The document provides information about Moldova, including: - Key dates in Moldova's history including independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and adoption of its constitution in 1994. - Demographic information showing Moldova has a population of 3.4 million, with Romanians/Moldovans making up 78% of the population. - Aspects of Moldovan culture like Casa Mare, Martisor, annual wine festivals, and famous dishes like mamaliga. - Sayings about things that characterize a Moldovan identity.

1. “A man travels the world over in
search of what he needs and
returns home to find it.”

2. Why is Moldova
called
Moldova?

3. What important historical events
are these dates connected with?
 August 27th, 1991  Moldova declared
its independence
 August 31st, 1991  Moldova celebrates
the Language Day
 Moldovan
 July 29th, 1994
constitution was
adopted

4. Why is Moldova
called
multinational?

5. Population: 3.4 million, excluding the estimated
Transnistrian population of 580 000.
Ethnic Groups in % (September 17, 2009)
2% 1%
5%
6%
Moldovan/romanian
8%
Ukrainian
Russian
Gagauz
78% Bulgarian
others

6. What makes
Moldova
Special?

7. Moldovan people can boast of their culture
and national traditions.

9. Museum
Exhibits
the musicians
the wedding couple

10. CASA MARE
 An old and nice tradition, that can fascinate
each visitor in Moldova.
 In each house exists a nice and comfortable
room named “CASA MARE.” It will be only
opened to visitors, who are rarely expected.

11. CASA MARE

12. Martsishor / Marţişor
It was believed that the one who wears the red and white string will
be powerful and healthy for the year to come. The decoration is a
symbol of the coming spring.

13. Annual Wine Festival

14. Opening Wine Festival

15. Mileştii Mici

16. Mileştii Mici cellar complex is
the largest in the world.

17. Wine tastings are
offered in most
Moldovan cellars.
In 2007 Mileştii Mici wine
cellars were noted in
Guinness World Records
2007 Yearbook, for having
the largest (2 million) wine
collections in the world.

18. Famous Faces

19. Codreanca

20. The national sport in Moldova?
Oină is a Romanian traditional
The national sport of Moldova sport, similar in many ways to baseball
is trânta - a kind of wrestling. and lapta.

21. Moldovan cuisine
The most common is
“mamaliga” – a maize
porridge or polenta
with a fine and
delicious taste.
"Mamaliga" is served
together with diced
meat, cheese, fried
meat, cream, etc.

22. There is rarely a
holiday without
cabbage rolls
The people of Moldova are famous for
their endless hospitality.
Placinta

23. You know you are Moldovan if...
People have a quizzical look on their face
when you tell them where you are from
You usually have to explain where/what your
country is

24. You know you are Moldovan if...
You have a significant number of
acquaintances who work abroad illegally

25. You know you are Moldovan if...
You use Romanian words with Russian endings
and the other way around. Also, you freely
mix Russian and Romanian when you speak
(i.e. Ian uitate shi sumka prikolinaia)
Supposedly bilingual from "birth" (Romanian
and Russian), you barely speak properly
either language …rather, you’re somewhere
in between

26. You know you are Moldovan if...
In a 12-seat Maxi Taxi (marshrutka) twice as
many people manage to find a place
You hope you'll get a seat in the Marshrutka
when you hear the plastic bag noise in the
back

27. You know you are Moldovan if...
You have carpets on your walls

28. You know you are Moldovan if...
Rasarita prajita (sunflower seeds) is a perfectly
acceptable dinner and helps bond with your
female relatives

29. You know you are Moldovan if...
You think that drinking a glass of red wine every
day helps you “get more blood.”
Alternatively, it serves as good protection
against radiation.

30. You know you are Moldovan if...
You have witnessed gatherings where
everyone drinks from the same glass by
taking turns
You’ve seen your 5 year old sibling drinking
alcohol at the dinner table on several
occasions

31. You know you are Moldovan if...
You, or your parents, scream when talking on
the phone with someone far away

32. You know you are Moldovan if...
You have a 400-euro cell phone but no
credit, so you “beep” somebody

33. You know you are Moldovan if...
You are all dressed in fancy clothes and high
heels but you use cheap public
transportation (troleibuz)

34. You know you are Moldovan if...
You always dress up even if you are just going
grocery shopping

35. You know you are Moldovan if...
You know you need to move fast when at the
"Piata centrala", cause you'll definitely get hit
by a cart...

36. You know you are Moldovan if...
You wear sunglasses in a disco.

37. You know you are Moldovan if...
You’re 20 and unmarried and your mom thinks
that you are getting old

38. References:
 English Vocabulary Organizer
 Textbook 8th form English for Life, G. Burdeniuc, E.
Onofreiciuc, S. Rotaru, etc. Unit 6
 http://matchlabels.narod.ru/1978-14.htm
 http://www.mvdpmr.org/index.php?option=co
m_content&view=article&id=3906:------
&catid=1:2010-08-26-11-02-06&Itemid=107
 http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-
Ni/Moldova.html