This past Friday, November 12, we celebrated Halloween.  Halloween doesn’t seem to be included in the cultural traditions that has been adopted from Western culture by the residents of Soroca.  In general, Halloween is recognized and practiced, but for us, at our school, it was something else.  The teachers and especially the students were not ready for it.  Other than the lunch break, our third break is the longest so until then, the student council was doing face painting on the first floor near the entrance.  When it came time for the third break, everyone had their scary faces on and pumpkins were lit.   Well, one pumpkin was lit.  It was supposed to be a pumpkin carving contest, but not many people participated.  (It was rumored that not many people were interested because the monthly disco was not approved this month by the director.)  I think the rumor was true because I could feel the sorrow throughout the day.  Other than that, the day went fine.  There were actually a few costumes about the school.  I wish I had been able to capture more of them with my camera.  I caught some, but not all.  The break ended with an invitation for everyone with a costume to take a picture with the director.  Woops!  We were wrong.  The student council actually got lectured because three of the younger students fainted because they just couldn’t wrap the idea of having a face painted like a dead person around their head.  Poor kids.  These are instances where cultural differences sneak up on me.  Tonight we are showing Paranormal Activity.  I haven’t seen it, so I guess “o se vedem”  (we’ll see).  In two weeks is Thanksgiving.  I am participating in a presentation about the American tradition of Thanksgiving and the other volunteers are having a masă in the capital.  That should be fun.  This past week’s weather has been a dream and the future week should be just as good.  After this week, though, I have no idea.  Eek!