Going camping

Neser we leave for Erseka, for the camping trip...I had originally set up a bus ride for them all, then thought that since all of us are going, we can rent a furgon. Then I called the girls to inform them and their parents said only the bus, it was safer...I kinda figured that but a furgon would have made life much easier.
I showed off the computer lab to a local active commity leader who works with youth. He had no idea about the center, and thought it was exactly what he was thinking of starting...a center for computers, and to gather information on schools, jobs, visa, etc......hopefully he will make a few things happen. A very possible problem is that the Director of the center is very political and traditional, and while she may hire someone to work the lab...odds are they will be a friend who will sit there, not help the kids a just collect a paycheck. Then the kids will be be back to square one again.
Believe it or not, I am a bit stressed out about sleeping on the ground for the next 4 days. It sucks having bones muscles that don't bend anymore.
I visited Chris a PCV in a local village...Poor guy he is there by himself, no computer, no TV and few people who speak english...He goes to work...plays on the internet all day in his own office and watches movies. Then at 5 goes home and eats, (he is not a cook) and goes to bed. Even weekends are like that.....Hopefully he will get some projects or make his way into integrating into the community but as of now...the PC did a poor job placing him. I think they do a poor job in matching personalities....

Busy days

Our big presentation to 150 kids and adults went well. The kids seemed to enjoy it and while we had shume problems...It ended up very well. What problems, First ...like always my kids were late....then the presentation did not work on the computer...If it was not for our most savy computer guy in the PC to help us out, the presentation would have only partly worked without pictures or music. ...Luckily we were last to do our presentation and they figured everything out. They recruited a very smart local kid whom other PCV have worked with on some other projects and he presented, did some good improvising and Bingo...or presentation went well.
As for other stuff, a friend set me up with a female friend of his...she was very sweet, but when it came to our cultural differences, there was just too much to overcome. Our first and only meeting was at a cafe shop with my friend, the girl and she was accompanied by her brother and mom.....a very serious hour....Is seemed to go okay, but if we persuded farther than that, and it did not work out, the whole town would have known and that would have been the end of her chances....maybe forever. I was very flattered by the recommendation however. Life in a fistbowl.
Project with the blind...that is on hold because they have now come to me with 3 different plans and each new plan comes at the end of me writing the old plan....in otherwords they keep changing their minds, have no real longterm goals, and so it stands...I need to set up a meeting with the Board of Directors again and some of its particpants.
Next week we (13 peace corps volunteers with 6 kids from Lezhe and 37 total kids from all over Albania) are going on a camping trip for 4 days. I didn't think the kids could go, but so far they are all for sures....I tried to have a meeting with them today to discuss the big project and...that did not happen. They were too excited for the trip to do "work"

Qen i Mire

WOW...Just read my last blog......as a followup to my last entry...the little dog has been taken care of the "special" way....along with the 10 or so other stray dogs....not the ending I wanted, but I guess the next best thing.

Several weeks ago an NGO and local celebrity, winner of Big Brother Albania last year, rounded up many PC volunteers and other organizations to Promote a Program of Youth Mobilization.
In the last 4 weeks many of my productive hours have been spent rounding up kids and getting to them to go to meetings. 4 maybe 8 depending on the day will represent Lezhe. Next Tuesday is what they call the Grand Event where we will propose to a Committee a volunteer project that the kids decided on and will "organize" and "implement" The kids in Lezhe chose to do a website and video about local castle since it is 600 years old and has great historical significance. The local government has gotten 10s of thousands of $ through grants and taxes for improved access, to do some archaeological diggings, and restoration etc., but so far over the last 20 years they have only built a very poorly maintained dirt road. And suddenly no more money???? and....... No signs, no printed material, no hours of operation. Actually they have them posted but nobody is ever there to open the gate.
Needless to say, that is our project....Not my first choice but we will make it work. Today the kids took their ideas and we will make a presentation of it.....and hopefully Friday we will see how they did....
My other project is writing a grant for a Soccer Tournament for the Blind. The Community for the Blind asked for this funding and money. That activity is taking up the rest of my productive hours...
My non-productive hours some of which consist of learning Adobe PhotoShop and Dreamweaver on my new computer. It is a good thing I can take that home and work in front of a fan.
The rest of my non-productive hours are spent watching movies on video or lots of coffees all day and evening long. Weekends consist of all the above or the beach or travel to other cities.

To my little dog friend with Mange " sweet dreams Qen i Mire"

My office mates are supposedly back from vacation and productivity as gone................way way............heck you know.
I went to a wedding last week. The owner of the Gym got married. In normal Albanian Fashion she did not smile...
Went to Korce last week for Mid service training...and Korce Beer Fest...fun to go, glad I am back.