After spending three months learning Russian, Dakake was stationed in Uzbekistan for six months. However, due to political unrest in the region, he was transferred to Moldova, a tiny eastern-European country located between Romania and Ukraine, where he worked and lived for two years. Dakake, who returned from his adventure in May, discussed his adventures with members of the Newton Rotary Club recently. His interactive presentation included an overview of life in Moldova, using video clips to enhance his experiences, and an account of his work projects while volunteering in the village of Copceac. A member of the audience asked Dakake how Moldavians perceive Americans. He said that the Peace Corps Organization is trying to “change” the image of Americans as “arrogant and greedy.” He said some villagers were suspicious of him, and actually accused him of being a spy. “There is no word for ‘town’ in Russian,” He said. “It was difficult for me to explain where I was from (to the villagers).”
Bradley Dakake served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova and Uzbekistan
Fredon native returns from Moldova with Peace Corps stories to tell
By Meghan Gill
Lafayette - Fredon Township native Bradley Dakake did not think he would end up living in Moldova with the Peace Corps.
After spending three months learning Russian, Dakake was stationed in Uzbekistan for six months. However, due to political unrest in the region, he was transferred to Moldova, a tiny eastern-European country located between Romania and Ukraine, where he worked and lived for two years.
Dakake, who returned from his adventure in May, discussed his adventures with members of the Newton Rotary Club recently. His interactive presentation included an overview of life in Moldova, using video clips to enhance his experiences, and an account of his work projects while volunteering in the village of Copceac.
Moldova with four million people is the poorest European nation, he said. Romanian and Russian are the predominant languages spoken.
Homes do not have indoor plumbing. He said internet access is limited, with state-operated services utilizing a dial-up connection. Many people living in the smaller villages are subsistence farmers, relying upon their gardens and canning to produce and preserve food.
Most homes are heated with natural gas, but due to poor insulation, “I was never warm in the winter,” he said.
Before his one of his work projects was complete, Dakake had to walk very far for drinking water. He explained that the Peace Corps issues every volunteer with a distiller that can hold three liters of drinkable water.
A member of the audience asked Dakake how Moldavians perceive Americans. He said that the Peace Corps Organization is trying to “change” the image of Americans as “arrogant and greedy.” He said some villagers were suspicious of him, and actually accused him of being a spy. “There is no word for ‘town’ in Russian,” He said. “It was difficult for me to explain where I was from (to the villagers).”
One of his fondest memories while living in Moldova was “extreme” Christmas caroling. The caroling starts at 10 p.m. and lasts until morning, people dress up and travel house to house singing and drinking wine.
Dakake’s work projects, arranged partially through international rotary, included teaching teachers how to use computers, digging a well, so water would be readily available to villagers, teaching a business class, and corn chopping. He also assisted the mayor in the successful application for a grant to upgrade the local television station.
To thanks Dakake for his service and presentation, the Rotary Club honored Dakake with a donation to the Sussex County Food Bank in his name. For more information on the Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.org
