Since I have time today, I will write about other stuff. The day to day activities are of minimal excitement. I go to work each day, and can only think about going home...to which then I nap or read. I should work on my projects each and everyday, but the sluggeshness of the culture the heat without air conditioning makes one move slowly and not want to think about work. The money here is minimal with us not getting a raise in now 4 years and the cost of living in Albania having gone up more that 50% in that time. In the last few months coffee went up 40% and fast food up 20% percent. Lezhe is also one of the most expensive cities to live in, in Albania.....I am really upset with my other PCV since only 43% mailed in the living allowance survey. Them even more upset, knowing the the corporate office knows of the lack of money but since only 43% even sent in the survey, they pretend it is okay. Any travel or clothes comes from my own pocket now. One more thing that is really bothering me is that a little dog has befriended me. He waits each day outside my work and hopes that I will spent 30 seconds petting him. He has Mange, and mite that attacks the skin and leaves him looking bad. I ask our vets to for help and I would pay for it, but they just brush it off as in why help dogs, they are dirty messy and are pests. I have seen him all hours of the day waiting for me. If I bring him into my home and wash him, feed him it would only prolong the inevitable.
Now that I have completely depressed anyone reading this, here are the good things...no American Media, Coffee breaks 2-3 times a day...A pizza is $5.00 and a fast food lunch is about $1.50
I am sure if I had a job in the States i would also be looking for one and worried about keeping the one I have. I have no real supervisors...those at the PC office understand not getting things done and those I work with would rather have me not do anything because they may have to work also.
I have 5 incredible riverside cafes to chose to drink coffee from, or 50 regular cafes. I can on a whim travel to another city and if I want sleep, play ping-pong, walk or go to our private internet cafe. (Computer room that one of our PCV set up for the youth and now sits unused because the Albanias are in charge of it and don't have time to hire someone to work it...eventhough the money has been set aside..)
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
My vacation
Days pass quickly when you have coffees to drink and vacations to take.
The fourth of July was spent at private American School that would was like going back to the rich lands of the States. Located in a Park, there were runners, dogs, and cyclist all around the school had a pool tennis courts and all the niceties of any rich American school. There were about 300 people, with most being Americans in Albania....or part of the American world in Albania. It lasted about 3 hours, until about 10:00 pm, and then the PCV went out on an all night adventure. While I tried to stay out all night with the youngens...I lasted until 12:30 before I had to wonder back to my hotel. Not too good of an effort, but the youngens were "baring" fast and dancing faster. I just couldnt hang with them.
From July 9th to the 19 I embarked, with another PCV Luke, on a 10 day 4 country power tour of the Balkans. Montenegro, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia. We also hit 2 Islands in Croatia, Hvar and Krk. In total we spent 5 nights on a Bus or Train and the rest in Hostels. Buy day we explored. Dubrovnik arrived in AM left in PM, Split AM to PM, Slovenia AM to PM... and so it went. I did not think me sleeping on a bus or train was still possible and still be awake enough the next day but we did it and felt adequately rested. Budapest and Dubrovnik were our goals and while Dubrovnik was nice, Budapest had the Grand variety of Culture, History, Corruption, tradition and progressivism. The islands were my favorite place if I were with a group or SigFig but Budapest is where we had the most fun. It was odd coming back to Lezhe where in 10 days I have explored more cities and counties than most of my counter parts have in their 50 plus years of life. My idea of a fun quick vacation, is considered a trip of the lifetime. We did hit McDonalds 3 times on the trip getting our fix of milkshakes, burgers and fries.
The Outdoor Ambassadors are doing fine. I have 4 regular girls, age 16, and have finally met their parents, giving me the person to person okay to take them on trips. Friday the kids talked me into taking them and two the their boy friends (who show up once in a while, not really with the group but like to go places), on an unscheduled trip to a remote beach....I had to leave the planning to them since they knew where it was. After a short furgon ride we then walked 1.5 hours to the spot where we finally settled. The soft sand went almost 200 yards out and the water was fairly clear and warm. It then took us 2.5 hours in total to get back to Lezhe after we left our beach site. I was completely wiped out. While the girls had to stop a lot to rest I am pretty sure, they forgot they were tired as soon as they walked into their home.
We had a meeting with NGOs, World Vision and CAAP, and Arbari winner of Big Brother Albania, on doing a project that involved getting youth to volunteer of community activities. In all, using my contacts and WV contacts we had about 30 kids show up for the event. Hopefully all the kids who attended will want to participate in it. As for the Community Activity, the kids have think of one and present it, If they win, then WV will donate $50,000 to the event/cause. Once and if this gets going it will take a lot of time...
Vilma (one of our former Shqip teachers) visited us this weekend along with Casey a group 12 PCV. Poor girls, they had to hang with us while we did our things this weekend, only once making it out to the beach in the 3 days they were here. If they came to drink however, that is what we did, one night on a roof top looking over Lezhe, another night on the beach. This living like a 20 year old wipes me out and while the others are okay the next day, I need to take naps . While it is fun, most days I would rather have more lazy gatherings.
Yesterday we ventured to Tirana to see the new Xmen Movie...very cool movie, especially if one only gets to see a movie once ever 3 months. On the way home, our bus stopped in 1 hour long traffic. Two of the PCVs I was with, decided to walk home, getting out of the stinking stuffy bus...not the action I would have recommended but it worked out okay with us getting home about 20 minutes before the bus. We got 2 rides 1 from a regular car and other from a furgon. We got lucky, in that in total we only had to walk 1 kilometer..instead of the actual 2o plus kilometers we may have walked if no one picked us up.
I finally got my computer yesterday, and it is ready for the process of software downloading now.
A few days ago, one of my Co-workers, myself and a WV worker, Ardian, went to the Church in Kalmet. A church on a hillside, with a natural spring running through it. Very pretty, good water, good view and I bought Goat Cheese from the lady that lives near there. She lives about half a kilometer from the church down a very small, steep trail. She flew down the trail, will us barely keeping up, She then fed us some cheese, we bought some and her grand-daughters got to the store before our car did to weigh it and pay for it. Those sweet little village kids are tough, doing the trail in flip-flops faster then I did the Dipsey trails.
Did I mention how my Shqip is doing or how much work I am doing....maybe neser...
The fourth of July was spent at private American School that would was like going back to the rich lands of the States. Located in a Park, there were runners, dogs, and cyclist all around the school had a pool tennis courts and all the niceties of any rich American school. There were about 300 people, with most being Americans in Albania....or part of the American world in Albania. It lasted about 3 hours, until about 10:00 pm, and then the PCV went out on an all night adventure. While I tried to stay out all night with the youngens...I lasted until 12:30 before I had to wonder back to my hotel. Not too good of an effort, but the youngens were "baring" fast and dancing faster. I just couldnt hang with them.
From July 9th to the 19 I embarked, with another PCV Luke, on a 10 day 4 country power tour of the Balkans. Montenegro, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia. We also hit 2 Islands in Croatia, Hvar and Krk. In total we spent 5 nights on a Bus or Train and the rest in Hostels. Buy day we explored. Dubrovnik arrived in AM left in PM, Split AM to PM, Slovenia AM to PM... and so it went. I did not think me sleeping on a bus or train was still possible and still be awake enough the next day but we did it and felt adequately rested. Budapest and Dubrovnik were our goals and while Dubrovnik was nice, Budapest had the Grand variety of Culture, History, Corruption, tradition and progressivism. The islands were my favorite place if I were with a group or SigFig but Budapest is where we had the most fun. It was odd coming back to Lezhe where in 10 days I have explored more cities and counties than most of my counter parts have in their 50 plus years of life. My idea of a fun quick vacation, is considered a trip of the lifetime. We did hit McDonalds 3 times on the trip getting our fix of milkshakes, burgers and fries.
The Outdoor Ambassadors are doing fine. I have 4 regular girls, age 16, and have finally met their parents, giving me the person to person okay to take them on trips. Friday the kids talked me into taking them and two the their boy friends (who show up once in a while, not really with the group but like to go places), on an unscheduled trip to a remote beach....I had to leave the planning to them since they knew where it was. After a short furgon ride we then walked 1.5 hours to the spot where we finally settled. The soft sand went almost 200 yards out and the water was fairly clear and warm. It then took us 2.5 hours in total to get back to Lezhe after we left our beach site. I was completely wiped out. While the girls had to stop a lot to rest I am pretty sure, they forgot they were tired as soon as they walked into their home.
We had a meeting with NGOs, World Vision and CAAP, and Arbari winner of Big Brother Albania, on doing a project that involved getting youth to volunteer of community activities. In all, using my contacts and WV contacts we had about 30 kids show up for the event. Hopefully all the kids who attended will want to participate in it. As for the Community Activity, the kids have think of one and present it, If they win, then WV will donate $50,000 to the event/cause. Once and if this gets going it will take a lot of time...
Vilma (one of our former Shqip teachers) visited us this weekend along with Casey a group 12 PCV. Poor girls, they had to hang with us while we did our things this weekend, only once making it out to the beach in the 3 days they were here. If they came to drink however, that is what we did, one night on a roof top looking over Lezhe, another night on the beach. This living like a 20 year old wipes me out and while the others are okay the next day, I need to take naps . While it is fun, most days I would rather have more lazy gatherings.
Yesterday we ventured to Tirana to see the new Xmen Movie...very cool movie, especially if one only gets to see a movie once ever 3 months. On the way home, our bus stopped in 1 hour long traffic. Two of the PCVs I was with, decided to walk home, getting out of the stinking stuffy bus...not the action I would have recommended but it worked out okay with us getting home about 20 minutes before the bus. We got 2 rides 1 from a regular car and other from a furgon. We got lucky, in that in total we only had to walk 1 kilometer..instead of the actual 2o plus kilometers we may have walked if no one picked us up.
I finally got my computer yesterday, and it is ready for the process of software downloading now.
A few days ago, one of my Co-workers, myself and a WV worker, Ardian, went to the Church in Kalmet. A church on a hillside, with a natural spring running through it. Very pretty, good water, good view and I bought Goat Cheese from the lady that lives near there. She lives about half a kilometer from the church down a very small, steep trail. She flew down the trail, will us barely keeping up, She then fed us some cheese, we bought some and her grand-daughters got to the store before our car did to weigh it and pay for it. Those sweet little village kids are tough, doing the trail in flip-flops faster then I did the Dipsey trails.
Did I mention how my Shqip is doing or how much work I am doing....maybe neser...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Just talking
I am sure you are all wondering how my Guest speaker went with my Outdoor Ambassador Club...The speaker came prepared for 15 bright eyed students but only 4 quiet girls showed up...While he seemed only a little disappointed, I was very embarrassed since I told him at least 10. I even emailed all the kids whose email I had and told them to tell their friends and family to come...none of which had happened....Luckily he was already coming to Lezhe to put on big meeting, for our water company, so the trip wasn't waisted but I still felt bad. As for other Outdoor Ambassador programs nation wide, A couple of the other volunteers are trying start the clubs and a couple haven't even had any kids show up...ARG, Great concept, lots of work each week, but not a lot of reward just yet...we just have to move slowly.
Now Department of Agriculture Work Days
The days start like this..
8 to 10 check email
10 12 go to coffee and lunch with co-workers, friends or a power coffee
1-2 do side projects at work
Go Home
Sometime during the day spend 1-2 hours doing side projects
Read for 2 hours
Talk to local friends and hang with the other volunteers.
Have Dinner
Bed about 9:30
Many times for dinner Bethany or Leslie will cook dinner...while I think my food is good...they have eaten one of my meals...I liked...and well...I go to their place. Last night we tried tacos but the wanna-be shells did not quite work so we had a great taco type salad.
The last 3 days have been great Ping Pong days...One of the guys whom I have not played in a while was there to play. It was a blast with him winning the first 2 of 3 games but then seemingly giving up the next 2...For the first 3 games we even had an audience from the bar watch us play.
Two days later a couple of couch surfers from France came to visit Bethany. One played a good game of ping pong. He had not played in months and still put up a good game. If we were both playing at full operation, it would have been close. We then went to Bethanys place where the girls cooked great apple banana chocolate creps and us guys drank some beer....
Still working on the getting the Organization for the Blind to answer some questions so that I can hopefully write or help them write a grant.
Still don't have my computer....
Not Good Stuff. A few months ago I loaned my new backpack to a good kid for his weekend trip, his cousin took it, and for some reason he did not stop him..It cost about $35.00 to replace. I have only seen $20.00..so far. I loaned my I pod to a very good friend serveral months ago, still now seen it and each time I ask for it, his response is neser...Hmmm...
Now Department of Agriculture Work Days
The days start like this..
8 to 10 check email
10 12 go to coffee and lunch with co-workers, friends or a power coffee
1-2 do side projects at work
Go Home
Sometime during the day spend 1-2 hours doing side projects
Read for 2 hours
Talk to local friends and hang with the other volunteers.
Have Dinner
Bed about 9:30
Many times for dinner Bethany or Leslie will cook dinner...while I think my food is good...they have eaten one of my meals...I liked...and well...I go to their place. Last night we tried tacos but the wanna-be shells did not quite work so we had a great taco type salad.
The last 3 days have been great Ping Pong days...One of the guys whom I have not played in a while was there to play. It was a blast with him winning the first 2 of 3 games but then seemingly giving up the next 2...For the first 3 games we even had an audience from the bar watch us play.
Two days later a couple of couch surfers from France came to visit Bethany. One played a good game of ping pong. He had not played in months and still put up a good game. If we were both playing at full operation, it would have been close. We then went to Bethanys place where the girls cooked great apple banana chocolate creps and us guys drank some beer....
Still working on the getting the Organization for the Blind to answer some questions so that I can hopefully write or help them write a grant.
Still don't have my computer....
Not Good Stuff. A few months ago I loaned my new backpack to a good kid for his weekend trip, his cousin took it, and for some reason he did not stop him..It cost about $35.00 to replace. I have only seen $20.00..so far. I loaned my I pod to a very good friend serveral months ago, still now seen it and each time I ask for it, his response is neser...Hmmm...
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