The 5 Senses: Moldova Style

After living in Moldova for ten years now, I've experienced many weird, random, and wonderful things. Here are some that I'd like to share with you.

Seen: 

• I just cannot for the life of me, get that picture of the old man riding a bicycle down the road...in his speedo like it was the normal thing to do, out of my head. (I'm sorry, no pictures. I don't want to scar the rest of you.)
• People with stories to tell. 
  
• Freedom Home growing and saving lives. 

• Geese in a crate on top of a car, one horse open sleighs, and animal "traffic jams" are normal sightings in Moldova. 
  

Smelled: 

• Oh, that wonderful smell of body odor on a public bus that seats 15, but carries 40 or more...and they refuse to open the windows even in the summer. 
• How about that moonshine our neighbors make every fall? It smells awful. Even with the windows shut, you still smell it. 
• Outhouses, lovingly referred to as squatty-potties. That one word makes my body shudder. I swear, every time I have to go in one, they just get worse and worse.
    

Felt: 

• Mud, mud, mud. Moldova is sometimes referred to as Mudova. That is because when it rains, there is no escaping the mud. And it is not the sandy type of mud that doesn't stick. No, it's like clay. And when you walk, it continues and continues to build up. By the time you are done with walking through it, you've grown 6 inches! 
• The soft, silky lambs wool as I held a 6 week old lamb in the village...and then I felt horrified when they wanted to give it to me...after they butchered it. I had just held it! How was I supposed to eat it after that? 
• Love-that's the feeling I get inside of me every time I go to Freedom Home and see those precious kids. I just love their smiles, giggles, and hugs. 
  
  

Tasted: 

• Oh my, I wish I could bring you all here and give you a Moldovan peach. You have never tasted anything like it. Sweet, juicy, humongous, and amazing. I have to admit that when August comes, I eat about 10 peaches a day. They are just so good. 
  
• Moldovan tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, watermelon. When raspberry season comes around, we buy crates full. We have apple trees in our backyard. I don't think I'll ever love another piece of fruit as much as I love one that comes from Moldova. They are delicious. 
• Haladets (холодец) - You will never want to eat this. Our nickname for it is Chicken Fat Jello. Yep, now you understand why you wouldn't want to eat it. 

Heard: 

• Just imagine you are me for a minute--sleeping soundly in your cozy room. It's Saturday and you don't plan on getting up until 10. It's 6 AM, so you still have time to go. And then you hear this scary horrible, hideous, appalling (and the list could go on) sound. Now what could that be? Oh, it's just the neighbors killing their pig. The pig was definitely very alive as it met it's end. I just wish I had taped it and could insert an audio clip for all of you to enjoy. 

I hope you all enjoyed that little peek into Moldova. Yes, some aren't that enjoyable, but I love Moldova anyways!