Host Family Fun

     On Wednesday I got my First Host family! They live in a small village near the Serbian border and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT so far. So for an FYI - A host family is a local family that agrees to house, feed and provide language assistance for a volunteer that has been checked out by Peace Corps. So about my village first, then I will talk on my family, schedule so far and what meeting them was like.

     I love in an EXTREMELY beautiful village with people who are so kind and truly interested in getting to know me. My host sister and I went on a walk with our cousins, brother and Uncle and when we were walking up the hill I glanced back to a view that couldn't even be painted or photographed to express its true beauty. All around you just see rolling hills, mountains and lush green grass with the tops of Mosques and orange roof tops gleaming in the suns light. No neighboring village is too big, nor too small and they fit perfectly into a little puzzle of green space and village placement. At night it is perfectly still with only the soft breeze and the fresh smell of meadows and cow (which I surprisingly enjoyed) blowing through my window. I think whenever I do time abroad I like to live in the smaller more quaint towns and villages compared to the city life I like in the states.

     Familje! (Family) My family consists of three children, and cows hahaha. I have two host brothers, one of whom studies in Prishtina, and a host sister who also studies in Prishtina and wants to get a degree in English and Literature. We have been talking non-stop since we met at the Host family pick-up. My host mama is a GREAT cook, and LOVES to feed you... If I eat everything they are always giving me I will be over 230 lbs. by time I get back to the states hahaha. I keep trying to tell her its very good (Shumë Mirë) and I guess in Kosovar culture when someone says its very good you give them even more of a heaping plate! I just laugh and rub my tummy saying I am full and she then understands I reply Faleminderit (Thank You), smile, put my dishes away and proceed with my next activity. My family is very accepting of me and that is such a stress reliever.  It was one of my biggest concerns but when I spoke to my host sister she informed me that she PICKED ME! She informed the Peace Corps staff she wanted to have me and pleaded to make sure we were together for PST! I was so honored and humbled that she searched Facebook and even asked a volunteer about me and decided to pick me to share her life, village, culture and family with, and for that I am forever indebted and just in awe about. I cant wait to see how we grow as a PC Family Unit and what new adventures I will have with them.

So far my Peace Corps experience has been hectic to the point where by three o'clock some serious Turkish coffee and/or espresso/macchiato is needed just to help you function for another three hours! lol. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I have been learning a lot, to the point where
I don't even remember what I learned hahahaha! Tomorrow we are going to visit ruins and I can not wait to experience these things. There is so much planned and so much to do, but I am looking forward to every challenge and reward and to see my progress in 3 months.

Oh and today was my HOst Mama and Baba's anniversary! They are so cute together :) They talked to me about marriage and asked how many children I want to have, I said no more than two, but when asked wen I would get married they tried to get me to change my mind offering 3 years insead of my suggested 10 year range. Apparently they may know something I don't... Who knows (Considering my host cousin tried to find me a husband/suitor last night after she found out I was single hahaha.

Thus far I am equally in love with the people, country and culture of Kosova, stay tuned to see what's next and any fun deets :)

Natën e Mirë ! (Goodnight!)

 My host sister

 

Host parents

Miredita

Hello From KOSOVA!!!
     So these past... two maybe three days is it now have been so CRAZY... I have had so much I wanted to blog about yet could not because of Wi-Fi, but I had it on my phone.... NO COMMENT! Anywho, lets give details on the process to Kosova. In total it was about a 14 hour trip and jetlag is an UNDERSTATEMENT. I felt like I had taken on the world and had maybe one meal in a 48 hour period. Both flights were nice, and the flight from Vienna to Prishtina (Kosovo's capital) was a great flight with awesome views. You see the landscape transform before your eyes from winding rivers and plains, with large acres of green undisturbed land to low mountains and then higher elevation mountains capped with just the lightest amount of snow in June. I absolutely love it. To me Kosovo is reminiscent of Salzburg, Austria (the town I studied abroad in). Once we went through security there was a host of people their to welcome us and I have an extremely embarrassing photo and an awkward stance on the Peace Corps Kosovo page (which you should also check out). I was the first to leave customs so upon seeing the welcome I was a little shocked and laughing which explains the posture. Anyhow, I feel at home here which is fairly weird considering we JUST arrived and it hasn't even been a week. The Peace Corps staff are very nice, and definitely seem to care about us and our overall well being which is very reassuring.

     I am going to jump around a little bit simply because it is 130am at this moment and jetlag will have me CRYING tomorrow... so quickly I will say the following-

     People: The first thing that struck me about the people of Kosovo was they are fairly good looking. They DEFINITELY can tell our entire group is NOT Kosovar and the staring eyes remind you of that. However, it is so funny because I expected it and to actually experience it on a DAILY basis makes me feel almost like a celebrity I guess but it is SO weird to have so much attention, I guess I can see why celebrities try to be incognito. The people are friendly and definitely so helpful. The one thing that has stood out to me is the pride. Our wait staff at the hotel stopped myself and a fellow volunteer to inquire about our feeling being in country, how we liked the food, the service and just their culture. Considering this is strictly based off first impressions we told him basically we love everything (which is SO true) and the expression on his face was priceless like a kid trying to cover up their excitement on Christmas morning. These are a proud, ambitious and growing people, and I am glad to be part of this community and to say I, in some minute way, was able to help them advance is an indescribable feeling.

Food: So my fellow trainees laugh at me because I keep talking about how I cant wait to try different foods. Firstly, this is such a CARB heavy culture, then add MEAT heavy on top of that and this lady is about to put on the 20lbs I JUST lost *major side eye*. I am giving myself this week to eat kind of whatever and enjoy every bit. Then I think it will get better once I get into my community because I will have more say in what I eat and can be more discerning. I will say this the Crepes we had were AMAZING today, as well as this salad and cheese dish they make, and lets not forget strawberry nectar juice YUMMMM! I am awaiting to try Flija then I think I will just lose my mind and mindful eating will go out the window hahahaha.

Training: Ok, I knew Albanian was hard but my LORD! I have to take this moment by moment otherwise I will get too overwhelmed. I also am going to make a conscious effort to not be too hard in myself. What makes that easier is that every time I fix to "scold myself" someone says something hilarious and the class erupts in laughter i,e. Today I actually cursed in Albanian without knowing it while trying to learn how to pronounce a LETTER. Yes, you heard me correctly pronounce a letter. I do not know what I said all I know is the look of horror on my facilitators face and the frantic waving and yelling of "NO, NO, NO That's bad!!" pretty much told all that was necessary. As I frantically apologized and covered my face in horror, my fellow classmates roared in laughter thus relieving the stress in me not grasping the sound (comical right?) But this will be a learning process... I will not be able to understand most, and others will look at me in utter confusion/crack-up laughing... Guess Being flexible and having an open mind are DEFINITES to my survival!

So that's it for right now, hopefully I can work on this after we meet our families Wednesday, but my schedule is already packed and I need a NIGHTLY study session of Albanian as to avoid cursing other people out at risk of possibly being punched in the face lol. So I am sure you will read more of my awkward moments but until then, I am signing off from Kosova!

Pre-departure Nervousness

So considering that Kosovo is about oooh 12 days away, I will address my top 5 things I am a little nervous about when I depart.

1 - LANGUAGE
     Like I have previously mentioned, the Albanian language is something that will be completely new and foreign to me. I think I am most nervous about the impact of not being able to communicate in the manner I want to and the lack of understanding that will be going on. The language barrier can be so daunting and having to deal with it especially in a new country you sometimes just want to say screw this and book your flight home. But I REALLY want to overcome this hurdle to prove to myself I can do it. As much as I am nervous about it, I am also awaiting that one breakthrough moment when I can WOO_SAH and say yes I understood someone and they understood me. I think that more so comes from when I studied abroad and even though I was attempting to learn German it never really came to a point where I could really comprehend what I was hearing mainly because so many people there are learning English and when they hear your American accent they want to practice on you *side eye*.

2 - BEING ACCEPTED IN COUNTRY
     As a minority it is a little thought in the back of your mind wondering if you will be subject to hate, ignorance, misunderstanding, not being viewed as "American" all because of the amount if melanin in your skin. I have heard from different people that they were referred to in a negative manner or felt uncomfortable in some fashion but that is a risk you take regardless of where you decide to serve and it is something you sign up for, but that doesn't make the realization of it any less "comforting". Also, if they feel you are un-American, it could be a little hard to do your work and have the respect of your community and those around you.

3-  LEAVING MY FAMILY
     Now as much as I am thoroughly excited about Kosovo, I am not looking forward to leaving my family for two plus years. I am part of a large, loud, loving, exciting, growing and supportive family. If one fails we all hurt, if one succeeds we ALL succeed and celebrate (very well at that may I add hahaha). So to leave the US and know that I am going to miss birthdays, graduations, several births and just the physical aspect of my family is saddening to me. (Missing thanksgiving last year was the most heartbreaking and saddening thing for me, I was so depressed lol, judge away I don't care - you've never spent time at my family house) However, there is some reassurance in hearing how proud my family members are of me and how I have 1000 percent of their support, love and prayers.

4- HOMESICKNESS
     When I was studying abroad in college, I was so excited to spend that time away and visiting different countries, but I got a huge amount of homesickness where I was depressed, having an enormous amount of negative feelings and hated my decision to study abroad. Those feelings felt so insurmountable and I am dreading if I become subject to them again. I know I will get past it however those two weeks were so rough for me.

5 - MAKING AN IMPACT'
     Many PCVs go into service expecting to change their entire village and to have just this crazy impact on another country. Now I don't have THOSE expectations but I am unsure if all the work I do will really change anything, if even my presence will make a difference. One of my goals in life is to have a great and positive impact on someone's life where its changed in a positive manner and creates subsequent positive ripples. Because you can not immediately see the impact your PC work will have that is something you may not immediately , or ever, know. But I hope I have a positive impact and someone's life is changed positively because of my decision to volunteer.

Oh, Staging is almost here!

     Last Tuesday I received my email all about staging. I was SO excited I nearly screamed (no like really, in the middle of my office while a meeting was being conducted- great self control hahaha). With the few, but immense amount of details given (PC sure knows how to keep you coming back for more) I finally felt the "This is it" moment. about five minutes after, I was paralyzed with anxiousness (not the good kind either) like a kid who got hit in the face too hard with a dodge ball and is trying to figure out if they want to cry, fallout or scream. I couldn't quite understand why after a year and a half of the "Peace Corps Process" I would get that one email everyone waits for and be on the verge of tears shortly after reading it... it didn't make sense. But then I realized what really comes with receiving that email. Coming to the realization that in less than 30 days you will be in a new country, with new people and desperately trying to understand and speak in a language {Albanian/Gheg} that to you sounds like a German-Hebrew language mash-up on steroids (please take no offense to those who know any of the previously mentioned languages, you guys are awesome!) Then you start thinking about missing those family events, the increase in long distance relationships with friends and family and being "on your own" for really the first time in your life *insert gasps here*. Now now, I have been away to college - where my cousin was already a student, and have been living on my own - with roommates- since graduation, so in actuality though I thought otherwise, I was never really ALONE. That thought scares the begesus out of me (is that how you spell it?). I realized that whatever comes out of this new experience will be completely dependent on me. I have no one to call in case of emergency, nor somewhere to escape when it gets to be "too much". When most come to the realization of that they would be on the next thing smoking, but I am looking forward to it. I can not WAIT for the ability to really spread my wings and start to develop into the young woman I am meant to be. To have an impact, though it be small, and to say I did that, just me will probably be one of the most rewarding things in my life. Peace Corps will not be a bed of roses - please don't get that idea - but the process of growth that occurs in those formative moments, that pressure can either turn you from a rock to dust or create a diamond... well I am prepared to be one of the most polished diamonds when I return so world - Watch out!

     Despite my being a little uneasy about the unknown, I know PC will be an amazing experience and I am SO excited about it! I can not wait to meet the rest of K2 (Kosovo 2 - we will be the second group ever in country) and experience this new roller coaster with them. So as I get ready to depart I just keep reminding myself - This is just a long see you soon, not a good-bye... {thanks Sky ;) }

Countdown: T Minus 25 Days!

May Day

Kosovo is officially 35 Days away...

     I also OFFICIALLY have my medical clearance *Que the marching band*. Additionally, I put in my notice for my job which was surprisingly well received due to the "positive reasons" for my departure. It has just been a lot of planning and executing and prepping which STILL isn't done. I still have things to do for the NY party... I am supposed to start traveling next weekend and I still need to pack my apartment..... Yeah about that - not looking forward to it. I have started packing my winter clothes that I will be bringing for PC Service and I am finally hip to the MAGIC and God-send that are Space Bags. They are amazing little pieces of gloriousness and I love their inventor(s) - from afar. Otherwise, everything else in life is normal and mundane, including the stalking of the email in search of that Pre-departure information that should hopefully be sent  by next week with all our staging information :)

 

     Actually no I lied. I had an extremely busy week with a friend coming in from out-of-town and doing various tourist attractions around the city. The "highlight" would have to be almost becoming stuck in Baltimore while they were protesting this past Monday. We though the day would be fairly calm considering that Freddie Gray was being laid to rest that day and the family petitioned for no protests - WRONG. We found out shortly after our arrival that protesters were heading toward the Inner Harbor and we went to the East side to grab ab bite at the recommendation of the young ladies who worked at the attraction we were visiting. well we were lucky to depart when we did from Canton because the Water Taxi system was now Shut-down, along with the entire Inner Harbor, due to the protests and some "extra events" that were taking place in the city. Well to make a long story a little shorter we ended up walking approximately 4 miles or so to Penn Station while NARROWLY missing the protesters who we could hear chanting next to the blaring sound of Police Sirens (which seemed more anxious and harsh in the tangible tension of the air).

 

     So that's my story as to some of my exciting week, and I am looking forward to celebrating Peace Corps with my friends this "last weekend" in DC. Its so interesting how time is almost speeding past for me, yet moving so slowly it seems on a daily basis. It is already May and Kosovo is really within my grasp. The emotions, thoughts and anticipation is on such a level its hard to describe. Its almost like trying to concentrate on one sense while having the sweetness of chocolate on your tongue,  smelling an abundance of lavender and lilac in the air, while sitting outside just daydreaming and the sun caresses every inch of your face in warm waves and resisting the urge to let your feet play in the short blades of freshly cut grass.... EVERYDAY - CONSTANTLY! It is exhausting, tempting and delightfully addictive. You're never sure what to think about next, but positive that Peace Corps shouldn't be such a consuming part of your daily mental processes HAHAHA. I think it is too late for me however... Now I just try to make it through moment to moment and bask in my abundance of everyday blessings and enjoyable moments...

 

Until we meet again :-*

T-Minus 51 Days

It's less than two months until I depart for Kosovo, and I am getting quite excited. There is so much to do, and literally so little time. I have yet to be medically cleared due to incorrect tests being taken and its a little nerve wrecking knowing I may be delayed as a result of this, but I am optimistic I will be cleared and officially on the list for departure. I have been told that medical clearance is the longest and most annoying part of the entire Peace Corps process and that was NOT a lie. I feel like I have been pricked and stuck and had to give urine for everything imaginable (and even the unknown). It is  more difficult when you add in the fact I am still under my parents insurance (thanks President Obama for that money-saver!) but have to travel out of state to see the doctor *ques in scheduling and work conflicts*. Despite all the issues with traveling at LEAST once a month 8 hours for doctor visits, I will say that the Peace Corps nursing staff is awesome at timely message responses and explanations - even when you think a one to two day wait time is an eternity! So in the mean time I am left to stalk my email awaiting that precious moment when I see the - You're Medically cleared - message come streaming through.

In other life areas, my ever shrinking (if not already filled) schedule has prompted me to start packing for Kosova (I can't get enough of typing/saying that) and getting last minute things in order. It's so crazy trying to create a packing list and making sure I have everything I need beyond what is listed in the Welcome Pack Peace Corps (PC) sends you upon accepting your invitation. Luckily, some of the current volunteers in Kosovo (K1 - the first group to serve in the country) have written down some recommendations as far as what to pack and info on what clothing styles are like in Kosova. My biggest hurdle as of yet is staying at my level of "fashion and comfort" while being able to pack.... *ahem* lightly (I am already cringing the thought of a minute shoe option). I am a shoe addict - I probably have at lest 60 pairs of shoes and that might be on the low end, so shoe versatility is something I will greatly miss in my wardrobe options. I will post a packing list and pictures of what I brought once I am packed. 

I have decided I want to invest in a good travel bag, but may also need a suitcase... decisions decisions... I just need to get the most space for my buck and compression bags will be a MUST! Hopefully Everything will work in my favor. Let the countdown continue....