Wednesdays

I moved to Cahul in August last year. Right when school started, Jesse, Ryne and Erin started up an English Club/Film Club. They gathered a group of people every week, they would watch a film which would spark a discussion in English so that students could improve their conversational skills. The club met every week from 3:00 - 5:00. When it was over, the three of them plus some of their students would meet me and Holly across the street at our favorite local restaurant, Mamma Mia. 
Through these informal gatherings for dinner every Wednesday we became friends with some of the students and in turn they became some of our closest friends. Wednesdays became a tradition. We referred to it as 'happy hour' even though that concept doesn't really exist here. The owner came to expect the 'Americans' on Wednesdays and always greeted us with pleasure. The waiter knew us by name even though he didn't speak English and it just became a normal part of our weeks. It was always me, Jesse, Ryne, Erin, Holly (the Americans) and the locals; Oleg, Alex, Viktor Vlad, and Dima, short for Dmitry (the waiter).
School ends this week and film club ended last week. So now, Wednesdays are done. Erin and Ryne will be leaving Moldova soon. Dima no longer works at Mamma Mia and Viktor will be relocating to France in a few months to begin a year long job there. It makes me sad that this little consistency in my life is no more. But it certainly will be one of my favorite memories of living here in Cahul. 
Of course we're all still friends. I'll still work with Alex, Vlad and Viktor on their films this summer, Erin and Ryne may be leaving the country but we'll still be friends, Holly and Jesse are still around and I see Dima and Oleg every now and again but it won't be the same as our weekly happy hours. Today is Wednesday. It is 5:00...and I am going home. :(

Alex

Oleg

Alex, his little brother, Vlad and Viktor

Holly, Me and Erin

Erin and Ryne

Dima