Where've you Been?

    I've been MIA, it has been a really busy second year thus far. It's the last month of the year and many new things have been progressing on this side of the Atlantic. I have a little over 8 months left in-country - AMAZING! So, being that I live in a majority Muslim country, the "holiday season" takes on a different feeling and meaning here. You have similar "figures" as in america, yet it is slightly different. For example, New Years is the big celebration here and families gather together, do their celebratory shooting at the stroke of midnight and bring in the new year eating, talking and celebrating their time together. We all know Father Christmas, well here it's Father Winter. The Christmas Tree is the New Years Tree, and we have Holiday Markets not Christmas Markets (You get my drift here, no?).
     But on to more exciting news. I had the opportunity to attend a TV Show taping here in Kosovo. It was a really cool experience, and I went with the Youth Center in the big town near my village because a friend of mine, who volunteers there, invited me to go with them. I was under the impression we were going to a theater show, but I Was surprised when I arrived and she said we were going to be on Television; so now I am forever recognized on the street, in stores and among even Albanian Diaspora as "the girl that was on Oxygen" - because I need more recognition in this country hahaha! In October, in collaboration with GAD (Gender, Advocacy Diversity) Committee and Kosovo Youth Council of the US Embassy, I participated in a female empowerment program called Start the Spark!, Start the Spark! is an initiative to help empower, enlighten and bring together young Kosovar women across age, ethnic and religious lines, to recognize their similarities and create a spark in terms of how they can work together to advance mutual interests for the benefit of themselves and their country. It was a 3 day program and an awesome opportunity to meet beautiful, intelligent young women who have bright dreams and futures. Additionally, I started volunteering with this AWESOME orphanage in the capital. It is an international non-profit that provides various services for not only the orphans they have in care, but also for those who are at risk of becoming orphans, as well as provide events for the community. It is amazing all of the programs and the impact this organization has had in a short time. I'm so grateful and excited to be working with them and volunteering with their babies because who DOESN'T love getting and giving love to young children :) . Plus, I have also been working on a grant for my school and now it is submitted, and now WE WAIT to see if it will be approved and we can get the new bookcases we need for the library. *positive energy please* Lastly, I've worked with the Access Program which is a State Department sponsored program to help students progress in English and understanding of American values, ideals and history. PHEW that is a lot hahaha! But more is to come, there are still things a brewing but school and all these activities have me busy, speaking of which I have more grading to do. So you know the deal, Here are some pictures from the show and other happenings that have happened. Until next time readers :)

Peace and Love
 - Ashley

On the set of the Oxygen show

Set of Oxygen

Waiting for the Kombi and some students at my school wanted to take a picture :)

Some of the young ladies at Start the Spark!

Halloween with ACCESS students 

Some fellow English Colleagues and I waiting for our students during the English Competition  

Marigona and I with the show's host Besim. 

Marigona, Arlinda and I

Arlinda and I at the Oxygen Show

Some of the kids and staff at the orphanage playing around.

'Cause we're half way there.

There has been SO much going on, I've neglected you lovely readers of mine. I deeply apologize... SO lets start an update shall we?

We had our Mid Service Conference about 3 weeks ago. MSC or MST (country dependent) is when your cohort gathers for a conference on where you are thus far in your service. You have various topics of discussion and ours included:rules and expectations, starting to prepare for our return to America, to a training with our counterparts. Some perspectives I got out of this conference though were about personal growth and impact. As PCV's you tend to get "stuck" or acclimated to your role. The same could be said for one's life in general (after a certain point). You think, "this is what it will be" or "I am not going to change x,y,z because...". We should try to never be in that state of mind. There is always some way to innovate, to change your perspective or your surroundings. The overall idea is to Dream Bigger Than Your Circumstance! Granted this is easier said than done, but stay with me here.... Say for example you have a job. You are nice and cushy in your employment bubble, you have a routine everything is a-ok. But what if you were to pop your bubble, and see your vicinity without that wavy, bubble induced set of eyes; What would you see? Would you be proud of the work you were doing, would you want to do more? That is what you constantly need as a PCV (and as a human). There is always something more for you to do. Someone new you can reach, some connection that you can create that can change yours and others' lives. So I - as should you (this is a gentle nudging) have started to try to step outside of my bubble and do something uncomfortable for myself and to try and stretch myself more in my position.*rant done*

OK; Also we started school - YAY. The first month of school was busy and I was out for portions of it as well because of PC obligations. However, the first few days back, seeing "my kids" and how they had grown and (some) matured during the summer made me feel so excited. I am a bit of a sappy person and seeing them made me so sad because I have become a part of their matriculation in school and this is my last year seeing how they "grow into themselves" and being part of that growth. I have invested in these children and really want the best for them and their futures. I hope I can make a big impact on them this final year and that they know how much I truly do appreciate and value being invited into their lives and being part of their development. *sappy rant done* Also I have some new goals which I really hope will be accomplished - two in particular- so fingers crossed that I can accomplish them and that they will be received well. 

Another birthday abroad. Very simple this year, but filled with love. My kids, friends and family are awesome and definitely gave me the needed boost in love factor :)

This was shorter than expected (maybe I am losing my words - HA!) But hope you all enjoy this beautiful month of October and update you soon!
-Ashley 
 

 

Summer Selfies

Well, I have just returned from my last trip for this summer and I have got to say, It. Was. AMAZING. All my trips this summer revitalized, fed my inner foodie, gave me perspective and a plethora of other things. So here are some pictures to help you "live vicariously" and "experience" my summer travels from Vienna, to Budva, stops in Macedonia and Greece, Saranda in Albania and finally Budapest. This summer was worth MORE than a thousand photos, I hope you enjoy!

Let's start with some videos~

Watching Lost Frequencies at Donauinsel Fest

A guy jumping into the Blue Eye in Saranda, Albania

PHOTO TIME!

Vienna - Donauinsel Fest

 Riding the Ferris Wheel in Vienna

 Yummy Persian Food

 Views of Vienna from Danube Tower

 Crowd watching Lost Frequencies

 Backstage crew ;-)

 My lovely friend and "tour guide"

 Our concert crew

 American candy store in Vienna!

Last meal leaving my "second home"

Budva, Montenegro

Storm's coming in...

 Dinner Date

Grilled Squid

 Dinner, Fresh fish with potatoes and spinach

 Dinner Views

Beach Bums

Sitting along the Adriatic

 Megi and I waiting for the rain to pass

The Ballerina Statue, which is actually just a lady standing...

Saranda, Albania

 Gjirokaster, Albania - 2500+ year old city in Southern Albania, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dinner views of the Adriatic sea in Saranda

"Thelma and Louise"

Sunagogue Ruins in the center of Saranda

Entrance to the Cemetery at the monastery near Saranda. 

 Monastery outside Saranda

 View of MEsepotam outside Saranda from the Monastery.

Syri i Kalter - The Blue Eye

 Church ruins outside the entrance road to Syri i Kalter

 

Budapest, Hungary

2nd Largest Synagogue in the world. 

Willow tree in the courtyard of the synagogue commemorating those lost during the Holocaust

Street art

 St. Stephens Basilica

Flower Gelato!

 The Captain - rub his tummy for good luck eating in Budapest... ;)

 On Chain Bridge

 Olympic Park with all Hungary's gold medal winners listed.

 Beautiful Architecture

 Kosher pastry shop worth a visit in Budapest (pest side)

 Open air work commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian and Polish Revolutions

Shoes commemorating the Jews shot into the Danube during the Holocaust

 View of Buda behind me

 Snacks and Beer ;)

My travel buddy and I <3

 Looking toward Buda Castle from Chain Bridge

 Parliament

 Chain Bridge

 Sitting on the wall near Fisherman's Bastion

 Outdoor square at the metro station

 Dancing in the streets...

 Ruin Bar

 Ruin Bar

 Inside the first ruin bar in Budapest

 Inside Szimplet Ruin bar

 View from Elizabeth Bridge

 Rudas Thermal Baths - a not miss in Hungary

 Lunch!

 Metro and Mapping it...

 Kissing the Groom-to-Be

 Memorial for fallen heroes of Hungarian Descent

 3rd Wedding we saw during our 4 days in Budapest

Walking through one of Budapest's beautiful green parks.

 Heroes Square

 Akvarium Bar

 Monuments on Hero's Square

 Parliament

 Water View of Parliament

 Looking toward Parliament

Great ending to a Fruitful and Experience filled summer. Cheers to the start of a new school year :)