I know I am not doing the best job at updating this blog,
but on the bright side, I've been really busy with work.
Here we go with today’s categories: 1) Daily life and
schedule 2) The bluntness of Albanians 3) Concept of time 4) A weekend in Fushe
Arrez
1) Daily Life and Schedule
I have finally established routine.
I wake up at 6am every morning, I do some Yoga and I fix myself a breakfast off
hard boiled eggs, Turkish coffee with Allspice and cinnamon, and a fruit of the
season (which happens to be pomegranate right now). I live a hop skip and a
jump away from the school, and school begins at 7:50, but I feel the need to
wake up extra early because I am not a morning person. I need the time to stop
being angry at the world and also to get my mind in gear to speak Albanian. My
Counterpart and I teach 4 classes on Mondays, 6 on Tuesdays, 6 on Wednesdays,
no school on Thursdays, and 6 classes on Fridays. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
I stay after school for an hour. On Mondays I help students who are behind and
want to catch up. On Tuesdays, I teach the teachers English. One Thursdays I
come for 1 hour after school to work with the Advanced English students—we do
leadership activities and Model UN. There is a short break after 3 classes, and
the other teachers and I always go for a coffee and a student usually brings us
some byrek. We take turns paying for each others’ coffees. Once I get home from school I prepare a lunch
and work on extra school stuff such as grading papers, lesson planning, and
test making. After, I go down to the lokal (café) downstairs and hang out with
my landlord’s sons who are like my little brothers here, Eli (21) and Kristi (16).
I usually stay there until closing at 7:30. After that, I go back home, eat
dinner, sometimes work out, and pretty immediately pass out.
2) The bluntness of Albanians
Have a pimple? Gained or lost
some weight? Wearing ugly or non-flattering clothes? Looking tired or more
energetic than usual? Albanians will let you know. There is no tip-toeing around
the situation. I can’t quite decide how to deal with this aspect of Albanian
culture yet. In some senses, I kind of like it. It’s nice to not have to guess
what people are thinking. Americans are white lying champions, and sometimes I
really want to know… “Do I look fat in this dress?” The American answer is
always “No, oh my god you don’t ever look fat!” The Albanian response… “Yes.
You should wear the other dress because it makes you look more beautiful.” I
appreciate the honesty, but sometimes the blows are brutal and I have to thank
my stars that I have a healthy self-esteem. As an American, my first instinct
is to perceive this bluntness as rude, but now that I am getting accustomed to
it, I just find it normal. In some ways it makes me more comfortable. It’s like..okay all my flaws are on the table,
and now we can move on. For example, “Miranda, you have a pimple. It is pretty
big and it makes you look like a teenager, but don’t worry because you still
have a beautiful face.” Or “Oh Miss, please wear contact lenses. You are so
much more beautiful without glasses.” These are phrases I hear pretty often.
Backhanded compliments? Honesty? Tough love? I don't really know what this all
is, but whatever the case, I am getting used to it. Another thing is the
comparisons. Without fail Albanians are the first to point out who is better at
what. They let you know who speaks better Albanian and who is dressed the best
out of you and your friends. I can take the personal hits, but when I have to
watch it happen to a fellow friend or volunteer, I get extra uncomfortable!
3) Concept of time
It’s already
November?! Woahhh..New volunteers are coming in only 4 months, I’m going on my
first out-of-country holiday next month, and language refresher is this month.
Where is all the time going?! My concept of time is off. I seem to think of
myself as only being here for a few months, but I’m on the latter half of
finishing up my 1st year. I am curious to see how my concept of time
will change throughout my service here, and that is why I am documenting now.
4) A weekend in Fushe
Arrez
I went to visit
(in my opinion) the most isolated volunteer this weekend in a city called Fushe
Arrez. The ride there is a crazy twisty turny road up the mountains. However,
it was worth the effort to get there. I was really pleased to see all the work
that my friend James is doing there. He has an impressive amount of kids that
he does outdoor activities with every weekend. This particular weekend we
played basketball, sharks and minnows, hiked up a mountain, and then played
American football. It was easy to tell the kids loved James and really
appreciated his time and dedication to them. They also spoke English extremely
well and were very fun, sweet kids to be around. Fushe Arrez itself is a
beautiful town surrounded by nature. It’s a perfect fit for James who is from
Montana.
James and one of his students picking up trash after the activity:
The kids of Fushe Arrez:Me and the girls in Fushe Arrez:
The hike!
Fall!
An 8 year old made me into a cat for Halloween :)
My "little brother" Kristi:
My neighbor teaching me how to make pumpkin byrek:
My Albanian Jack-O-Lantern!
Making Raki and roasting chestnuts with my host family in Milot:
My wonderful counterpart serving me dinner for Bajram at her house: