Fixin' to learn me some English, ya'll!

This blog was prompted by this comment from one of my students this week: "Hey, you can learn Romanian and English while you're here (in Moldova)!" This comment was said in good fun and was followed by laughs from all, but it got me thinking.

From the time I first walked through the 'Gates of Opportunity' at my college, I've heard this question over and over again, "Where are you from?" This question undoubtedly was asked in reference to my southern drawl. My reply was always, "TN." The next comment was always something in reference to my accent or "I thought so." Now, I know I have an accent and I'm sure it was pretty strong when I first left TN for MO. In those early days of college I tried to deny it by asking, "What accent?" In all reality though, I heard all sorts of accents on my college campus.

Even now as I am working and living with other Americans from northern states, I can hear their accents as well. My student mentioned above would say that she does not have an accent, but that I just "talk wrong."

So, during school yesterday we decided to have a little fun and we made a list of just some of the word endings that I say differently or with a southern accent/drawl. Here are the word endings and a couple of examples. See if you can identify!

Word endings:
ail as in mail I say mail like this: Did you get the male(or mill)?
ill as in hill I say hill like this: We climbed up the heal.
eel as in peel I say peel like this: I am going to pill these potatoes.
ull as in full I say full like this: This bag is too fool.
eal as in heal I say heal like this: The Lord has hilled us!

As a teacher, these were very important realizations for me and a good reminder to make sure that I use correct pronunciations and enunciate my words. I don't want to leave any endings off my words like we tend to do at home. For example, I hope you enjoyed this blog. I am fixin' to go to bed....

Thanks for the Mail!!

I have enjoyed keeping in contact with so many of my friends since being in Moldova. I love all forms of communication: emails, snail mail, phone calls etc. I wanted to say thank you so much for keeping in touch. Your letters, emails, and phonecalls mean so very much to me. These pics are of a few of my dear friends that have been very faithful in their letter writing. (Just because your picture isn't here doesn't make us any less of friends. :))There are many more, but I don't have space or pictures of each and every one. I just wanted to take some quick minutes to say thank you and let you know that you really do make my day any time you contact me and let me hear from you and how you're doing. It helps me feel like I'm not really on the other side of the world!!

Winter in Moldova

Today I woke up to LOTS of snow outside. This is the most snow that I've ever seen! I've definitely never had to walk through this much snow in my life. I am trying not to complain. I am trying to convey the significance of this new experience for me. I decided today after falling 3 times that I hate walking through snow. Hate it. I took a picture for my friend Liz and I thought I would share it with everyone. I'm in my nice, warm coat with a sign for Liz that reads: Hi Liz! I'm in Moldova and it's Snowing!!! My student Lauren and her friend made it. This picture was taken moments before I slipped and fell on the ice that is buried beneath the mounds of snow. I also thought I it would be fun to keep you updated on how many times I fall on the ice here. Total times I fell today: 3. Total times I've fallen so far this winter: 5. Yay for Winter in Moldova.

Freezing in Moldova!!

The temperatures have been dropping like crazy lately. As I stood waiting for my bus for 15 minutes the other day, I decided it was finally time to purchase the Moldovan winter coat(the one I have just isn't cutting it). This was quite the purchase for me. I have been searching for a coat for about 3 months. I haven't been able to find exactly what I wanted. I was also trying to find the right deal and get a good coat for my money's worth. So, I found this coat on Friday! I am so excited. It is longer (which is what I wanted). It is brown so it matches my boots. AND it has fur(which will help protect my head against the harsh wind)!! The nice gloves are a Christmas present from my roommate and the hat is one that my roommate knitted for me! I love it. I am sporting the new purse I bought, too. I needed a purse as well. The little blue-jean purse I was tagging along doesn't have a zipper,so this will be much better. This purse is much bigger than what I prefer, but this is about all you can find here. They like big purses. I was joking with my roommate that I left the apartment looking very American and I came back looking pretty Moldovan. I think I blend in a little better now. The temperature outside right now is about 5 degrees. This is definitely the coldest place I've ever lived. I'll be well prepared for the winter weather now!!

Christmas in Moldova (No, this isn't late...Christmas is Jan. 7th here)!!

The Raatz' Christmas Tree. Quite the difference from mine and Kelly's! It was really pretty. For Christmas, my roommate and I spent the night with the Raatz family. We had a wonderful time the next morning opening our stockings from Santa :) and watching the girls open all their presents. It truly was a wonderful time and it definitely felt like Christmas.

My Christmas gits, stocking stuffers, and cards. Thanks for the Christmas cards, friends! Some of my gifts included: headbands(which I will need to wear to church here), gloves, movies, a wonderful necklace, notebook, and a wrap. My parents sent a special surprise package. I didn't know anything about it until Christmas morning. I almost cried. It was really special. Thanks Mom and Dad! Thanks also to the Raatz who made my Christmas extra special. God Bless!

me and my roommate kelly by our "charlie-brown-christmas-tree"

I'm sporting the polka dot pjs!!

Scroll down to previous posts for more Christmas Day fun!!

Fun Photos from the Wax Musuem in Moldova!!

Me with Albert Einstein at the Wax Museum in Moldova
(It only cost about $1.50 to tour the small Wax Musuem)
What fun!!

Shrek and I

Donkey, Me, and Shrek

Goals-2008

(Happy New Year in Romanian)
It's 2008! Wow...how time flies. I had a wonderful year in 2007. The highlights: Nannying for a family in Branson from Jan-May, Graduation Ceremony in May, Becoming an aunt in July, Coming to Moldova in July-present to teach and work for the Raatz family. God has been so faithful!! I look forward to His faithfulness in 2008.

I always make New Year’s resolutions. This year is no different. Before writing my own, I wanted to take a look at the most common resolutions Americans make.

Popular New Year's Resolutions (according to usa.gov):
Lose Weight, Pay Off Debt, Save Money, Get a Better Job, Get Fit, Eat Right, Get a Better Education, Drink Less Alcohol, Quit Smoking, Reduce Stress Overall, Reduce Stress at Work,
Take a Trip, and Volunteer to Help Others.

Wikipedia’s definition: A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until the set goal has been achieved.

MyGoals.com has some great tips about achieving goals/New Year’s Resolutions.

The challenge is actually following through with the goals we set for ourselves. The key is having a plan. I plan on putting my plans together later on today, but for now here are some of my goals for this year:

1)Exercise. (this a must every year) Let's see if I can actually make it happen this year! :) Exercising 2 or 3 times a week-every week.
2)To love others selflessly. To set aside any motives and just love people!
3)Instead of judging others, gently encourage and inspire others.
4) Trust GOD in all things instead of being so quick to worry.
5)Say no to distractions in order to use my time wisely. This will require much discipline.

Here's a verse I want to cling to this year:
The Lord says, "My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways. Just as the heavens are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. "Isaiah 55: 8-9

I have no idea what all the Lord has planned for my life in 2008, but I choose to trust Him and to be still and know that He is God. His ways are higher than mine. He is in control. I'm so looking forward to what He has in store.