The magic of winter holidays. Moldovans queued up to receive and send parcels abroad
With love and longing, thousands of Moldovans abroad send parcels with goodies to their families at home during this period. On the eve of the winter holidays, transport companies come to Chisinau with minibuses full of gifts. But they also return to European destinations with traditional dishes. The Moldovans we met while sending parcels to relatives abroad told us they included gifts: wine, fruit and sweets, so they could have a celebration like at home.
I met the Belevschi next to the minibus on the Chisinau-Milan route, when they were sending gifts for relatives who have been living in Italy for many years.
"I send parcels to my sister, cousin and nephews. We make gifts for them to receive too, to enjoy. We sent some cars for the boys and dolls for the girls because they are little. For the adults, tasty food from home,” said Tamara Belevschi.
“I send a parcel to my aunt who has been living and working in Italy for several years now. I send some of our sweets, some wine and some pills, because she needs them.”
“We send a parcel to Italy, Milan, to my sister-in-law, my husband’s sister, what Moldovans love - sheep’s cheese, salamis, chocolates, a pastoral wine, Moldovan food.”
The minibus drivers say that during the holidays the number of packages sent increases significantly.
“From Italy, people mostly receive sweets and exotic fruits. From Moldova, they send things that are not found there. "There are some medicines that I can't find, perhaps, in the pharmacies there, and besides, they are more effective than the ones we have," says Alexei Moldovan, a driver.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around two million Moldovans are settled abroad.
