Moldova Program Addendum

TABLE OF CONTENTS 0. Disclaimer 1. Program Information a. Staff b. Program History c. Program Summary d. Teaching e. Service project 2. Country Information a. Weather & Climate b. & Drink c. Language d. Culture & Religion e. Potentially Uncomfortable Situations f. Security Concerns g. Medical Concerns h. Guidelines for Living with a Host Family i. Excursions 3. Preparing for Your Trip a. Finding a Flight b. Passports & Visas c. Health & Safety d. Additional Readings/Links

DISCLAIMER Your host village in this program country is somewhere that can benefit from a volunteer English teacher. You should expect to be the only LE volunteer in your village (though in some programs, we do send two volunteers to one location). This means that you may not have direct access to an American. It may not be a very well-developed community, and the ease of transportation infrastructures is not the same as you could expect in a high- functioning urban areas. Transportation varies country-to-country and village-to- village (consult the remaining portions of this addendum for info more specific to your host region), and most are connected by public bus routes. The frequency of the bus/train schedule will not be the same as in urban areas, and you should not rely on schedules or purchasing tickets via the internet. You will need to consult with your host family and PD when arranging transportation. Not all host families own cars or share vehicles with neighbors/relatives. All villages have phones and internet connections, and many but not all host families have internet in their homes. For families who have Internet connectivity, it may not be the same level/consistency as in developed, urban area. Volunteers who are very concerned with being in touch all the time should invest in their own cellphones and you can talk to your PD about it. Villages will have access to a medical clinic or hospital in the nearest larger city. Be prepared to live in a place with different social norms that may challenge and fascinate you. As a volunteer you need to be culturally sensitive and your host family may not have the same views as you. You should reach out to your Program Directors or Director of Programming if you ever feel uncomfortable.

PROGRAM INFORMATION (A) STAFF Felicia Belostecinic (Program Director) Bio: Felicia was born in Chisinau, , went to high-school in New Orleans, LA and is now a Junior at Georgetown University, majoring in International Political Economy, studying abroad in London, UK. She was a volunteer in Mauritius in 2013 and after she finished the program in Mauritius and had a most extraordinary experience there-- decided to bring LE to her home-country, Moldova. The time and volunteer experience in Mauritius convinced her of the power to bring about change, the possibility to connect across cultures and the joys that both volunteers and the kids which they teach can experience. It was those experiences that she hoped to bring to the volunteers that decided to join the program in Moldova starting the summer of 2014, and hopefully for years to come.

Diana Bencheci (Country Coordinator for Republic of Moldova) As an assistant professor Diana is always surrounded by young people whom she has to teach and she likes it. She is always open to gaining new knowledge, cultural values and friends. She is also involved in volunteers’ activities and charity projects. In her spare time, she likes to read and spend time with friends. She has an inquiring mind and is open to new ideas and fresh perspective.

PD Responsibilities: Felicia will conduct orientation at the start of service and will be in Moldova to facilitate the program. Both Felicia and Ms. Diana will always be available by mobile phone and will have almost daily access to Internet. Felicia will visit the teaching site and will be generally available for whatever suggestions, questions, concerns, or any other queries. Other PD responsibilities include coordinating sites, selecting volunteers, pre-service programming, arranging accommodations, conducting volunteer orientation, organizing mobile phones and other in-country amenities, general assistance with problem-solving while in Moldova, ensuring volunteers’ successful service projects, and facilitating volunteers’ needs and concerns. Felicia and Ms. Diana also want to ensure that every volunteer has just as an unforgettable summer.

CC Responsibilities: Ms. Diana will co-conduct orientation of the volunteers and will serve as a counselor for all of them during their stay in Moldova. Diana Bencheci will always be available by phone. She will often help with administrative and organizing activities and she will serve as a service and cultural-mentor.

Contact Us Felicia Belostecinic Email: [email protected] or [email protected] UK phone: +44 7517219555

Diana Bencheci: E-mail: [email protected] Moldova phone: +373-69-547-076

(B) PROGRAM HISTORY

The program in Moldova was founded in 2013 by Felicia Belostecinic. As a pilot for the summer of 2014, it began with three volunteers in the Taxobeni village. LE Moldova was founded on the belief of bringing LE to a country that still has a demonstrated need for volunteers to bring in the benefits of teaching English, but also on the belief that the hospitable nature of the Moldovan country-side could prove an invaluable addition to the experience of LE volunteers. LE Moldova also includes a service program aspect as it also hopes to become a program that is equally as dedicated to servicing the communities that have decided to host the volunteers. This year, LE Moldova has become a transitioning program and has expanded the number of volunteers to seven- eight. Albeit it a Transitioning Program, LE Moldova already has established connections with the local administration of the respective villages, and hopes to bring an unforgettable experiences for the first volunteers that will continue the LE tradition in Moldova.

(C) PROGRAM SUMMARY

Important Dates:

Event Dates for Moldova volunteers

Pick up at Chisinau’s Airport (LUKK Chisinau International Airport) Sunday, June 28nd - Monday, June 29rd

Orientation Monday, June 28rd - Thursday, July 2nd

Move in to host location Friday, July 3rd

Teaching begins Monday, July 6th

Mid-point break Saturday, July 18th - Sunday, July 19th

Teaching ends Friday, July 24th

Post service wrap up Saturday, July 25th

Volunteers free to depart Sunday, July 26th

Volunteers participating in the LE Moldova program will be placed in the Ungheni regional center during program year 2015. All volunteers will be greeted in Chisinau on Sunday, June 28th at the Chisinau International Airport, and will be free to leave the country on Sunday, July 26th.

Volunteers will be allocated a host family upon the acceptance of all volunteers into the LE Moldova program. We will take into account dietary preferences and will try to the best of our ability to accommodate any other personal necessities.

Pick Up & Orientation As stated above, all volunteers should arrive in Chisinau by Monday, 29th June 2015 (Moldovan time-7 hours ahead of EST, 2 hours ahead of Dublin time) where they will be greeted by the program director at the airport. From the airport, we will travel to our accommodation for the night. This is your time to rest up, stretch your legs and meet the other volunteers who will share this wonderful experience with you. We will stay overnight in the capital city--Chisinau--where the orientation will take place. The next morning we will arrange for volunteers to change some of their money into local currency (see money and banking), and buy a SIM card/ mobile phone if needed. As a new blanket Learning Enterprises policy, all volunteers are required to have some form of mobile device with them at all times (see below). Orientation will be from June 29rd - July 2nd. During orientation volunteers will be instructed by the PD, the CC, and members of the Moldovan community on matters of Moldovan culture, Romanian and Russian language, and most importantly teaching in Moldovan schools. The PD will provide volunteers with examples of lesson plans and teaching strategies, and the volunteers themselves will construct mock lesson plans. On Friday, July 3rd, volunteers will depart for their host families homes. Teaching will commence the following Monday, July 6th.

Mid-point break As the term mid-point break suggest, the break will take place 2 weeks after the teaching program will have started, with one remaining week afterwards. It will be a forum for volunteers to gather and discuss ideas with teaching and any problems they may be having. It will also provide an opportunity for volunteers to provide feedback to program directors on their experience so far. Most importantly, it will be an opportunity for all volunteers to gather together and socialize a bit and enjoy each other’s stories of what it meant to have lived with their host families for the past 2 weeks, and an excellent opportunity to further explore some historical sites around Moldova.

Post-service wrap-up Post service wrap up will mark the end of your adventure with LE Moldova 2015. It will act as an opportunity for volunteers to reflect on their experience and provide much needed feedback to improve the program for the forthcoming year. We will also discuss how volunteers can further continue their experience with Learning Enterprises.

(D) TEACHING Teaching will take place during the Moldovan summer vacation. Schools will not be in session, but students and volunteers will have full access to the facilities and will be able to readily communicate with the school administration and teachers upon necessity. Volunteers teach for three weeks in local schools. Schools will be accessible by walking, by bicycle or your host family will make arrangements for you to get a lift to school. Host families make contact with the school you will be teaching with prior to their application. Schools will most likely be the most advanced in your respective area-- somewhere that can benefit from a volunteer like you. Volunteers teach between 4-6 hours per day. Classes can be of any grade from kindergarten to twelfth grade. The size of each class will depend on the school. Some volunteers may be teaching classes with as many as 50 students, while other volunteers’ largest class may consist of as little as 8 students. The children may or may not sit at desks. All classrooms should have a blackboard. Overhead projectors and other more advanced technologies will more than likely not be available and should not be expected. Volunteers are encouraged to teach after school classes to teachers or to the local community members. Remember, you will only be at the school for a short time, the teachers will be at the school for many years. Any English you can teach the teachers will be used by them throughout the years. Learning Enterprises likes their volunteers focus on creative lesson plans that stimulate conversational English and the conversational side of the language. Volunteers are free to play games, create theatre pieces, sing a song, do arts & crafts and whatever you can think of that involves an aspect of the English language. Volunteers have full control of the classroom and are not constrained on any aspect of their teaching. We will be asking volunteers to think about potential subjects and lessons that they can implement prior to the program. During the months leading up to the program, we will conduct online activities around lesson planning, managing classroom behavior, as well as classroom etiquette. Additionally, we will be asking all volunteers to construct a very basic curriculum (examples of previous curriculums will be emailed out) prior to arriving in Moldova that may work as a basis for lesson plans during their time teaching. We also encourage volunteers to spend time outside of the classroom with their students. Be this playing sport after school, learning how to cook their favorite dish, playing games or even just interacting with them. Students are also to be included in the volunteer’s service project (see below). You are not only the teacher, you are the student; open your mind to these students and you will also learn. The time outside of the classroom is the students’ time to teach the volunteer, and will certainly be one of the most rewarding aspects of LE Moldova for volunteers.

(E) SERVICE PROJECT Each member is required to create, organize, and implement a service project in his or her community. These are meant to be complementary to the volunteers’ teaching (not to substitute it) and to include the volunteers’ students, hosts, and possibly other volunteers. These are community events and should have a tangible impact. The

purpose is to lead by serving others while promoting service learning within the community. Volunteers should absolutely begin brainstorming ideas prior to application, however volunteers will not truly know what the best service project for their respective communities will be until they arrive and get to know the community. Upon admittance into the program, volunteers will begin discussions with PDs about their potential ideas for their service project. Service projects should be able to be completed within the timeframe of the program, previous ideas include:

 Dance Class based on English songs  Health Ed Class  Recycling  Creation of classroom revision material  Teaching a health class  Building a playground!

COUNTRY INFORMATION (A) WEATHER & CLIMATE

The program will take place during the Moldovan summer, when the climate is relatively comfortable--though for some standards it might be quite hot. Moldova's climate is moderately continental: the summers are warm and long, with temperatures averaging about 20 °C (68 °F). Temperatures and humidity might vary and it is always useful to bring hats and mosquito repellant. Upon acceptance, the PDs will email out a more extensive list of clothing restrictions/requirements for Moldova.

(B) FOOD & DRINK

Being a vegetarian or vegan in Moldova is not a problem, but keeping strict Kosher or eating accordance of halal will probably be nearly impossible. Moldovan is a blend of Balkan, Russian, Romanian and Mediterranean culinary influences, prepared using the finest home grown ingredients. Moldova produces plentiful , , , , and milk products, all of which have found their uses in the national cuisine. Perhaps the best known Moldovan dish is mamaliga or (a mush or ). This is a staple food on the Moldovan table, served as an accompaniment to and meat dishes and frequently garnished with brinza, sour cream, and sometimes fried or scrambled eggs. There are usually markets located within the areas, but in rural areas it is most common that families will grow their own fresh produces. Street food is not as common as most of the is focused on fresh and vegetables and that require quite a bit of preparation-- something that most families that are expecting guests are willing to do. Yet the most important thing remains that you be adventurous in trying the different dishes your host- families will propose. It is most safe to consume bottled or filtered water.

Host families will most likely be more than accommodating to dietary needs and

preferences. They will want to share every aspect of their culture with you, especially food. This means that you will probably be subjected to trying all sorts of delicious Moldova . Be prepared to be constantly asked by your host-family whether you would like to eat more of a specific dish--and will more likely than not insist that you have not eaten enough. While it would not be considered rude to say you are full, always keep in mind that you would definitely gain an invaluable experience by trying out new foods that your host-family would offer you. Remember, you can learn just as much, if not more, from them as they will learn from you. Because your host family will want to make you as comfortable and happy as possible, they will pay very close attention to what you say you do or do not like.

(C) LANGUAGE

Romanian is the official language of the country. Russian is also widely spoken throughout the country, especially in Chisinau, Balti, and Cahul. Many , especially young people, also speak English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German. The prevalance and fluency of people speaking foreign languages is increasing. Today, most hotels, restaurants, cafes, and newer retail stores have staff who speak English or other foreign languages. Yet very few tourists that visit Moldova actually speak Romanian, therefore acquiring a few basic phrases would definitely benefit volunteers. Furthermore, Moldovan people generally love to teach foreigners how to speak the language, and appreciate it when the visitor makes an effort. Be prepared to use your hands a lot and to be encouraged to learn a lot in a little bit of time! Upon acceptance, the PD will begin sending out emails with YouTube videos from which volunteers can learn and practice some Romanian. Additionally, we will be holding required Skype sessions with each accepted volunteer for basic Romanian language lessons, as well as to check up on pre-departure preparation. In the meantime, below are some basic Romanian phrases which you might find useful during your time in Moldova.

Useful Phrases in Romanian

HELLO. "SALUT." (SAH-LOOT) HOW ARE YOU? "CE MAI FACI?" (CHEY MY FAHTCH) FINE, THANK YOU. "MULTUMESC, BINE." (MOOL-TZU-MESK BEE-NEH). WHAT IS YOUR NAME? (FORMAL) "CUM VA NUMITI? (COOM VUH NOO-MEETZ WHAT ARE YOU UP TO? (INFORMAL) "CE FACI?" (CHEH FAHTCH) MY NAME IS ______. "NUMELE MEU E __." (NOO-MEH-LEH MEH-OO YEH .) NICE TO MEET YOU. "ÎMI PARE BINE" (OOHM PAH-REH BEE-NEH) PLEASE "MERSI" IS ALSO POPULARLY USED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH "MULŢUMESC MULT." (MOOL-TZOO-MESK MOOLT) YOU'RE WELCOME "CU PLĂCERE" (KOO PLUH-CHAIR-EH) YES "DA" (DAH) NO "NU" (NOO) EXCUSE ME. (GETTING ATTENTION) "PARDON" (PAHR-DOHN) OR "VĂ ROG" (VUH ROHG) EXCUSE ME. (BEGGING PARDON, MOVING THROUGH CROWD) "PARDON" (PAHR-DOHN) I'M SORRY "ÎMI PARE RĂU" (OOHM PAH-REH RUH-OH) GOOD-BYE "LA REVEDERE" (LAH REH-VEH-DEH-REH) BYE "PA" (PAH); SEE YOU SOON "PE CURÂND" ("PEH CUR-OOHND") I CAN'T SPEAK ROMANIAN [WELL]. "NU VORBESC [BINE] ROMÂNEŞTE." (NOO VOR-BESC [BEE-NAY] ROH-MOOHN-ESH-TEH) DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? "VORBIŢI ENGLEZĂ?" (VOR-BEETZ ENG-LEH-ZUH) IS THERE SOMEONE HERE WHO SPEAKS ENGLISH? "VORBEŞTE CINEVA AICI ENGLEZĂ?" (VOR-BESH-TEH CHEEH- NEH-VAH AY-EETCH ENG-LEH-ZUH) HELP! "AJUTOR!" (AH-ZHOO-TOR) LOOK OUT! "ATENŢIE" (AH-TEN-TZEE-EH) GOOD MORNING "BUNĂ DIMINEAŢA" (BOO-NUH DEE-MEE-NYAH-TZUH) GOOD DAY "BUNĂ ZIUA" (BOO-NUH ZEE-WAH) GOOD EVENING "BUNĂ SEARA" (BOO-NUH SYAH-RUH) GOOD NIGHT (TO SLEEP) "NOAPTE BUNĂ" (NWAHP-TEH BOO-NUH) I'M HUNGRY "MI-E FOAME" (ME-AE FO-AH-MAY) I'M THIRSTY "MI-E SETE" (ME-AE SET-TE) I'M TIRED "MI-E SOMN" (ME-AE SOHM) I'M SCARED "MI-E FRICĂ" (ME-AE FREE-CAH) I DON'T UNDERSTAND "NU ÎNŢELEG" (NOO OOHN-TZEH-LEG) WHERE'S THE BATHROOM? "UNDE E TOALETA?" (OON-DEH YEH TWAH-LEH-TAH) I NEED YOUR HELP (INFORMAL "YOUR"). "AM NEVOIE DE AJUTORUL TĂU" (AHM NEH-VOY-EH DEH AH- ZHOO-TOR-OOL TUH-OO) IT'S AN EMERGENCY. "E O URGENŢĂ" (YEH OH OOR-JEHN-TZUH) I'M LOST. "M-AM RĂTĂCIT" (MAHM RUH-TUH-CHEET) I'M SICK. "SUNT BOLNAV." (SOONT BOHL-NAHV) I'M INJURED. "M-AM ACCIDENTAT." (MAHM AHK-CHEE-DEHN-TAHT) CAN I USE YOUR PHONE? (FORMAL "YOUR") "POT SĂ UTILIZEZ TELEFONUL DUMNEAVOASTRA?" (POHT SUH OHH-TEE-LEE-ZEHZ TEH-LEH-FOHN-OOL DOOM-NYAH-VWAH- STRAH)/ ALTERNATIVE: "POT UTILIZA TELEFONUL DUMNEVOASTRĂ" CAN I USE YOUR PHONE? (INFORMAL "YOUR") "POT SĂ UTILIZEZ TELEFONUL TĂU?" (POHT SUH OHH-TEE-LEE- ZEHZ TEH-LEH-FOHN-OOL TUH-OO) ALTERNATIVE: "POT UTILIZA TELEFONUL TĂU" (IN BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL PHRASES ARE CORRECT AND DO NOT CREATE MISUNDERSTANDINGS, ALBEIT THE FIRST ONE IS MORE COMMON. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE FORMAL ONE)

(D) CULTURE/RELIGION Christianity is the predominant religion in Moldova. Nearly 96% of the population belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Church, including the Gagauz, who unlike many other Turkic people, are Orthodox Christians. During Soviet times, the government strictly limited the activities of the Orthodox Church (and all religions). Many Orthodox churches and monasteries in Moldova were destroyed or converted to other uses, such as warehouses and schools and libraries, and clergy were sometimes punished for leading services. Many believers continued to practice their faith in secret. In the early 1990s, Jewish religious leaders opened a synagogue in Chisinau for the six Jewish communities of worship throughout the country. Moldova's government created a Department of Jewish Studies at Chisinau State University, opened of a Jewish high school in Chisinau, and introduced classes in Judaism in high schools in several cities. The government also provides financial support to the Society for Jewish Culture. Other religious denominations in Moldova are the Armenian Apostolic Church, Seventh-Day Adventists, Baptists, Pentecostals, and Molokans (a Russian Orthodox sect).

(E) CULTURE/RELIGION

(1) CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS

 Take your shoes off when you enter someone’s house. It is a sign of respect.  When you enter a church, women should usually cover their heads, and it would be rude for anyone to wear something that does not cover your knees.  Drugs must be avoided and will absolutely not be tolerated by Learning Enterprises.  In regard to alcohol, each volunteer’s experience may differ. is generally consumed in Moldovan households and at different events, but so are and other alcoholic beverages. Your host family may or may not offer you alcohol. If they do not offer, do not ask. Alcohol consumption outside of your host family’s house (i.e. on excursions with other volunteers) will not be tolerated.

(2) GENERAL

 Cigarette smoke, pollution and other unpleasant odors should be expected in the urban areas.  Mosquitos are relatively prevalent. Bring mosquito repellent and anti-itch cream. We do not require that volunteers be vaccinated for Malaria (a vaccine for Dengue does not exist as of yet), however we do ask that common sense be used in regard to mosquito repellent.  In urban areas, streets can be very crowded with cars, mopeds, and bikes and drivers are reckless. Pedestrians don’t necessarily have the right of way. Look both ways before you cross the street!

 Moldova is not as liberal when it comes to gender and sexuality, therefore the subject of gender identity or sexuality might not come up as often--but please be aware of the likelihood of encountering controversial opinions.  Moldova is a country with vast economic disparities and, consequently, Westerners are perceived as rich, regardless. See yourself through their eyes.  Toilets, or lack thereof. Most public toilets in the rural villages are not Western standard. That being said, be prepared to squat and flush with a bucket. Toilet paper and soap are not usually provided at some restrooms, so be sure to carry around a pack of tissues and hand sanitizer.  There are a lot of stray dogs that are not controlled by owners. A rabies vaccine should be considered.

(3)SCHOOLS AND TEACHING

 Some Moldovan rural schools may not even have an English teacher. Therefore, expect your students to have almost no, maybe even rudimentary English.  Do not expect your classroom to be equipped with advanced technological materials--usually you will only be provided with a blackboard and chair/tables. It is necessary that volunteers will procure the necessary teaching materials on their own.

(4)GUIDELINES FOR LIVING WITH A HOST FAMILY

The host families with whom Learning Enterprises works are selected through an extensive application and interview process. They are very excited to have foreign students live with them! They see it as an opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures as well as a chance to improve their own English skills.

 Be kind, considerate, and gracious. Your host family will accommodate you as best as they can, but also remember that you are a guest in their house.  Make an effort to communicate with your host parents and host siblings, even if the language barrier prevents you from having long philosophical conversations. Gestures and facial expressions are universal and usually get the message across. Learn a few words in Romanian and use them whenever you can. Your host family will greatly appreciate your attempts to understand their culture!  Spend time with your host family. Although they will encourage you to get to know your students as well as your peers in the village, they will also want to get the chance to see you. Don’t use your host family’s house simply as the place where you eat and sleep.  Follow the rules that your host family outlines for you (if they don’t give you any, use common sense). Don’t challenge your host parents if they tell you that you can’t stay out past hour X or if you should avoid going to Y. Even if you think that something they tell you might be unreasonable (such as keeping your distance from certain people), understand that disregarding their advice shows utmost disrespect to them.

 Make sure that your host family knows about your plans ahead of time. If you accept a student’s invitation to dinner at her/his house or plan to spend the weekend traveling, let your host family know.  If you have serious conflicts with your host family, please contact your Program Director or country coordinator immediately!

(5)EXCURSIONS

It is important to keep in mind that the main purpose of this trip is to serve. To that end, excursions and sight-seeing will be mostly focused on cultural-exchange and learning; what free time you do have should be spent with your host family and/or students. You will have the opportunity to shop and explore during orientation and the post-service wrap-up but during your teaching, you are not permitted to leave the town for more than one night, unless it has been approved by both the PD and the CC.

PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP FINDING A FLIGHT

Buy your ticket as early as possible, as prices tend to increase rapidly. Please fly into Chisinau International Airport (LUKK). Most flights from the US will stopover somewhere in Germany or England before heading on to Chisinau. Alternatively, there is a flight through Istanbul, Turkey. Let your fellow volunteers know about any cheap flights you find. Though there are probably as many sites as there are flights you can take, some good places to start looking for cheap student flights include: kayak.com studentuniverse.com statravel.com discountfares.com ba.co.uk

PASSPORTS & VISAS

Passports: Everyone must have a valid passport to travel. If you do not have a passport, start the process now - they may take a while to process. Your passport should be valid up to six months after the trip is completed. If you are not a US or UK citizen, please let the Program Directors know.

Visas: Visas are not required for US, UK or Ireland citizens for stays up to 90 days within a 6 month period.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Bring all of your prescription medications for the summer. It will be difficult to obtain any refills. Antibiotics and other medicines are very easy to acquire in Moldova, and Moldovan pharmacies can be trusted. Routine vaccines are suggested for all international travel. Some universities might require mandatory vaccinations, but volunteers should also consider the following vaccines:

measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, Hepatitis A (or immune globulin, IG), influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, Hepatitis B, and the rabies vaccination. All LE volunteers are advised to also consider bringing: · Sunblock and sunglasses for protection from harmful effects of UV sun rays. · Mosquito repellent. · Antibacterial hand wipes or alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Insurance

Learning Enterprises requires that all participants have valid insurance coverage that will cover them while in country. Check your existing plans (ask your parents or call your insurance company) and many of you will find that you already have international travel insurance - or at least an international coverage policy called "airlift", or "international evacuation coverage." Basically, this policy means that you are covered should something serious happen to you and you need to be flown either back to the US or to a nearby hospital facility in your volunteer region.

If you do not have international coverage, a good temporary travel insurance is STA international student travelers insurance (www.statravel.com or www.statravel.co.uk) or CISI international student travelers insurance, though feel free to shop around.

Most importantly, we don’t want to see anyone stuck in a situation where they have no way of covering medical treatment. Be smart - get an international insurance plan. Let us know if you have any problems and we'll be happy to provide whatever advice and answers we can.

However it is not uncommon to be in a medical situation where you cannot activate your insurance coverage at the time of treatment. Have an extra $500-1000 (£250-500) available to you in a checking (current) account, or a credit card which you can put expenses on even if you don’t have the money, in case of emergency. Often when you are treated for any illness or injury abroad, you cannot be reimbursed immediately with your insurance coverage. Instead you pay for these treatments yourself, keep the receipt, and then file for a reimbursement with your insurance company. Additionally, have $500-1000 (£250-500) personal emergency funds available during the program. If you don’t have this kind of money, we encourage you to get a credit card for emergencies only. If you get caught in an emergency, it is better to have a means to buy a ticket out (and deal with the costs when you get home) than be stuck in country.

Communication

Volunteers are required to invest in a Moldova SIM card and cell phone. Moldova SIM cards will function in any UN-LOCKED mobile phone. You can invest in an un-locked

(preferably quad-band) mobile in the US (or UK) and then buy a SIM-card in Moldova. You must contact your service provider with details regarding un-locking phones. If un- locking a phone or purchasing an un-locked phone in the US or UK is too expensive or difficult, Moldova phones can be bought once in Moldova very cheaply. Volunteers can use the Moldova SIM-card to call within Moldova as well as to call home very affordably. Internet access is available at internet cafes and most schools/host houses. The PD will help you with this upon arrival in Chisinau. Learning Enterprises phone policy states that LE strongly suggests that volunteers acquire and maintain a cell phone while in country. As a volunteer it is your prerogative to obtain and maintain such resources and your responsibility to communicate your contact information to your parents and to LE. Your Program Director can provide guidance about how and where to acquire a cell phone, and you will receive email notifications asking you to share your contact information with LE. We strongly encourage you to take these steps. Learning Enterprises is not responsible for knowing how to reach you at all times and/or communicating this information to your parents. The ONLY way for you to facilitate such communications is to acquire and maintain a cell/mobile phone and be diligent about sharing your contact information.

SECURITY CONCERNS

The biggest concerns raised by the US Department of State are raised regarding the separatist region of : “please note that if you enter through Transnistria, you must register yourself within three days of your arrival in “right-bank” (western) Moldova… If you plan to stay in Transnistria, you should register with the Passports Division of the "Ministry of Interior" in the city or town in which you are staying within the first 24 hours of your arrival. HIV/AIDS restrictions: Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors and foreign residents.” The LE program would be situated well in the centre of the country and away from the Transnistrian region. Also, volunteers would be recommended to fly in at the national airport, situated near Chisinau.

MEDICAL CONCERNS As provided by the US State Department

Medical care is substandard throughout Moldova, including in Chisinau. In an emergency, contact the PD and CC immediately. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of medical facilities and English-speaking doctors, but cannot endorse any doctors. (http://moldova.usembassy.gov/medical-information.html)

If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, you should bring an extra supply with you. Pharmacies are not always stocked to Western standards, products are not always labeled in English, and poor quality and/or counterfeit medications have been reported.

You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention( CDC) website (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/). For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website

(http://www.who.int/countries/mda/en/) , which also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Moldova. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to- travel/tuberculosis)

TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Dress for changing temperatures and appropriately for cultural situations. Don’t eat uncooked meat. Drink bottled water. Don’t participate in protests. Make eye-contact with drivers when crossing the street. Don’t have sex. Make friends with Moldova people and check-in with other volunteers regularly. Be outgoing, freethinking, and accommodating. Most of all, be of service. US Embassy Information UK Embassy Information 103 Mateevici street Nicolae Iorga 18 street Chisinau MD-2009 Chisinau MD-2012, Moldova Republic of Moldova Phone:+373 22 225 902 Tel: (+373 22) 408 300 (Reception)

ADDITIONAL READINGS/LINKS State Department: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_972.html

CIA World Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/md.html

Moldova News in English: http://www.allmoldova.com/en/moldova-news/index.html

Human Rights Watch: http://www.hrw.org/taxonomy/term/202/all

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova

Useful travel and culture website for Moldova: http://www.moldovaholiday.travel/

For any questions not answered here, contact the Program Directors: Email: [email protected] (Felicia)

Call Felicia (UK): +44 751721999 or contact her by e-mail at