Martisor! Manasterie! and the Church on the Cave!

Day 3: March 1, 2010

Today is a special day for Moldovans--March 1st is the beginning on the first day of spring! Martisor! It's a huge celebration for them--they spend the entire year hand-making elaborate red and white pins that people buy on this day to celebrate the beginning of spring. It lasts the entire month of March and people were so excited when we knew about their celebration! We were greeted with "Martisor" - the pins in the dental school this morning.

Location: Clinica Universitara Stomatologica
On our way to the dental school we had our first exciting encounter with the Moldovan police when we were waved over for a stop. Our driver handed over all the documentation and our translator told them that we were on official US embassy business, so we were allowed to continue on without a hassel. We considered this getting off easy since we weren't searched or even asked for our passports.
Once we arrived at the school, the entire team met Dr. Lupon, the Dean of their dental school, and the Dr. Soloman, the Deputy Dean. They welcomed us to their school and their country and gave us a tour of their facilities - which are simultaneously like and completely different from ours. Moldovan dental school is very different--students enter directly from high school into a 5 year program (where they get very little clinical experience) and then 3 years as a dental residents (an apprenticeship basically). During the tour Dr. Uncutsa's mother (a teacher at the school for over 40 years - so basically a teacher for every dentist in Moldova), showed us what the students were working on. They work on prepping plastic teeth and learn dental anatomy just like us! We saw a belt driven handpiece and Dr. Horowitz almost broke it! Seeing a belt driven handpiece was like being in a dental history museum. That's what he learned on---I've only heard about them, but Thank God for technology. We even met their Prosthodontics teacher and he's no Dr. Felton.

Location: National Museum of Archealogy and History of Moldova
Oxsana, Radu (Diana's husband and our translator), and Stella took us to an amazing museuem and shared the history of Moldova. Caveman's tools, jewelry, and paintings explaining the rich history of Moldova. But the most amazing part was the diorama--a mural and 3D image capturing a battle during World War II. It was absolutely breathtaking! We threw coins into the diorama like Americans do into fountains for good luck. There is a statue at the entrance depicting a two babies suckling from the teats of a wolf. It explains the story of the founders of Rome--Romulus and Remus!

Location: The Manasterie
Stella, Elise and I drove into the country side to view the monasteries. The first, Condrita Monastery is 400 years old. We lit candles and said a prayer at the altar. The ceiling was stunning and even though the building was completely run down, we were very impressed. Stella told us to just wait - we hadn't seen beautiful yet. We drove a little further out to the village of Capriana. Even from the hillside, you could see the monastery was beautiful! Situated amongst the hills, Capriana Manastire is oldest monastery in Moldova and the pride of the village! Freshly renovated between 2003-2005, it was hard to even describe. There simply aren't enough words. All I can say is...you will gasp at the pictures!

Location: Papasul Dacilor
Stella drove us back into time for a taste of Moldovan cuisine. Elise has been dying to try mamaliga--a traditional dish! Papasul Dacilor is one of Stella's favorite restaurants. So we had a glass of wine and tried the mamliga! And we loved it! Mamaliga is basically like grits that are not soupy and you serve it with a side dish of sour cream, cheese ("brezna") and chopped peppers, but these words don't do it justice. Papsul was also our first taste of Moldova red wine which was heavy, warm and delicious.

Location: Ozheiul Vechi
Alina decided to take us to Ozheiul Vechi (a village called Butuceni with a church on top of the hill and the 'church in the cave'). They kept telling us we would see the most amazing views! And they were right. The monastery is built into the hilltop and extends underneath so it looks like a church carved into the side of the cliff! As we were leaving, three peasant kids from the village asked us if we know the history of the monastery. He told us that at the top of the hill is a wishing cross where you place your hand in the middle of circle of the cross and make a wish. He explained the town was named after a Moldovan man and woman who lived on the bridge over the river Raut that encircles the hill. A Turkish man who was also in love with the woman had a major battle for the woman's heart. The Moldovan man named Butecen defeated the Turkish man and the village was named in his honor, Butuceni!

Location: Roata Vremii!
Patrick finally joined us!!! Our team is complete :D
He was held over in Dulles on an oversold flight and we're so exicted he is here. He has a lot of catching up to do with us after today!

Tonight we visited another traditional Moldovan restaurant. The menu was preselected--pickles, pickled watermelon, bread with cheese, onions and potatoes, blood sausage, beef, chicken and many other items we could not name or recognize. The restaurant has a museum that depicts traditional Modolvan life - we saw handmade rugs, animal skins, a loom, a completly stocked cellar, a grandmother's room where she bakes bread and sleeps on top of the oven for warmth and an infinite supply of wine. We continued eating until we were way past full and piled home in the car with Alina and her father which a quick stop to the grocery store.

We're excited to start dental work tomorrow!
Noapte buna!