January 2012
8 posts
“On TV, Natalia Morari wears severe spectacles and her hair pulled back into a...”
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Moldova’s stuck in search for unity
Activist credited with the 2009 Twitter revolution among the critics as ex-Soviet state struggles to find a new identity
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/03/moldova-struggle-since-russia-revolt
Santa Visits Cazangic
Thanks to Moldcell we got to make a very Merry Christmas for some kids- Moldcell is the “other” cellphone company in Moldova that is purple instead of Orange’s “Orange”. Here are the rest of the photos!
I filmed the whole thing and once I can translate these stupid Mp4s to WMV, I can make the video- until then I spent my nights screaming at Microsoft and Cisco...
December 2011
16 posts
My very first project!
A NGO run by former Peace Corps volunteers named “Water Charity” helps sponsor very small water related projects in Peace Corps countries. They are small projects but big impact! My project is simple. We don’t have hot water in our school. The Soviets did build one when they built the school but its sewer fell into disuse and so the bathrooms and hot water system became...
Sanitation 101
If you are on facebook, then you saw me post this photo of the latrine at my school here in Cazangic. It got quite the reaction and we’ve been quickly moving towards figuring out a fix.
Essentially, I found out that the school did have bathrooms that were installed by the Soviets. When the sewer system fell into disuse, so did the bathroom. The years following Independence were tough to...
Seminar de sănătate ( Health Seminar )
As part of a tri-city grant, Cazangic held a health seminar for community leaders in Cahul and Hinceşti. The subject of this one was about diabetes. I really wished my Romanian was better because I marveled at some of the main discussion points. Number one was about eating more vegetables in the winter as a way to keep your body healthier and they showed off a number of different easy to grow...
November 2011
9 posts
WatchYou NEED to watch this video. Gabby Giffords is one of the strongest human beings I know and she represents Arizona’s toughness to its core. This story though isn’t just about Gabby its about her husband Mark and about never giving up hope. Its okay if you need to cry or drink or do whatever you need to do after watching the full 40 minute story.
WatchI finally figured out how to handle my 3rd graders… MOVIES!!! Non-stop English Language Learner videos and they are like putty!
Shaking off the doom
Awesome article from the Financial Times that is applicable to everyone:
Almost everyone I know in business is sick of this downturn. The task is to restore confidence, despite various challenges. We need a sense of optimism to revive growth, and to reverse the recent decline in living standards. This can be done with sufficient willpower.
I have, therefore, assembled a brief list of...
Site Visit Day!
Yesterday my assistant program manager came to visit my town and stimulate an actual full discussion between my mayor, partner and myself. The best part about it was that she knew the rules we live under as Peace Corps volunteers and the expectations. I’ve had a few English speakers come through town and strangely all know Lindsay and Conrad… and translated a few things but nothing...
H20 Covers the Descendants!
Get The Time by bridge9
H20 may have spent almost 10 years before the last album but they are back with a cover album- covering some of the Hardcore Punk and Punk bands of the last 2 decades. This one is the Descendants “When I get the time”:
When I get the time
When I get the guts
To live my life for me
And do what I want to do
Pre-order a copy of Don’t Forget Your...
October 2011
14 posts
The little things
We nicknamed our little corner of eastern Europe “Posh Corps” because we have internet, we have roads, we don’t live in a hut and we don’t forage for our own food, though that depends on your definition of forage because harvest is hard work!!!! Its the little things though that are deceptive. For example, today, I had to get up early so I can get to Leova ( my county seat...
“I’m absolutely confident we have what it takes. But I’m more worried now than I...”
– http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/e0c1418c-f526-11e0-9023-00144feab49a.html#axzz1aqd4ZbBo
If you need your daily dose of optimism, check out this interview with President Clinton on the developing world, economics, the environment and politics!
Environmentalism is a Human Condition →
My 365 post about trash, environmentalism, reuse and hopefully plans for the future!
September 2011
10 posts
“As I enter my 40th year of service, I have enough experience to be comfortable...”
– http://www.usaid.gov/press/frontlines/fl_apr11/FL_apr11_ALLEN.html
Some great quotes and information about the role of the United States Military and USAID and the development world in this article. My general rule is that it is NEVER simple. Anything. Development is changing right before our eyes,...
