End of semester and holidays

Today (Saturday the 11th) is quite cold with a good stiff breeze from the northwest. People keep telling me that it will get even colder in the next few days. The students have finished their exams and most of their concerts, but the Academy building was full of people today. I practiced there all morning and especially enjoyed the decorations the door people have put up. The woman in charge today just beamed when I told her that they were "foarte frumos! (very beautiful). Downtown is now looking very festive with a large Christmas tree and lots of lights all around. There is even a small holiday train for taking children around. Everyone is bundled up against the cold but having a great time. The stray dogs are becoming a bit more aggressive about trying to catch pigeons in the park and it seems like adults and children are trying stay warm by chasing the pigeons. My normal walk home from the academy of music takes me past the president's residence and the past three days or so I have been detoured by a policeman. It appears that there are men dressed in fancy white uniforms (maybe for the holidays) at the door of the house waiting for someone important. This is fun to see, but the people I talk to are hoping for some positive political action now that the elections are over. As always, it is an interesting and festive time to be in Moldova. I am looking forward to a concert of colinde, Christmas songs, on Monday at the Sala cu orga.