As for my webpage project...Instead of coming home with all this information waiting to get entered into the website, I now have a least another month of "waiting" because of "Shume Pune" or much work. We have our yearly catch-up/ projects to be completed by the end of the year and just got 10 computers delivered to the office...Even though only 1 or 2 people have to partake in the setting up of the computers and the catch-up/wrap-up, as an organization we can only do one thing at time outside daily activities. Arg!!!!!!! Maybe I will get more entries into my blog since I have to wait for information. I could just take all the information I need from the Directory Manual, but then few of my co-workers will find any reason or ownership of its use and development....Speaking of computers...one of the computers in the office went down...We are looking at at least a month before it is fixed.
As for the whether here...man it is cold...I have never experienced gusts of wind like this...you can hear a gust coming from hundreds of yards away as it works its ways through buildings, howling loudly and powerfully. As it get to where ever I am, it comes on loud and is sooooo cold. Thank you for the scarves.......Last night I went to bed about 8:00 and watched a movie on my computer. It sometimes is the only place where one can get warm. California gets cold too, but ones house, work and car are places to get warm...here....only the bed. A long winter is upon us. Today, we have an end-of-the-year party. My first month hear we had a party and, I was so excited about experiencing new things. I danced and drank raki with my co-workers and had the energy to make a good impression. Today, while we will have a wonderful meal with good music, I don't feel like working as hard to make an impression...Wow the wind is still howling....
Albanian Window Moment...Scoop...Just prior to leaving one of the Department heads (former Director) and my current Director got into a disagreement...what kind...only know for sure that ice was involved as an after use....Yesterday, I learned that the person is no longer working here and that his company car is now in our driveway...very interesting...I saw the incident about 30 seconds after it happened and had ideas of what went on, and all this reaffirms my assumptions....
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wow, Looking back, it has been well over a month since my last blog...So much has happened, some eventful, most is time filler...
I guess the reason that I did not blog, is that the last few weeks were spent getting ready to leave for the month. I got as much done as possible with the Department website and made a list of things I needed done by my co-worker for the site. I was hoping I they could have them done when I got back. After my preparation for vacation was done, I then headed for Elbasan, the city where we had much of our training at the beginning of the year. There my "vacation started with 5 days of in service training, lots of morning cafe/raki, saw the new Bond Movie and had my language retest...How did I do?....I am no longer required to have a tutor...I said nothing correctly, my sentence structure was challenged BUT...........my instructor/ teacher understood all I said, and was very happy...
After the 5 day inservice activities along with movies at both the movie house and from peoples computers, I then headed off for vacation.
Now my first day back:
My first day back has been filled with getting back into the swing of things, of course coffee, and pizza with my Peace Corps sitemates. One, Leslie, is in Bangkok getting her wisdom teeth pulled...Lucky her...the other 2 are fine now, but one is now sleeping 12-15 hours a day and not feeling to energetic and the other just got over a bad cold....We dragged the Guy that works at the internet cafe along with us for coffee...Poor guy, just had little idea how to handle the free flow of topics discussed by American girls..
I think he enjoyed it however..
As for work, I am here now...I asked my co-workers if they have worked on any of the stuff I gave them...I quickly learned it never got past the first desk...But it was only 3 weeks ago....HUMMMM. Now I have to again get the Director involved so he can light a fire under them ...What I want to do is jump on the desk that it never left and yell but I have to allow things to move at their own pace...arggg...here in Albania. So far I cannot light the fire myself..they complain of having too much work and then spend a large part of the day on the internet in chat or yahoo messager...argggg. I guess it is okay because while I wait I type this stuff.
I guess the reason that I did not blog, is that the last few weeks were spent getting ready to leave for the month. I got as much done as possible with the Department website and made a list of things I needed done by my co-worker for the site. I was hoping I they could have them done when I got back. After my preparation for vacation was done, I then headed for Elbasan, the city where we had much of our training at the beginning of the year. There my "vacation started with 5 days of in service training, lots of morning cafe/raki, saw the new Bond Movie and had my language retest...How did I do?....I am no longer required to have a tutor...I said nothing correctly, my sentence structure was challenged BUT...........my instructor/ teacher understood all I said, and was very happy...
After the 5 day inservice activities along with movies at both the movie house and from peoples computers, I then headed off for vacation.
Now my first day back:
My first day back has been filled with getting back into the swing of things, of course coffee, and pizza with my Peace Corps sitemates. One, Leslie, is in Bangkok getting her wisdom teeth pulled...Lucky her...the other 2 are fine now, but one is now sleeping 12-15 hours a day and not feeling to energetic and the other just got over a bad cold....We dragged the Guy that works at the internet cafe along with us for coffee...Poor guy, just had little idea how to handle the free flow of topics discussed by American girls..
I think he enjoyed it however..
As for work, I am here now...I asked my co-workers if they have worked on any of the stuff I gave them...I quickly learned it never got past the first desk...But it was only 3 weeks ago....HUMMMM. Now I have to again get the Director involved so he can light a fire under them ...What I want to do is jump on the desk that it never left and yell but I have to allow things to move at their own pace...arggg...here in Albania. So far I cannot light the fire myself..they complain of having too much work and then spend a large part of the day on the internet in chat or yahoo messager...argggg. I guess it is okay because while I wait I type this stuff.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Mr Toads Wild Ride.
What is public transportation like in Albania. They are called furgons...Mini vans that take you places. The furgons hang out together but not at a station. A station would mean a schedule...that would mean the drivers would have to work each day and that would mean they had to be regulated...the way they do it now, they show up if they want, leave when they want and pay taxes as a business..register ???? maybe..but if they don't, and get caught, its nothing that a few leke $ to the cops cannot handle. The Drivers claim income but nobody knows how much they make. If they want to make more money..sometimes we are sitting very very close to sticky old men..or unshaved women. Once in a while we are standing in the minivan. The roads suck and and the drivers are wild...they pass all the time..all two lane roads, and many times there are 3 cars moving side by side on a two lane road . Lots of real close calls each ride/day/ minute....Each furgon has a supply of barf bags...they don't stop for sickness....not important enough. At times you see someones head down, making noises in the back..or front. I am used to it now..... but 7 months ago...when I got on, I just had to let go, and think, they do this everyday and are still alive. I have been numberous times on the mountainous road to Elbasan, a 3.5 to 5 hour ride. 3 times the furgon has breaken down and we had to wait for a "friend" ...As I said before, if anything can be used one more time before it breaks , it will be tested.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
But Why
So it has only been a few days since my last entry so I figure since not much has happened I will give the reason why Albania needs is still a developing country. Albania, has it all...enough natural resources to sustain itself, internet access, plenty of cars, primitive but functional transportation system, beaches that rival any where, lots of mountains for skiing, and lots of areas for golf courses. What is the problem...dirty beaches, no sky slopes or golf courses, and power outages for hours at a time, no water for hours at a time, broken window and dark offices...etc
Starting from the top, most of the government officials have their own agenda which is not usually in the interest of the area they represent. Since after years of nothing ever changes, expect ions of government employees are now nearly "0". Since expectations are such, it creates the perfect opportunity to use money, and other assorted opportunities for personal agendas.
Those same expectations then flood, not trickle down, to every part of everyday life. Plans, laws, programs are created and often financed, but there is not an expectation of it ever getting done...so nothing does, and a few get a little more wealthy in the process. This goes for school books, to buildings, to garbage pick-up etc. There are laws for driving, and "CHPs" but few if any tickets are issued and many laws are broken in front of the Police station while the cops are outside talking. Contracts are not enforced by law or by the enforcers so all parties are on their own to police themselves...What does get done, is done poorly, and only to look good, and usually has little or no means of sustainability. This country has all the pieces for progress but just not the desire or have expectations to think beyond today....
Is is safe here with as both an American and Shqiptar?...people mind one an others business affairs and family affairs too too much, so as long as no-one is hurt or killed...all else is up for grabs.
Starting from the top, most of the government officials have their own agenda which is not usually in the interest of the area they represent. Since after years of nothing ever changes, expect ions of government employees are now nearly "0". Since expectations are such, it creates the perfect opportunity to use money, and other assorted opportunities for personal agendas.
Those same expectations then flood, not trickle down, to every part of everyday life. Plans, laws, programs are created and often financed, but there is not an expectation of it ever getting done...so nothing does, and a few get a little more wealthy in the process. This goes for school books, to buildings, to garbage pick-up etc. There are laws for driving, and "CHPs" but few if any tickets are issued and many laws are broken in front of the Police station while the cops are outside talking. Contracts are not enforced by law or by the enforcers so all parties are on their own to police themselves...What does get done, is done poorly, and only to look good, and usually has little or no means of sustainability. This country has all the pieces for progress but just not the desire or have expectations to think beyond today....
Is is safe here with as both an American and Shqiptar?...people mind one an others business affairs and family affairs too too much, so as long as no-one is hurt or killed...all else is up for grabs.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Arrggg again.
Today, we had our monthly staff meeting. Last week the Director said that he will mention the website again a that I could do my presentation on How to use the Web, and Why it is important to have one a website...maybe not now but in the future.........Since I speak Shqip so well I was going to rely on a co-worker to conduct the meeting. Wednesday ...I gave the co-worker my outline of topics to cover and tried to pin them down to work on it....Thursday the response was...shume pune...(too much work, cannot today) for 2 hours we did not have power so we sat and talked and drank lots of coffee with co-workers...It was the middle of the day...plenty of light and I had hardcopies of all work ready ...She said "neser"...Okay..now its Friday....we start working on it at 12:00 ..then got distracted...by 2:00 nothing was done...and then we had to prepare for the weekend..talk because we won't see one another for 2 days....The meeting is not until 8:45 am so we will have 45 minutes..to set up projector and plan the meeting....OOOkayyy...8;30 I felt nothing is understood and the projector still has to be set up.
Meeting time: problems with the projector until 8:50. Coworker says that she completely understands the meeting and what to do..Huuuummmmmm
Meeting starts.
She is sitting down. Away from the computer .... I ask if she was ready?? yes but there was no movement...towards the computer
Why did I discuss with her all those issues and the presention itself if she was just going to translate what I said. ...to add to the problem the "Monthly meeting was about the website", and was not a small part of it as I was lead to believe. Needless to say, my 10 minutes turned to 30 minute meeting off the cuff.
The good: the Director felt that it was a good meeting...I now know...that meetings are 100% me and all I can do is ask for translation..not help.....but that is not the PeaceCorps way...Other good is My project seems to have some importance to the Director.
The Bad, I cannot rely on anybody....and I know that no matter how well I explain, even if they explain back to me what is expected...Albanians will do what they want...ARG they tell us this in training but you always think you cover your behind.
Sorry could not proofread above...gotta go
Meeting time: problems with the projector until 8:50. Coworker says that she completely understands the meeting and what to do..Huuuummmmmm
Meeting starts.
She is sitting down. Away from the computer .... I ask if she was ready?? yes but there was no movement...towards the computer
Why did I discuss with her all those issues and the presention itself if she was just going to translate what I said. ...to add to the problem the "Monthly meeting was about the website", and was not a small part of it as I was lead to believe. Needless to say, my 10 minutes turned to 30 minute meeting off the cuff.
The good: the Director felt that it was a good meeting...I now know...that meetings are 100% me and all I can do is ask for translation..not help.....but that is not the PeaceCorps way...Other good is My project seems to have some importance to the Director.
The Bad, I cannot rely on anybody....and I know that no matter how well I explain, even if they explain back to me what is expected...Albanians will do what they want...ARG they tell us this in training but you always think you cover your behind.
Sorry could not proofread above...gotta go
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
No time no money
Work Update: I can feel the energy starting to happen...My co-workers have had my email for 2 days now about projects...I just know they are almost ready to read them...neser ...it will happen. In the meantime last weekend I went to our Peace Corps Halloween Party. I went as "Trash Talk"...Being on a budget we all had were similar minded costumes...A guy with a black eye with "P" on his shirt (blackeyed peas) etc...Mine was you guessed it, I was covered with trash and had trash talking sayings taped all over me....Not a good costume for sitting but I did make a dent in the garbage around here..yeah right.
As for my health........not good as of today...I got one of those colds where your hair and teeth hurt. My nose is running non-stop and I am sneezing a lot. My co-workers think I am sick because I seldom where a jacket and wear short sleeve summer shirts in the fall. I think it is because washing hands are not important here..for food, restroom etc...how can washing be important if the water in town is off 6 hours a day and most all the night. What you don't see will not kill you...just don't think about it.
Our youngest PC volunter and my site mate Leslie had her Old Lady Birthday...22 years old...She is the one that speaks Shqip well and make me looks bad in Albanian social situations...She finished HS in 3 years and College in 3 years...compare that to my accademic background..Ouch...Again because of budget limitations..she got presents like a coke with a bow made of foil wrapping...........etc..
As you can tell, I am a little mad at our budget. We had to fill out a survey on how much we spend each month...it only took about 2 hours to do...If we got an extra $10 a month for 12 months that means we would have made $60 per hour....to fill it out..........ARGGGG!!!Since only 43 percent of us filled it out.. there will be no raise, and there has not been one in 4 years, where cost of living up about 30% in the last 2 years.
As for my health........not good as of today...I got one of those colds where your hair and teeth hurt. My nose is running non-stop and I am sneezing a lot. My co-workers think I am sick because I seldom where a jacket and wear short sleeve summer shirts in the fall. I think it is because washing hands are not important here..for food, restroom etc...how can washing be important if the water in town is off 6 hours a day and most all the night. What you don't see will not kill you...just don't think about it.
Our youngest PC volunter and my site mate Leslie had her Old Lady Birthday...22 years old...She is the one that speaks Shqip well and make me looks bad in Albanian social situations...She finished HS in 3 years and College in 3 years...compare that to my accademic background..Ouch...Again because of budget limitations..she got presents like a coke with a bow made of foil wrapping...........etc..
As you can tell, I am a little mad at our budget. We had to fill out a survey on how much we spend each month...it only took about 2 hours to do...If we got an extra $10 a month for 12 months that means we would have made $60 per hour....to fill it out..........ARGGGG!!!Since only 43 percent of us filled it out.. there will be no raise, and there has not been one in 4 years, where cost of living up about 30% in the last 2 years.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Scooby Doo
So last night after my power was shut off...Not my fault if I did not pay the bills. I never got a bill...the store down below gets bills delivered to them for the everyone in the complex .If you don't pick up your bill, they toss them..I never knew that they even had them. Only 4 months behind. This is just one of the things these people just know because most were born and raised in the city. Most don't even know the street names..no signs...but everyone knows where everything is and where they live....Anyway, sorry, got side tracked.
Last night we had an incredible lightning and thunder storm...A warm fall night and for a while there was no rain....About very 30 seconds to 2 minutes the sky lit up and the city just rumbled. As I mentioned before our city is at the base of a Castle....There are few cooler sights than to see lightning cover the sky and a castle on a mountain top in the foreground. Scooby Doo, ...Where are you????
Last night we had an incredible lightning and thunder storm...A warm fall night and for a while there was no rain....About very 30 seconds to 2 minutes the sky lit up and the city just rumbled. As I mentioned before our city is at the base of a Castle....There are few cooler sights than to see lightning cover the sky and a castle on a mountain top in the foreground. Scooby Doo, ...Where are you????
Thursday, October 30, 2008
But they understand me....
Hey All, I just read last blog...sorry for all the misspellings and grammar errors. Some days are better than others when it comes to writing. I fixed a few but the real damage is done..sorry.
Work Update: After meeting with the director again....he said..."I am ready to read your proposals for the ideas/projects which you feel need doing"...The Good..I get to do stuff... The Bad, he had/has little idea of why and what he wants me to do here.
The deadline is neser, for website information that I asked my coworkers to work on at the last meeting..Where are they are in the process????....not having looked at it once....After I brought it up to my director, he laughed and said, most of the department heads have never seen or care to see a website.....(Arg....why am I asking them their opinion????...Oh yeah.....But this is the one job the director gave me the second week of my stay here). To combat that issue I am trying to now set up a lesson/meeting on the use and importance of a website now in the rest of the world...and the importance and use of them in Albania 5 years from now. I will limit lesson sites to the Department of Agriculture in the States and the one the Country of Albania has set up. Needless to say, the deadline is now been moved a week and I am in the process of twisting my directors arm to remind/force them to at least describe their individual departments...
Hopefully they will use the other sites as a guide and put their on twist on things. (No I will not personally give the meeting..just the subject matter..one of my computers savey coworkers will conduct it....They told us during training that unless the director/mayor/boss has told a worker directly...not in meetings ...there is no expectation of them doing anything outside their daily routine. The same routine designed 17 years ago...just after the fall of Communism. Oh well, it gives me more time for coffee...
Halloween is this weekend...the Peace Corps is having a big party in Elbasan...Info in next blog entry.
My Shqip....somedays I get compliments how good it is...then my sitemates join us or they meet them later...... they then look at me and say...dude...your Shqip sucks...not really those words but that is what I hear.
If someone cares to work with me..we can have a simple conversation for about 45 minutes. If they don't want work hard at understanding me...I cannot understand a word from them and they don't try to piece together my Shqip....we look at eachother ...and go on to the next person.
Other stuff...Days are really short here...Yesterday the power went out at 3:00 in the afternoon and as of 8:00 this morning still out...Cold #@,.#$%,^/..^$$%.,^%$.,#....shower this morning...Lezhe has a brand new desert shop with relaxed, very very nice seating arangements. The deserts are okay but the place is perfect for coffee, tea or a relaxing soda. It is in the basement of a new building and most locals have not seen it yet...very nice place. They thought me shqip was good...So they said...I only spoke for 3 minutes with only about 21 mistakes...but they understood....
Work Update: After meeting with the director again....he said..."I am ready to read your proposals for the ideas/projects which you feel need doing"...The Good..I get to do stuff... The Bad, he had/has little idea of why and what he wants me to do here.
The deadline is neser, for website information that I asked my coworkers to work on at the last meeting..Where are they are in the process????....not having looked at it once....After I brought it up to my director, he laughed and said, most of the department heads have never seen or care to see a website.....(Arg....why am I asking them their opinion????...Oh yeah.....But this is the one job the director gave me the second week of my stay here). To combat that issue I am trying to now set up a lesson/meeting on the use and importance of a website now in the rest of the world...and the importance and use of them in Albania 5 years from now. I will limit lesson sites to the Department of Agriculture in the States and the one the Country of Albania has set up. Needless to say, the deadline is now been moved a week and I am in the process of twisting my directors arm to remind/force them to at least describe their individual departments...
Hopefully they will use the other sites as a guide and put their on twist on things. (No I will not personally give the meeting..just the subject matter..one of my computers savey coworkers will conduct it....They told us during training that unless the director/mayor/boss has told a worker directly...not in meetings ...there is no expectation of them doing anything outside their daily routine. The same routine designed 17 years ago...just after the fall of Communism. Oh well, it gives me more time for coffee...
Halloween is this weekend...the Peace Corps is having a big party in Elbasan...Info in next blog entry.
My Shqip....somedays I get compliments how good it is...then my sitemates join us or they meet them later...... they then look at me and say...dude...your Shqip sucks...not really those words but that is what I hear.
If someone cares to work with me..we can have a simple conversation for about 45 minutes. If they don't want work hard at understanding me...I cannot understand a word from them and they don't try to piece together my Shqip....we look at eachother ...and go on to the next person.
Other stuff...Days are really short here...Yesterday the power went out at 3:00 in the afternoon and as of 8:00 this morning still out...Cold #@,.#$%,^/..^$$%.,^%$.,#....shower this morning...Lezhe has a brand new desert shop with relaxed, very very nice seating arangements. The deserts are okay but the place is perfect for coffee, tea or a relaxing soda. It is in the basement of a new building and most locals have not seen it yet...very nice place. They thought me shqip was good...So they said...I only spoke for 3 minutes with only about 21 mistakes...but they understood....
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Cruizing on Empty
Things are starting to get a little busier here for me. Last week Opportunity Albania, an organization that works on giving loans to Low Income Albanians approached me and asked if I would be interested in working a couple days a week with them on marketing. I introduced myself to them when I when I first got here, so they knew I was in town. Another volunteer works for them in a neighboring town so they are familiar with the PC and our services. As of now, I said, they would have to ask my director, since the Department of Agriculture was where I was assigned.
I also made a friend who not only speaks english well but is someone who I have much in common. He is
an English Teacher from a neighboring village, a very good friend of my Shqip teacher, and a former soccer player. He also works out regularly at the same fitness center as I.
As for adventures, I went to the city of Berat last weekend. The city of 1000 windows, located on the side and base of the biggest castle in Albania. While the castle was not that big, it still has people living in it that have never been to town or outside of the castle. The city itself was beautiful with lots of windows, history and was also fairly clean(a big deal here in Albania). I stayed with a PC volunteer and toured the city, and bars (bars=locals= coffee shops=sitting lounges) (Starbucks meets local bar). We saw a professional soccer game and ate creps and what they feel is the best Pizza in Albania. (good pizza, great location and atmosphere)
I got the opportunity to play some young kid in ping-pong who I met on the 3 hour furgon ride. While I beat him, his friends, who are much lesser of players beat me...lots of excuses....the paddles were padded on one side, not the other, lighting was bad, and they had every desire to kick the Americans Butt..they did.. Just as I was getting used to the Home court" the ball went into the Turkish Toilet and the day of pingpong for 5 guys was over.
Language update...good moments..many bad days
Work Update...Not much just yet.
I also made a friend who not only speaks english well but is someone who I have much in common. He is
an English Teacher from a neighboring village, a very good friend of my Shqip teacher, and a former soccer player. He also works out regularly at the same fitness center as I.
As for adventures, I went to the city of Berat last weekend. The city of 1000 windows, located on the side and base of the biggest castle in Albania. While the castle was not that big, it still has people living in it that have never been to town or outside of the castle. The city itself was beautiful with lots of windows, history and was also fairly clean(a big deal here in Albania). I stayed with a PC volunteer and toured the city, and bars (bars=locals= coffee shops=sitting lounges) (Starbucks meets local bar). We saw a professional soccer game and ate creps and what they feel is the best Pizza in Albania. (good pizza, great location and atmosphere)
I got the opportunity to play some young kid in ping-pong who I met on the 3 hour furgon ride. While I beat him, his friends, who are much lesser of players beat me...lots of excuses....the paddles were padded on one side, not the other, lighting was bad, and they had every desire to kick the Americans Butt..they did.. Just as I was getting used to the Home court" the ball went into the Turkish Toilet and the day of pingpong for 5 guys was over.
Language update...good moments..many bad days
Work Update...Not much just yet.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
House Wife in Trainning
Sorry all, it has been two weeks since my entry...and in case you are wondering, my laptop is finally running well. As good as new. I even have the updated versions of Microsoft XP and everything else. It was almost worth the wait. My wireless is also working so I can now go to an internet cafe plug in my computer and work for free. Now/today is the first day for this.
Work update..Language classes with co-workers...Going well. My first few classes I thought went very well since I wrote the lesson plan myself, but then my co-workers wanted me to follow a book recommended by the local schools. The book was not written by native English Speaker and is loaded with improper grammer and miss spellings. The class likes using the book, so I asked my fellow "English Teachers" from the Peace Corps why Albanians like the using books. They said it was because every subject is highly regulated in the schools, and teachers are required to teach only what they are instructed to teach, and the books are their resourse...This leads to a lack of imagination in the classroom and very boring lessons in all subjects, but it is how most Albanians feel comfortable learning....so for now.."its by the book"
Language in Schools. I am pretty worthless there so far. The teacher and I go over the lesson in the morning before class 7:15 to 8:00 and she tells me what to read and where to jump in. Those books are so messed up that I try to encourage her to skip some of the lessons in them...She says that in Albania, if you skip lessons, even if they are poorly written and impossible to do according to the instructions, you do them...Why...because students will feel that the teacher is skipping them because they cannot do them...We teach them anyway...the kids get them wrong...but are impossible to get right...and the students feel that they are stupid not the teachers....humm......
As for my 3 girls (daughter of those I work with...they are doing well. I did a review of words from many weeks ago, they still got most of them...but now we have to really start working on speaking. They can translate well from English to Shqip and Shqip to English but cannot form sentences orally.
Work Projects...."Neser" i will start them...I tried to set up a meeting with my director last week to pin him down on projects that I have started or can start, or his vision of my role here at the Department. He said he has not had time to think about it, so we went to a meeting in another city...had coffee for a couple of hours with a few people and came home. End of day....
Hows My Shqip.
1. I was walking one day by a cafe and waved to a woman in the cafe that I thought I knew. She looked at me funny and after a closer look, I realized it was not her...Then...3 big guys come out of the bar...one her fiance, and started asking me "What is up!!!"... in Shqip, and made lots of toughguy jestures and words...needless to say...I ended up having a beer with the boys...and the next day played one of the guys in PingPong..He said he was #1 player in Lezhe...Not any more...thank you very much...we had a few beers and called it a night.
2. I set up a pre-test for myself with head of language department in the Peace Corps. She ended or session by calling my language teacher and complimented her on her teachings...She said "not her words" He butchers the language in terms of grammer and pronounciations, but speaks in sentances and I can understand what he is trying to communicate...and he can understand me...His vocabulary is comming along well. ............I am happy with that...See above example for my communication abilities.
3. I am really tired of studying. I just want to start reading some books. I have only read one since getting here.
Ping Pong:There is still one guy I have not seen since he beat me, so am waiting for him to come back in to try again.
Mistakes Made
The computer guy said that in some places around my apartment I have wireless internet access. One day about 5:00ish I set out to find it. I figured most of the kids in the hood knew who I was, and while being interested, would leave me alone. Within 5 minutes I had about 15 kids around me all ages and most of which I had not seen before and some asking for money, thinking I was rich being and American with a Laptop. Most stopped asking for money after a few words but ..... Opps,........ I later talked to my counterpart/coworker about it, she said that they all are good kids and while talk tough, will leave you alone and besides, like most people here, think that peace corps people are really CIA or FBI or Police. Kinda Cool Ey? Others feel that I am in training to be a housewife, since I have been spotted hanging my laundry outside my balcony and cook my own meals....
Work update..Language classes with co-workers...Going well. My first few classes I thought went very well since I wrote the lesson plan myself, but then my co-workers wanted me to follow a book recommended by the local schools. The book was not written by native English Speaker and is loaded with improper grammer and miss spellings. The class likes using the book, so I asked my fellow "English Teachers" from the Peace Corps why Albanians like the using books. They said it was because every subject is highly regulated in the schools, and teachers are required to teach only what they are instructed to teach, and the books are their resourse...This leads to a lack of imagination in the classroom and very boring lessons in all subjects, but it is how most Albanians feel comfortable learning....so for now.."its by the book"
Language in Schools. I am pretty worthless there so far. The teacher and I go over the lesson in the morning before class 7:15 to 8:00 and she tells me what to read and where to jump in. Those books are so messed up that I try to encourage her to skip some of the lessons in them...She says that in Albania, if you skip lessons, even if they are poorly written and impossible to do according to the instructions, you do them...Why...because students will feel that the teacher is skipping them because they cannot do them...We teach them anyway...the kids get them wrong...but are impossible to get right...and the students feel that they are stupid not the teachers....humm......
As for my 3 girls (daughter of those I work with...they are doing well. I did a review of words from many weeks ago, they still got most of them...but now we have to really start working on speaking. They can translate well from English to Shqip and Shqip to English but cannot form sentences orally.
Work Projects...."Neser" i will start them...I tried to set up a meeting with my director last week to pin him down on projects that I have started or can start, or his vision of my role here at the Department. He said he has not had time to think about it, so we went to a meeting in another city...had coffee for a couple of hours with a few people and came home. End of day....
Hows My Shqip.
1. I was walking one day by a cafe and waved to a woman in the cafe that I thought I knew. She looked at me funny and after a closer look, I realized it was not her...Then...3 big guys come out of the bar...one her fiance, and started asking me "What is up!!!"... in Shqip, and made lots of toughguy jestures and words...needless to say...I ended up having a beer with the boys...and the next day played one of the guys in PingPong..He said he was #1 player in Lezhe...Not any more...thank you very much...we had a few beers and called it a night.
2. I set up a pre-test for myself with head of language department in the Peace Corps. She ended or session by calling my language teacher and complimented her on her teachings...She said "not her words" He butchers the language in terms of grammer and pronounciations, but speaks in sentances and I can understand what he is trying to communicate...and he can understand me...His vocabulary is comming along well. ............I am happy with that...See above example for my communication abilities.
3. I am really tired of studying. I just want to start reading some books. I have only read one since getting here.
Ping Pong:There is still one guy I have not seen since he beat me, so am waiting for him to come back in to try again.
Mistakes Made
The computer guy said that in some places around my apartment I have wireless internet access. One day about 5:00ish I set out to find it. I figured most of the kids in the hood knew who I was, and while being interested, would leave me alone. Within 5 minutes I had about 15 kids around me all ages and most of which I had not seen before and some asking for money, thinking I was rich being and American with a Laptop. Most stopped asking for money after a few words but ..... Opps,........ I later talked to my counterpart/coworker about it, she said that they all are good kids and while talk tough, will leave you alone and besides, like most people here, think that peace corps people are really CIA or FBI or Police. Kinda Cool Ey? Others feel that I am in training to be a housewife, since I have been spotted hanging my laundry outside my balcony and cook my own meals....
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Biker Guests
In my attempt to type yesterday, I forgot to mention some guests I had. They were two Bikers, a couple, traveling through much of Eastern Europe on their bikes. I ran into them in a city just North of Lezhe while I was visiting a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer. They were talking to a few other people when I heard English being spoken. Not wasting an opportunity to talk English, I talked to them and invited them to visit as they passed Lezhe, only a days ride away. The next day as I was walking home from and English lesson about 7:00 at night I ran into them. I felt so bad since they had been all over town looking for because the number I gave them was a digit short...Anyway, I found them only about 100 meters from my place. Phillip and Elisabeth were great company and it was fun hearing some of their stories of the trip. Lezhe that night was not at its best since it was raining and while we went to one of my favorite pizza places (during the summer) it lacked the charm inside while it is raining outside. They got and earful of stories about life in Albania and crashed that night on my couch. I went to work the next morning and they were off to another city, visiting another castle and later who knows....
Monday, September 29, 2008
Soooo Cool
Looking back after over a week away from the computer and internet I saw that my cat story has to be finished...sadly, it is...I never saw the kitten again. As for my computer and the office computers...still not working. I am now in the Internet cafe of our Computer guy hoping he will drop by......
Now New Stuff. Last week, my director tells me we are going to Puke for an exhibition and presentation. He said wear warm clothing and that the presentation will be much like the one we organized 2 months earlier in our region....
After we get there..we are standing around in the middle of the street and this young lady with a headset is walking around looking kinda stressed....After a few minutes of watching her walk with her head cut off... the doors to the municipality open, and a bunch of BIG guys in nice suits walk out.....Followed by....... President Topi (the George Bush of Albania)...The band of Big guys make their way in our direction, parting the masses of people, and Topi is stopping to shake hands with all those in his path...(one was me)...sooo cool
Following the handshake...we wander to the Auditorium and we sit near the front. Shortly thereafter President Topi walks on stage and he sits directly in front of me....It was the stage, followed by the orchestra pit, and 3 rows of seats between me and the President of Albania...sooo cool..... After the presentation and serveral speeches later, we went to a large hall and had lunch, with the president and about 350 other people. Good food, beer paid for by Albanian government and lots of Power in the room. Later that day, I met the Vice President of the Department of Agriculture...had coffee with him and 8 others and including the Head of Rural Development. He spoke English and we talked for about 1/2 hour on his visions and how the Department of Agriculture and his Department can work together. I got his card, and hopefully he can help implement my projects if I ever get the GO...
Beside being the only one dressed in a sweater...everyone else had ties...I had a pretty good afternoon. That night I went to a party thrown by my neighbor...He and his Bride (someday wife, his possible 3rd wife after 5 kids from 3 mothers her having 2 of them ages 2 and 4). What they were celebrating I am not sure but she had on a wedding dress. Not an engagement I am sure of that but I can only assume she was wearing it as a hint.
This last weekend starting at 7:30 Thursday morning, I get a call from my host dad from Shales. (See pictures at albanianwindow.blogspot.com) saying that he is coming up for a visit that day. Time unknown. At about 11:30 am he arrives with his brother and a driver as they are passing through on business.(his brother being a veterinarian with the Department of Agriculture. They were totally impressed with my house and liked Lezhe a lot. My host dad had not ever been that far north before. I took them to my favorite (bar/restaurant) which is owned by and older guy, former communist, and the 4 of them had a great time talking and making fun of my superior language skills....When the bill came, the owner put the bill next to me...me forgetting the culture...took it...4 pizzas and 2 bottles of wine...1/8 of my months pay went to that meal....Nobody offered to pay since they all think that I am now rich working for the Department of Agriculture and living in a newly remodeled flat. In Albania..there is only the noun "volunteer" there is no verb "to volunteer".....I guess it was worth it, they talked about it on the ride back. I guess it makes up for all the meals, beer, and cafe, they bought me when I was living in Shales.
They gave me a ride to Shales where I was going to go the next day anyway for the 40 day ceremonies of the host dad that died last month. I stayed with my host family again for the night...Host mom understanding me fine...Host dad...gave up months ago. Computer update(the computer guy just walked in....he said he will fix my laptop neser (tomorrow)...the busiest workday of the week in Albania)
That was followed by a night in Elbasan...3rd largest city in Albania. There were 8 other volunteers staying there in Preparation for the picnic we had for the new Georgian Volunteers who were evacuated from Georgia after the Russians attacked it. They were a nice group and I kinda felt sorry for them having to learn another language. Heck they are young. ...they can handle it.
Other stuff: Last week was my first day teaching English to my co-workers. 2 groups, the true beginners and beginners who had English 15 years ago. I also have my first day as the tokan male American Teacher at the private school. I do conversational English. No lesson planning only lesson reviewing. That gives me 10-12 hours of English Teaching a week. More than many of the volunteers who are teachers.....Just in case you did not know, I am a COD volunteer. Community and Organizational Development. All for now, I am paying for this online usage at the computer guys place.
Now New Stuff. Last week, my director tells me we are going to Puke for an exhibition and presentation. He said wear warm clothing and that the presentation will be much like the one we organized 2 months earlier in our region....
After we get there..we are standing around in the middle of the street and this young lady with a headset is walking around looking kinda stressed....After a few minutes of watching her walk with her head cut off... the doors to the municipality open, and a bunch of BIG guys in nice suits walk out.....Followed by....... President Topi (the George Bush of Albania)...The band of Big guys make their way in our direction, parting the masses of people, and Topi is stopping to shake hands with all those in his path...(one was me)...sooo cool
Following the handshake...we wander to the Auditorium and we sit near the front. Shortly thereafter President Topi walks on stage and he sits directly in front of me....It was the stage, followed by the orchestra pit, and 3 rows of seats between me and the President of Albania...sooo cool..... After the presentation and serveral speeches later, we went to a large hall and had lunch, with the president and about 350 other people. Good food, beer paid for by Albanian government and lots of Power in the room. Later that day, I met the Vice President of the Department of Agriculture...had coffee with him and 8 others and including the Head of Rural Development. He spoke English and we talked for about 1/2 hour on his visions and how the Department of Agriculture and his Department can work together. I got his card, and hopefully he can help implement my projects if I ever get the GO...
Beside being the only one dressed in a sweater...everyone else had ties...I had a pretty good afternoon. That night I went to a party thrown by my neighbor...He and his Bride (someday wife, his possible 3rd wife after 5 kids from 3 mothers her having 2 of them ages 2 and 4). What they were celebrating I am not sure but she had on a wedding dress. Not an engagement I am sure of that but I can only assume she was wearing it as a hint.
This last weekend starting at 7:30 Thursday morning, I get a call from my host dad from Shales. (See pictures at albanianwindow.blogspot.com) saying that he is coming up for a visit that day. Time unknown. At about 11:30 am he arrives with his brother and a driver as they are passing through on business.(his brother being a veterinarian with the Department of Agriculture. They were totally impressed with my house and liked Lezhe a lot. My host dad had not ever been that far north before. I took them to my favorite (bar/restaurant) which is owned by and older guy, former communist, and the 4 of them had a great time talking and making fun of my superior language skills....When the bill came, the owner put the bill next to me...me forgetting the culture...took it...4 pizzas and 2 bottles of wine...1/8 of my months pay went to that meal....Nobody offered to pay since they all think that I am now rich working for the Department of Agriculture and living in a newly remodeled flat. In Albania..there is only the noun "volunteer" there is no verb "to volunteer".....I guess it was worth it, they talked about it on the ride back. I guess it makes up for all the meals, beer, and cafe, they bought me when I was living in Shales.
They gave me a ride to Shales where I was going to go the next day anyway for the 40 day ceremonies of the host dad that died last month. I stayed with my host family again for the night...Host mom understanding me fine...Host dad...gave up months ago. Computer update(the computer guy just walked in....he said he will fix my laptop neser (tomorrow)...the busiest workday of the week in Albania)
That was followed by a night in Elbasan...3rd largest city in Albania. There were 8 other volunteers staying there in Preparation for the picnic we had for the new Georgian Volunteers who were evacuated from Georgia after the Russians attacked it. They were a nice group and I kinda felt sorry for them having to learn another language. Heck they are young. ...they can handle it.
Other stuff: Last week was my first day teaching English to my co-workers. 2 groups, the true beginners and beginners who had English 15 years ago. I also have my first day as the tokan male American Teacher at the private school. I do conversational English. No lesson planning only lesson reviewing. That gives me 10-12 hours of English Teaching a week. More than many of the volunteers who are teachers.....Just in case you did not know, I am a COD volunteer. Community and Organizational Development. All for now, I am paying for this online usage at the computer guys place.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
For the last 4 days or so the computers in the office are shutting down. In September, our specialist, put an antivirus on our computer. Now most of our office computers are down, including my laptop and many the computers in his internet cafe are down. ... so he cannot fix ours just yet...until his business is up an running again. hummm
So last night, walking in my hood, I saw for the second night in a row this little kitten about 6 weeks old hidding in the corner on the steps leading to the road. This time, I could not walk by him,which I did the night before so reluctantly. I picked him up, took him home, bathed him, made him a bed (box and dishtowel),fed him some kos(yoguart) and tried to kill the pound and a half of fleas on him. He slept quietly UNTIL..................about 4:00 am. What do you do? Since I live on the second floor, I marched him out and let wander outside...... he did not come back. Ouch....If you were at cat..what is a better life, indoors 24/7 with food, shelter and 10-16 hours a day in a small room by yourself or out in the my hood...I decided he has a place to sleep if I see him again, food if I see him again but being stuck indoors....I would hate it.
End of the cat story for now. All my sence of respondabity is up in the air and feeling kinda guilty and not sure if I did the right thing.
End of the cat story for now. All my sence of respondabity is up in the air and feeling kinda guilty and not sure if I did the right thing.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Movies
This was a weekend of what to expect as fall and winter approaches. Sunday and today, it rained so much that coming out of a another PC apartment yesterday, my foot was completely covered in water. It was so deep in the entry way that the bricks they use to walk on, where completely underwater and I could not even see them as I wandered to the sidewalk. The clothes that I had hanging out to dry were wetter when I brought them in than when I put them out.
As for the good things...Friday we had a meeting in Tirana (the capital). In the wake of the evacuation of Georgia we had our refresher on what to do in an emergency. It was a full day leaving the Friday night and Saturday night open for some heavy money spending activity. Saturday night, we went to one club called the "Living Room" was on the the top floor/roof on an old ugly building overlooking the city. It sold Corona Beer for $6.00 and Heineken for $5.00. OUCH...at most places, beers go for $2.00. The place was incredible, and since we were "Rich Americans", they gave us a reserved table. We showed them my nursing our beers, some for over 2 hours. They I am sure were real happy with that.
Friday night was spent at the movie house seeing Ironman. It was awesome. Maybe the fact I have not seen a movie in 6 months affected my opinion but it was a great movie. 5 guys just going to the movies was a blast. Why was it so fun for me with 5 guys (I share my office with 3 ladies, in Lezhe, are 3 PC women, and while in Shales there were 4 PC women and me....
The movie house had real chairs, not seats, with small armrest tables and wide armrests. Lots of cushion. Definately worth the $7.00 or 600 leke.
As for this week coming up it is make or break. If my director does not give me the okay for doing some projects...I may have to go somewhere else. World Vision or Opportunity Albania.
a couple NGO set up here to help Albanians. All for now, still paying for internet use.
As for the good things...Friday we had a meeting in Tirana (the capital). In the wake of the evacuation of Georgia we had our refresher on what to do in an emergency. It was a full day leaving the Friday night and Saturday night open for some heavy money spending activity. Saturday night, we went to one club called the "Living Room" was on the the top floor/roof on an old ugly building overlooking the city. It sold Corona Beer for $6.00 and Heineken for $5.00. OUCH...at most places, beers go for $2.00. The place was incredible, and since we were "Rich Americans", they gave us a reserved table. We showed them my nursing our beers, some for over 2 hours. They I am sure were real happy with that.
Friday night was spent at the movie house seeing Ironman. It was awesome. Maybe the fact I have not seen a movie in 6 months affected my opinion but it was a great movie. 5 guys just going to the movies was a blast. Why was it so fun for me with 5 guys (I share my office with 3 ladies, in Lezhe, are 3 PC women, and while in Shales there were 4 PC women and me....
The movie house had real chairs, not seats, with small armrest tables and wide armrests. Lots of cushion. Definately worth the $7.00 or 600 leke.
As for this week coming up it is make or break. If my director does not give me the okay for doing some projects...I may have to go somewhere else. World Vision or Opportunity Albania.
a couple NGO set up here to help Albanians. All for now, still paying for internet use.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hey All,
So you are wondering what the effect Russian's invasion of Georgia, has on us. Well, there were Peace Corps Volunteers there and they were evacuated. Each person was given the option to go home, or finish there service in Albania. Many of the them had been in service for a year and chose to go home. Some had just finished training and were about to leave for their sites. Most of those that had done their one year chose to leave, those that just went through training came here. Albania now has about 15 new voluteers. Gota go
So you are wondering what the effect Russian's invasion of Georgia, has on us. Well, there were Peace Corps Volunteers there and they were evacuated. Each person was given the option to go home, or finish there service in Albania. Many of the them had been in service for a year and chose to go home. Some had just finished training and were about to leave for their sites. Most of those that had done their one year chose to leave, those that just went through training came here. Albania now has about 15 new voluteers. Gota go
Friday, September 5, 2008
Sept 5,2008
Gossip News in Albania,
We may have the first dropout of our group. Why..who knows. Group 9 had over a 25% dropout rate.... We are group 11......Modern Technology ...makes the grapevine move so much faster.
Good News....The Peace Corp person that set us up in our jobs, housing and, came for a visit yesterday. We talked a lot about work and shes had mentioned that she has set up a meeting with herself, my director, me and the head of the Department of Agricutrure. She liked my ideas and hoped that we could get the Head of Agriculture to help us get the ball rolling on many of our projects.
Bad news...the school I will be teaching 4 hours a week at has also recruited another PeaceCorp Volunteer..she is cuter, younger, always smiling...Speaks very good Shqip...We went to the meeting with the school director together and he dragged her into the fun. She has the young kids, I get the older kids...Comparisons in Shqip abililities are always a fun thing to be a part....hummmmm.
Today, I am taking off to another city ...Schroldera(spelling) North of here. This is one of the cities where I would have really liked to have been place..Job Wise, no, but city wise...It is supposed to be progressive, and very active, with lots of bicycles and places to go. It is one of the larger cities in Albania.
My computer is not working for some reason....computer story has more to come..not interesting stuff but can be a major problem here.
We may have the first dropout of our group. Why..who knows. Group 9 had over a 25% dropout rate.... We are group 11......Modern Technology ...makes the grapevine move so much faster.
Good News....The Peace Corp person that set us up in our jobs, housing and, came for a visit yesterday. We talked a lot about work and shes had mentioned that she has set up a meeting with herself, my director, me and the head of the Department of Agricutrure. She liked my ideas and hoped that we could get the Head of Agriculture to help us get the ball rolling on many of our projects.
Bad news...the school I will be teaching 4 hours a week at has also recruited another PeaceCorp Volunteer..she is cuter, younger, always smiling...Speaks very good Shqip...We went to the meeting with the school director together and he dragged her into the fun. She has the young kids, I get the older kids...Comparisons in Shqip abililities are always a fun thing to be a part....hummmmm.
Today, I am taking off to another city ...Schroldera(spelling) North of here. This is one of the cities where I would have really liked to have been place..Job Wise, no, but city wise...It is supposed to be progressive, and very active, with lots of bicycles and places to go. It is one of the larger cities in Albania.
My computer is not working for some reason....computer story has more to come..not interesting stuff but can be a major problem here.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Labor Day in Albania
Yesterday was Labor Day so the 4 of us PC volluteers in Lezhe got together for a dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, onion rings, watermellon, and of course beer. The grease involved in such a meal just does wonders for ones figure and nights sleep. Last night I had an idea for a new home video called "Stomachs gone wild" I am sure all of you have not only seen such fun but experienced it.
Please notice on the ride side of my entry is the mailing address if you want to send package with $5.00 worth of cookies for $50.00....please don't or if you just want to send regular mail. Plan on a minimum of 10 days.
Also included on the side are my friends stores/businesses. Check them out.
Please notice on the ride side of my entry is the mailing address if you want to send package with $5.00 worth of cookies for $50.00....please don't or if you just want to send regular mail. Plan on a minimum of 10 days.
Also included on the side are my friends stores/businesses. Check them out.
Monday, September 1, 2008
A busy Week
August 29.
On Monday Gjavajir, the host dad of one of my Training Sitemates in Shales died. He was working on the second floor with some electrical wiring and was electricuted. We found out on Thursday and by Thursday night, myself and 2 other of us who had training in Shales had gone back to Shales to pay our respects. This week the remaining 2 volunteers will be there. Gjavajir, treated Stephanie as one of his daughters calling her nearly daily after she left Shales. He was also the host dad that helped us the most with our community projects. He was only 58 years old, and looked and acted like he was 45. Something unseen here in Albania. From 30 to 80 you just look and act old all the time. While the funeral was 2 days earlier, there were still people coming by to pay their respects. All week the family (wife,sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren) remained at the home and greeted those that dropped by. Lots of silence, and a fair amount of eating.
I stayed with my former host family for the first time since I left them in June . It kinda felt like going home again. I even spoke to them in Shqip. It was not pretty, and conversational moments lessened drastically after the first hour but they still could ask me questions, and me of them. Havash Havash (spelling) Step by Step. They cooked my favorite meal, turned the TV on the the American Movie Station with Shqip subtitles and we were back to normal again. We watched a really bad (is there any other)Steven Seigal movie and an okay Clint Eastwood, Charlie Sheen movie.
Following the services in Shales, I took the furgon back to Elbasan, the old Peace Corps office and I met up with one of the PC English teachers for coffee to discuss the business plan I had written and Emailed to her. After about 10 minutes of business discussion and 3 hours later, I left back for Lezhe, only 3.5 hours to home. As for her doing the business...... in Albania, venturing into the unknown and with something that requires lots of work is something that is seldom done. I hope she does, but....neser is part of her culture too.
Since the Peace Corps is one week late in paying us and I am living on borrowed money, I decided stay at home Saturday and took a hike to the telephone tower. The tower is at the top of a large foothill, that from the top, one can see, what seems, forever. Most of the locals had know I idea how to get up there. After getting what seemed to be the right answer from someone who seemed to know, I ventured up there. About have way up, it got pretty confusing so a stopped to ask a sheepherder. A lady who was nearby working on her home, heard the confusion and came to the rescue. She spoke okay English having lived in England for a year and invited me over for coffee. I met her cousin, mother, aunt, newphew and son. Her husband was in Italy. Anyway after about 30 minutes of me talking ½ Shquip and her talking ½ English, she decided that going on a hike with me was more fun than building her new home. So we went on a 2 hour hike. When we had finally go up there, the 4x4 trucks that passed us going up, asked us who we were...Albina, (my new friend) did all the talking. As it turns out, Albina's kid and one of the guys kids , went to school together. The workers then liked us even more and they opened a few gates and let us climb around a bit on the towers. We just did the roof top adventure however, the towers were a bit much for Albina, and I kinda got the feeling the workers may have gotten too carried away with hospitality. I finished the day with Frisbee with the some neighborhood kids and homework (PC quarterly reports due in 2 weeks).
Too give you all an idea of pay and life out here...her male cousin, also building a home not far from hers, is a teacher. He makes about $200 a month, and is the sole supporter of himself, wife, 3 kids. I get just a bit more than that a month and feel restricted. The people at my job make a bit more than I do, and they have what is considered good jobs.
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Driving
For those of you that have forgotten my last blog...it was "albanianwindow.blogspot.com". This one is "newalbanianwindow.blogspot.com".
My next blogging session will have my mailing address for anyone that wants to spend $50.oo to send $5 worth of Cookies, or a letter...much cheaper.
Last time I left you with blood on my leg and pants. Today I start with, the blood got on my sheets too. Somedays this place drives me crazy, the driving here while I don't want to say is bad, because I could not drive here, it is lawless, crazy and filled with a bunch of A Holes. I see several bicycle tourists and they, like me on my trip, are blessed with naivety. If they knew how their close calls are intentional and that if something happened, few would help, then I am sure most would not come...well maybe..I would have still made the trip. The only law the seems to make sense is "I am more important than you, so I will go faster and be first" Arggg!!!
Last weekend was filled with localized adventure. In a town only 1 hour away is a resort called Nor Park......It had a great restaurant and swimming pool. A great alternative to the beach. The place was clean, pool and deck were large and more importantly very very clean. Only problem. No rules. There was lots of running pushing, yelling....... all part of being Albanian.
Another adventure was that I found a clean gym. It just opened up a few weeks ago and hopefully they will run it differently than the other gym in town. The owner is a karate instructor and his brother and dad work there too. The owner speaks English, so we had a good talk about gyms. When I went there in the morning 6:00 am, the only other people there were two Americans who have been in Albania for 15 years on a religious mission. They work with the Bee Farmers, so I had met him before. Yes as in Bee (honey). They are an older couple who keep to themselves mostly, but have made themselves available to PC volunteers if needed..
Spare time summary: Between Ping-Pong, the full serious of the "Godfather" on DVD, a good gym and lots of cafes to study shqip and read, I pretty much have enough to keep me busy during the winter months.
Next months also starts my teaching/playing games in English at a school 3 hours a week along with my teaching English here at work 2 hours week. Including the teaching I am doing now, it looks like 10hours a week teaching.
As for my projects, Kozeta my counter part came back from holiday. We discussed some projects and hopefully next week when the director gets back from vacation, we will get rolling on a few things. Since Kozeta has been on vacation and is the only one that speaks English, and since many of the other department heads have also been on vacation, and since the lights go out for hours at a time, the last month has been filled with me wandering from office to office talking Shqip. These people are so great, allowing my to butcher their language and use only the simplest of words. Some of the conversations lasted almost 1/2 hour and I had fun...I hope they did. Some topics were interesting, some not. As for how good my Shqip is...I had a problem at the bank with my account, they spoke no English...I got it fixed in only a few minutes...was not pretty, but they never got mad nor reached over the counter to slug me. All for now, off to English class. I am sure you are thinking...we cannot even understand Peter, and now a whole country is going to talk like him........get over it.
My next blogging session will have my mailing address for anyone that wants to spend $50.oo to send $5 worth of Cookies, or a letter...much cheaper.
Last time I left you with blood on my leg and pants. Today I start with, the blood got on my sheets too. Somedays this place drives me crazy, the driving here while I don't want to say is bad, because I could not drive here, it is lawless, crazy and filled with a bunch of A Holes. I see several bicycle tourists and they, like me on my trip, are blessed with naivety. If they knew how their close calls are intentional and that if something happened, few would help, then I am sure most would not come...well maybe..I would have still made the trip. The only law the seems to make sense is "I am more important than you, so I will go faster and be first" Arggg!!!
Last weekend was filled with localized adventure. In a town only 1 hour away is a resort called Nor Park......It had a great restaurant and swimming pool. A great alternative to the beach. The place was clean, pool and deck were large and more importantly very very clean. Only problem. No rules. There was lots of running pushing, yelling....... all part of being Albanian.
Another adventure was that I found a clean gym. It just opened up a few weeks ago and hopefully they will run it differently than the other gym in town. The owner is a karate instructor and his brother and dad work there too. The owner speaks English, so we had a good talk about gyms. When I went there in the morning 6:00 am, the only other people there were two Americans who have been in Albania for 15 years on a religious mission. They work with the Bee Farmers, so I had met him before. Yes as in Bee (honey). They are an older couple who keep to themselves mostly, but have made themselves available to PC volunteers if needed..
Spare time summary: Between Ping-Pong, the full serious of the "Godfather" on DVD, a good gym and lots of cafes to study shqip and read, I pretty much have enough to keep me busy during the winter months.
Next months also starts my teaching/playing games in English at a school 3 hours a week along with my teaching English here at work 2 hours week. Including the teaching I am doing now, it looks like 10hours a week teaching.
As for my projects, Kozeta my counter part came back from holiday. We discussed some projects and hopefully next week when the director gets back from vacation, we will get rolling on a few things. Since Kozeta has been on vacation and is the only one that speaks English, and since many of the other department heads have also been on vacation, and since the lights go out for hours at a time, the last month has been filled with me wandering from office to office talking Shqip. These people are so great, allowing my to butcher their language and use only the simplest of words. Some of the conversations lasted almost 1/2 hour and I had fun...I hope they did. Some topics were interesting, some not. As for how good my Shqip is...I had a problem at the bank with my account, they spoke no English...I got it fixed in only a few minutes...was not pretty, but they never got mad nor reached over the counter to slug me. All for now, off to English class. I am sure you are thinking...we cannot even understand Peter, and now a whole country is going to talk like him........get over it.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Korce Trip
Hello folks, now you have experienced our first problem with trust. I am sorry we have had to change but I cannot write whatever is on my mind when others are involved. Detail in last Email.
Last weekend was a Beer Festival in one of the cities across the country. While it was only 300 kilometers away it took me 8 hours to get there and 6 hours to get back. I was in the city of Korce. The drinking was not the fun part but the next day was when we wandered to a nearby village. Myself 2 Peace Corps Volunteers, hooked up with an Austrailian and went on a self walking tour. Richard the Australian was what they call "Couch Surfer" He travels around the country sleeping on peoples couch. There is a website I believe couchsurfer.com where people around the country with couches to spare in their homes, allow travelers to sleep there He was a 20 year old kid, out on the road for 18 months traveling the world. Not a bad education. What Richard did is look up someone in Albania who had a couch and after visiting Greece came to visit our Peace Corps friends in Korce Albania.
Back to story....After 5 months of seeing sheep in the middle of the road, Donkeys carrying large amounts of produce and pigs in my yard I now take things for granted. Richard had his eyes wide open and took pictures right and left. It was a great way to again appriciate what and where I am. I had the most fun, when a local, saw us wandering in his village and insisted on taking us to a church he was building himself. The other two Peace Corps members speak Shqip very well but he still insisted on talking to me. Anyway, we were with him for almost and hour and I pretty much understood all he was trying to say and he understood me. I will not say it was a pretty conversation...he used easy words and I used easier words, with gestures and sound affects but non-the-less we talked for an hour.
Chuch history:
200 years old
Destroyed by explosion killing his grandparents who were burried nearby;
Pictures of Christ on the wall represented his grandparents and parents
He works most of the year in Greece
Works on building the church only 2-3 months a year
I only wish I had been able to speak more Shqip. He had a vast wealth of history in his heart and would have loved to been able to talk in detail about it.
Things I get mad at...Last night in the dark, I moved out of the way of someone walking...fine..they moved also....I smacked my leg on this steel rod sticking out of the sidewalk about a foot. WHY it was there WHO knows...WHO...Cares nobody...WHO I want to SMACK...the workers that left it there many years ago, and the government for letting such hazards stay there...Who to blame..me...I knew it was there. I have walked by them many times...just forgot while I was being nice...A bloody leg with blood on my pants for being polite
All for now.
Last weekend was a Beer Festival in one of the cities across the country. While it was only 300 kilometers away it took me 8 hours to get there and 6 hours to get back. I was in the city of Korce. The drinking was not the fun part but the next day was when we wandered to a nearby village. Myself 2 Peace Corps Volunteers, hooked up with an Austrailian and went on a self walking tour. Richard the Australian was what they call "Couch Surfer" He travels around the country sleeping on peoples couch. There is a website I believe couchsurfer.com where people around the country with couches to spare in their homes, allow travelers to sleep there He was a 20 year old kid, out on the road for 18 months traveling the world. Not a bad education. What Richard did is look up someone in Albania who had a couch and after visiting Greece came to visit our Peace Corps friends in Korce Albania.
Back to story....After 5 months of seeing sheep in the middle of the road, Donkeys carrying large amounts of produce and pigs in my yard I now take things for granted. Richard had his eyes wide open and took pictures right and left. It was a great way to again appriciate what and where I am. I had the most fun, when a local, saw us wandering in his village and insisted on taking us to a church he was building himself. The other two Peace Corps members speak Shqip very well but he still insisted on talking to me. Anyway, we were with him for almost and hour and I pretty much understood all he was trying to say and he understood me. I will not say it was a pretty conversation...he used easy words and I used easier words, with gestures and sound affects but non-the-less we talked for an hour.
Chuch history:
200 years old
Destroyed by explosion killing his grandparents who were burried nearby;
Pictures of Christ on the wall represented his grandparents and parents
He works most of the year in Greece
Works on building the church only 2-3 months a year
I only wish I had been able to speak more Shqip. He had a vast wealth of history in his heart and would have loved to been able to talk in detail about it.
Things I get mad at...Last night in the dark, I moved out of the way of someone walking...fine..they moved also....I smacked my leg on this steel rod sticking out of the sidewalk about a foot. WHY it was there WHO knows...WHO...Cares nobody...WHO I want to SMACK...the workers that left it there many years ago, and the government for letting such hazards stay there...Who to blame..me...I knew it was there. I have walked by them many times...just forgot while I was being nice...A bloody leg with blood on my pants for being polite
All for now.
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