At some point I made it clear that I don't want to hear about villagers' personal problems. So she tells me about the things that she sees on TV.
The ongoing government drama.
Ukraine's government drama. (we seem to have it pretty sweet in Moldova)
How the communists suck.
How the communists were once so cool.
The haughtyness of Bunica.
The obraznic-ness of the cows.
And now, the Moldovan poor and thier promiscuous ways.
Some girl got pregnant, doesn't know who the father is, so they will have the blood test done, and whoever turns out to be the father will pay for everything.
This would be pretty run of the mill, EXCEPT she had the baby over a toilet, by herself. The baby fell out and cracked its little head on the porcelain and is in intensive care. Its been a couple days... the baby is recovering nicely.
The would be weird all on its own EXCEPT she had a supposed 'pregnancy test' earlier in the year at school and it was negative. The girl was 4 or 5 months along already, and tested. Thus, either the school was trying to cover up for her, or pregnancy tests just ain't what they used to be.
Thus, scandal.
More recently, a woman killed a man, went to jail for her 7 years. Was out. Killed another, this time convicted for 8 years. Gave birth to a baby while in jail -- but of course there are no conditions for babies in jail, so the baby was given to a friend of the killer woman. The friend dodged off and refused to bring the child to jail EVER to visit the mother and now that Mom is out, she wants her kid back, but the kid has no idea who this woman is -- has been raised to think this other woman is his mom etc etc...
Maria is glorious in her rendition of these stories. She gets involved and gesticulates and every little bit shrugs her shoulders and says "Such people."
The beauty is she never passes judgement. Not once. Its amazing.
Sometimes she'll bring it back to government problems, and blame them. Usually, though, these are people and they have more colorful lives than her.
Who does Maria pass judgement on?
People who vote communist.
The government -- no matter who is in charge of it -- for not developing agriculture technology.
Moldova has the richest soil, she says. In Italy they have nothing but rocks with one stalk of corn growing through the middle. But that one stalk, that one stalk has ears of corn the size of my arm! And so many of them! they can have 5 stalks and feed their pigs for as much as I can with half a hectare.
She is righteously irate.
I asked if there were organizations in town for an Agricultural Volunteer to work here, to replace me.
Where? Where? No! Everyone has a farm and farms and farms but no one will be larger.
Maybe I can get a COD in here. With the two gradinitas, primaria, various little stores, big school and the incoming retirement home (Maria fumes at the communists who, had they been in power, never would have allowed the building of this retirement home, and if they get re-elected the construction will stop) there is more than enough for a Community Development kid here.
thoughts...
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