Today I had to go and register for my visa. It, as with everything in Moldova, seemed to involve endless amounts of form filling and making copies of everything.
I was on television yesterday. Moldovan television. My organisation organised a flash-mob, along with Amnesty International volunteers, to raise awareness of violence against women. We had to freeze for a few minutes in various violent poses, either as victims or perpetrators. My hosting coordinator said that last night, she saw us on television 
– on Pro-TV, a channel that has a reputation for being a communist mouthpiece. Not sure if it’s a good or bad thing.
I was going to remark upon a few other observations I’ve noticed – for example the fact that Orange, the mobile phone company, seems to own everything here, along with various members of the Communist Party, like Vladimir Voronin’s son, who owns the Andy’s Pizza chain. So *that’s* why it is still open …
But anyway, everything seems to be sponsored by Orange, like clocks on streets, or even parks etc – they seem to be doing the same sort of job as the government would do in the UK, in the upkeep of the city. Oy vey …
November 30, 2009 at 4:57 pm |
Interesting stuff about Orange. Impressed you were on Moldovan Telly – Glad the flashmob got some media coverage!
December 1, 2009 at 4:40 am |
Interesting adventures in Chisinau. Will you be playing tennis with the football team?
On communists Protv or mobile operators you may have to get more informed: Protv and Orange were pretty “challenged” by ruling party with risks on their licence for broadcasting in 2008/2009 Andy was highjacked in 2007 and between dec 2008 and now a mobile Operator Eventis appeared with strong political support, worked one year and is finally bankrupted now. Some branding are still visible on Pushkin street. Take a picture, it is interesting story!
Enjoy your stay in Moldova and try to learn and understand more: a piece of post soviet history is being written now and it tells a lot about economy and human nature.
December 1, 2009 at 2:36 pm |
hi – thanks for correcting me re the Orange and Protv stuff. I will try and look for the Operator Eventis brand – it sounds pretty intriguing. I’m aware that I’ve got to learn and should try to understand more, but unfortunately I don’t get to spend that much time with Moldovan people outside of work and at times it feels like I’m in a “bubble”. Are you Moldovan yourself?
December 5, 2009 at 6:12 am
Time is the most precious present nowadays!
July 6, 2011 at 12:55 am |
Hello,
How do you say “hello, my name is Rusty” in Moldovan?
Help please. Thanks