Ha Buk

4/1/10

Today was the first day I got to run! I was so excited to know that I was finally feeling comfortable to go out on my own. I did about a 45 minute run and it was energizing. The view that I get to see is unreal. The mountains are gorgeous and colors everywhere and the funny thing is that no one does it here. Let's just say that I got a lot of stares as I was running which isn't much different when I am just walking from place to place it's as if I have American written across my forehead and I don't take it personally because when it comes down to it I know that they are just interested and usually just want to ask questions. So my run was a success and I hope to continue running and I will start thinking about that marathon in Greece. (Long shot, but it's worth having as a goal!)

I came home to find my Mom outside working on her world vision paper work and asked if I could shower. This was the first day that I had taken a shower in the afternoon it may sound silly, but you have to be considerate here when and when not to take a shower based on what is planned for the day and how much water they need. Even though I know in a heart beat my family would sacrifice their water for the day just so I could be clean because that's how people are here, unbelievably GIVING. I will never understand where it comes from, but just learn from it. It was the first time that I actually felt I could take my time and relax. I had about forty minutes to myself when Juliana, Anjela, and Andrea (host brother) came in to join me. They sat there and watched me blow dry my hair and straighten it. I find it so funny that they would really like to sit and watch me do things, I am all for it because this time that we do have together is special and I know it will be over soon. So while I was doing my hair I put them in charge of keeping me entertained and they sang some Shqip songs which was really cute, Andrea chimed in there sometimes. He just likes to be with us. I love to watch the girls as they interact. They are so affectionate with one another and always giving kisses and hugs. I then told them to use my straightener while I did some homework. They loved the idea and their new straight hair. When it comes down to it life may not be about the extravagant ride, but it may be about the time you have with people. Like my afternoon just straightening the girls hair.

4/2
Today was hub day which means today is a great day! (Not that everyday in Albania isn't the best, but it's when we all get together) Today is the day when all volunteers get to travel to Elbason and re-unite! These days are great because we get a break from language (which I shouldn't be allowed ha) but it's good to have some fun in there! ( Who am I kidding everyday is honestly a great day in my book! I can't get enough of Albania right now!) So usually after our sessions which are pretty much informative about our actual job such as health or a huge informative session about being a Peace Corps Volunteer (in general) and then we go out and have a beer. It's nice that we all can just go somewhere ( girls) and just relax. (Because in my town women aren't seen out pass 7 pm and for me to be out and especially with a boy is just unheard of! ) A beer is about 70 cents. ( Crazy!) But usually we are only allowed to stay for about an hour and half because girls especially have to be home at a certain time ( definitely before dark) just because and you don't want to disrespect your host family in anyway as do I. ( I want to do everything in my power to show them what I represent and I want them to be proud of that) So as Andrea and I ran to get ten minutes of internet before running to the furgon station to catch one back because after a certain time they stop running and we would not be in a good situation, but we caught one! I just love our rides home because as time permits it seems that each ride home gets a little better we get a little more comfortable with everything. When I arrived home everyone was outside and boy did I come home for some excitement the cow was sick and the cow doctor came to the house and lets just say I got to witness the Doctor perform his duties on the cow, poor poor cow. They laughed at me as I was making my usually faces. I am happy that they can laugh at me because pretty much that is our relationship I do things and they just think I am hilirous. ( See allison I can be funny to some people!) I sat on the couch for the first time with the parents really feeling like they appreciated me being there yes I may not understand everything they ask me, but their smiles make me feel good! I hope someday to show them and express to them that I appreciate the people they are and everything they represent because they will forever change my life. Now it is time for some good homemade food from mama!!!

This weekend Stacy, Sergio, Kyle, and I were assigned to go to Kukes a town up north to have our volunteer visit with previous volunteers that have been here a year. (Jennifer and James, a married couple in there 20's) Before this happened I had to say goodbye to my family which was very hard for some reason. My grandma actually cried and said she didnt want me to leave. I was blown away of how close we had really grown and thought that I couldnt imagine what it would be like to leave them in May. (Side note) Kukes is about 6 or 7 hours away from Thane, so pretty deep. I was very hesitant actually of going up North because I had heard so many things and I was really nervous, but this trip changed my mind. Yes it is a bit far from things, but the location is amazing and bigger than Thane. My town now has about 1,200 people and Kukes has about 30,000. We left Thane at 7 in the morning and about twenty of us headed to Tirana the capital which was great to see. People were out everywhere drinking there coffees. We then were going to stay there until catching a bus at 8 at night because we had missed our previous bus, but one of the volunteers said we could go to Puke which is on the way to Kukes and just have dinner and chill out instead of sitting out in Tirana for 6 hours. Let me tell you the process in my head to get from one place to another right now is very confusing I hope with time all things come together because it's a process and you have to know where your going and where you want to get dropped off. So we got to Puke and we had the chance to see a current volunteers house which was an eye opener. Saturday was a day filled with rollcoaster emotions. I knew at some point I would have these feelings it was just a matter of time and Saturday was my time. It was all so real when we went into her apartment thoughts just over loaded my mind. You question everything and wonder why would I want to do this and start overthinking everything, but in those moments or times I have to remember its those moments when I will actually have my first conversation in albanian, when I finish my first project, when I get to have coffees with people or just get a smile that day it makes it all worth it. I need to remember what brought me here in the first place. So we had a great time having coffee and dinner with the other volunteers until our bus came at 9 pm. It was a long day and it wasn't over yet! We had about another 3 hours on a bus on a thin road tailing off to the bottom of the mountains pretty freaky I am thankful it was nighttime so I just closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but I had lovely interruptions of Celine Dion Christmas Mix. (love it!) So we arrived about 1 in the morning. Got off the bus and there was not a sole, but then James and Irwin came to meet us and we went with James (his wife was sleeping, Jennifer) and the boys went with Irwin. Stacy and I were ready to hit that couch. We woke up and it was Easter. This town is prodominetely Muslim so no one really celebrates Easter, but it was ok because at least I was with some people. I did see a Happy Easter sign that made me happy. So that morning we all went on a 2 and half hour hike which was great. Some of the local kids came along and another friend of theirs. It was such a nice thing to do something different because a lot of the times they just want to feed you and you don't have time to just go out and exercise so we all enjoyed it. We then had a nice lunch and tried some new dishes. We went back to the house and relaxed and took a shower. This shower thing is pretty difficult having to wait for certain times to take showers because of water and then that turkish toilet I want to kill it! So they walked us around there town and the best part is we got ice cream! I really thought I would go two years without it not!!!!!! HA. That night James and Jennifer made us some homemade french toast which was unbelievable. They are really good cooks I told them they needed to put a receipe book together for volunteers. The next day we actually got to see where Jennifer works (she is a health volunteer) it is really comical actually to see the differences in a work day here compared to the states. We woke up did some shopping for dinner at the outside markets before going to work at ten. We got introduced to Jennefers counterpart (the person that peace corps puts you with to hopefully work out and benefit from) We arrived and we just chatted for a bit and they brought us some fantas and cookies. I thought shoot I love work days! This is not always the case, but usually people dont work full days unless you have a projecct your working towards and thats the main goal is to work with this counterpart and brainstorm something that will be beneficial for the community and then you have a choice to do other things with the community like start your own programs that you are interested in! The main thing is that it's really all up to you to take the lead and go out and meet people in your community and help this could take months or a year it all depends and sometimes things work and sometimes they don't! I have high expectations and want to do all these things, but I am sure it will be a different story when I get to site. Anywho we got to see a club that Jennifer and James run with the kids and got to meet some of Irwin's English students. All in all it was a productive day of getting a taste of what a day might look at your site. (Reality definitely set it) That night we all decided that Mexican food would be great! I had no idea so many things could ever be so homemade. We made homemade tortillas, salsa, veggies, rice, means, and chips! It took about three hours (yes a process) but it was amazingg and I got to eat it with some taco bell mild sauces which was the best part! ( I will be needing some of those soon!) We had a late night just chatting and listening to music. It's funny how much time you spend with people and the conversations you have when you take TV out of a situation. I am so happy to have met the three volunteers that we had because they really showed us a great time and I know that I have them there now.

4-7
Today started out a little indifferent because of the way I felt about my camera. I had broken it on our volunteer visit which I am not sure why it bothered me so much I know it's just a camera, but I think the real reason was all the emotions were coming to a point and my camera was the thing to blame. I know its just a material possesion, but I need to capture my emotions and feelings so I will work something out. Today was hub day and everyone was a bit tired from the weekend and travels. Most everyone had a positive experience, but some did not. I think we all learned a bit in this time and it definitely made things a lot more real for everyone. Sometimes we all get caught up in these situations of what is best for ourselves and all things we want, but we all need to look back (especially me) and remember why we made this commitement, this commitement to the people and the country. Today ended very well because I as I was coming home my Mami was talking with a neighbor and I asked her if she had children and she said yes a 2 year old and a 9 year old and began to tell me about it so I then asked if I could see them so she then took my hand and took me home. Ha. I am just blown away at how people are here and I love it. So I went home with here and met her children and watched a video of her sister getting married. Nothing better than hearing Tim McGraw sing my song and holding a two year old I was in heaven. We exchanged a few words and she then told me I must come over for cafe tomorrow! I love it! I love that whenever I doubt myself I am reminded of why I am here and it is because of the love that I am shown in those times that make my days worth it. I am now home sitting in the living room watching a soap opera with Grandma, Grandpa, Andrea, and Julia is doing her homework. Babi is at work, Mami is working outside and Niko is out with friends. We are waiting for dinner and it is about 745. Mom just came in from miliking the cow so I am off to help with dinner!

4/9/10

Today our health group went to a school to watch one of the current volunteer's give a presentation about health hygiene to a second grade class. I was so impressed at the current volunteers shqip and I thought, yes I can do this! So in PST which is Pre-Service Training ( the period of time until May when I am sworn in as a volunteer) as a health volunteer I have to accomplish three projects within my community, it's to give us some practice of what is to come. In the next two weeks I will be giving a lesson to a kindergarten and a 7th grade class about health topics. I will have some help with my shqip from one of my language teachers during this lesson and do it with another volunteer in my town.

Today was also the day we had the opportunity to meet the Ambassador (John Weithers), which was absolutely AMAZING. To meet someone with so much history and experience fills me with energy! As he was talking I thought to myself that this experience is such a pivotal point in my life because I feel it will guide me in a way to figure out what I am here to do and to continue that walk as this experience shapes me. It makes me so excited to be here and be on this journey and when I have doubt at all I am reminded in the smallest ways of my purpose. God has completely showed up in all areas of my fears and I am blown away at what a constant God I have.

This after noon was also a hard afternoon. One of our fellow volunteers who made this group of 50 complete, Katie had to go back to the states. ( I love her!) This weekend on our volunteer visit she had a little mishap and didn't think much of it, but apparently had broken her ankle and when it came down to it she didn't have much time to heal and in the end has to go home. My heart is broken for her because I know how devastated she is and in the midst of things you want to believe there is answer for all and I pray someday she has some clarification of this situation all I know is that I will deeply miss her because I had grown close to her. The time that we all had with her was fun and it was like I had known her all my life and I hope she still does the things that inspire her and that this is just a spark of the fire that she will do with her life. I love you girl and we will all miss you deeply! Sending kisses and hugs your way because I know how much you love them. Muahhhhhhhhhhhhh