Giving Thanks

Having been in Moldova a couple months now, I have some new perspective on things everyone back in the states can add to their "stuff to be thankful for" this Thanksgiving. Here we go:

1. Beautifully, incredibly, wonderfully smooth roads.
2. With lines marking where the different lanes are.
3. Heat. At home, at work, everywhere really.
4. Toilet seats.
I had always taken it as a given that toilets came from the factory fully equipped with a seat, ignoring the constant evidence to the contrary, but after discovering that even the national freakin opera house toilets are seatless, I have given up all hope. I am going to have some amazing quads when I return thanks to all this squat-and-hover business.
5. Toilet paper. You can't find it anywhere - certainly not in bathrooms.
A. Though, I should note, even when it is present you can't flush it. Instead you through it in the garbage can. You can imagine the spring fresh aroma in the bathrooms here.
B. And the Moldovan idea of toilet paper is more like a thin strip of brown grocery bags in roll form.
6. Animal shelters for homeless animals, and neutering to cut down on the production of all these little homeless animals.
7. Reliable mail service.
A. Which means no one reads it before you do.
B. And you receive it in a reasonable amount of time. I'm not asking for anything unreasonable, here....let's say, oh, within 2 months of being sent.
8. Water you can drink without boiling first.
9. Being able to drink water openly, not in your room all sneaky-like as if it were vodka, to avoid your host mom's questions about why you Americans insist on drinking it all the time.
9. Hot water. Not that you've heated on your stove, but the kind that comes out of the faucet that way!
10. A washing machine.
11. Scratch that, a dryer!
A. Last night I hung my newly hand-washed sweaters out on the line, doubting the logic behind this plan despite my host mom's insistence. Then the next night I went out to check on them. Stiff as a board, frozen solid. I took them off the line and then had fun standing them up on the couch like they were being worn by ghosts.
12. Having 24/7 access to all of the fine food products in the "-itos" family. Cheetos, Doritos, enchiritos...okay, I don't know about that last one.
13. Cookies.
14. Knowing how to say "Where's the bathroom," "How much does this cost," and "Where am I?"
15. Being able to understand the answer to any of these questions.
16. Dark beer. Black Butte Porter, where are you?!!
17. BACON!!!!!
18. Living in the land of the unglamorous, black-socks-with-sandals wearing, total-lack-of-geography-knowing, loud, obnoxious, friendly, idealistic, innovative, optimistic, diverse AMERICANS.

Geez, listen to me. If I'm not careful I'll find myself waving my lighter singing the national anthem. See what joining the PC does to a person?

And then, things I'm thankful for here in Moldova:
1. The kindness, generosity and warmth of strangers.
2. The patience of people who work with me when I barely know how to speak their language.
3. Good, cheap ice cream.

Love you all, enjoy the holiday and keep in touch! XOXO