My time in Moldova has been fulfilling in so many ways. Coming into the Fulbright program, I was lucky to be posted in a site that fit all of the criteria I wanted: a large town with a Russian-speaking population. My post in Balti has helped me improve my Russian and work with a variety of stakeholders from the community. Outside of my normal teaching schedule, I have had the opportunity to volunteer with Ukrainian refugees, coordinate events all over Moldova and participate in this Reach the World exchange!
Despite the dynamic nature of my work, this experience has taught me the most about myself. This is the longest time I have spent living outside of the United States, and the longest time I have spent living by myself. Outside of integrating and engaging with the Moldovan community, I have learned how to accomplish the mundane yet important tasks of taking care of my own home independently and being a successful working professional. Each day inevitably throws something new and exciting at me, and I continuously enjoy the ride. I have gained confidence in my ability to live abroad, adapt to a new environment with limited support and take chances going on a journey with limited prior knowledge.
