Kindergarten/Gradinita

I was born to my parents when they were in their earlier twenties, therefore very soon their focus switched back to their personal lives and career. My childcare was delegated to my grandparents, who were also busy with their own things and re-delegate it to my great-grandmother who was then in her early twenties.

Unfortunately her health started rapidly declining - a consequence of the slavery in Germany and hunger during the second world war. She did her best to take care of me, but it wasn’t easy with an energetic and curious kid like me.

One day my grandmother came from work earlier and saw me in the cold bath - tempering my body, while great-grandmother was having some rest in her bedroom.

Once this happened my family decided to send my to the kindergarten hoping I’ll be looked after better there…

I was brought to the kindergarten during the breakfast time and sat to one of the tables. First thing I told my childminder - “where are the napkins, how I am going to it without them?” They couldn’t find any napkins (this was happening during the time of total deficit and poverty in Moldova) and I refused to eat…

Initially I was finding kindergarten boring and food disgusting, but later I figured out my way.

One day I found cherries from the compote thrown into the garbage and of course they tasted much better than everything that was served in the garden so far. I also shared those with other kids who were happily picking those up and eating directly from the garbage bin. 

There was not much entertainment available either - the most popular activity, which was done by the childminders involved kids running around childminder who was playing a tambourine - if someone was misbehaving he or she was getting a hit with the tambourine to their head. My family was really surprised when I asked them to buy a small tambourine for me and when it was handed to me, arranged all my toys and starting beating them randomly with it.

Another entertainment activity available int he kindergarten involved us sitting silent on our chairs and not speaking or moving for hours. One boy couldn’t stop speaking and childminder promised to cut out his tongue with the scissors, she took those out approached him and told to open his mouth…

Alongside all the fun described, we were allowed to do short walks in the yard. One day we found a dead pigeon there and were playing with it for a few hours until it was noticed by the adults.

I was supposed to learn  letters and how to write and read in the kindergarten, but it never happened and I went to the primary school without knowing anything. 

What are the key lessons I can take out from this story?

1. Bulling should be never allowed and tolerated - I couldn’t understand many things as a kid, but as adults we can, cannot we?
2. You may like strange things - but it’s ok as long as they make you happy and don’t harm others
3. To learn something new - right conditions are needed, make sure you create these conditions for yourself