Here's some quotes from my four hour hike along the Nistru. The pictures are in my photo album but they're not very clearly marked. This should help you imagine the randomness and hilarity that insued when I went hiking with two strangers (now friends) and Matt.

I thought it was a stone! It was poo.
-Matt, navigating the marsh

I'm not good with long boring historical biographal books called Ghandi.
I think.
-Anna, sharing a clearly life-changing account of the civil-rights leader

FwooooooSH!
-Anna, proving that sound effects make everything awesomer

I'm convinced that looked less dorky when I was doing it.
-Anna, commenting on Matt's bouncing on ice to test its strength

You'd think I woulda noticed a pink church on the way in...
-Anna, attempting to situate herself among unknown landmarks

Yuriy needs to be a little more communicative.
-Anna on Yuriy after he ran down a hill and across a field in a display
of his leadership prowess

Worst. Summer house. Ever.
-Matt, describing pile of sticks in the Nistru

Ima call you Mountain Goat Matt. Until you fall.
-Anna with words of encouragement for Matt as he climbed a trail

That guy on the scooter must be awful cold. His eyes are probably
frozen. He has eye-cicles!
-Anna making Matt's brain hurt (in my defense this was on the way home- I was exhausted and giddy because I survived)

This is your fault, you know. You broke me.
-Anna's response to Matt's wtf-expression after talking to her cheese

"Why is he blinking?"
"Maybe he has something in his eye!"
-Mirabela helping Yuriy figure out why the car ahead of us had his
blinkers on

(Ukranian accent) You only fucked up once, you are a good navigator
-Yuriy demonstrating the motivational skills that landed him the
Regional Director's position at Nestle

Doamna, puteti sa-mi spuneti in ce directie e norte? (Ma'am could you tell me what direction is north?)
-Anna mere moments before being crushed by the mighty boot of righteousness

The little bridge that couldn't
-Anna on a bridge "across" the Nistru that spanned all of 4 feet

"My eyeball!"
"Do I know first aid for the eyeball? I don't think I do..."
-Matt's inner-dialog in response to a horrifying call from Anna

You gave me a live animal!!!
-Anna, clearly ecstatic (read "indignant") upon receiving a snail-shell from Matt

Long time no type.

Came back from America and started shaking things up around the ole village.  Dumped one and a half classes because they weren't responding well to my teaching (yes, after a year and a half- I'm patient). Been making special effort to hang out with the host family lately (still not sure how much they like it... but hey, I pay them well to be nice to me.) Currently I am medicated for a little bronchitis which is freaking out all of my students when I get huge coughing fits in front of the class.  Yesterday I busted out the inhaler and now they all think I'm a drug addict. We desperately need a health class in my school. Currently Matt is running around the office taking pictures with my new (and yet to be named) camera. Also announcing Chris' bought a new car. I am going to name it something girly and aweful so if you have any suggestions let me know. Life is still good. I promise.

Currently Reading Lord of Chaos (The Wheel of Time, Book 6) By Robert Jordan see related

America is cool. Living in a different country has sharpened my sense of what it means to be an American. We all define ourselves in certain ways/stereotypes, but most people still states side would probably not stick "American" in the their top 5.  Living in Moldova it's been promoted it to my top 3, if it's not the first thing I end up telling someone about myself. We are living in a time when admitting this might earn me the scorn of certain people. Being patriotic right now seems to be a little unPC. My nationality is something I cling to fiercely across the pond. I am proud of what my country has made of itself. We screw up just as much as everybody. Obviously. But my brother and I have every opportunity. No door is closed to me. My life is mine to direct and uplift or screw up as I please. That sort of freedom and liberating power is not a guarantee for everyone. I think we forget that. Being home this Christmas I think I am appreciating what my ridiculously lucky American-birth has entitled me to.  I can truly understand the Mandela quote about our personal power- Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

Well, enough of that corniness.

Things I like about America- store greeters, Champagne Wednesdays, chili, clothes that come in every size, Taco Bueno, Sci-Fi channel, walking my dogs.

Things I don't like about America- money that is all the same color, not having a driver's license, yeah- that's it.