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.