A New Normal

I did it again.  I fell off the blogging wagon.  I'm horrible.  I wish I could say that life has been so boring that I've had nothing to say but that would be a lie.  In fact a lot has happened in April and May. In these past two months a new group of volunteers have come to Albania while the previous group of volunteers have been slowly leaving to go home.

It has been a time of transition and for my group, a time of reflection.  We're halfway through this experience and the big kids now.  In recent conversations with other PCVs we've discussed how we want to change our roles during our second year or what passions we want to spend more time exploring.  But as different as we all are, the one common thing we agree on is that Albania is our new normal.  The things that used to take us by surprise now are a part of everyday life.  Which I think in a way explains why I haven't been blogging as much.  Things like seeing a donkey outside my window or hearing a wedding caravan go by used to be something I wished to share but now they're just a part of my life.  As guilty as I feel for not blogging, I guess this was the ultimate goal in coming here, to get to a point were I'm assimilated with the people and the culture.

But big things are still happening and I will try to remember to share them with you.  Here are some highlights from the past two months:

• The weather has finally changed.  I'm no longer curled up in my apartment with a wood stove and three layers on at all times.  I wore shorts this past weekend and it was magical.  It also means that it is the time of year for afternoon thunderstorms.  As magical as wearing shorts is, being stuck in a sudden downpour without an umbrella isn't so awesome.

PCVs before the Flash Freeze in Elbasan (Photo Credit: Heidi Curtis)

• The new group of volunteers is engrossed in PST in Elbasan.  I have had the pleasure of going in to give presentations and help with cultural events almost every week since they arrived.  They're so full of energy and spirit that every time I go there I come away energized.

Checking out a mosque during PST with the new group. (Photo Credit: Amber Wunderlich)

• Speaking of the new group, I got a site mate!  Yes thats right I will no longer be the lone American in Gramsh.  He'll be working at the Health Center and I can't wait to share this amazing town that has become my home over the last year with him.

Site Mates!!! (Photo Credit: Josh Guzman)

• I'm working on starting projects that will keep me busy this summer.  Currently in the works are a leadership camp for girls and an English Language Lab for the high school.  It looks like it will be a summer full of planning and paperwork.

That's it for now.  I will try to be a better blogger I promise!