That which transcends language

Entry 1- Luni, Junie 15, 2009
There is no way to measure the importance of language, but it is much more necessary for expressive matters and is often unnecessary for things practical. I arrived here in Vasieni (i at the end is not pronounced) on Saturday night. Vasieni is a small but long village stretched along one long road through a tranquil valley of the Ialoveni Raion (county). This will be my PC-Training village for the entire summer. My host family are the Discusara’s: mama gazda Maria (host mother, 33), tata gazda Radu (host dad, 35) and fratele gazda Iulian (host brother, 8 yrs old) and Valentina (Radu‘s mother). Thanks to two days of crash course language training, upon my arrival I had about twenty Romanian phrases memorized. Most of which I had used up in introductions. After Radu helped me get my bags into my room Maria gave me a tour of the house and garden sounding out words as we went like soba (stove) or mazare (peas). Their garden (gradina) is quite extensive, probably about an acre with tomatoes, peas, chives, onions, beets, grapes (for homemade wine), strawberries, cucumbers, lettuce… and an apple and pare tree. Behind the house there is an WC enclosure with a fire stove and a tub. Behind that there is a small wooden outhouse They also have chickens, breed rabbits and have a scared but viscous dog (Jack-ila) that remains chained in the corner of the yard. Before I knew it the fifteen minute tour was complete and I was alone in my room unpacking. My room is about the size of Jess and my room back home. I have a wardrobe, a desk and a bed. I definitely feel spoiled because the house is made up primarily of three rooms, a room similar to mine in size with a much larger bed where Radu, Maria and Iulian all sleep and another room that serves as a kitchen where Valentina sleeps (Maria’s younger brother Costa also apparently sleeps here but I have not figured out where yet). The question remains whose room I have taken. After my room was unpacked we sat down for a meal of bread (peene), homemade cheese (brinza), store bought cheese (kashkaval), tomatoes (roshi), cucumbers and homemade wine. The wine was quite good and the homemade cheese is like a mild feta--really roughing it eh? We do not share a language but they have effectively been able to demonstrate everything I need to know in order to survive around the house. Jessica has the camera and I have the laptop but I can’t wait to send pictures.
Rural Moldova is honestly like a paradise. I feel like I am in the section of The Godfather when their back in Italy. My family is amazingly sweet and helpful. My language school is right across the dirt road. Sunday the four of us hiked up the large hill next to the house so that they could show me Vasieni and Barda, the neighboring village about an hour walk away where Jessica lives. The two of us have cell phones so we are able to chat most nights. It is hard but we are both so overwhelmed with the language and all the changes, I don’t think we have yet experienced just how hard our forced separation will be in a few weeks. Anyway, we were up on this ridge for our picnic, cheese, beer, bread…We lit a small fire from pine cones right in the middle of the hill. Few words were uttered but we had an amazing time and it is obvious to all of us that a cherished bond of trust and love has been established.
We miss you all terribly and will write and post/send pics when we can. Please pray for our strength in God and pray for my allergies and our jet lag as they have been pretty bad.
Totul Este Buna (all is well),
Love Vincent and Jessica