Since coming to Moldova almost 6 months ago, i continue to be amazed by my wonderful, durable, super strong rucsac (backpack)!! It makes me so happy! There's no way an ordinary, everyday, meant-for-school backpack was made to withstand all of the abuse this one receives almost on a daily basis here in Moldova! Other PCVs have also been amazed at how much stuff it can hold and how much weight in has endured! Sometimes it's so heavy i can hardly lift it to get it on my back! I've said this before (verbally) and i'll say it again in type, if this backpack endures my whole 2 years with me in Moldova, Jansport is gonna receive a frumoasă scrisoare (beautiful letter) from me when i return home about what a wonderful product this backpack has been!
Another thing i love about it are all the ribbons, yarn, string, etc. i started adding to it's handle at the top since Staging in Philadelphia. They all have a different meaning, specific to this PC journey.
The 1st one i received is one of an identical pair of pink & black friendship bracelets that DeeAnn gave to both Stesi and me reminding us of our journey TOGETHER.
The 2nd i received at Staging. It's an orange piece of yarn that all PC trainees received so that at the various airports and other travel destinations, we would all recognize a PC bag that may have been left behind.
The 3rd one is a red ribbon i got when i landed in Chișinău, which represents the training village i'd be living in, Băcioi, during our 10 weeks of training.
The 4th is a red and black friendship-type bracelet i found on the playground at our training school in Băcioi.
The 5th is a blue ribbon i got during Site Announcement Day (when we learned where our permanent sites would be), which represents the nord (north).
The 6th is from "1st Bell" - the 1st day of school, which is quite the production here in Moldova. All the elevii (students) gave all the teachers red, yellow, & blue striped ribbons (representing the Moldovan flag) to pin on our shirts that day.
And finally the 7th is a bracelet from my friend SaraH who lives near me in Soroca who i visit a lot and stay over at her apt (she gave me my own room :o]), as a token of friendship [o:
...hopefully more to come...
