Experience Albania: Travel, Pictures, History, Culture

My friend and fellow PC trainee, Jeanine, and I spent three glorious days (Sunday-Tuesday) with two current PC volunteers.

(Jeanine, me, and Terri with dinner)
Terri and Sarah, both 26 years old, will complete their two years of service in June. Both were TEFL teachers at the local high school in separate towns. Sarah came to Terri’s site and the four of us had a great time.

I gained a great deal of insight from them. Training is, of course, an essential component in becoming a successful PC volunteer, but there is always something to be said about going to the source. Nothing compares with getting the real deal, the personal facts and experiences from those who have come before you. Terri and Sarah have done it all, gone through it all, seen and heard it all. They are well versed and qualified in the areas of resilience, persistence, toughness, and accomplishment.

How did we pass the time in such a small town?
We did what weary, worn out, in-need-of-a-break PC trainees/volunteers do.

(Window view)

(Terri’s town)
We cooked. Terri and Sarah are experts at making chicken fijitas, homemade tortillas, and deep-dish pizza. Blueberry muffins and chocolate chip brownies were compliments of Betty Crocker, but the act of baking with pans and ovens without burning its contents is a skill in itself. Jeanine and I took careful notes and accumulated a handful of recipes.

I had the privilege to eat the most wonderful food on earth. One that still anticipates an official debut here in Albania. What in the world deserves such an introduction, you ask?
Cereal. It is there for you at breakfast, lunch, or dinner - or all three if you so desire. It never tasted as good as it did on Tuesday morning. A welcomed break from bread and hard boiled eggs.

Other food news in my life: Terri had a jar of peanut butter. I was reunited with my peanut butter and apple sandwich. (Highly recommended for anyone who has the supplies on hand.)

Don’t worry - we did take a few breaks from eating.

Jeanine and I are well informed about the places, times, and ways to explore Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Croatia, and Italy.
We met various people in Terri’s community. Shop vendors, cafe owners, neighbors, landlords, colleagues, and friends who have become a huge part of her life over the past two years.
I shook many hands, kissed many cheeks.
I took a long, hot shower.
We walked up and around the town’s main road.
We drank coffee.
I wrote in my journal and read a trashy “Us” magazine.

Jeanine and I went to school with Terri on Tuesday morning to sit in on her 10th grade English class, a group of 34 sixteen-year-olds.
We took a seat in the front of the classroom, and after running through a normal lesson, Terri asked them to each write down three questions to ask Jeanine and I.

“Have you ever been to a live Marilyn Manson concert?”
“What is your favorite dream?”
“Why are you here in Albania?”

I’m looking forward to the day I start teaching at my permanent site. I’m excited to get to know the students in my classes - they, along with my future colleagues, are why I am here.

My friend, Evan, and I were surrounded by close to 25 little kids on our way into town today. We had just been on a walk, talking about the thoughts and emotions running through us right now. There was no better way to end such a good excursion than to speak Albanian - or at least attempt - with friendly, open-minded, forgiving-of-mistakes-as-long-as-you-laugh-and-smile little Albanians.
If there’s one thing I know, it’s also for instances like this one that I am here. While it is a struggle and a daunting mission at times, I like to focus on my real world encounters with various Albanians.
Whether it’s on the street with strangers, in cafes with waiters, on park benches with old men playing dominoes, or in furgons with friendly grandmas and grandpas, these encounters remind me of my purpose.