Saturday, July 27, 2013

Albania in the News

I love seeing articles about Albania in the international press.  This one is from BBC News and I think it does a great job of representing the contrasts found here in Albania. 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Family Vacation

After a year of teaching this PCV was in serious need of some pushim (vacation).  Luckily my family was able to come and visit.  We went on whirlwind trip through Croatia, Montenegro and Albania.  I won't go into too many details since this blog is meant to focus on my time in the Peace Corps but it was a great to see my family and explore some new countries.  It also gave me a new perspective on my life here in Albania.  It is both empowering and super scary to see how much this past year has changed me personally and changed my perspective on the world.

My dad, brother and I in Zagreb.

The whole family in Dubrovnik.

My mom and I took a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia.

View from the balcony of our hotel in Kotor, Montenegro.
I don't think I'll completely understand these changes until I'm home for good so I won't get into them anymore but I did learn one important lesson while I was away: I love Albania!  I don't know when it happened or how it happened but this place has become my home.  The Balkans have a long history of ethnic division and still to this day there are ethnic tensions.  I found myself defending Albania and its people as if it was my home town that people were talking about.  The smallest comment, even if it was true, would set me off talking about how beautiful the country and the people are.  You'd think that I was a paid PR rep the way I was talking about Albania.  And after all the traveling, I couldn't wait to get back to my country.  

So I guess it's official.  Albania you've won my heart!