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Peace Corps Romania
  Quarterly Newsletter
Issue 6, Spring 2012




                                        INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

                         Letter from the Country Director            2
                         Volunteer Stories
                           Farewell to PCV Group 27                  3
                           PCV Justin Setty Comes in 6th
                           at the Cluj Marathon                      5

         Good Projects     Skype Session with Senator Isakson
                           Environmental Project: Trees for Peace
                                                                     6
                                                                     7
                         Volunteer Voices
        Spring Forward      PCRV Jennifer Brooks: Teaching
                            Independent Life Skills                  8
                            Let’s Put On a Show!                    12
                         Volunteer Interview
                            Peace Corps Volunteer Leader:
                            Andrew Matusick                         15
Peace Corps Romania Office
            Letter from the Country Director,
                                   Sheila Crowley



                                        Dragi Partners, Supporters and Peace Corps Community,


                                        Spring, the season of rebirth and renewal has arrived bringing not
                                        only the rains, and the flowers but many new exciting projects and a
                                        busy work schedule for our Volunteers. From teaching independent
                                        life skills, piloting non-formal educational activities, to planting trees
                                        PCVs are making a difference in their communities and through their
                                        partnerships they are inspiring more and more people to do the
                                        same.


                                        The people to people connection that Peace Corps Volunteers
                                        promote in their everyday lives is at the core of volunteerism, they
                                        give of themselves and strive to make a difference in the lives of
                                        many. How do they do this? Through community empowerment,
                                        skills exchange, collaboration and partnership. By listening and being
                                        there for their friends, students and colleagues. By modeling the
                                        essence of service that it is better to give than to receive and by
                                        honoring Kennedy's vision that to achieve a world of peace you must
                                        promote peace and friendship.


                                        Across Romania, PCVs are teaching countless of hours in classrooms,
                                        engaging in extra curricular activities and building relationships. I
                                        admire their achievements and I am inspired daily by their
                                        enthusiasm, optimism and desire to do more. In Peace Corps
                                        Volunteers the spirit of civic responsibility lives on as each one of
                                        them embraces the call to serve and one by one, hand by hand and
                                        heart by heart, they leave their „world” a little better than when they
                                        discovered it. This is something truly worth sharing.


                                        So read and enjoy as we share and highlight the exciting things that
                                        Peace Corps Volutneers are doing in their communities.


                                        In Peace and Partnership,

                                        Sheila




Director Sheila Crowley together with                                                                     Page 2
        PCV Kevin Denunzio
Volunteer Stories
         Farewell to Group 27



                                                                                         “The biggest lesson I have
                                                                                         learned thus far is just up and
                                                                                         do it; try; go; do. Even if it
                                                                                         seems hard or long or
                                                                                         exhausting, new things, new
                                                                                         activities, new experiences
                                                                                         matter more here and teach
                                                                                         you more here than in any
                                                                                         other aspect of your life.”
                                                                                                        Emily Franzen

                                                                                         “The most recent lesson I
                                                                                         have learned is relatively
                                                                                         simple: try everything at least
                                                                                         once. This is directed toward
                                                                                         the dinner table more than
                                                                                         anything else. Food is an
                                                                                         excellent way to experience a
                                                                                         culture. Metaphorically
It’s been almost 24 months since Peace      exchange and a window opened to              s p e a k i n g , ex p e r i e n c i n g
Corps Volunteer Group 27 came to            understanding the world. You will soon       a n o t h e r ’s f o o d i s l i ke
Romania with the task of sharing their      be gone but will certainly never to be       receiving nourishment from
knowledge and expertise with the            forgotten for your hard work and             their culture/heritage”
Romanian people.                            unending efforts to serve others.                        Marco Rufolo-Roger
Over the past 2 years, Peace Corps          In your last moments as Peace Corps          “In teaching, one must be
Volunteers in Group 27 have taught          volunteers before your official split from
                                                                                         patient. Sometimes it takes
English to more than 27,000 young           Romania you say goodbye to Peace
Romanians. Not only that, they have         Corps, but not to your friends. Savor the
                                                                                         time and respectful
helped to educate thousands of              time you have left in Romania and            persistence, but finally,
Romanian English teachers. They have        cherish both the goods and bad for they      suddenly, even a half-
also worked in many communities             have made you what you are today:            attentive student can amaze
throughout Romania in environmental         ambassadors of peace and friendship,         you by what he or she has
projects, while others have worked in       role models and catalysts for change. All    picked up in your hours
small towns as community development        the good work you have done is truly         together”
advisors.                                   inspiring!                                                Kristi St. Amant
It was Shakespeare who wrote, "Parting      So our message to you is to continue to      “There is only so much
is such sweet sorrow", and so it is. Many   try and make a difference. Give life
                                                                                         preparation for things you
schools and small communities all over      nothing short of your best. Try your best
Romania will miss the help and guidance     in everything in what you do and what
                                                                                         can take into account for until
you provided as Volunteers over the past    you say. Trust your decisions for YOU can    you actually arrive and settle
2 years. But the legacy you leave behind    be anyone you want to be, you just have      in at post, but now I can easily
goes beyond the knowledge of the            to try!                                      call Romania home.”
English language; it’s a two-way cultural                                                      Christopher Williamson


                                                                                                                         Page 3
Volunteer Stories
         Group 27 Statistics
                                                                                R
                                                                        A       E
                                                                A       S       B
                                                                R       H       E
                                                                O       L       C
                                                                N       E       C
                                                                        Y       A
                                                                    B
                                                                    R       A
                                                            B       E       L
                                                            E       A       L
                                                            N       N       E
                                                                    N       N
                                                                    A

                                                                        A
                                                                C               E
                                                                        M
                                                                H               L
                                                                R       A
                                                                                L
                                                                I       N
                                                                                I
                                                                S       D
                                                                                S
                                                                        A

                                                            E
    In just 2 years, 32 Peace Corps Volunteers   have       V       F       J
                                                                    R       A
                       worked with:                         E
                                                            L       E       M
                                                            Y       Y       E
                   144 Organizations                        N       A       S
    475 Service Providers (e.g: teachers, health care
    educators, community leaders, peer educators)                       A
                                                                J       N
                  26,463 Students                               O       A       J
                                                                C       S       U
                                                                E       T       L
                                                                L       A       I
                                                                Y       S
                                                                N       I
                                                                        A

                                                            K
                                                            R       E       B
                                                            I       M       R
                                                            S       I       A
                                                            T       L       D
                                                            I       Y



                          M                                             T       M
         S                E                 S           M       N
                                            A                           E       A
         A                A                             I       I
                                            R                           S       R
         R                G                             K       C
                                            A                           S       T
         A                A                             E       K
                                            H                           Y       A
                          N
                                                            S
M
                                                 M          T
A                              R                                    J       K
              T                                  A          E
R                              Y                            P       U       Y
              A                                  R
I                              A                            H       L       L
              R                                  C
S                              N                            A       I       E
              A                                  O
S                                                           N       E
A                                                           I
Volunteer Stories
       PCV Justin Setty Comes in 6th place
       in the Vodafone Cluj Marathon


PCV Justin Setty came in 6th place
in the 2012 Vodafone Cluj
Marathon. The second edition of
the marathon took place on April
22nd and it comprised 5 races:
Marathon (42.195 km); Half
Marathon (21.0975 km);
Marathon Relay (4x10,55km);
Popular Race (6 km) and Kids Race
(2 km). 91 male and 11 female
crossed the finish line at the end of
the race.

Justin started his 14 year distance
running career when he joined the
cross-country team in the 7th
grade. “Luckily this is a sport you
can continue your whole life and
the marathon is one of the steps
you come to after finishing college.
Three of my former teammates
and I completed our first marathon      been a goal for Justin. “I happened    made a few really good friends
in Ohio in 2008. I finished in 2        to sign-up for the Cluj Marathon       here at site that I wouldn't have
hours and 59 minutes.               I   because it was at the right time for   made if I hadn't decided to come
remember it as one of the most          when I would be healthy enough. I      back to running. I'm glad I had the
satisfying days of my life. When I      was hoping to run faster than my       opportunity to compete in Cluj
joined the Peace Corps, I found         personal best of 2:59 by about 10      because it helped validate what I
myself putting running on the           minutes but it was too lofty of a      do. Placing well in this marathon
b a c k - b u r n e r. I p l a y e d    goal. I maintained a pace at the       helped my friends and students
football/soccer with my                 beginning that would eventually        understand why I run. I'm
colleagues at site for over a year,     tire me out and I hit the proverbial   currently training again for a trail
which prevented me from running         wall around the halfway point.         m a ra t h o n i n t h e A p u s e n i
seriously due to a persistent knee      When I crossed the line, I was         mountains in July. Fortunately
injury. I eventually decided to stop    surprised I finished 6th in 2:57       when I tell people now that I need
playing and focus on rehabilitating     since I had slowed down so much        to go run they understand exactly
my k n e e . A f te r a ye a r o f      toward the end.                        what I mean.” Justin concluded.
rehabilitation and building knee
strength, I was ready to train for      Being a distance runner in my          Justin Setty is a 3rd year TEFL
my second marathon.” Justin said.       town is lonely because this isn't a    Volunteer currently serving in
                                        sport that is well understood or       Romania
Racing another marathon during          well recognized by the general
his Peace Corps service had always      public. On the other hand, I've
                                                                               Photos by: Dalina Borcan

                                                                                                            Page 5
Volunteer Stories
            Skype Session with Senator Isakson




Last Thursday evening, May 24TH, four        the students themselves. Topics that
hours after their normal classroom           were discussed were decided upon by
hours had ended a group of twelve            the students and included public
eighth grade students gathered               service, government, ambitions, goal
together, along with their English           setting, environmental health and
Professor, Lizeta Ducec, and Peace Corps     economics. The experience afforded
Volunteer, Melissa Royer, for a very         both parties the opportunity to
special event at Scoala cu Clasele I-VIII,   communicate in English, exchange
Nr. Suceava. Dressed in their best,          cultures and ideas about the world.
participants from class 8A, were             “It was a joy to not only see our
afforded the opportunity to speak with       students speak confidently in English
Senator Johnny Isakson, a                    to a widely respected politician, but
representative from the state of Georgia     also to see their faces fill with joy and
in the Senate of the United States of        optimism, and to see their minds hard
America. Using the internet program          at work, analyzing the responses they
called Skype, Senator Isakson and the        were given,” said Melissa after the
students were able to see each other         meeting had taken place. Both groups
through a webcam and to speak with           were extremely pleased with the
each other via microphones.                  success of the collaboration and hope
                                             to continue collaboration efforts in
The Senator gave a short 2-3 minute          the future.
introduction about himself and his work
as a Senator to begin the session.           Melissa Royer is a 1st year TEFL
Afterwards, the Senator opened the           Volunteer currently serving in
floor for Questions and Answers, led by      Romania


                                                                                         Page 6
Volunteer Stories
           Environmental Project: Trees for Peace


                                                              communities that have           for years to come, the sense of
                                                             helped it prosper in             accomplishment that the students will
                                                             Romania. “The idea and           be continuously reminded of and the
                                                             the symbolism                    community’s capacity to conduct this
                                                             represented in the               easily replicable project in the future. At
                                                             project were important           the same time the project brings to light
                                                             but it would have been           e nv i ro n m e n t a l i s s u e s , s u c h a s
                                                             logistically inefficient to      deforestation and littering, that NGO’s
                                                             plant just one tree in well      l i ke A s o c i a t i a M a i M u l t Ve r d e
                                                             o v e r 2 0 0 d i f fe r e n t   continuously work to address“ PCVL
                                                             communities. For that            Andy Matusick says.
                                                             purpose the project was
                                                            changed so as to keep             The 10 Peace Corps Volunteers involved
                                                            the meaning of the                in the project worked with their
                                                            project but to make it            counterparts to organize small tree
                                               more efficient given the resources             planting projects in their communities.
When asked at the 2011 all-TEFL             available.” said PCV Andy Matusick, the           Using funds from a mini-grant provided
conference to think about projects that     coordinator of the project.                       by the US Embassy they acquired the
could celebrate the 22 years of peace                                                         trees while other necessary materials
and friendship promoted by Peace Corps      Peace Corps Romania has teamed up                 where either acquired with the funds or
in Romania, a group of Peace Corps          with the United States Embassy,                   donated locally. In addition to gathering
Volunteers came up with the idea                                                                     all necessary materials, the PCVs,
of planting one tree in each PCV                                                                     together with their counterparts
host community. Trees have been                                                                      selected volunteers from their
a long-time symbol of life and                                                                       classes to plant the trees. MMV
growth and, as Peace Corps                                                                           provided instruction on proper
Romania comes to a close, a tree                                                                     planting techniques and
seemed to be an appropriate                                                                          organization so as to educate not
symbol for the sustainable                                                                           only the planners of the project
development that is central to the                                                                   but also those students with
organization’s role around the                                                                       shovels in hand on how to
world. Even though the agency’s                                                                      properly develop and implement
work in Romania is coming to an                                                                      this kind of project. Additionally,
end in 2013, the impact will                                                                         seven of the 10 communities
continue to grow in those                                                                            involved in the project worked
communities where volunteers                                                                         with American Corners to
have served, with seeds planted                                                                      organize a field trip for their
not only in the projects that                                                                        students to visit the closest
volunteers have completed along-side        Asociatia MaiMultVerde (MMV) and                  American Corner to their site. Transport
their Romanian counterparts, but also in    local communities to plant 22 trees in 10         for the students was acquired locally and
their countless interactions with           communities throughout Romania. The               the PCV worked with a representative
Romanians.                                  project’s aim is to promote volunteerism          from the American Corner to develop an
                                            at schools where Peace Corps volunteers           educational program related to
Peace Corps placing one tree in each host   are serving as English teachers. The              volunteering for the environment. This
community would have not only               students were directly involved in a              not only gave the students a chance to
installed this symbol in a community that   beautification of either their school or          see a new place and learn about
has worked hand-in-hand with Peace          other parts of their community. The               available resources but also acted as a
Corps, but it would have also been Peace    project’s sustainability will be evident in       reflection of the volunteer activity that
Corps way of giving thanks to those         the growth of the trees that will be seen         they participated in.

                                                                                                                                      Page 7
Volunteer Voices
  PCRV Jennifer Brooks: Teaching Independent
  Life Skills to the Blind


                     This series of spring visits took us to      The hope was that through the
                     Targu Frumos, a small town in the            provision of this facility and the trained
                     northern part of Romania, to visit           teachers, students would be able to
                     Jennifer Brooks, a Peace Corps               transition from an institutional setting
                     Response Volunteer (PCRV) currently          and a dependent lifestyle to a life of
                     working at a highschool for children         independence. ”Teaching basic life
                     with visual impairments. A former            skills can easily improve a student's
                     Youth Development volunteer,
                                                                  quality of life. It can allow them to be
                     Jennifer started working at Liceul
                                                                  self sufficient and therefore be able to
                     Moldova back in 2007. Founded 45
                                                                  attend to other needs such as
                     years ago, the school offers a
                                                                  employment and giving back to their
                     harmonious education for visually
                     impaired children and youth, helping         community” Jennifer adds.
                     them both to properly integrate into
                     society, as well as to be as                 Jennifer applied for a SPA grant and
                     autonomous as possible.                      with the money received, the idea of
                                                                  the kitchen lab turned into reality. The
                     Soon after her arrival at site, Jennifer     lab was equipped with all the
                     began looking at ways to implement           appliances and tableware that one can
                     projects focusing on teaching                find in an ordinary kitchen: gas stove,
                     students with visual impairments             electric plate, microwave, plates,
                     daily living skills, such as teaching        cutlery etc. During the first week, the
                      kitchen skills through a series of          students were taught basic orientation
                      techniques specially tailored for the       of the room and the appliances: where
                      blind. “Although Romania had made           the fridge was located in relation to
                       great strides in transitioning into a      the stove; exploration of shelves,
                       democratic society, there still remain     drawer; exploration of the oven to
                       portions of the population that            understand where the gas is lit and
                       continue to need assistance from           where the flame is located,
                       civil society organizations, including     manipulation of the items while the
                       children with visual impairments.”         oven is cold so that it can be easily
                       Jennifer says.                             done when home. As students became
                                                                  more and more familiar with the new
                       Acknowledging the need to integrate        lab, they were then taught how to turn
                       teaching of independent life skills        on the stove, how to cut, peel, and
                      into the curriculum for children with       slice, how to measure and weigh
                     visual impairments, School Director          liquids and dry ingredients and
                     Margareta Pristavu welcomed the              properly boil fry and bake.
                     idea to create a kitchen lab furnished
                     with kitchen appliances for teaching         Almost three years later, the students
                     life skills to visually impaired students.   are now able to move around the
                     At the time, the school had no               kitchen independently and perform a
                     equipped facilities to properly teach        variety of tasks with minimal
                     the students these skills.
                                                                                 Continued on page 9...
                                                                                                   Page 8
instruction in the areas of sexual
                                                                                            education, hygiene, and self-care. This
                                                                                            specialized instruction includes specific
                                                                                            or adapted equipment as well as
                                                                                            instruction in methods that have been
                                                                                            proven efficient for those with visual
                                                                                            impairments.

                                                                                            The creation of a special studio where
                                                                                            this equipment can be used as well as
                                                                                            where these, perhaps delicate,
                                                                                            discussions and lessons can take place
                                                                                            on a one-to-one or small group basis
                                                                                            was ideal. Together with her colleagues,
                                                                                            Jennifer applied again for a grant, this
                                                                                            time a VAST one.

                                                                                            With the money received from the
                                                                                            Peace Corps, a hygiene lab was created.
                                                                                            The studio consists of separate work
                                                                                            areas for boys and girls. Each area is
...Continued from page 8                                                                    equipped with a vanity style desk with a
                                                                                            sink, mirrors, magnifiers, shelving for
                                                                                            intimate items, adjustable mirrors
supervision. Due to the availability of      teacher the need for his mother or             which magnify, Braille and large print
the lab and proper instruction the           sister to cut his finger nails as he had       labeling, and special lighting which can
students now have the necessary life         never learned due to fear of hurting           be adjusted per student visual
skills to live independently and when        himself. All of these events came to the       preference.
they finish school, they will have a         attention of one professor of the school
greater chance of becoming active,           who, after seeing the success of the           It is truly remarkable what the small
contributing members of society due to       previous independent living skills             group of professors at Scoala Moldova
the independence that they have              activities began to set in motion              and one PCV were able to do for these
acquired through these classes.              alongside Association 'Respect                 students. Being the first school in the
                                             Diversity' the idea of a hygiene studio.       region committed to teaching these
In the spring of 2011, experts from                                                         skills, Scoala Moldova has the potential
various other European countries             Typically, students with disabilities-         to become a resource center for other
visited schools and organizations            especially those with visual                   schools and organizations in the area
throughout Romania, including                i m p a i r m e nt s - te n d to b e l e s s   e i t h e r b y s h a r i n g t h e w r i tte n
Moldova School, to learn about the           knowledgeable about their bodies and           information, materials, or the actual
state of special education in Romania.       sexuality. This lack of knowledge can be       two labs. Moreover, the successes,
The visitors were impressed by the           a direct result of their visual                struggles, and results can be shared with
kitchen lab and the progress made by         impairment: they do not have the               other schools for the blind who can then
students but one of these visitors           typical visual input that most children        use the model as a starting point for
mentioned a school for the blind in their    have (of bodies changing, of physical          their own kitchen and hygiene studios.
own country also having a special place      differences between boys/men and
for students to learn how to take care of    girls/women), or it can stem from
themselves.                                  cultural taboos or misinformation. For
                                             example, parents can be reluctant to           See page 10 for a one on one interview
Immediately following this, there were       discuss these topics of sexuality and/or       with Response Volunteer Jennifer
incidents between students that              not know how to explain them to their          Brooks.
resulted from lack of knowledge and          blind child.
curiosity towards their sexuality. In that
same year, a ninth grade visually            Due to a student's visual impairment,
impaired student expressed to his head       he or she may need more specialized
                                                                                                              Continued on page 10...
                                                                                                                                 Page 9
...Continued from page 12


                                                              PCRo: Many volunteers           needs to be involved hands-on in
                                                              worry that they may not         every step of the process in order to
                                                              have the correct skills to      understand.
                                                              add value. Was this one
                                                              of your concerns when           When I first arrived to the school, the
                                                              you started working in          director gave me a tour throughout
                                                              Targu Frumos?                   the school. She mentioned wanting to
                                                                                              create a kitchen in one of the rooms
                                                             JB: Actually it wasn't- I        and the idea caught on from there!
                                                             was very pleased with the
                                                             placement. It seemed,            PCRo: Do you see a change in the
                                                             and has proved to be, a          children's behavior since you first
                                                             perfect match. I have            started working there? If so, what are
                                                             much to offer the                some of the most obvious changes?
                                                             teachers and students
                                                             here and they are more           JB: The look of triumph on their face
On the ocassion of our visit to Targu          than willing to take advantage of my           when they finally peel the potato that
Frumos, we asked Jen to tell us a few          help- the only thing missing is enough         they'd been fighting with for 20
words about her work as a Peace Corps          time! :)                                       minutes; the pride that shows when
Response Volunteer in Romania.
                                                                                              they eat their pizza that they made for
                                               PCRo: What are some of the most                themselves; the delight when they tell
PCRO: Tell us a little bit about yourself.     common challenges children with                me how they helped their mother
                                               visual impairments face in Romania?            cook dinner over the weekend by
JB: This is my fourth year in Romania, first                                                  cutting up a carrot for her…. These
as a PCV and now with PC Response. I           JB: I believe the largest obstacle that        new attitudes are priceless!
worked in the States as a teacher for the      these children face is the mentality that
blind and have transferred that                they are incapable and should be               We knew that giving the children
knowledge to my work here in Romania.          dependent on others. Many people,              t h es e im p o r ta nt s k ills wo u ld
                                               sadly, feel sorry for the 'poor blind child'   empower them and therefore
PCRo: How did you become interested            and therefore do everything for them or        increase their confidence and self-
in working with children with visual           expect less from them than they would          esteem…. However, I never expected
impairments?                                   from other children of the same age.           to see a difference to the degree that
                                               However, everyone, regardless of their         we've witnessed in the children at
JB: I kind of just fell into this field and    circumstances, needs to feel useful and        'Moldova' school.
ended up loving it; I read an article about    to feel that they have something that
Orientation and Mobility Specialists           they too can offer others. By providing        They suddenly have the desire to try
(who teach methods and techniques for          these children with life skills, we take a     things for themselves in other areas of
a person without sight to travel safely        step in that direction. We are telling the     their lives; they want to be involved in
and as independently as possible around        child, “Yes, you can” rather than, “No,        even more activities; they hold higher
their home, school/work, community,            don't”.                                        expectations for themselves and for
and to use public transportation) I                                                           their peers which, in turn, almost
became fascinated, found out where I           PCRo: Where did the idea of the                forces us adults to hold higher
could study this field, and it all happened    cooking class come from?                       expectations! Their self-esteem and
from there! I received a Master's degree                                                      confidence have increased more than
in Education for the Visually Impaired in      JB: In the States, these activities are        I could have imagined!
2007.                                          part of the Curriculum for children who
                                               are blind. Young children can learn            PCRo: What are some other things
I absolutely adore working with these          about day to day tasks simply by               you would like to achieve while
children; I know that what I teach them        watching others and copying their              working at Scoala Moldova? Future
are practical skills that could change         movements; however, a child who is
their lives for the better.                    blind cannot learn in this way. He or she
                                                                                                          Continued on page 11...

                                                                                                                            Page 10
...Continued from page 10

projects?                                   JB: What lessons have I not learned          the blind in Romania.
                                            during my time here in Romania should
I believe that what we have achieved        be the question!                             Our hope is to spread the
has exceeded, far beyond, my original       I believe that the main lesson I have        accomplishments from 'Moldova'
expectations. I am extremely impressed      learned is patience and what patience        school to the other seven schools for
with my colleagues who have worked          really means: to be patient with myself-     the blind throughout Romania. Some
very hard in changing their teaching        using Romanian grammar correctly will        work in this area has already been
methods, incorporating new teaching         not happen overnight; to be patient          done (I have completed teacher
activities, and advocating for these        with change- it may not always occur         trainings at a school for the blind in
lessons in order to give these kids a       quickly and it takes time for it to take     Bucuresti and the other schools have
chance at an independent life after         hold permanently; finally, I have been       attended a conference at 'Moldova'
graduating from 'Moldova' school.           reminded to have patience with the           school on Independent Living Skills
                                            children in that they need repetition        projects.) but there is plenty more to
Future hopes are to include Orientation     and practice in order to learn these         do. There are over 1000 children with
and Mobility into instruction by            necessary life skills.                       visual impairments enrolled in schools
providing teacher trainings as well as to                                                across Romania who need these same
continue to incorporate hygiene skills      PCRo: What plans do you have for the         skills, but are not yet being reached.
into the Independent Living Skills          future, once you'll be completing your
activities. We are also working on          PC Service?                                  Jennifer Brooks can be reached at
outreach to other schools for the blind                                                  brooks.jennifer.l@gmail.com for
so that their children too can benefit      JB: I would love to find a way to            further information on her work with
from these activities.                      continue my work here in Romania with        schools for the blind.
                                            schools for the blind; I am hoping to find
PCRo: What sorts of things did you          another international organization,
learn in Romania that you think will        interested persons, or a local NGO that
prove valuable lessons in your career       would like to get involved in this project
and life?                                   and make a life-changing difference to
                                            children in all of the special schools for


                                                                                                                      Page 11
Volunteer Voices
  Let’s Put On a Show!!!
                An Article by Kathleen Stocking


                   You know you're probably going to get          fact, suggested to an overweight,
                   into trouble when you come up with a           always tired, old-before-her-time,
                   great idea for a gala open house for a         African American single mother of 10
                   thousand parents and five hundred              small children that her offspring might
                   children in April during the aptly named       enjoy making chocolate chip cookies
                   “Something Else Week” -- a great idea          with her some afternoon after she'd
                   that you have loosely attributed to one        come home from her double-shift as an
                   of your host country counterparts since        LPN and before she made them supper.
                   everything must be initiated from the          I lived in the African American
                   grass roots, as we had been told during        community and as the story of this
                   training. But you figure this is going to be   suggestion made the rounds in
                   alright since the Altfel Week is totally       churches and corner grocery stores it
                   new for everyone, being something the          was greeted with hoots of laughter and
                   Ministry of Education came up with just        rambunctious knee-slapping. I could
                   this year, and since everyone has to           only imagine that my fellow teachers in
                      come up with ideas the counterpart          Romania, many of whom had taken on
                      seemed cool with it, it would look          extra jobs in order to make up the
                      good on paper, and all the Ministry         income they'd lost when their wages
                      expects is that educators “do               had been cut 25% because of the 2008
                       something different”.                      economic crisis, felt much the same
                                                                  way about the gala Open House during
                      That was back in December. I talked         Altfel Week suggested by the too-
                       up the idea every chance I got but it      earnest Peace Corps volunteer.
                       was pretty clear that my Romanian
                       language skills weren't up to the          Not that it mattered. I had 500 students
                       challenge. As the time drew near for       and they'd all been doing good work. I
                       the Altfel Week Open House it was          had about two decent, displayable
                       looking more and more like I might         pieces from each student, poems and
                      be the only one doing it. The cookies       essays and short stories, 1,000 more or
                      and cakes from the mothers and              less. I had asked the kids who finished
                      bunicas, the student writing which I'd      first to illustrate their writing while they
                      tried to solicit from my five               waited for their classmates to complete
                     counterparts, the student artwork            the assignment. I had plenty of
                     from the two art teachers, just wasn't       illustrated writing. But where was I
                     materializing.                               going to display it?

                     I could recall a time back in 1968 when I    I was shown a dark, cluttered storage
                     was a Head Start teacher one summer          room, up a cluttered staircase in a back
                    in Ann Arbor, all of us cute and sweet        building, a room that would need a lot
                   little co-eds who'd been recommended           of work before it could become a
                   by the University of Michigan Education        display space: cleaning, painting, even
                   School, and one of my fellow teachers,         lights. There was also my classroom but
                   the cutest and sweetest and littlest, in       it was a tiny, hot, top floor, corner room

                                                                                  Continued on page 13...

                                                                                                    Page 12
...Continued from page 12

and the three flights of stairs – 67 steps –   Easter vacation. Was there going to be        deliberately doing the work in front of
were a daunting prospect. I would have         anyone left?                                  everyone – on the front steps of the
had to have started with big yellow                                                          school if it was sunny and inside in the
arrows at the front gate – and a student       The week before the event, I learned the      lobby if it was raining -- so that
standing by each arrow – to even get the       Small Project Assistance (SPA) grant to       parents might come out of curiosity, if
parents up there. There was only one           host the Altfel Week Open House had           nothing else. “Che facette?” people
choice. The Open House was going to            been approved. My very first thought          would ask. And I would say, “Oo La La!
have to take place in the front yard of the    was that I should turn down the money.        Altfel Open House!! Trey Aprillie.” I
school where parents coming to pick up         But I hate to turn down money. I weighed      always liked saying “aprillie” because
their children wouldn't be able to miss it.    the pros and cons and ultimately it came      it made me feel like Chaucer saying,
But how crazy and aggressive and way           down to my Calvinist-banker-horse-            “Wan that aprillie . . . than longen
too earnest and in-your-face was that?         trader-rum-runner DNA. This is not the        folke to goon on pilgrimages.” I was
Well, totally.                                 visible DNA, the free spirit-poet-I know-     longing to goon on a pilgrimage
                                               you'll-still-love-me-in-the-morning-          myself, a long one. This whole Altfell
II thought the smartest thing I could do       anything-for-a-windmill-Don-Quixote-          Open House thing was a big mistake.
would be to cancel the whole thing.            join-the-Peace-Corps DNA; this was the        It was going to be a horrible disaster. I
None of my counterparts were remotely          hard-drive DNA that goes back before          was going to do all this work, day after
interested. The students had never done        Calvin to mastodons and before that to        day, and when April 3 arrived I was
anything like this before and now,             some swamp where I crawled onto the           going to be sitting there alone, in the
whenever I mentioned it in class, which        land. It was only a little money, $500 is a   rain, with my crepe paper streamers.
was pretty often, the kids would look          little money, but it was money. I felt I
down at their desks and finally someone        would have to go through with it.             I had generated the writing with my
would say, “I'm not going to be here that                                                    usual tricks: turning cartwheels and
week.” The student population of the           For the next few days I spent hours           somersaults on the lawn, chasing my
school, even the week before Atlfel            putting student writing, photos and           tail and emitting high-pitched yips of
Week, had thinned out alarmingly.              illustrations in plastic protector sleeves,   joy. Saying, “Bravo!” And, “Way to
Students were clearly leaving early for        hours cutting crepe paper streamers,          go!” And, “Good job!” And, “I love


                                                                                                           Continued on page 14...
                                                                                                                             Page 13
important. I was saying they were
                                                                                                important. With that thought, I knew I
                                                                                                was going to string up their writing if it
                                                                                                was the last thing I ever did in my life.
                                                                                                The worst thing that could happen was
                                                                                                that I'd make an utter fool of myself and
                                                                                                that was nothing new. I was very good at
                                                                                                that. It was far and away my best talent.

                                                                                                My mind went back to a day a few weeks
                                                                                                earlier when I had been in my Margaret
                                                                                                Thatcher mode with a new set of
                                                                                                students. They were all looking at me in a
                                                                                                slightly shell-shocked way after I'd given
                                                                                                my Sermon from the Mount demanding
                                                                                                that in my classroom they participate
                                                                                                fully, be kind to each other, not bad-
                                                                                                mouth gypsies or anyone else, express
                                                                                                their thoughts and feelings, and not be
...Continued from page 13                                                                       tardy. “This is an American classroom,” I
                                                                                                said emphatically, “and we do things the
what you're doing.” And, “Wow! You're           phrases of self-encouragement: there is         American way.” This was utter nonsense
all doing such incredible work!” I              no success without failure; stay calm and       since I had no more idea about what an
learned long ago that all anyone needs          carry on; there is work to be done in the       American classroom might be than they
is a little encouragement and they'll do        dark before the dawn; no guts, no glory;        did. “And,” I clarified, “I'm not doing
great things. Children don't know they          you have to stand for something or fall for     things the American way because I'm
can't write novels. I'm really a cheer-         everything.                                     trying to change you, I'm doing things
leader not a teacher. But I did this all –                                                      the American way because it's the only
at least the cartwheels and somersaults         But what did any of this stand for? I had a     way I know.” This had never occurred to
– metaphorically, not physically.               little time to think, sitting there sorting     them and in fact, had never occurred to
                                                kids' writing for hours, getting it ready for   me until I heard myself saying it.
If this crazy Open House idea was ever          presentation, pretty much like working in       Substitute “my way” for “the American
going to happen, I was going to have to         a Chinese laundry. I guess, in a nutshell, it   way” and you'll have something closer to
get physical and go up a ladder and             came down to democracy: all of this             the truth. And, naturally, being an adult,
hang crepe paper. I was going to have to        stood for democracy. You can't have a           I was trying to change them which,
rake the litter out of the grass in the         democracy without thoughts and                  naturally, being kids, they knew. In
front yard. Once I was young and                feelings and that's what the kids' writing      retrospect I think what I meant was that I
worked every conceivable job, from              was all about. It hadn't happened               expected them to have feelings, to have
picking strawberries to cleaning barns          overnight. It had been a slow process.          thoughts based on those feelings, and
t o h e f t i n g h e a v y t ray s w h i l e   First there was no writing at all. “But I       that I just couldn't help myself from
waitressing, but I haven't picked               have no ideas, teacher.” Then there was         expecting it.
strawberries since I was 12, haven't            bad writing – take me out and shoot me
been up a ladder since I tore my ACL            bad writing – produced by people whose          They had done it. And the more they did
tendon in Thailand five years ago,              only exposure to writing was essays on          it the more they liked it. And the more
haven't done any serious raking for             the furniture in the Royal Palace. Finally,     they liked it the better than got at it. And
longer than that and have steered clear         there were little glimmers, like the            here was the proof of the pudding. It
of hefting and hauling for years. So, like      daffodils in front of me trying to poke         would be a kind of crime not to recognize
Madame DeFarge with her knitting                their way through the frozen ground of          their efforts.
during the French Revolution, I just kept       the schoolyard. And, at last, real thoughts
sitting there doing what I could,               and real feelings, from every kid. If I         When I began to rake the yard, three
repeating in my mind little clichéd             displayed their writing I was saying it was     sturdy janitors showed up and did it for

                                                                                                                Continued on page 15...
                                                                                                                                  Page 14
“Scoala Altfel”

                                                                                           “Scoala Altfel” is a new
                                                                                           initiative by the Romanian
                                                                                           Ministry of Education
                                                                                           promoting non-formal
                                                                                           education.

                                                                                           For one week, schools are
                                                                                           given free hand to
                                                                                           i n c o r p o ra t e i n t o t h e i r
                                                                                           curriculum a series of
                                                                                           activities that go beyond the
                                                                                           national curriculum on
                                                                                           education. The initiative is
                                                                                           hoped to bring value to the
                                                                                           entire school community and
Continued from page 14...                                                                  to harness competency,
 me. When I began to weed the flower              telling them we're going to display it   cohesion, teamwork and last
 beds, they came out with the proper tools        at an Open House with crepe paper        but not least put a smile on
 and did this, too, a million times better        streamers. I had coffee, tea, sugar      students’ and teachers’ faces.
 than I would have ever done it. Someone          and hot water but no cookies. But
 showed up with flats of pansies and these        cookies miraculously appeared,           The program was developed
 were planted in the freshly tilled ground.       too.                                     as a tool for engaging both
 When I asked for a ladder and began to
 string up writing and crepe paper
                                                                                           students and teachers in
                                                  If it had rained, the whole thing
 streamers, my students appeared out of           might have been the disaster I'd         i n t e re st i n g n o n - fo r m a l
 nowhere and began to do that.                    been picturing in those first few        activities that can enhance
                                                  days as I sat there sorting student      the value of their talents,
 Things were starting to look beautiful and       writing. But the weather was             extracurricular interests and
 clean and shiny and fresh. There were            perfect: not too hot, not too cold,      competencies in a variety of
 lines and lines of writing hung up like little   sunny and glorious. Blue skies.
                                                                                           fields.
 baby clothes. We ran out of places to hang       Parents came. Lots of them. One
 writing and had to set up tables in the hall.    of my counterparts, the one who
 The place looked like a hillbilly yardsale:      had a daughter in one of my              To promote best practices,
 More inside!! The kids, by the day of the        classes, had a husband who used          the Ministry of Education has
 Open House, had simply taken over not            to be a journalist and he still had      also launched a competition
 only all the physical work but the               contacts in the media and he called      where it invites people to
 selection of writing to display, the hanging     them and reporters came from the         vote on the 10 most
 of the home-made banner, the welcome             newspaper and the TV station. The
                                                                                           interesting activities
 sign on the white board, basically               kids were thrilled. It was worth it.
 everything. At one point I said to one of        So, yes, “Let's put on a show!!!” You    organized between April 2-6,
 the girls, “Thank you so much for doing all      never know who will come.                2012. A list of all activities
 of this. I never expected all of you to                                                   developed during the “Scoala
 come every day and help.” She said,                                                       Altfel” week can be found on
 somewhat non-plussed, “This is what we           Kathleen Stocking is a 1st year TEFL     the Ministry’s website:
 like to do.” And I thought, slyly to myself,     Volunteer currently serving in
 next year I'll entice them to write by           Romania.
                                                                                             www. scoalaaltfel.edu.ro



                                                                                                                       Page 15
Volunteer Interview
  Peace Corps Volunteer Leader: Andrew Matusick



                  In this issue of our Newsletter we            when I first considered doing Peace
                  asked Andy Matusick, Peace Corps              Corps. These were my reasons for
                  Volunteer Leader to tell us about her         filling out the online application.
                  experience as a volunteer in
                  Romania.                         PCRo:Many volunteers worry that
                                                   they may not have the correct skills
                  PCRo: Tell us a little bit about to add value. Was this one of your
                  yourself.                        concerns?

                  AM: Well, I’m 26 years old and I come         AM: Yes, this was absolutely one of
                  from a medium sized family with 3             my concerns both before leaving for
                  brothers. I grew up in a small city           Romania and then again when I was
                  named Corning located in a really             leaving for site. I had no previous
                   nice region of New York. If you’ve           TEFL experience and I didn’t really
                   heard of Ithaca, NY I’m close to             study English at college. At the same
                    there. I stayed in the area for             time I kept no secrets from Peace
                     U n i ve rs i t y atte n d i n g S U N Y   Corps. They new about my previous
                     Cortland where I studied History           teaching experience, they saw my
                      and a bit of Psychology. I’m a fan        resume, they met me and they still
                      of both subjects. Other than that         chose to send me here. Reminding
                       I grew up loving baseball,               myself that Peace Corps believed
                       extreme sports and my most               that I had the correct skills to add
                        recent passion is travel.               value to a post helped me believe
                                                                the same.
                       PCRo: You’ve been a PCV in
                       Romania for 3 years now. What PCRo: You started as a TEFL
                       led you to pursue this unique volunteer and then applied for a
                       experience?                   PCVL position. What made you
                                                     want to extend your service?
                       AM: I think it was early in my
                       college years when I first heard         AM: I had been at site for about a
                       about Peace Corps from a                 year and a half when I decided to
                       recruiter and when I arrived             extend as a PCVL. At the time I knew
                       home that evening I did some             I was ready for something else but I
                      more research. I’ve always                didn’t yet want to leave Romania.
                      wanted to travel and see the              My language was finally coming
                      world but I saw Peace Corps as an         around and I was speaking daily in
                     opportunity to do more than just           Romanian with people at my school
                     see.     Learning the culture,             who I had been speaking to in
                    speaking the local language,                English just a few months earlier.
                    developing relationships and                The PCVL position was a chance to
                   integrating into a community that I          try out something new for a short
                  would eventually call my second               period of time but continue to be
                  home were the things I imagined
                                                                            Continued on page 17...

                                                                                            Page 16
volunteers that I’ve worked with
                                                                                    there.

                                                                                    PCRo: Take us through a typical day
                                                                                    of work at Mai Mult Verde.

                                                                                    AM: A typical day of work at MMV is
                                                                                    usually me in front of my computer
                                                                                    s e n d i n g o u t i nfo r m at i o n to
                                                                                    volunteers and responding to
                                                                                    emails. My colleagues at MMV are
                                                                                    always there to help me with
                                                                                    something that I don’t understand,
                                                                                    look over my emails before sending
                                                                                    them if I need and let me know if
                                                                                    there is something that I need to be
                                                                                    doing. If there is any down time at
                                                                                    the office I am usually researching
                                                                                    environmental issues and
                                                                                    environmental NGO’s in both
...Continued from page 16                                                           Romania and the US so I can get a
                                                                                    better idea of what is going on in the
                                                                                    field.
involved with Peace Corps and the        going at their sites and in their lives.
volunteer community.            After    I really enjoy hearing about what’s        While a typical day at MMV is at my
working as a TEFL volunteer I had        going on with volunteers because           computer communicating with
begun learning about NGO’s and           every situation is unique and each         MMV’s rather large volunteer
development work. I thought that it      volunteer has an interesting story to      community, there are a lot of
would be a great experience to work      tell. I was fortunate to have the          atypical days at MMV. The atypical
first hand with an NGO to learn more     chance to visit several volunteers in      days are the days when I get to meet
about how these organizations            the fall and see what life is like at      new people, spend the day outside
function and gain some valuable          their sites. The site visits were          and take part in some good old-
professional skills in the process. It   probably one of my favorite parts          fashioned manual labor that I
really did seem like the best option     about the position.                        missed so much when I was
for me at the time and I feel very                                                  teaching.
fortunate that I was given the           At MaiMultVerde I coordinate
opportunity to work as a PCVL.           volunteers. I chose to work for            PCRo: So what makes Romania
                                         MaiMultVerde because they have a           different from the other countries
PCRo: As a PCVL what are your main       lot of volunteer activities and I knew     you have visited?
activities in Romania?                   that I would get the chance to meet
                                         a lot of interesting people who            AM: This is a really difficult question
AM: As a PCVL my main activities in      believe that they can make a               to answer because before coming to
Romania are split. I have my             difference in their community.             Romania I hadn’t really visited other
activities with the Peace Corps office   MaiMultVerde does a lot of tree-           countries. Now that I’ve been
and then I have my activities with       planting activities and I have been        traveling a bit over the past 3 years I
the NGO that I chose to work with,       responsible for coordinating               can probably make a comparison
Asociatia MaiMultVerde.                  volunteers and our team of                 but not without bias.
                                         volunteer coordinators in those
Some of my Peace Corps activities        activities. I also help to organize        In my first vacation as a PCV I joined a
include summarizing feedback             secondary activities for some of our       few other volunteers on a New Years
forms, helping out with activities or    most active volunteers. The position       Eve trip to Belgrade. On our way
sessions at trainings, making the        at MaiMultVerde is really putting my       back into Romania the border guard
annual report, finding and sending       Romanian language skills to the test.      saw by looking at our passports that
useful information/resources to          I have met some great people at the        we were from the United States and
volunteers and chatting with             organization and have developed
volunteers to see how things are         some lasting friendships with the                        Continued on page 18...
                                                                                                                    Page 17
PCRo: What plans do you have for
                                                                                  the future, once you’ll be
                                                                                  completing your PC Service?

                                                                                  AM: I don’t really have any set plans
                                                                                  quite yet but eventually I would like
                                                                                  to get back into teaching. Being a
                                                                                  PCVL has given me some great
                                                                                  insight to the world of NGO’s and
                                                                                  development work but I miss being
                                                                                  in the classroom and I think that’s
                                                                                  really saying something. That
                                                                                  doesn’t mean that skills and
                                                                                  knowledge that I have gained as a
                                                                                  PCVL won’t prove useful in a career
                                                                                  as a teacher, if in fact that is where I
                                                                                  end up. I see a lot of ways in which
                                                                                  the things that I do now in
...Continued from page 17                                                         Bucharest will be helpful in a future
                                                                                  teaching career, both on a resume
                                                                                  and in practice.
he greeted us in English. We smiled     their own pace in a way.
back at him and responded in
Romanian. That was the point            In the TEFL program you must do
when I first felt that Romania was      your teaching hours but aside from
my home and I was glad to be back       that it’s up to you and your
home. Maybe it was the smile on         community what you do. The
his face or the unique exchange         program gives the volunteer a lot of
that made me feel so good about         opportunity to make their service
being back in Romania. It made me       truly unique. At the same time it
realize that what sets Romania          requires the volunteer to take a lot of
apart for me is the outright            initiative. You don’t have the CD           Founded in 2007,
friendliness and hospitality. I have    looking over your shoulder all the          MaiMultVerde is a non-profit,
met people in other places that         time making sure that you’re doing          non-political, non-
have been friendly and a good           specific projects involving a certain       governmental association
conversation or a fun night out         amount of beneficiaries. The                committed to protecting the
together will come of it. Only in       experience has forced me to become          environment.
Romania I’ve met people who after       the kind of person that takes the
a short conversation are willing to     initiative and strive to make positive
help you with anything you need.                                                                 Mission
                                        change. I think that this quality,
This quality was a bit shocking at      learned in Peace Corps, will be one
first but because of it I have          that proves valuable both in life and       To build a new culture of
d eve l o p e d s o m e in cred ib le   in my career.                               volunteer work for the
friendships.                                                                        environment in Romania.
                                        I hope to leave Romania more like a
PCRo: What sorts of things did you      Romanian. The hospitality that I have                 Strategic Goal
learn here in Romania that you          seen and experienced in Romania is
think will prove valuable lessons in    something that I hope I’d like to           To create an active community
your career and life?                   share wherever I end up. It is very         of volunteers that will make
                                        important to me to walk away from
AM: There are so many things that                                                   sustainable changes for the
                                        this experience having picked up at
I can take from this experience that    least this quality from the many
                                                                                    environment in Romania.
will prove valuable in career and       Romanians that have helped me
life. Peace Corps is designed to        along the way.                                  www.maimultverde.ro
allow the volunteers to work at
                                                                                                                  Page 18
Peace Corps Romania
       Quarterly Newsletter
          is published by:

         US Peace Corps
    Phone: [40] 21. 312. 12. 89
   Fax:    [40] 21. 312. 30. 04
   Website: www.peacecorps.ro




         Editor: Diana Toda
    Design&Layout: Diana Toda
Front Cover Photo: Manuela Lapadat

           Contributors:
          Sheila Crowley
            Justin Setty
           Melissa Royer
         Kathleen Stocking
         Andrew Matusick
          Jennifer Brooks


          Editorial Policy

 Articles published in the newsletter
 represent only a snapshot of Peace
Corps Romania’s volunteer activities.
For further information about Peace
  Corps Romania please contact the
editor or visit Peace Corps Romania’s
   website at www.peacecorps.ro

        Editorial Submission

  We welcome letters, unsolicited
  articles or photographs. Queries
   should be sent to the editor at
       dtoda@peacecorps.gov

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Peace Corps Romania Quarterly Newsletter Spring 2012

  • 1. Peace Corps Romania Quarterly Newsletter Issue 6, Spring 2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Letter from the Country Director 2 Volunteer Stories Farewell to PCV Group 27 3 PCV Justin Setty Comes in 6th at the Cluj Marathon 5 Good Projects Skype Session with Senator Isakson Environmental Project: Trees for Peace 6 7 Volunteer Voices Spring Forward PCRV Jennifer Brooks: Teaching Independent Life Skills 8 Let’s Put On a Show! 12 Volunteer Interview Peace Corps Volunteer Leader: Andrew Matusick 15
  • 2. Peace Corps Romania Office Letter from the Country Director, Sheila Crowley Dragi Partners, Supporters and Peace Corps Community, Spring, the season of rebirth and renewal has arrived bringing not only the rains, and the flowers but many new exciting projects and a busy work schedule for our Volunteers. From teaching independent life skills, piloting non-formal educational activities, to planting trees PCVs are making a difference in their communities and through their partnerships they are inspiring more and more people to do the same. The people to people connection that Peace Corps Volunteers promote in their everyday lives is at the core of volunteerism, they give of themselves and strive to make a difference in the lives of many. How do they do this? Through community empowerment, skills exchange, collaboration and partnership. By listening and being there for their friends, students and colleagues. By modeling the essence of service that it is better to give than to receive and by honoring Kennedy's vision that to achieve a world of peace you must promote peace and friendship. Across Romania, PCVs are teaching countless of hours in classrooms, engaging in extra curricular activities and building relationships. I admire their achievements and I am inspired daily by their enthusiasm, optimism and desire to do more. In Peace Corps Volunteers the spirit of civic responsibility lives on as each one of them embraces the call to serve and one by one, hand by hand and heart by heart, they leave their „world” a little better than when they discovered it. This is something truly worth sharing. So read and enjoy as we share and highlight the exciting things that Peace Corps Volutneers are doing in their communities. In Peace and Partnership, Sheila Director Sheila Crowley together with Page 2 PCV Kevin Denunzio
  • 3. Volunteer Stories Farewell to Group 27 “The biggest lesson I have learned thus far is just up and do it; try; go; do. Even if it seems hard or long or exhausting, new things, new activities, new experiences matter more here and teach you more here than in any other aspect of your life.” Emily Franzen “The most recent lesson I have learned is relatively simple: try everything at least once. This is directed toward the dinner table more than anything else. Food is an excellent way to experience a culture. Metaphorically It’s been almost 24 months since Peace exchange and a window opened to s p e a k i n g , ex p e r i e n c i n g Corps Volunteer Group 27 came to understanding the world. You will soon a n o t h e r ’s f o o d i s l i ke Romania with the task of sharing their be gone but will certainly never to be receiving nourishment from knowledge and expertise with the forgotten for your hard work and their culture/heritage” Romanian people. unending efforts to serve others. Marco Rufolo-Roger Over the past 2 years, Peace Corps In your last moments as Peace Corps “In teaching, one must be Volunteers in Group 27 have taught volunteers before your official split from patient. Sometimes it takes English to more than 27,000 young Romania you say goodbye to Peace Romanians. Not only that, they have Corps, but not to your friends. Savor the time and respectful helped to educate thousands of time you have left in Romania and persistence, but finally, Romanian English teachers. They have cherish both the goods and bad for they suddenly, even a half- also worked in many communities have made you what you are today: attentive student can amaze throughout Romania in environmental ambassadors of peace and friendship, you by what he or she has projects, while others have worked in role models and catalysts for change. All picked up in your hours small towns as community development the good work you have done is truly together” advisors. inspiring! Kristi St. Amant It was Shakespeare who wrote, "Parting So our message to you is to continue to “There is only so much is such sweet sorrow", and so it is. Many try and make a difference. Give life preparation for things you schools and small communities all over nothing short of your best. Try your best Romania will miss the help and guidance in everything in what you do and what can take into account for until you provided as Volunteers over the past you say. Trust your decisions for YOU can you actually arrive and settle 2 years. But the legacy you leave behind be anyone you want to be, you just have in at post, but now I can easily goes beyond the knowledge of the to try! call Romania home.” English language; it’s a two-way cultural Christopher Williamson Page 3
  • 4. Volunteer Stories Group 27 Statistics R A E A S B R H E O L C N E C Y A B R A B E L E A L N N E N N A A C E M H L R A L I N I S D S A E In just 2 years, 32 Peace Corps Volunteers have V F J R A worked with: E L E M Y Y E 144 Organizations N A S 475 Service Providers (e.g: teachers, health care educators, community leaders, peer educators) A J N 26,463 Students O A J C S U E T L L A I Y S N I A K R E B I M R S I A T L D I Y M T M S E S M N A E A A A I I R S R R G K C A S T A A E K H Y A N S M M T A R J K T A E R Y P U Y A R I A H L L R C S N A I E A O S N E A I
  • 5. Volunteer Stories PCV Justin Setty Comes in 6th place in the Vodafone Cluj Marathon PCV Justin Setty came in 6th place in the 2012 Vodafone Cluj Marathon. The second edition of the marathon took place on April 22nd and it comprised 5 races: Marathon (42.195 km); Half Marathon (21.0975 km); Marathon Relay (4x10,55km); Popular Race (6 km) and Kids Race (2 km). 91 male and 11 female crossed the finish line at the end of the race. Justin started his 14 year distance running career when he joined the cross-country team in the 7th grade. “Luckily this is a sport you can continue your whole life and the marathon is one of the steps you come to after finishing college. Three of my former teammates and I completed our first marathon been a goal for Justin. “I happened made a few really good friends in Ohio in 2008. I finished in 2 to sign-up for the Cluj Marathon here at site that I wouldn't have hours and 59 minutes. I because it was at the right time for made if I hadn't decided to come remember it as one of the most when I would be healthy enough. I back to running. I'm glad I had the satisfying days of my life. When I was hoping to run faster than my opportunity to compete in Cluj joined the Peace Corps, I found personal best of 2:59 by about 10 because it helped validate what I myself putting running on the minutes but it was too lofty of a do. Placing well in this marathon b a c k - b u r n e r. I p l a y e d goal. I maintained a pace at the helped my friends and students football/soccer with my beginning that would eventually understand why I run. I'm colleagues at site for over a year, tire me out and I hit the proverbial currently training again for a trail which prevented me from running wall around the halfway point. m a ra t h o n i n t h e A p u s e n i seriously due to a persistent knee When I crossed the line, I was mountains in July. Fortunately injury. I eventually decided to stop surprised I finished 6th in 2:57 when I tell people now that I need playing and focus on rehabilitating since I had slowed down so much to go run they understand exactly my k n e e . A f te r a ye a r o f toward the end. what I mean.” Justin concluded. rehabilitation and building knee strength, I was ready to train for Being a distance runner in my Justin Setty is a 3rd year TEFL my second marathon.” Justin said. town is lonely because this isn't a Volunteer currently serving in sport that is well understood or Romania Racing another marathon during well recognized by the general his Peace Corps service had always public. On the other hand, I've Photos by: Dalina Borcan Page 5
  • 6. Volunteer Stories Skype Session with Senator Isakson Last Thursday evening, May 24TH, four the students themselves. Topics that hours after their normal classroom were discussed were decided upon by hours had ended a group of twelve the students and included public eighth grade students gathered service, government, ambitions, goal together, along with their English setting, environmental health and Professor, Lizeta Ducec, and Peace Corps economics. The experience afforded Volunteer, Melissa Royer, for a very both parties the opportunity to special event at Scoala cu Clasele I-VIII, communicate in English, exchange Nr. Suceava. Dressed in their best, cultures and ideas about the world. participants from class 8A, were “It was a joy to not only see our afforded the opportunity to speak with students speak confidently in English Senator Johnny Isakson, a to a widely respected politician, but representative from the state of Georgia also to see their faces fill with joy and in the Senate of the United States of optimism, and to see their minds hard America. Using the internet program at work, analyzing the responses they called Skype, Senator Isakson and the were given,” said Melissa after the students were able to see each other meeting had taken place. Both groups through a webcam and to speak with were extremely pleased with the each other via microphones. success of the collaboration and hope to continue collaboration efforts in The Senator gave a short 2-3 minute the future. introduction about himself and his work as a Senator to begin the session. Melissa Royer is a 1st year TEFL Afterwards, the Senator opened the Volunteer currently serving in floor for Questions and Answers, led by Romania Page 6
  • 7. Volunteer Stories Environmental Project: Trees for Peace communities that have for years to come, the sense of helped it prosper in accomplishment that the students will Romania. “The idea and be continuously reminded of and the the symbolism community’s capacity to conduct this represented in the easily replicable project in the future. At project were important the same time the project brings to light but it would have been e nv i ro n m e n t a l i s s u e s , s u c h a s logistically inefficient to deforestation and littering, that NGO’s plant just one tree in well l i ke A s o c i a t i a M a i M u l t Ve r d e o v e r 2 0 0 d i f fe r e n t continuously work to address“ PCVL communities. For that Andy Matusick says. purpose the project was changed so as to keep The 10 Peace Corps Volunteers involved the meaning of the in the project worked with their project but to make it counterparts to organize small tree more efficient given the resources planting projects in their communities. When asked at the 2011 all-TEFL available.” said PCV Andy Matusick, the Using funds from a mini-grant provided conference to think about projects that coordinator of the project. by the US Embassy they acquired the could celebrate the 22 years of peace trees while other necessary materials and friendship promoted by Peace Corps Peace Corps Romania has teamed up where either acquired with the funds or in Romania, a group of Peace Corps with the United States Embassy, donated locally. In addition to gathering Volunteers came up with the idea all necessary materials, the PCVs, of planting one tree in each PCV together with their counterparts host community. Trees have been selected volunteers from their a long-time symbol of life and classes to plant the trees. MMV growth and, as Peace Corps provided instruction on proper Romania comes to a close, a tree planting techniques and seemed to be an appropriate organization so as to educate not symbol for the sustainable only the planners of the project development that is central to the but also those students with organization’s role around the shovels in hand on how to world. Even though the agency’s properly develop and implement work in Romania is coming to an this kind of project. Additionally, end in 2013, the impact will seven of the 10 communities continue to grow in those involved in the project worked communities where volunteers with American Corners to have served, with seeds planted organize a field trip for their not only in the projects that students to visit the closest volunteers have completed along-side Asociatia MaiMultVerde (MMV) and American Corner to their site. Transport their Romanian counterparts, but also in local communities to plant 22 trees in 10 for the students was acquired locally and their countless interactions with communities throughout Romania. The the PCV worked with a representative Romanians. project’s aim is to promote volunteerism from the American Corner to develop an at schools where Peace Corps volunteers educational program related to Peace Corps placing one tree in each host are serving as English teachers. The volunteering for the environment. This community would have not only students were directly involved in a not only gave the students a chance to installed this symbol in a community that beautification of either their school or see a new place and learn about has worked hand-in-hand with Peace other parts of their community. The available resources but also acted as a Corps, but it would have also been Peace project’s sustainability will be evident in reflection of the volunteer activity that Corps way of giving thanks to those the growth of the trees that will be seen they participated in. Page 7
  • 8. Volunteer Voices PCRV Jennifer Brooks: Teaching Independent Life Skills to the Blind This series of spring visits took us to The hope was that through the Targu Frumos, a small town in the provision of this facility and the trained northern part of Romania, to visit teachers, students would be able to Jennifer Brooks, a Peace Corps transition from an institutional setting Response Volunteer (PCRV) currently and a dependent lifestyle to a life of working at a highschool for children independence. ”Teaching basic life with visual impairments. A former skills can easily improve a student's Youth Development volunteer, quality of life. It can allow them to be Jennifer started working at Liceul self sufficient and therefore be able to Moldova back in 2007. Founded 45 attend to other needs such as years ago, the school offers a employment and giving back to their harmonious education for visually impaired children and youth, helping community” Jennifer adds. them both to properly integrate into society, as well as to be as Jennifer applied for a SPA grant and autonomous as possible. with the money received, the idea of the kitchen lab turned into reality. The Soon after her arrival at site, Jennifer lab was equipped with all the began looking at ways to implement appliances and tableware that one can projects focusing on teaching find in an ordinary kitchen: gas stove, students with visual impairments electric plate, microwave, plates, daily living skills, such as teaching cutlery etc. During the first week, the kitchen skills through a series of students were taught basic orientation techniques specially tailored for the of the room and the appliances: where blind. “Although Romania had made the fridge was located in relation to great strides in transitioning into a the stove; exploration of shelves, democratic society, there still remain drawer; exploration of the oven to portions of the population that understand where the gas is lit and continue to need assistance from where the flame is located, civil society organizations, including manipulation of the items while the children with visual impairments.” oven is cold so that it can be easily Jennifer says. done when home. As students became more and more familiar with the new Acknowledging the need to integrate lab, they were then taught how to turn teaching of independent life skills on the stove, how to cut, peel, and into the curriculum for children with slice, how to measure and weigh visual impairments, School Director liquids and dry ingredients and Margareta Pristavu welcomed the properly boil fry and bake. idea to create a kitchen lab furnished with kitchen appliances for teaching Almost three years later, the students life skills to visually impaired students. are now able to move around the At the time, the school had no kitchen independently and perform a equipped facilities to properly teach variety of tasks with minimal the students these skills. Continued on page 9... Page 8
  • 9. instruction in the areas of sexual education, hygiene, and self-care. This specialized instruction includes specific or adapted equipment as well as instruction in methods that have been proven efficient for those with visual impairments. The creation of a special studio where this equipment can be used as well as where these, perhaps delicate, discussions and lessons can take place on a one-to-one or small group basis was ideal. Together with her colleagues, Jennifer applied again for a grant, this time a VAST one. With the money received from the Peace Corps, a hygiene lab was created. The studio consists of separate work areas for boys and girls. Each area is ...Continued from page 8 equipped with a vanity style desk with a sink, mirrors, magnifiers, shelving for intimate items, adjustable mirrors supervision. Due to the availability of teacher the need for his mother or which magnify, Braille and large print the lab and proper instruction the sister to cut his finger nails as he had labeling, and special lighting which can students now have the necessary life never learned due to fear of hurting be adjusted per student visual skills to live independently and when himself. All of these events came to the preference. they finish school, they will have a attention of one professor of the school greater chance of becoming active, who, after seeing the success of the It is truly remarkable what the small contributing members of society due to previous independent living skills group of professors at Scoala Moldova the independence that they have activities began to set in motion and one PCV were able to do for these acquired through these classes. alongside Association 'Respect students. Being the first school in the Diversity' the idea of a hygiene studio. region committed to teaching these In the spring of 2011, experts from skills, Scoala Moldova has the potential various other European countries Typically, students with disabilities- to become a resource center for other visited schools and organizations especially those with visual schools and organizations in the area throughout Romania, including i m p a i r m e nt s - te n d to b e l e s s e i t h e r b y s h a r i n g t h e w r i tte n Moldova School, to learn about the knowledgeable about their bodies and information, materials, or the actual state of special education in Romania. sexuality. This lack of knowledge can be two labs. Moreover, the successes, The visitors were impressed by the a direct result of their visual struggles, and results can be shared with kitchen lab and the progress made by impairment: they do not have the other schools for the blind who can then students but one of these visitors typical visual input that most children use the model as a starting point for mentioned a school for the blind in their have (of bodies changing, of physical their own kitchen and hygiene studios. own country also having a special place differences between boys/men and for students to learn how to take care of girls/women), or it can stem from themselves. cultural taboos or misinformation. For example, parents can be reluctant to See page 10 for a one on one interview Immediately following this, there were discuss these topics of sexuality and/or with Response Volunteer Jennifer incidents between students that not know how to explain them to their Brooks. resulted from lack of knowledge and blind child. curiosity towards their sexuality. In that same year, a ninth grade visually Due to a student's visual impairment, impaired student expressed to his head he or she may need more specialized Continued on page 10... Page 9
  • 10. ...Continued from page 12 PCRo: Many volunteers needs to be involved hands-on in worry that they may not every step of the process in order to have the correct skills to understand. add value. Was this one of your concerns when When I first arrived to the school, the you started working in director gave me a tour throughout Targu Frumos? the school. She mentioned wanting to create a kitchen in one of the rooms JB: Actually it wasn't- I and the idea caught on from there! was very pleased with the placement. It seemed, PCRo: Do you see a change in the and has proved to be, a children's behavior since you first perfect match. I have started working there? If so, what are much to offer the some of the most obvious changes? teachers and students here and they are more JB: The look of triumph on their face On the ocassion of our visit to Targu than willing to take advantage of my when they finally peel the potato that Frumos, we asked Jen to tell us a few help- the only thing missing is enough they'd been fighting with for 20 words about her work as a Peace Corps time! :) minutes; the pride that shows when Response Volunteer in Romania. they eat their pizza that they made for PCRo: What are some of the most themselves; the delight when they tell PCRO: Tell us a little bit about yourself. common challenges children with me how they helped their mother visual impairments face in Romania? cook dinner over the weekend by JB: This is my fourth year in Romania, first cutting up a carrot for her…. These as a PCV and now with PC Response. I JB: I believe the largest obstacle that new attitudes are priceless! worked in the States as a teacher for the these children face is the mentality that blind and have transferred that they are incapable and should be We knew that giving the children knowledge to my work here in Romania. dependent on others. Many people, t h es e im p o r ta nt s k ills wo u ld sadly, feel sorry for the 'poor blind child' empower them and therefore PCRo: How did you become interested and therefore do everything for them or increase their confidence and self- in working with children with visual expect less from them than they would esteem…. However, I never expected impairments? from other children of the same age. to see a difference to the degree that However, everyone, regardless of their we've witnessed in the children at JB: I kind of just fell into this field and circumstances, needs to feel useful and 'Moldova' school. ended up loving it; I read an article about to feel that they have something that Orientation and Mobility Specialists they too can offer others. By providing They suddenly have the desire to try (who teach methods and techniques for these children with life skills, we take a things for themselves in other areas of a person without sight to travel safely step in that direction. We are telling the their lives; they want to be involved in and as independently as possible around child, “Yes, you can” rather than, “No, even more activities; they hold higher their home, school/work, community, don't”. expectations for themselves and for and to use public transportation) I their peers which, in turn, almost became fascinated, found out where I PCRo: Where did the idea of the forces us adults to hold higher could study this field, and it all happened cooking class come from? expectations! Their self-esteem and from there! I received a Master's degree confidence have increased more than in Education for the Visually Impaired in JB: In the States, these activities are I could have imagined! 2007. part of the Curriculum for children who are blind. Young children can learn PCRo: What are some other things I absolutely adore working with these about day to day tasks simply by you would like to achieve while children; I know that what I teach them watching others and copying their working at Scoala Moldova? Future are practical skills that could change movements; however, a child who is their lives for the better. blind cannot learn in this way. He or she Continued on page 11... Page 10
  • 11. ...Continued from page 10 projects? JB: What lessons have I not learned the blind in Romania. during my time here in Romania should I believe that what we have achieved be the question! Our hope is to spread the has exceeded, far beyond, my original I believe that the main lesson I have accomplishments from 'Moldova' expectations. I am extremely impressed learned is patience and what patience school to the other seven schools for with my colleagues who have worked really means: to be patient with myself- the blind throughout Romania. Some very hard in changing their teaching using Romanian grammar correctly will work in this area has already been methods, incorporating new teaching not happen overnight; to be patient done (I have completed teacher activities, and advocating for these with change- it may not always occur trainings at a school for the blind in lessons in order to give these kids a quickly and it takes time for it to take Bucuresti and the other schools have chance at an independent life after hold permanently; finally, I have been attended a conference at 'Moldova' graduating from 'Moldova' school. reminded to have patience with the school on Independent Living Skills children in that they need repetition projects.) but there is plenty more to Future hopes are to include Orientation and practice in order to learn these do. There are over 1000 children with and Mobility into instruction by necessary life skills. visual impairments enrolled in schools providing teacher trainings as well as to across Romania who need these same continue to incorporate hygiene skills PCRo: What plans do you have for the skills, but are not yet being reached. into the Independent Living Skills future, once you'll be completing your activities. We are also working on PC Service? Jennifer Brooks can be reached at outreach to other schools for the blind brooks.jennifer.l@gmail.com for so that their children too can benefit JB: I would love to find a way to further information on her work with from these activities. continue my work here in Romania with schools for the blind. schools for the blind; I am hoping to find PCRo: What sorts of things did you another international organization, learn in Romania that you think will interested persons, or a local NGO that prove valuable lessons in your career would like to get involved in this project and life? and make a life-changing difference to children in all of the special schools for Page 11
  • 12. Volunteer Voices Let’s Put On a Show!!! An Article by Kathleen Stocking You know you're probably going to get fact, suggested to an overweight, into trouble when you come up with a always tired, old-before-her-time, great idea for a gala open house for a African American single mother of 10 thousand parents and five hundred small children that her offspring might children in April during the aptly named enjoy making chocolate chip cookies “Something Else Week” -- a great idea with her some afternoon after she'd that you have loosely attributed to one come home from her double-shift as an of your host country counterparts since LPN and before she made them supper. everything must be initiated from the I lived in the African American grass roots, as we had been told during community and as the story of this training. But you figure this is going to be suggestion made the rounds in alright since the Altfel Week is totally churches and corner grocery stores it new for everyone, being something the was greeted with hoots of laughter and Ministry of Education came up with just rambunctious knee-slapping. I could this year, and since everyone has to only imagine that my fellow teachers in come up with ideas the counterpart Romania, many of whom had taken on seemed cool with it, it would look extra jobs in order to make up the good on paper, and all the Ministry income they'd lost when their wages expects is that educators “do had been cut 25% because of the 2008 something different”. economic crisis, felt much the same way about the gala Open House during That was back in December. I talked Altfel Week suggested by the too- up the idea every chance I got but it earnest Peace Corps volunteer. was pretty clear that my Romanian language skills weren't up to the Not that it mattered. I had 500 students challenge. As the time drew near for and they'd all been doing good work. I the Altfel Week Open House it was had about two decent, displayable looking more and more like I might pieces from each student, poems and be the only one doing it. The cookies essays and short stories, 1,000 more or and cakes from the mothers and less. I had asked the kids who finished bunicas, the student writing which I'd first to illustrate their writing while they tried to solicit from my five waited for their classmates to complete counterparts, the student artwork the assignment. I had plenty of from the two art teachers, just wasn't illustrated writing. But where was I materializing. going to display it? I could recall a time back in 1968 when I I was shown a dark, cluttered storage was a Head Start teacher one summer room, up a cluttered staircase in a back in Ann Arbor, all of us cute and sweet building, a room that would need a lot little co-eds who'd been recommended of work before it could become a by the University of Michigan Education display space: cleaning, painting, even School, and one of my fellow teachers, lights. There was also my classroom but the cutest and sweetest and littlest, in it was a tiny, hot, top floor, corner room Continued on page 13... Page 12
  • 13. ...Continued from page 12 and the three flights of stairs – 67 steps – Easter vacation. Was there going to be deliberately doing the work in front of were a daunting prospect. I would have anyone left? everyone – on the front steps of the had to have started with big yellow school if it was sunny and inside in the arrows at the front gate – and a student The week before the event, I learned the lobby if it was raining -- so that standing by each arrow – to even get the Small Project Assistance (SPA) grant to parents might come out of curiosity, if parents up there. There was only one host the Altfel Week Open House had nothing else. “Che facette?” people choice. The Open House was going to been approved. My very first thought would ask. And I would say, “Oo La La! have to take place in the front yard of the was that I should turn down the money. Altfel Open House!! Trey Aprillie.” I school where parents coming to pick up But I hate to turn down money. I weighed always liked saying “aprillie” because their children wouldn't be able to miss it. the pros and cons and ultimately it came it made me feel like Chaucer saying, But how crazy and aggressive and way down to my Calvinist-banker-horse- “Wan that aprillie . . . than longen too earnest and in-your-face was that? trader-rum-runner DNA. This is not the folke to goon on pilgrimages.” I was Well, totally. visible DNA, the free spirit-poet-I know- longing to goon on a pilgrimage you'll-still-love-me-in-the-morning- myself, a long one. This whole Altfell II thought the smartest thing I could do anything-for-a-windmill-Don-Quixote- Open House thing was a big mistake. would be to cancel the whole thing. join-the-Peace-Corps DNA; this was the It was going to be a horrible disaster. I None of my counterparts were remotely hard-drive DNA that goes back before was going to do all this work, day after interested. The students had never done Calvin to mastodons and before that to day, and when April 3 arrived I was anything like this before and now, some swamp where I crawled onto the going to be sitting there alone, in the whenever I mentioned it in class, which land. It was only a little money, $500 is a rain, with my crepe paper streamers. was pretty often, the kids would look little money, but it was money. I felt I down at their desks and finally someone would have to go through with it. I had generated the writing with my would say, “I'm not going to be here that usual tricks: turning cartwheels and week.” The student population of the For the next few days I spent hours somersaults on the lawn, chasing my school, even the week before Atlfel putting student writing, photos and tail and emitting high-pitched yips of Week, had thinned out alarmingly. illustrations in plastic protector sleeves, joy. Saying, “Bravo!” And, “Way to Students were clearly leaving early for hours cutting crepe paper streamers, go!” And, “Good job!” And, “I love Continued on page 14... Page 13
  • 14. important. I was saying they were important. With that thought, I knew I was going to string up their writing if it was the last thing I ever did in my life. The worst thing that could happen was that I'd make an utter fool of myself and that was nothing new. I was very good at that. It was far and away my best talent. My mind went back to a day a few weeks earlier when I had been in my Margaret Thatcher mode with a new set of students. They were all looking at me in a slightly shell-shocked way after I'd given my Sermon from the Mount demanding that in my classroom they participate fully, be kind to each other, not bad- mouth gypsies or anyone else, express their thoughts and feelings, and not be ...Continued from page 13 tardy. “This is an American classroom,” I said emphatically, “and we do things the what you're doing.” And, “Wow! You're phrases of self-encouragement: there is American way.” This was utter nonsense all doing such incredible work!” I no success without failure; stay calm and since I had no more idea about what an learned long ago that all anyone needs carry on; there is work to be done in the American classroom might be than they is a little encouragement and they'll do dark before the dawn; no guts, no glory; did. “And,” I clarified, “I'm not doing great things. Children don't know they you have to stand for something or fall for things the American way because I'm can't write novels. I'm really a cheer- everything. trying to change you, I'm doing things leader not a teacher. But I did this all – the American way because it's the only at least the cartwheels and somersaults But what did any of this stand for? I had a way I know.” This had never occurred to – metaphorically, not physically. little time to think, sitting there sorting them and in fact, had never occurred to kids' writing for hours, getting it ready for me until I heard myself saying it. If this crazy Open House idea was ever presentation, pretty much like working in Substitute “my way” for “the American going to happen, I was going to have to a Chinese laundry. I guess, in a nutshell, it way” and you'll have something closer to get physical and go up a ladder and came down to democracy: all of this the truth. And, naturally, being an adult, hang crepe paper. I was going to have to stood for democracy. You can't have a I was trying to change them which, rake the litter out of the grass in the democracy without thoughts and naturally, being kids, they knew. In front yard. Once I was young and feelings and that's what the kids' writing retrospect I think what I meant was that I worked every conceivable job, from was all about. It hadn't happened expected them to have feelings, to have picking strawberries to cleaning barns overnight. It had been a slow process. thoughts based on those feelings, and t o h e f t i n g h e a v y t ray s w h i l e First there was no writing at all. “But I that I just couldn't help myself from waitressing, but I haven't picked have no ideas, teacher.” Then there was expecting it. strawberries since I was 12, haven't bad writing – take me out and shoot me been up a ladder since I tore my ACL bad writing – produced by people whose They had done it. And the more they did tendon in Thailand five years ago, only exposure to writing was essays on it the more they liked it. And the more haven't done any serious raking for the furniture in the Royal Palace. Finally, they liked it the better than got at it. And longer than that and have steered clear there were little glimmers, like the here was the proof of the pudding. It of hefting and hauling for years. So, like daffodils in front of me trying to poke would be a kind of crime not to recognize Madame DeFarge with her knitting their way through the frozen ground of their efforts. during the French Revolution, I just kept the schoolyard. And, at last, real thoughts sitting there doing what I could, and real feelings, from every kid. If I When I began to rake the yard, three repeating in my mind little clichéd displayed their writing I was saying it was sturdy janitors showed up and did it for Continued on page 15... Page 14
  • 15. “Scoala Altfel” “Scoala Altfel” is a new initiative by the Romanian Ministry of Education promoting non-formal education. For one week, schools are given free hand to i n c o r p o ra t e i n t o t h e i r curriculum a series of activities that go beyond the national curriculum on education. The initiative is hoped to bring value to the entire school community and Continued from page 14... to harness competency, me. When I began to weed the flower telling them we're going to display it cohesion, teamwork and last beds, they came out with the proper tools at an Open House with crepe paper but not least put a smile on and did this, too, a million times better streamers. I had coffee, tea, sugar students’ and teachers’ faces. than I would have ever done it. Someone and hot water but no cookies. But showed up with flats of pansies and these cookies miraculously appeared, The program was developed were planted in the freshly tilled ground. too. as a tool for engaging both When I asked for a ladder and began to string up writing and crepe paper students and teachers in If it had rained, the whole thing streamers, my students appeared out of might have been the disaster I'd i n t e re st i n g n o n - fo r m a l nowhere and began to do that. been picturing in those first few activities that can enhance days as I sat there sorting student the value of their talents, Things were starting to look beautiful and writing. But the weather was extracurricular interests and clean and shiny and fresh. There were perfect: not too hot, not too cold, competencies in a variety of lines and lines of writing hung up like little sunny and glorious. Blue skies. fields. baby clothes. We ran out of places to hang Parents came. Lots of them. One writing and had to set up tables in the hall. of my counterparts, the one who The place looked like a hillbilly yardsale: had a daughter in one of my To promote best practices, More inside!! The kids, by the day of the classes, had a husband who used the Ministry of Education has Open House, had simply taken over not to be a journalist and he still had also launched a competition only all the physical work but the contacts in the media and he called where it invites people to selection of writing to display, the hanging them and reporters came from the vote on the 10 most of the home-made banner, the welcome newspaper and the TV station. The interesting activities sign on the white board, basically kids were thrilled. It was worth it. everything. At one point I said to one of So, yes, “Let's put on a show!!!” You organized between April 2-6, the girls, “Thank you so much for doing all never know who will come. 2012. A list of all activities of this. I never expected all of you to developed during the “Scoala come every day and help.” She said, Altfel” week can be found on somewhat non-plussed, “This is what we Kathleen Stocking is a 1st year TEFL the Ministry’s website: like to do.” And I thought, slyly to myself, Volunteer currently serving in next year I'll entice them to write by Romania. www. scoalaaltfel.edu.ro Page 15
  • 16. Volunteer Interview Peace Corps Volunteer Leader: Andrew Matusick In this issue of our Newsletter we when I first considered doing Peace asked Andy Matusick, Peace Corps Corps. These were my reasons for Volunteer Leader to tell us about her filling out the online application. experience as a volunteer in Romania. PCRo:Many volunteers worry that they may not have the correct skills PCRo: Tell us a little bit about to add value. Was this one of your yourself. concerns? AM: Well, I’m 26 years old and I come AM: Yes, this was absolutely one of from a medium sized family with 3 my concerns both before leaving for brothers. I grew up in a small city Romania and then again when I was named Corning located in a really leaving for site. I had no previous nice region of New York. If you’ve TEFL experience and I didn’t really heard of Ithaca, NY I’m close to study English at college. At the same there. I stayed in the area for time I kept no secrets from Peace U n i ve rs i t y atte n d i n g S U N Y Corps. They new about my previous Cortland where I studied History teaching experience, they saw my and a bit of Psychology. I’m a fan resume, they met me and they still of both subjects. Other than that chose to send me here. Reminding I grew up loving baseball, myself that Peace Corps believed extreme sports and my most that I had the correct skills to add recent passion is travel. value to a post helped me believe the same. PCRo: You’ve been a PCV in Romania for 3 years now. What PCRo: You started as a TEFL led you to pursue this unique volunteer and then applied for a experience? PCVL position. What made you want to extend your service? AM: I think it was early in my college years when I first heard AM: I had been at site for about a about Peace Corps from a year and a half when I decided to recruiter and when I arrived extend as a PCVL. At the time I knew home that evening I did some I was ready for something else but I more research. I’ve always didn’t yet want to leave Romania. wanted to travel and see the My language was finally coming world but I saw Peace Corps as an around and I was speaking daily in opportunity to do more than just Romanian with people at my school see. Learning the culture, who I had been speaking to in speaking the local language, English just a few months earlier. developing relationships and The PCVL position was a chance to integrating into a community that I try out something new for a short would eventually call my second period of time but continue to be home were the things I imagined Continued on page 17... Page 16
  • 17. volunteers that I’ve worked with there. PCRo: Take us through a typical day of work at Mai Mult Verde. AM: A typical day of work at MMV is usually me in front of my computer s e n d i n g o u t i nfo r m at i o n to volunteers and responding to emails. My colleagues at MMV are always there to help me with something that I don’t understand, look over my emails before sending them if I need and let me know if there is something that I need to be doing. If there is any down time at the office I am usually researching environmental issues and environmental NGO’s in both ...Continued from page 16 Romania and the US so I can get a better idea of what is going on in the field. involved with Peace Corps and the going at their sites and in their lives. volunteer community. After I really enjoy hearing about what’s While a typical day at MMV is at my working as a TEFL volunteer I had going on with volunteers because computer communicating with begun learning about NGO’s and every situation is unique and each MMV’s rather large volunteer development work. I thought that it volunteer has an interesting story to community, there are a lot of would be a great experience to work tell. I was fortunate to have the atypical days at MMV. The atypical first hand with an NGO to learn more chance to visit several volunteers in days are the days when I get to meet about how these organizations the fall and see what life is like at new people, spend the day outside function and gain some valuable their sites. The site visits were and take part in some good old- professional skills in the process. It probably one of my favorite parts fashioned manual labor that I really did seem like the best option about the position. missed so much when I was for me at the time and I feel very teaching. fortunate that I was given the At MaiMultVerde I coordinate opportunity to work as a PCVL. volunteers. I chose to work for PCRo: So what makes Romania MaiMultVerde because they have a different from the other countries PCRo: As a PCVL what are your main lot of volunteer activities and I knew you have visited? activities in Romania? that I would get the chance to meet a lot of interesting people who AM: This is a really difficult question AM: As a PCVL my main activities in believe that they can make a to answer because before coming to Romania are split. I have my difference in their community. Romania I hadn’t really visited other activities with the Peace Corps office MaiMultVerde does a lot of tree- countries. Now that I’ve been and then I have my activities with planting activities and I have been traveling a bit over the past 3 years I the NGO that I chose to work with, responsible for coordinating can probably make a comparison Asociatia MaiMultVerde. volunteers and our team of but not without bias. volunteer coordinators in those Some of my Peace Corps activities activities. I also help to organize In my first vacation as a PCV I joined a include summarizing feedback secondary activities for some of our few other volunteers on a New Years forms, helping out with activities or most active volunteers. The position Eve trip to Belgrade. On our way sessions at trainings, making the at MaiMultVerde is really putting my back into Romania the border guard annual report, finding and sending Romanian language skills to the test. saw by looking at our passports that useful information/resources to I have met some great people at the we were from the United States and volunteers and chatting with organization and have developed volunteers to see how things are some lasting friendships with the Continued on page 18... Page 17
  • 18. PCRo: What plans do you have for the future, once you’ll be completing your PC Service? AM: I don’t really have any set plans quite yet but eventually I would like to get back into teaching. Being a PCVL has given me some great insight to the world of NGO’s and development work but I miss being in the classroom and I think that’s really saying something. That doesn’t mean that skills and knowledge that I have gained as a PCVL won’t prove useful in a career as a teacher, if in fact that is where I end up. I see a lot of ways in which the things that I do now in ...Continued from page 17 Bucharest will be helpful in a future teaching career, both on a resume and in practice. he greeted us in English. We smiled their own pace in a way. back at him and responded in Romanian. That was the point In the TEFL program you must do when I first felt that Romania was your teaching hours but aside from my home and I was glad to be back that it’s up to you and your home. Maybe it was the smile on community what you do. The his face or the unique exchange program gives the volunteer a lot of that made me feel so good about opportunity to make their service being back in Romania. It made me truly unique. At the same time it realize that what sets Romania requires the volunteer to take a lot of apart for me is the outright initiative. You don’t have the CD Founded in 2007, friendliness and hospitality. I have looking over your shoulder all the MaiMultVerde is a non-profit, met people in other places that time making sure that you’re doing non-political, non- have been friendly and a good specific projects involving a certain governmental association conversation or a fun night out amount of beneficiaries. The committed to protecting the together will come of it. Only in experience has forced me to become environment. Romania I’ve met people who after the kind of person that takes the a short conversation are willing to initiative and strive to make positive help you with anything you need. Mission change. I think that this quality, This quality was a bit shocking at learned in Peace Corps, will be one first but because of it I have that proves valuable both in life and To build a new culture of d eve l o p e d s o m e in cred ib le in my career. volunteer work for the friendships. environment in Romania. I hope to leave Romania more like a PCRo: What sorts of things did you Romanian. The hospitality that I have Strategic Goal learn here in Romania that you seen and experienced in Romania is think will prove valuable lessons in something that I hope I’d like to To create an active community your career and life? share wherever I end up. It is very of volunteers that will make important to me to walk away from AM: There are so many things that sustainable changes for the this experience having picked up at I can take from this experience that least this quality from the many environment in Romania. will prove valuable in career and Romanians that have helped me life. Peace Corps is designed to along the way. www.maimultverde.ro allow the volunteers to work at Page 18
  • 19. Peace Corps Romania Quarterly Newsletter is published by: US Peace Corps Phone: [40] 21. 312. 12. 89 Fax: [40] 21. 312. 30. 04 Website: www.peacecorps.ro Editor: Diana Toda Design&Layout: Diana Toda Front Cover Photo: Manuela Lapadat Contributors: Sheila Crowley Justin Setty Melissa Royer Kathleen Stocking Andrew Matusick Jennifer Brooks Editorial Policy Articles published in the newsletter represent only a snapshot of Peace Corps Romania’s volunteer activities. For further information about Peace Corps Romania please contact the editor or visit Peace Corps Romania’s website at www.peacecorps.ro Editorial Submission We welcome letters, unsolicited articles or photographs. Queries should be sent to the editor at dtoda@peacecorps.gov