Moldovan Countryside
I’ve been in the capital of Moldova, Chisinau, for almost two weeks. A typical vacation traveler would spend only a couple of days here, but I have been ‘taking it easy’ and getting some work done at my pace.
As much as I like the comfortable and modestly urban vibe of Chisinau, I knew that my impression of Moldova would not be balanced without visiting the countryside, where they say that there are far fewer people and not much progress has been made since the end of the Soviet period. To quote directly, I heard that the countryside can be boring and poor, so I wanted to learn more about the lives there.
I had to pleasure to visit Văsieni, a small town around 30km from the capital. It is where Ellen, my Peace Corps friend, is currently staying with her host family. The town was small, and there were not many things to do. I’ve seen only one small supermarket, and a kids’ park(last picture), as for public spaces. During the heat of the day, people seemed to be resting inside houses, so the streets were empty. We had popsicles, visited the above-mentioned kids’ park, a closed school, and some families that Ellen knows. It was a hot and slow afternoon. But I could have a glimpse at the rural lifestyle in Moldova, surrounded by perhaps unexciting yet tranquil landscapes. In a way, it was like a time travel to the very town where I was born, which has now become a concrete forest.
@ Văsieni, Moldova, July 2, 2019
