(Above) Part of the USA gang at Jim's for New Year's. All of the guys headed out to the fire to smoke cigars and scratch themselves (or whatever it is that men do when they are together!)
(Above) Two of my favorite ladies in the universe... Ruthie and Judy! I was so happy to hang out with you guys. Thanks so much for taking the time to arrange lunch with the PV folks and to come over. Love you!!!!!
...it worries me that this man is influencing the young minds of Arkansas! Seriously though, Jim, you are delightful and I had an amazing time over at your place on New Year's. Thanks for hosting the shindig and for coming over and hanging out while I was home. Don't forget to be good to your wife! You'll never find another woman who will put up with your shenanigans!
Back in Istanbul... Splurged on a nice dinner in a rooftop restaurant that overlooked the Blue Mosque. Istanbul is gorgeous and I definitely want to go back to see it again. Picked up a few tricks on how to stay out of the rug shops and away from everyone's uncles... Life truly is a lifelong learning experience!
Random beautiful door.
Back in Moldova... I had an amazing weekend visit to a beautiful village outside of Cahul called Colibasi. I had a taste of what so many volunteers experience each day and it was fun, but also an amazing amount of work. The family Ghencia was so amazingly warm and offered a level of hospitality that is just undescribable. I got to bake homemade bread in a woodburning oven (do you know that it is possible to make yeast from scratch? I didn't!), play with the baby lambs, get water from the neighborhood well, and in general just talk to some amazing people and hear their perspectives on life in Moldova from the village perspective. 
(Above) Domnul Ion shows me how the indoor soba works to heat the house.
Anna Margareta shows me ALL of her toys!
This city girl was loving it! I got to play with a baby lamb!
Ion, Cat, Elena and Anna Margareta all posing together with the lambs. Enough for today. I miss you all, am wrapping things up (bittersweet!) in Moldova, and can't wait to see you all again. Thanks for following my journey...
Jennifer
My second foray into Istanbul was more successful, but I was pretty sad to be away from all of you. It was probably good that I could hide in my room at the hotel and be sad for a day or two before coming back to Moldova and seeing everyone. Life is so full of yin and yang experiences! I love what I have done in Moldova, but I really have missed everyone and will be so happy to get back to the US and figure out what the next adventure will be.
