan. This whole explanation does't even do Ana justice. She's just really great, and I think we would have totally been good friends if we had gone to school together. Ana invited me to go this weekend to this National Moldovan Festival thing that is really cool, and I am just so excited! Ana is always full of suggestions of things to do in and around Moldova, and she is just really so sweet. #AnaAppreciationTweet

Also having work today! I was able to do small design projects using InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop! SO EXCITED TO WORK! Also to be doing something a little more related to my major. I had intended to apply to the engineering abroad internships, but must have completely mixed up the applications. Something went amiss because I had no intention of applying to an internship in Moldova. When I got my acceptance letter I was like... Moldova... where even is that?

All the same, even if by mistake, I am still just so happy to be here.

Lunch with Mikayla at Tucano... it's basically like Moldova's Starbucks except so much cheeper and tastes better. Another two points for you Moldova.

The fabulous sidewalk painting outside of Tucano.

Best 25 cents ever spent. Moldova is killing it with the pricing.

So we saw these fabulous dogs are the park today.

AND THEN WE GOT TO PET THEM

It really is the little things.

Work. Raluca is my boss (on the left with the blue shirt). Ana is the red-head not facing the camera, and other Anna is getting something out of the closet..

Our office is small, and we all work together that middle table. To me it seems much different from a traditional American office.