So the last few weeks I am been really upset with Albania. First:After a 1 hour talk with my director and supervisor, I realized that after 2 years and many conversations about grants, they had no idea that I could write grants and get money for projects for them, nor even comprehend the idea. Unless a project and money came from the main office in Tirana, they felt nothing can be done or is important enough to do that would warrent a change to their daily routine. To make it worse, my supervisor could not comprehend why she should even try to do extra work/projects/good for the community if it did not directly put money in her pocket. Number 2. Two of my favorite students came to me an said they did not want to do a project that we were starting to work on for Environmental Awareness day. and the other one who did want to, did not show up (feeling sick). Three: My key project worker (student)had not showed up for several weeks. When i asked her friends why they said her father would not allow her to come. Why? They would not say but nor has she informed me.

Yesterday I jumped ship and went to Tirana for a day of relaxation and hopefully a movie. The movie was one I had no desire to see so I headed off to one of my favorite locales to read. I saw Mirva there, who was then visited by her friend and Dianna Catci, former PC worker. After 2 hours of coffee, Her friend left, and Mirva and I had a great relaxing lunch and a local pizza joint. In all turned out to be a great day. Not what I had planned but better.

TODAY was a good day. In my business class I had 5 girls who showed to my last class. They ALL did their homework and showed up for class. The class went well and they all talked, participated, and came up with ideas that they had never thought much about. We talked about successful businesses, and bad ones on first and second impressions..etc...I was very proud of them and as of now wish I had met up with them a year ago. While my head is still full of cobwebs like yesterday. It was a good day.

It has been almost 2 months since my last blog entry. Since then I have been to Istanbul, Turkey, Sophia, Bulgaria and Orid, Macedonia. While it had snowed and had many storms the days before we got there, it was clear and cold during our days there. On Feb 4th, my birthday, Leslie and I had a very nice dinner just near our hostel. After 4 days we left wanting to see more, the mosks were incredible, especially the Blue Mosk, the history and culture monuments are worth the once in a life time visit and , the grand bazare was all we had hoped. Only one night I ventured out without Leslie. She just couldn' handle the wild life of a newly 47 year old. That night turned out to be my latest night, meeting up with a guy, then going to another pub, ditching him and hanging with 4 English ladies, the bar owners and some other dude until 4 in the morning. There went a healthy percentage of my travel money..to the bar tab and they wanted to go somewhere else, I however was pretty much done by then. At the Grand Bazar I finally bought my watch. A Panarai. Poor Leslie had to shop with me in many shops, giving her input, me only half listening and going on to the next shop. Finally on about the 3rd day, after I bought my watch she then shopped for pants making me suffer nearly equally...In the end, we got 3 teas, a tradition in the stores while we made or did not make decisions on purchases. On our next stop we met up with John a Peace Corps guy from Bulgaria at the youth hostel, and he showed us around town. Sophia has all the fixings. And was not suffering from the lack of anything...especially fast food and girl friends. For the Superbowl he set us up with reservations at a local "Mexican locale" We got there at 10:00pm had a few drinks and met up with another PC volunteer. Slowly other Americans started filtering into the Bar. By 12:00 am there were 30 or so Americans competing for team loyalty...After eating good food, greasy snacks and beer, 4:00 am rolled around and we all staggered out into the newly fallen 1 foot of powered snow. moving to our youth Hostel. It is so fun to find those pockets of America scatered through the world. The other at the bar, all worked for the government, NGO, or as business consultants, and all had good stories. The other highlight was we saw AVATAR in IMAX 3D. We don;t have IMAX or the 3D theaters in Albanai so this too was a treat along with KFC, Subway and Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks. The movie cost us about a day and a half pay but it was worth it. We took the 8:00pm bus to Orid, Macedonia and arrived in Orid at 3 in the morning, cold wet and very tired. After many discussions with Cab drivers we found one who spoke English and asked him to take us to a youth hostel. He took us to one that was clean, had a good location and a kind owner. He showed us our rooms, we got warm and went to bed. In the morning we found a breakfast on the table and no guy...Then we realized we were his only customers in whole place. It was raining and really windy outside so we sat inside and watched hours of TV. While it was raining and still cold we got stir crazy and went out for lunch then shopping in town. A great little town that I am still hoping to go to again someday. Our trip ended the next morning on a cab/bus/minivan excursion lasting about 12 hours and back in Lezhe. The wet and cold and sitting on buses cause a wicked rash on my butt...too much information...to bad. All in a days travel. Our Close of Service COS was last month also. I felt it was too early but now I am glad we had it then. Before I got there I felt 3+ months was plent of time. Now am glad it was so early. I still have many things to wrap up, many things to think about, and many good byes to make before I go. It will be a sad and fast next few months.

I also took the Foreign Service Exam...I studied off and on for 6 months for it and nothing I studied was on the test. ARG..Next profession.Projects: Started another business class. First day 15 kids, next meeting 0 but because the school had a party and no-one told me. The next day 4 and my flakey translators were playing volleyball outside and I had to pull teeth to get them in. After 3 weeks of telling the Director that I needed 15 copies of my lesson for the kids, it finally go done but put me behind another week. OA kids..I am ready to pull their hair out. I am having a difficult time to get them to work together, or to work at all. I said last time no trips unless they completed a section of our project. One day, after our meeting and much having not been done, they went home worked on it and called saying they had completed all that was supposed to be done. The also said they had 10 kids together to go to the beach and wanted me to take them. I said yes, they all had their parents sign the permission slips and were at the meeting place almost on time. I later read their work and when I saw the quality of what they had done, I had to have them do it again. For Earthday, (April 22) I got some of my former and best students together from the OA group who did not have a job to do and were relyable, to do a project for that day. NOW after 4 meeting, 2 of the 4 are too busy....ARG these kids are just like the adults.

Speaking of which.....my director and Kozeta and I had a sit down talk about my experience with them. While I had for the most part a good experience, I have been forever frustrated and felt I was not utilzed. Having found out why, hell there was no way I could have been utilized in that environment. They insised that work only existed if the main headquarters in Tirana told them to. IN otherwords, even if I could have gotten grants, no-one unless headquarters ordered it, would write joint grants or even do what was required to carry out the project. Needless to say, I left the meeting very pissed off at the entire situation. If I got anything done with them, it would have been 100% on my own and that is not the PC way or sustainable. OK... so my latest adventure was March 22...About a 2 hour walk from my house, but just out my window, is a mountain with telephone transmitter towers. Because of its vantage point to the ocean, to the city, to the world, the communist build bunkers with 100s of yards of tunnels to defend it from the Americans. When we (a volunteer and her Albania boyfriend) hiked up to the top and when we got there, we were greeted by the security guard. After about 30 minutes of political discussion, he showed us the living quarters he shares with the other security guard (72 hour rotating shifts) It was an old underground bunker built to hide from the Americans. Cool for me, but not too clean or comfortable . After that little visit, we left him, then headed to the bunkers that I can see from my house. Very cool treat. Inside were several hundred meters of tunnels/caves connecting to one or two or three others....Unlike American caves/bunkes they had little graffiti, and besides being 30 to 80 years old, were in their original state. For that reason I am clad for two things....Albanians are very lazy and would never think of such a hike...and going inside a communist structure is like appreciating a part of their past they would rather avoid. The real reason is the first. Anyway, inside were old instructions on how to fire the cannons once placed there, rooms, and halls going nowhere and I came across about 30 or so bats just hanging out. I got a good photo of them.

Lots of stuff on my mind. Last week my OA group and I met up and we established a few deadlines for our Video Project. I indicated to them that the group will not go on any trips unless deadlines were met. I then set up 2 very important meetings to get them rolling on our project. One was with the camera man for our video and the other was with the Department of Tourism who had loads of information for us regarding the castle. I reminded them all the day before, and they had help set up both meetings. The kids did not show, and only called to tell me they were not coming after I called them. Since I will be gone next week that puts the project back 3 weeks. I do have a fall back plan set up if the girls don't get their shit together. I asked one of the more mature participants who is not part of the "click" if she would take on the role and she said she would. While I had just complained about the kids, I cannot blame them 100%. Today I went to the private school, a 1 mile walk each way to teach my 1 hour English class that I had spent 3 hours preparing for. As I walk up to the school, the school yard is empty, and there are no cars driving around dropping off kids. This is 4th time something like this has happened where I show up and there is a holiday or the schedule has been changed or the kids are on a trip etc..... I had recieved no word from the school director or anyone else. How can you blame the kids when the "Principals and Teachers and "Professionals" are the same way.I will start teaching a new business class at the other HS in March. That will be a 6 week class with other stuff mixed in. Between my schedule and the many school holidays, That will conclude my business classes. Today I leave to for Istanbul. I am going with my site mate Leslie to spend 4 days in Turkey, 2 days in Bulgaria, and 2 days in Macedonia. Life is difficult traveling the countries with a 23 year old woman. Drinking til 3-4 am takes its toll on a yes 47 year old mind/body. Yes, a short time ago I mentioned Belgrade and Prague, now Sofia and Istanbul, but in my defence, I have to go now because we are not allowed to travel our last few months of service.In Istanbul we are staying at a Youth Hostel but in Bulgaria and Macedonia we are staying with Peace Corps Volunteers. Now we will have inside track on cheap bars and places to explore.

After a couple more meetings with the School Director, she said that while there was some interest, those that really wanted to participate were from the villages and had to leave right after school. I then went to the other high school and she is interested and said Thursdays are good. After my vacation I will start a 6 week, changed format class. It will focus on how to create business and not just replicate them. I had a disturbing day today however. One of my former students, asked me yesterday if he could join my Outdoor Ambassadors. I said yes, drop by my office and I will give you some forms describing the program so you can inform your parents. He came in while I was not there picked up the papers, and also picked up Kozeta's wallet. After many phone calls with too many people involved, Kozeta found out his last name, where he lived, and 5 of us went to the poor 12 year old kids house. I don't think his parents know anything but he still was crying and had to deal with Kozeta and a few other angry co-workers. While I hope learned his lesson, I cannot let him join my OA group even if he wants to. My regular kids are the ones who tracked him down after about 30 minutes of calling, and I am sure they will not trust him, nor feel comfortable around him, nor let him play in any reindeer games.

To top it off, my director who has been very good/proud of the fact that so many of my kids feel comfortable in the office....have now banned all kids from the office.

All for now.

Wow, so it has been almost 2 months since my last post.

So last time I had mentioned my sore hips...This week I had an appointement with our Assistant medical officer...She took a bit more of a concern in my sore hips than the regular doctor and so we had a X-ray taken...$10.00...The medical assistant wants to meet personally in the office to discuss further the results..she mentioned something about a reduction of space in the joint area..More info next time.

Christmas, and New Years I spent out of Country. For Christmas I went to Prague with Rachel and Alex....They stayed at Rachels former host mom, when she lived here for a year and I stayed at a Youth Hostel. About half of the time I spent on my own and the other half with them until my phone credit went dead. Prague is incredible and worth the trip...we had good weather so the walking tours and roaming aimlessly was great. At night when I was not with Alex and Rachel, I did the Pub Crawls...5 hours of hanging out with a group of 15 (x-mas) and 40 another day, roaming the streets of prague and spending about 1 hour at each pub...Great way to meet people and get drunk. The bad part was that most of the participants are about 22-30 years old and can drink a lot more than I can ......then survive the next day. With Rachel and Alex we went to the castle and had a great dinner at a local resturant overlooking the city...I had Goolash and Dumplings...pretty darn good and fun. The other night, we went to see the Nutcracker. We sat in the highest seats on the top balcony and paid $2.50 for the tickets. The play was done much better than it was in Albania....which however was also about $2.50...Can you believe it...Less than a movie....And here in Albania I have seen the Nutcracker twice.

Everything was class..the last days my phone credit ran out and could not contact the girls. By then however I was ready to go to Brataslava, in Slovakia...My first and only night there I hung out with a bunch of fun Brits until about 2 in the morning only to have to leave early to make it to a toilet...and did not make it.....I met the guys on the streets, they too were looking for a bar to go to, I was done looking having tried for an hour for someplace that looked fun...an extreamly boring town. We decided to just go into the first one we found and hang out for a while...all in all...one of the best nights on the trip....The next day, went to the castle...Beautiful Castle but undergoing major repairs.

The following morning I took the Train 12 hours to Belgrade, Serbia... In Belgrade, I took a tour of the Military Museum, and had a private tour from Nicola, a young tatooed kid, whose passion was war trivia, but currently was unemployed. Went to Musuem of Nikola Tesla as well as an Automobile Museum ...At the auto museum, I had a good 1 hour conversation with a local on life in Serbia. During the tour of the Military Museum , I met some of my tatoo friends' friends, who I later spent New Years Eve with. They were 3 guys from Slovenia.....On the first of January, I was ready to go home....I went to Scopia in Macedonia, spent the night there, then took the first transportation to Tirana..First the taxi... There I met a couple of locals who were also going and Albania. They were great people who have made the trip often an helped me with the boarder processs. From the border we took a Furgon to Tirana....I went home a few days early, skipping the couple days I wanted to spend in Macedonia. Too Tired and stomach problems....

As for projects, My business class had a couple of good days since last entry, then it just crashed...I went to the school Director again and while she wanted the class, she could not find kids that were interested.

My outdoor Ambassador group is going good until I brought up a topic that caused a big arguement. We went bowling, and Ice Skating...and brought two additional friends. The boys hated it, the girls liked it, then they proceeded in argueing and saying things that were not good. That problem along with the fact that our Movie day got screwed up really put a damper on things...Our movie thing was a go until Besa/the owner of the place we were having it, and his brother, finally talked about it, then his brother backed out. That was after the kids told their friends, and passed out 400 flyers....Our video of the castle and translation of stuff is still moving slow.

So last week I had 2 meetings scheduled and then we get a call from the Peace Corps. They said that Lezhe, Buschat and Shkoder volunteers were going to evacuate do to the possibility flooding. In Shkoker there are 3 dams...Each of the dams were very near flood stage. Since little or no maintanence had been done on the flood gates in years, nor have been tested, the PC thought it better to get us out of the area. We spent 5 days Tirana...Myself and Chris at the County Directors office and the rest scattered around. The movies were fun, food was good, house was always warm and the last night we had dinner out at the Chicken Shack. After 5 days we came home to the Albanians thinking we were a bunch of Chickens for skipping town. I am sure they (the locals) did not know the possibility of the real danger, because all the information they had was from the news. The news is regulated by the political party in power who are the ones who determine the threat. If they tell everyone that there has been no maintence or test on the dams and there is a problem...they look bad...therefore..they inform little and hope for the best.

Today I have another meeting with the School Director.

The morning after Flag Football...Arg, my hip is really sore. But it was fun...plays consisted of everybody yell at whomever was guarding them...or fall down and do a roll at the same time...etc...Maybe we needed some better play calling, then maybe we would have scored a little more. The Career meeting went well and hopefully I will be able to land a job overseas. Working overseas is so much more prefered than the working in the States..

Our video of the castle is supposed this week...Have they got anything started...Heck no!!!!I hope they will have stuff ready by Friday.

Business Class is going okay...but I had differerent type of class on Tuesday...I had 15 minute incremented time slots available for personal consultation. I only had 4 kids particpate and the businesses they chose were those that I had used as examples in class. Then to make things worse, they did not do there homework associated with it...Arg, are they getting it or just taking the class for the novelty of it. We had 5 days off from work...that meant 3 days of nothing to do....only hanging out in lezhe.

Engish Lesson was that of Michael Jackson went well.

Off to work on my lessons.

Halloween Party, Again at Torrens house who did a good job hosting it. Most of the same people as last year. Lots of American candy and some good apple pie. Crashed at Christines house and left the next morning on the 6:00 am bus with Chris.

As for my business class, still averaging about 15-20 students. Last week I took them to Beer Lezhe, the local beer company. I had a run in with a few of my 18 year old kids who had beer after I insisted that they not. I had a big talk stating that 18 means you are allowed to make your own decisions, with the assumption they are responsible ones. They understood, so I think they will not act up again on a trip. BUT the little pricks are still pricks in class.

The following day after out talk with the students and Ervis, Ervis learned a lot from our talk with the kids. The class is still going good in his and my eyes...but lately I have had a weird feeling. I think the kids are going only to please their regular teacher. We finished Pricing, finding your niche, and target marketing, but when I had them do some homework on what they have learned....ARG..they seemed lost. I think I have to re-evaluate how I am teaching.....This culture is not one to think beyond what is in printed in front of them and i don't have a book which all insist on having....Thank you communist and the school encourages that type of thinking.

My OA club is doing good. I have taken the students to a cave just outside of Albania. It was muddy and had bats. The guys totally dig it and the girls are enjoying another side of life their parents don't participate in...Next time I say, be prepared to get dirty and muddy, they will understand...

We also went to the Castle in Kruje....While it was not a wild trip, it was a fun trip. I am now trying to get them to go to a play put on, in a neighboring town by students. Not an Outdoor activity but fun.

Our video Project we hope is coming along. I gave them examples of other videos and hopefully they are getting some ideas. For our translation of material, they have to start from scratch...Lezhe, in all its governments 24 ideas to make the castle good for tourist, has only done 1/2 of one and has not written anything even in Albanian on the castle. Our students have to start from scratch.

I have asked World Vision to look into having a business class for the local villages. Maybe they can set something up and I can teach that.

As for Department of Agricultlure and my projects with them...today went like this as is most days:

8-10 meet in one office and talk

10-11 go to office and work...My office is searching the web for livingroom furniture

12-1 lunch

1-4:00 get ready to go home

4 leave the office

All this means that there is culture here that feels that after schooling, and they get a job....the job is for image not work...

T-day will be spent in Tirana at an Americans house and playing flagfootball with the US marines

Neser (Wednesday is a career day and Friday I am going to Elbasan to meet with the Depart of agriculture there.

Business Class We have had a great turnout. Averaging about 20 kids per session. While we have been working hard to keep the noise down, it is still too noisy. This week my assistant did not show up to help with the lesson, nor did he call me. Instead, he was out of town and a flake. I ended up getting Guli, one of my Outdoor Ambassador students to help. He worked out well. Too well. The kids started to complain about Ervis like crazy. The next day I set up a meeting with Ervis and 2 student reps. The kids were great in their discussion and Ervis was very defensive. Hopefully today I talked to him and he is more reflective. We will see how neser goes.

This weekend Leslie and I went with Arti and his gang of 8 women to visit Saranda and any other places we passes. The women were 12 to about 50. To me the women were very nice raggin a lot about my Shqip, put very nice and patient. One of the youngest girls about 14 spoke English pretty well and here mother was better than my Albanian. Leslie could not stand the women maybe because she could understand. And they sang and talked the entire trip. She tried to sleep.

Outdoor Ambassadors went okay

Arber Project is going along well. We have been approved for our video and translation stuff.

This week we took the picture and video to the Alex as a thank you very much for the tour. He gave me a bad time about my albanian but was very very happy with the gesture.

We will see how this week goes as to weather it was a good one or not.

As for the 3 of us getting along.....still very much...this is our lul, we finally know oneanother well enough so that getting to know conversation has stopped and we just spout off all we want about anything. Pretty soon we be used to that and conversation and each others company will be back to normal. Lucky to have easy to deal with sitemates

The communtiy for the Blind Project is still on hold...They have not yet met with the Mayor to ask for a space for a center. I am not sure weather it is Doda who is the bad cog or the Community for the Blind membsers. After all this I think it is Doda.My Business class was off to a good start. I was totally happy with my first day but today so so.I had 15 kids sign up....16 kids showed up the first day and today I had 20 plus kids. Today however did not go good. Too much talking. I think I may make it into 2 classes. 4 days in total. It will be a killer for Erivis and me but maybe best for the class.Erivis is my translator and very authoritative. Almost too much authority for the Club/Class but we will see. I think the lesson was good, but I hope I can pull it off. Got a new friend, Marku...an Albanian who came to visit his family for 2 weeks. He has now been here a few months because a cop took his car (he had English plates) and while he did not break the law and had all his papers, he did not bribe the cop and now has to wait for some one else much higher up to get involved, or, pay someone even more money to make the problem go away.

The gym has been bought out by the other gym owner in town. He has brought his clients in, good, but bad, because he has also brought in the old rules...put nothing back and shirts and shoes optional. Now it is fall so it is not as bad but in the summer who knows? He has made it into a gym that only Albanian Boys could tolerate. No-one else...

I have been feeling totally wipped out the last few days, I think the business class which I wanted to do it, is draining me...I hope I get through the first 2 weeks and I settle into a routine.

Our computer lab is not in operation lately...we are getting new internet..since the bashkia pays for it and is in charge...an hour project becomes 1-2 weeks.

What's going on? Cannot write, am tired.

Had meeting with 11 members of the Blind community. After rewriting their grant 3 times because they kept changing their minds, I finally asked to meet with no-members too. We came up with them wanting a Center ... I gave them a list of things to ask for from community leaders and how to prepare for a meeting with them...that was last week.

Went into the schools to ask about teaching a business class. After meeting with the business staff, director and such, I taught 4 trial classes. One teacher seemed happy female, the male disappointed...He wanted 2 hours of lecturing and not facilitation. At the end he liked it, I think, but not his style of teaching. I should start next week with 2 classes during the week and they said they are getting together a group of serious kids for a business club I want to start.

Took my OA group 9 kids on a Trip to the harbor...Toured a cargo ship, fishing boat, old communist war ship, the harbor masters office. Kids totally dug it.

My 4 core girls are fighting...they have seperated...cannot figure out how they think. Greta, the most mature of the bunch in to odd one out. Something about credit for the projects and something about what happened in Eseke.

Outdoor Ambassador group of kids is growing..Now up to 12.

Arber project is moving along slowly. We are only as fast as those that are in charge of the money....they are a month behind schedule

Beti mom came to visit only to have Beti's new computer and old computer stolen

Leslie and her mom are in Italy.

Updates from last entry...My new workout partner...A Bust...he doesn't do mornings....He was also a connection to teaching in a Village... A bust....he does not have any contact with the Director of the school.

The communty project...on hold because one of the groups was not ready for the next step...so we all have to wait...

The Department of Agriculture Faire/Party went well....It was a fair involving the bee farmers. Having seeing the 'Bee Movie" just last week it was fun.

The other day, Bethany had 2 English Couch surfers Bob and Sean. I took them on a visit to the Lezhe Castle. We climbed the wall and walked around inside for a few hours. Following our adventure, we then met up with Bethany, Leslie and went bar hopping. After 5-6 beers, closing down the bar,we all staggered home.

As of today, the internet still does not work at the office, therefore I am here at the lab.

Helped Toma with downloading pictures to a Disk.

I am sure you are wondering how the camping trip went. I took along 4 girls and 2 boys from Lezhe. It was about a 10 journey involving a commuter bus, city bus, minivan, and another commuter bus. We left at 6:00 am and arrived at 4:00pm...

While I told my girls they were going to be split up, when we got there, there were many tears. I tried my best to help but then ran away to try to find the Manual for 16 year old girls...having not found one, I then requited female assistance. They could not stop the flow, and finally our camp director....broke the rules for them...while it saved them from going home, it also prevented them from emotional growth. Our one girl that was solo, while, cried, called big sister who called me twice... later thanked me and said I was correct in spliting them up. She had a blast and did a lot of growing up, the other 3 just had fun.

In all we had 50 kids from around Albania went on this 4 day trip. For many it was their first time away from home. Lots of tears at first, lots of fun the rest of the time. Camping, canoeing, lessons, archery, eating, free time, and yes, lots of new couples. My girls played frisbee, and got their hands dirty for the first time in their lives...kinda cool. One of my boys was picked up by his dad, he had family issues at home...and the other .... became a couple and loved showing off his leadship skills and athletism.

Most of those same kids are also working on the Lezhe community project sponsored by World Vision, Arber of Big Brother and Peace Corps. Our Lezhe involves the making of a video about the castle and translating some of the information on the castle into other languages besides Albanian. We are hoping to get $1035.00 for the activity. There are 14 other youth projects around northern Albania hoping to get money from this grant/program but we think we have a pretty good chance.

Writing the Grant for the Blind was almost finished and then they changed their mind again. A great organization...function okay as is...but they little idea or ability to think beyond...just give us money.

Life at the Department of Agriculture is at a very low simmer. The one guy in town who is responsible for "OUR" internet...is on vacation. So our work stops until he gets back...we just sit all day and have coffee. I arrive at the office at 8:00 say hello, ask the silly question as to if we have internet, then leave the office and come to the computer lab and go drink coffee all day.

One of my coffees has resulted in a potential teaching gig in one of the villages outside of Lezhe. He also may be a workout partner in the gym..he wants to go, but as the culture dictates...if someone is by themselves...people talk and say that something is wrong with them. If I go, he will not be by himself..

One of the business I have been trying to help the copy center, actually followed through with 3 suggestions I gave...While not even worthy of a suggestion in the States, here it was a major breakthrough...something very few business try...His Dad, a communist raised person, hated the idea...and when I asked him how he like having hours or prices on product, he left the room.

Neser, I will go to a re-union of Leslies camp...one she help organize for the communities poorest kids, and Saturday will be a party with the Department of Agriculture.

Stephanie Dorning visited us yesterday.

Neser we leave for Erseka, for the camping trip...I had originally set up a bus ride for them all, then thought that since all of us are going, we can rent a furgon. Then I called the girls to inform them and their parents said only the bus, it was safer...I kinda figured that but a furgon would have made life much easier.

I showed off the computer lab to a local active commity leader who works with youth. He had no idea about the center, and thought it was exactly what he was thinking of starting...a center for computers, and to gather information on schools, jobs, visa, etc......hopefully he will make a few things happen. A very possible problem is that the Director of the center is very political and traditional, and while she may hire someone to work the lab...odds are they will be a friend who will sit there, not help the kids a just collect a paycheck. Then the kids will be be back to square one again.

Believe it or not, I am a bit stressed out about sleeping on the ground for the next 4 days. It sucks having bones muscles that don't bend anymore.

I visited Chris a PCV in a local village...Poor guy he is there by himself, no computer, no TV and few people who speak english...He goes to work...plays on the internet all day in his own office and watches movies. Then at 5 goes home and eats, (he is not a cook) and goes to bed. Even weekends are like that.....Hopefully he will get some projects or make his way into integrating into the community but as of now...the PC did a poor job placing him. I think they do a poor job in matching personalities....

Our big presentation to 150 kids and adults went well. The kids seemed to enjoy it and while we had shume problems...It ended up very well. What problems, First ...like always my kids were late....then the presentation did not work on the computer...If it was for our most savy computer guy in the PC to help us out, the presentation would have only partly worked and without pictures or music. They had little idea of what to say and who was to present it...Luckily we were last to do our presentation. They recruited a very smart local kid whom I have worked with on some other projects and he presented, did some good improvising and Bingo...or presentation went well.

As for other stuff, a friend set me up with a female friend of his...she was very sweet, but when it came to our cultural differences, there was just too much to overcome. Our first and only meeting was at a cafe shop and my friend and the girl were accompanied by her brother and mom.....a very serious hour....Is seemed to go okay, but if it went farther than that, and it did not work out, the whole town would have known and that would have been the end of her chances....maybe forever. I was very flattered by the recommendation.

Project with the blind...that is on hold because they have now come to me with 3 different plans and each new plan comes at the end of me writing the old plan....in otherwords they keep changing their minds, have no real longterm goals, and so it stands...I need to set up a meeting with the Board of Directors again.

Next week we (13 peace corps volunteers with 6 kids from Lezhe and 37 total kids from all over Albania) are going on a camping trip for 4 days. I didn't think the kids could go, but so far they are all for sures....I tried to have a meeting with them today to discuss the big project and...that did not happen. They were too excited for the trip to do "work"

WOW...Just read my last blog......as a followup to my last entry...the little dog has been taken care of the "special" way....along with the 10 or so other stray dogs....not the ending I wanted, but I guess the next best thing.

Several weeks ago an NGO and local celebrity, winner of Big Brother Albania last year, rounded up many PC volunteers and other organizations to Promote a Program of Youth Mobilization.

In the last 4 weeks many of my productive hours have been spent rounding up kids and getting to them to go to meetings. 4 maybe 8 depending on the day will represent Lezhe. Next Tuesday is what they call the Grand Event where we will propose to a Committee a volunteer project that the kids decided on and will "organize" and "implement" The kids in Lezhe chose to do a website and video about local castle since it is 600 years old and has great historical significance. The local government has gotten 10s of thousands of $ through grants and taxes for improved access, to do some archaeological diggings, and restoration etc., but so far over the last 20 years they have only built a very poorly maintained dirt road. And suddenly no more money???? and....... No signs, no printed material, no hours of operation. Actually they have them posted but nobody is ever there to open the gate.

Needless to say, that is our project....Not my first choice but we will make it work. Today the kids took their ideas and we will make a presentation of it.....and hopefully Friday we will see how they did....

My other project is writing a grant for a Soccer Tournament for the Blind. The Community for the Blind asked for this funding and money. That activity is taking up the rest of my productive hours...

My non-productive hours some of which consist of learning Adobe PhotoShop and Dreamweaver on my new computer. It is a good thing I can take that home and work in front of a fan.

The rest of my non-productive hours are spent watching movies on video or lots of coffees all day and evening long. Weekends consist of all the above or the beach or travel to other cities.

To my little dog friend with Mange " sweet dreams Qen i Mire"

My office mates are supposedly back from vacation and productivity as gone................way way............heck you know.

I went to a wedding last week. The owner of the Gym got married. In normal Albanian Fashion she did not smile...

Went to Korce last week for Mid service training...and Korce Beer Fest...fun to go, glad I am back.

Since I have time today, I will write about other stuff. The day to day activities are of minimal excitement. I go to work each day, and can only think about going home...to which then I nap or read. I should work on my projects each and everyday, but the sluggeshness of the culture the heat without air conditioning makes one move slowly and not want to think about work. The money here is minimal with us not getting a raise in now 4 years and the cost of living in Albania having gone up more that 50% in that time. In the last few months coffee went up 40% and fast food up 20% percent. Lezhe is also one of the most expensive cities to live in, in Albania.....I am really upset with my other PCV since only 43% mailed in the living allowance survey. Them even more upset, knowing the the corporate office knows of the lack of money but since only 43% even sent in the survey, they pretend it is okay. Any travel or clothes comes from my own pocket now. One more thing that is really bothering me is that a little dog has befriended me. He waits each day outside my work and hopes that I will spent 30 seconds petting him. He has Mange, and mite that attacks the skin and leaves him looking bad. I ask our vets to for help and I would pay for it, but they just brush it off as in why help dogs, they are dirty messy and are pests. I have seen him all hours of the day waiting for me. If I bring him into my home and wash him, feed him it would only prolong the inevitable.

Now that I have completely depressed anyone reading this, here are the good things...no American Media, Coffee breaks 2-3 times a day...A pizza is $5.00 and a fast food lunch is about $1.50

I am sure if I had a job in the States i would also be looking for one and worried about keeping the one I have. I have no real supervisors...those at the PC office understand not getting things done and those I work with would rather have me not do anything because they may have to work also.

I have 5 incredible riverside cafes to chose to drink coffee from, or 50 regular cafes. I can on a whim travel to another city and if I want sleep, play ping-pong, walk or go to our private internet cafe. (Computer room that one of our PCV set up for the youth and now sits unused because the Albanias are in charge of it and don't have time to hire someone to work it...eventhough the money has been set aside..)

Days pass quickly when you have coffees to drink and vacations to take.

The fourth of July was spent at private American School that would was like going back to the rich lands of the States. Located in a Park, there were runners, dogs, and cyclist all around the school had a pool tennis courts and all the niceties of any rich American school. There were about 300 people there with most being Americans in Albania....or part of the American world in Albania. It lasted about 3 hours, until about 10:00 pm, and while I tried to stay out all night with the youngens...I lasted until 12:30 before I had to wonder back to my hotel. Not too good of an effort, but the youngens were bar going fast and dancing faster. I just couldnt hang with them.

From the 9th to the 19 I embarked, with another PCV Luke, on a 10 day 4 country power tour of the Balkens. Montenegro, Slovania, Hungary, Croatia. We also hit 2 Islands in Croatia, Hvar and Krk. In total we spent 5 nights on a Bus or Train and the rest in Hostels. Buy day we explored. Dubrovnik arrived in AM left in PM, Split AM to PM, Slovania AM to PM... and so it went. I did not think me sleeping on a bus or train was still possible and still be awake enough the next day but we did it and felt adequitly rested. Budapest and Dubrovnik were our goals and while Dubrovnik was nice, Budapest had the Grand variety of Culture, History, Curruption, tradition and progressivism. The islands were my favorite place if I were with a group or SigFig but Budapest is where we had the most fun. It was odd comming back to Lezhe where in 10 days I have explored more cities and counties than most of my counter parts have in their 50 plus years of life. My idea of a fun quick vacation, is considered a trip of the lifetime. We did hit McDonalds 3 times on the trip getting our fix of milkshakes, burgers and frys.

The Outdoor Ambassordors are doing fine. I have 4 regular girls, age 16, and have finally met their parents, giving me the person to person okay to take them on trips. Friday the kids talked me into taking them and two the their male friends (who show up once in a while, not really with the group but like to go places), on an unscheduled trip to a remote beach....I had to leave the planning to them since they knew where it was. After a short furgon ride we then walked 1.5 hours to the spot where we finally settled. The soft sand went almost 200 yards out and the water was fairly clear and warm. It then took us 2.5 hours in total to get back to Lezhe after we left our beach site. I was completely wiped out. While the girls had too stop a lot to rest I am pretty sure, they forgot they were tired as soon as they walked in the door.

We had a meeting with an NGOs, World Vision and CAAP, and Arbari winner of Big Brother Albania, on doing a project that involved getting youth to volunteer of community activities. In all, using my contacts and WV contacts we had about 30 kids show up for the event. Hopefully all the kids who attended will want to participate in it. As for the Community Activity, the kids have think of one and present it, If they win, then WV will donate $50,000 to the event/cause. Once and if this gets going it will take a lot of time...

Vilma (one of our former Shqip teachers) visited us this weekend along with Casey a group 12 PCV. Poor girls, they had to hang with us while we did our things this weekend, only once making it out to the beach in the 3 days they were here. If they came to drink however, that is what we did, one night on a roof top looking over Lezhe, another night on the beach. This living like a 20 year old wipes me out and while the others are okay the next day, I need to take naps . While it is fun, most days I would rather have more lazy gatherings.

Yesterday we ventured to Tirana to see the new Xmen Movie...very cool movie, especially if one only gets to see a movie once ever 3 months. On the way home, our bus stopped in 1 hour long traffic. Two of the PCVs I was with, decided to walk home, getting out of the stinking stuffy bus...not the action I would have recommened but it worked out okay with us getting home about 20 minutes before the bus. We got 2 rides 1 from a regular car and other from a furgon. We got lucky, in that in total we only had to walk 1 kilometer..instead of the actual 2o plus kilometers we may have walked if no one picked us up.

Finnally got my computer yesterday, and it is ready for the process of software downloading now.

A few days ago, one of my Co-workers, myself and a WV worker, Ardian, went to the Church in Kalmet. A church on a hillside, with a natural spring running through it. Very pretty, good water, good view and I bought Goat Cheese from the lady that lives by there. She lives about half a kilometer from the church down a very small, steep trail. She flew down the trail, will us barely keeping up, She then fed us some cheese, we bought some and her grand-daughters got to the store before our car did to weigh it and pay for it. Those sweet little village kids are tough, doing the trail in flip-flops faster then I did the Dipsey trails.

Did I mention how my Shqip is doing or how much work I am doing....maybe neser...

I am sure you are all wondering how my Guest speaker went with my Outdoor Ambassador Club...The speaker came prepared for 15 bright eyed students but only 4 quiet girls showed up...While he seemed only a little disappointed, I was very embarrassed since I told him at least 10. I even emailed all the kids whose email I had and told them to tell their friends and family to come...none of which had happened....Luckily he was already coming to Lezhe to put on big meeting, for our water company, so the trip wasn't waisted but I still felt bad. As for other Outdoor Ambassador programs nation wide, A couple of the other volunteers are trying start the clubs and a couple haven't even had any kids show up...ARG, Great concept, lots of work each week, but not a lot of reward just yet...we just have to move slowly.

Now Department of Agriculture Work Days

The days start like this..

8 to 10 check email

10 12 go to coffee and lunch with co-workers, friends or a power coffee

1-2 do side projects at work

Go Home

Sometime during the day spend 1-2 hours doing side projects

Read for 2 hours

Talk to local friends and hang with the other volunteers.

Have Dinner

Bed about 9:30

Many times for dinner Bethany or Leslie will cook dinner...while I think my food is good...they have eaten one of my meals...I liked...and well...I go to their place. Last night we tried tacos but the wanna-be shells did not quite work so we had a great taco type salad.

The last 3 days have been great Ping Pong days...One of the guys whom I have not played in a while was there to play. It was a blast with him winning the first 2 of 3 games but then seemingly giving up the next 2...For the first 3 games we even had an audience from the bar watch us play.

Two days later a couple of couch surfers from France came to visit Bethany. One played a good game of ping pong. He had not played in months and still put up a good game. If we were both playing at full operation, it would have been close. We then went to Bethanys place where the girls cooked great apple banana chocolate creps and us guys drank some beer....

Still working on the getting the Organization for the Blind to answer some questions so that I can hopefully write or help them write a grant.

Still don't have my computer....

Not Good Stuff. A few months ago I loaned my new backpack to a good kid for his weekend trip, his cousin took it, and for some reason he did not stop him..It cost about $35.00 to replace. I have only seen $20.00..so far. I loaned my I pod to a very good friend serveral months ago, still now seen it and each time I ask for it, his response is neser...Hmmm...

Well it has been few weeks since I last blogged so here is the update:

With one of the Couch surfers from Canada took a hike to the castle. Actually climbed inside for the first time. Still untouched by modern engineers and tourists.

I went to the local school and advertised for the Outdoor Ambassadors.Outdoor Ambassadors had a great first day 16 kidsIn my quest to find stuff to do, I went to the water company who had a meeting to show the progress they were making. The person in charge, while didn't need help (he speaks english well and writes the grants himself, he did offer to be a guest speaker at our Outdoor Ambassador Club the next week.Had serveral new volunteers come to Lezhe to learn about how to start OA Club, Kysha and Jonathon from my group, helped with the 5 hour seminar and stayed at my place...the perfect couple together. The weekend consisted of: Dance party with friends, PC volunteers, Albanians and couch surfers. About 15 total. Good fun...Next morning Leslie cooked a great breakfast (french toast) for the gang of about 10. Then the 5 hour seminar, followed by rest. After dinner we all went to Bethanys and watched a movie in the open air on her porch. One of the couch surfers had a projector some movies. Add fresh watermellon, wine and raki with good company...life cannot get much better.

Sunday went to the beach for about 6 hours with Leslie and Bethany....life is so hardMonday to Tirana for PC interviewsWednesday tought juggling at the private school. While it started fine, put heat, water and balloons together, why would the kids want to waste a balloon by filling it with sand and juggling it????Friday...Outdoor Ambassadors again session 2. 7 showed up this time, hopefully because of the heat and since now summer time all have headed to the beach.Trying to help a Local business get going...While I have showed them many things, cannot seem to motivate them to do the foot/think work on their own.

Today, I was supposed to go the the castle with the private school...after I made sure my day was clear, and showed up, they cancelled the trip...why they did not tell me and save me the trip?????? Just another reason why I likely will not teach there next year.Neser I have a meeting with the Blind soccer team trying to get them a grant.my computer is comming soonAfter this, I may just go to the beach...gotta go...have a drink and think about it.

The last couple of nights here have been like college. The 2 remaining PCVs Leslie and Bethany have dragged my butt out for nights of Drinking and Dancing. At about the time I am having dinner and ready to hit the sac, they text me for cafe that later turns into a night of drinking and/or dancing. All fun for a couple of hours, but more than that the next day really sucks.

Work: we finally had a company wide meeting on the survey we did several months ago. I am not sure how it went, and as I had expected, "the report" was scribbled on one piece of paper with only the results. Even though I sent the "report team" websites on writing a report and using the information, she/they just stated the results, then the team just nodded and in their minds thought, interesting...that was done.... When I tried to actually address the concerns of the farmers or what we can do, all blame was put on the farmers and "Tirana Dof A" main office, and felt that nothing can be done at their level. Actually they are content in feeling nothing can be done at their level because that would be more work. But it was good to know that one of the Extentionist uses the information he gained from the "how to do a business" seminar with the farmers he works with.

As for my job here, I am pretty sure I have done all I can. When my computer comes I will change offices and hope some other departments "work"will trickle down to me but as of now I keep reminding my counterpart and director of things they can do to keep moving forward and neser or next week is always the answer. What is frustrating is they are in such a position to do so much good for the farmers and make a difference but don't. I too, if I spoke Shqip, could do so much but am stuck relying on people to translate who spend hours on personal stuff.

I have made a connection to get Outdoor Ambassador going, but she is a teacher and is insistant that kids will do nothing during the summer unless it is affiliated with the school and that they are required to go. The concept that kids will volunteer to participate...as over 100 kids around Albania are doing is totally out of her understanding. While I can rely on her to expose me to the kids, that is about all she will help. As for the school I am at now, I am glad that I am on my final days teaching there....My teachers assistants totally love helping me, but the kids/boys are just punks. I walk down the halls and can only hear the other teachers in the classroom yelling at the kids. While the teachers are 49% of the blame, the parents and culture are 51% to blame. All parents just say, "they are boys" and in a home the girl and mom or sisters clean the house study and cook while the boys play, men drink coffee and a few work...only to come home and have mom or sister clean up and feed them even if they too have jobs.

Anyway, after the teaching is done, I will having nothing to do so hopefully something else will fill the void.

This weekend we made our trip to Bosnia..about 40 people from work loaded up a bus and went to Sarajeva, and spent 3 nights and 2 days there...we then headed back and made going through Montenegro stopping at various towns on the way...Going out to lunch/dinner etc with Albanians is an experience...they get frustrated with people and show it. A new server who spoke very little English/no Shqip. and after we had the bill almost taken care of, one of the guys didn't quite understand, just took his money back from her tray and changed how he wanted to pay and not listening to anyone just 'insisting a lot"...anyway...not fun. I shared my room with 2 other guys who wanted to hang with the American..good guys and were very patient with my limited speaking skills. What was funny is they would walk into a shop and ask the shop worker (in English) if they spoke English. They then would turn to me tell me what they wanted and I would translate..

Both Bosnia and Montenegro had suffered through various wars recently and the countries had rebuilt and at the same time embraced the damage. Very beautiful countries with a good combination of history and modern planning and development. Beach front shops, clean beaches, good sidewalks and new modern docks with many boats..If only Albanian Government can see beyond their own pockets and plan for the next month once in a while. While the people in Albania are on the average, my size, in Bosia, a potentional basketball paradise, many women are nearly 6 ft and most men were well beyond 6' and many over 6'5. The people there also had a underlining feeling of hope and happiness. In Albanian the people have an embedded sense of frustration which trickles to all parts of their daily routines. I felt sorry to leave those counties and then felt sorry for my co-workers. In a month I will be off visiting somewhere else and in year back in the States...They on the otherhand lacked that freedom.

As for my mood however...not really a good week...the frustration here about work, not having a computer and other stuff is starting to get to me at night. While I do as much as possible to stay busy, coffee and the beach are your only options during the summer and only coffee is your souse of recreation for the winter. (Writing it on paper sounds pretty good, but with otherstuff often lessens the appreciation.) With my Shqip speaking skills, my coffee company is limited.

I came to work today, to find no internet...part because of the internet guy and most today because the secretary is probably too tired from vacationing to make it to work..all of 100 yards from home to get into her office and let me or someone try getting it to work.

I had a lot to say this morning but I forgot....much....oh well, neser.

So looking into my computer I learned that it is still in customs in Greece...since May 2...I guess I cannot blame Albania for this one.

This has been a big, get in touch with the other PCV month...Bills going away party, Bethanys birthday party, a play put on by kids in a neighboring village, and my sitemate Winnie taco dinner then Going away party. Winnie, last years PCV got a computer lab built, a womens group of 60 people started, taught lots of English and did various youth education projects. She has a unique personallity but did a good job as a volunteer and introducing the rest of us to the people of Lezhe and what life was like in Lezhe.

The play was the second play put on by this PCV and I got mentioned in the credits as the Juggling Coach...the play had a clown and while I taught her to juggle all of an hours worth of instruction, the clown practiced for weeks and did a very good job. About 50% of the the other PCV came to see the play, many traveling over 6 hours.

I am still frustrated at work and am just hoping to get some new energy soon. Today I sent an email to my PC supervisor...as a CC. The email was to my director as a followup to the projects that are "in progress" here. I am hoping when he sees that it will be added incentive to followthrough but there is a possibility that it will back fire....I may have to be ready for that situation.

My kids in the hood are no longer asking for the reading hour but just the money for Ice Cream. Few if anyone reads for pleasure in Albania and never do they do so in public. The Ice cream was the incentive, which was fine, but what came back to haunt me is now they think that since I am an American, i should and can buy them things. Testing the limits of a culture, seems to always have twisted consequences.

As for my Shqip everyone including myself is loosing patience. Most of the PC can hold conversations...still a few of us cannot...and whenever they meet my sitemates...there is always a look of "what is your problem dude" At work there are ways around the problem, but for social and pleasure...it really changes the experience.

This week for work, we were supposed to go to Bosnia..it has been postponed for 4 days. It is out of my own pocket however and I am just hoping worth the leke. As of now instead, of Sunday we will leave Thursday. Luke another pcv was supposed to visit but because of the postponement, that is cancelled.

Life in Albania. June 29 is the elections... meaning that from 1 month ago to until after the elections, the department of agriculture will do nothing, start nothing and not understand why I am stir crazy...Some fear that they may not have a job therefore don't dare start something new or do anything that the director does not tell them to do. Beside teaching English 8 to 10 hours a week and my Outdoor Ambassdor Program, I have done basicly 3 large projects for DofA...One, a survey of 100 farmers...Before we did the survey I gave the director a list of 3 things that I feared would happen and how to overcome them...none of the precautions were followed and all 3 things happened...Now the survey which was to set the agenda of what the farmers needed and how I can help the DofA help the farmers for the next year here...is on the desk..........The second project, a website is done and waiting for information from my director...now 10 months in the waiting and then needing the approval of the office in Tirana..but not until after the elections...the third is a employee evaluation system...won't be started until after the elections..But then why do one since we never have done before....Then why ask me to do it????

Then other stuff, My Outdoor Ambassador program and my Meet and Greet the parents was bust...so i am putting the project on hold until I can round up new kids...my leaders will be leaving for jobs in the summer so I may have to get new leaders and/or refocus.

Then on the same day I walk home to find 4 of my neighborhood kids in front of my house waiting with books in had for our twice weekly reading club..we read for one hour and if they are good I buy them an Ice Cream...Well we go into our regular cafe...and the owner kicks the kids out saying it is not a place for kids... He has a Store/resturant and tables and the tables are empty...what the F......was his problem..and I cannot speak enough Shqip to get the right if any answer...we always cleaned up after ourselves, where quite, at bought ice cream from his store.

So now as of May 18 today, I am on vacation until my computer gets here...then

off to the NGO's and the water distict company, both have asked for help but I have put them on hold saying the DofA has first priority...

Yesterday was a good day...I worked out for 2 hours, then took a Bus ride to Tirana. Picked up 10 new books to read from the Peace Corps office then sat outside a a cafe for 3 hours reading one. that was followed by a movie Dublicity and then finally at 11:00 pm went home with an Albanian friend who was visiting his girlfriend...something not done inLezhe because too many people talk. For lunch I ate a full/fresh chicken. Serveral months ago I only had a half chicken and it was soooo good, I wanted more...after eating a whole chicken...a half would have been enough. All for now, I am only going to work until 10:15 today and go play. Why, because the elections are comming.

The Outdoor Ambassador Program is still giving me a headache. I sent the letter home and we will see what happens. The school director approved my letter and also said he would give full support during the summer. I am sure he is just pulling my leg so that I will not stop teaching at his school. Today I have a meeting but it is before the meet and greet so I am sure I will have only a few participants. What pisses me off is that he never talked or planned on talking me that there was a concern with the parents...he said he did not know how to approach me....my thinking is if you sure of a decision/activity it should be easy. That is one of the joys of the culture. Get a little information, blow it up, act upon it, and hide.....What he heard and parents heard was that kids went swimming...true but before they were in for 10 seconds they were out and got yelled at and did so after being told up front not to. None of that did the parents or he know.....hence the "concern" rightly so but wrong conclusion.

Other stuff;

The old keyboard broke this new/old one...it sucks, I want my new computer now...My stress level is up just typing on this because I know that the other keyboard was fine and since the lady whose computer I am using is on vacation, someone switched it.

Yesterday took Bethany's cat to the vet...

Someone set me up on a blind date....I went....their idea of a future wife much different than what we think....

Saturday am going to a party thrown by British missionaries (the biker guys from a few weeks ago) Sunday going to a "going away" party for my best Peace Corps friend. So long Bill.

Started reading a great book "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" Albania is experiencing it now and fascinating to watch unroll

Overall a bad week.

A couple of Fridays ago we had our Outdoor Ambassador Beach clean-up day...all went very well...The next Friday we had our follow-up Outdoor Ambassador meeting and only 3 kids showed up and none from my school...hummm...after doing some digging I learned that the Director sent a letter home about it....As of now I have 2 stories about the letter.

From the School Director he said...I sent a letter stating the OA is not affiliated with the school and is not responsible for the children after 2:30. I can live with that version

From the kids they say.... it said that they cannot go to classes on fridays or participate in the trips/hikes/beach clean-ups etc...

If the kids are right, I want to ................. the ..........you get the idea..

I have drafted a letter to the parents...I hope with the approval of the school Director, it will invite them to a meet & greet and Q & A of myself and the other Peace Corps Volunteers and my Highschool kid assistants. I wanted to do it this Friday but my other PVC are out of town...

Work Stuff,

Met with the CAAP website people finally after 2 months of email trying to set up a meeting. That project will start in a week when they back from holiday. My Dof A website is done and waiting to be approved by the director, then waiting for it to got to Tirana for appoval...meaning it will never get off the directors desk.School Teaching going good, until the OA my crap we will see what happens then.Tutoring 3 to 5 hours a weekSurvey...whatever...if director is out of town...no work is done on it..he is gone 4 days a week.Just got all three eppisodes of Jurrasic Park...cannot wait to get my new computer to watch it. For the last month I have been dragging a bit. While I can still go to the gym and play pingpong etc..my mornings I have cobwebs and in the middays I am just wipped out.

In a nutshell, here is what happened this week

Went to a local village to teach a girl to juggle. She is going to be in a play and is a clown. She is a quick learner..and hopefully what took me years to learn while sitting on the bench during baseball, she learned in a few months.The new PCVs arrived a few weeks ago and one stayed at my place to see the life and times of a PCV. His name is Chris and will be placed in a village about 30 minutes from me. 3 other girls stayed with the other girls here in Lezhe and for a weekend we kinda had a back to college weekend..hiking playing pingpong and had power hour (a drinking game where, whenever the music changes, you take a shot of beer)...every 1 minute it changes..there is a website to log onto for more info on such fun games. One of the girls is a very good pingpong player. The 5 girls and 1 guy and I crashed the "All boys" bar showing girls can drink and play pingpong too. The boys in the bar are getting used to the weird American...first I play a lot of pingpong/second I am older than all and beat most of them, third, I brought a dog in, forth brought in girls that drink and play pingpong and lastly, they watch the NFL playoffs one night with the Americans....I did my presentation to the new PCVs on the business environment of Albania what to expect and what we can do to help.Went to Skrapar, a small village 6 hours south and with 4 other volunteers and 5 highschool kids as guides we went on hikes to caves the communist dug to hide from the mean Americans. The sencond day, our guides picked us up at 7:00 am and we then headed to natural caves to find bats flying around our heads. All in all a great weekend with movies, homemaker stir fry, and good company.Last week was Bills birthday dinner. 3 of us went to a village 1 hour away and had dinner with his former host family.Work update..Website is as complete as it will be...the Director after 8 months still has not given me information and is getting tired of me asking for it...now instead of saying next week..he just changes the topic.CAAP website..first meeting should be this week...we will see.Outdoor Ambassadors...had a great beach clean-up week 30 bags filled 15 kids lots of fun and Frisbee football and futbol.The next meeting only had 3 people and had some disciplining to do...not a good feeling after that one.The survey is still in the studying stage...the big push to get it done was this weekend...nothing came about it...so that just means I have to go out of the D of A to get things done. We asked the farmers what was needed...according to them/the results we cannot help them a more than we do...My fears that I stated before the survey came true... I recommended training our surveyors ...it did not happen...recommended a date to complete the survey...never made and still not completed....Surveyors not really taking it seriously...bingo again.So what i have is 100 document..sitting on the desk in my office all in Shqip and nobody is looking at it..To days a good thing to be followed up by a bad thing...a bunch of kids always ask where I am going...I always say to a bar/cafe to read...this time I said you get a book I will buy you a drink/cola.That first day when well. Yesterday I invited a 12 year old girl to join us, and the boy got mad since girls "don't" belong in cafes. So much for trying to change a culture, maybe he will show up anyway and get over it.

Friday, I had 5 bikers stay at the house. 4 from England and one Albanian...the Albanian spoke the most American English of the bunch having spent 9 years in the States and going to school in Indiana. They crashed on the floor and slept 2 in the bed...good guys, it was their first night of five days..their blog is www.facebook.com/pages/braking-in-albania/67696485800. It has been 15 months since I have been on a bike and I wish I could have gone with them. Went to Mozart for dinner and then Leslie, other PC volunteer, came over first thing in the morning to cook them French Toast.

On Friday, we had our Third Outdoor Ambassador meeting. We had 20 kids and while it may sound good I was pretty mad...in typical Albanian Fashion...a prominent but very flaking woman who was supposed to be my Albania counterpart in this, had the key and promised to be there... did not show up until the last 5 minutes. Even after several phone calls from me and the kids she knew......she never returned our calls. The first 30 minutes were outside standing around playing games and discussing our homework, until someone was able to get a key.... I now have my own key...... I made a big deal with these kids about starting on time and this was the second time we have had key problems. Albanians always have neser, but have know idea what setting an example means. They just know that if they all are flakes, nothing at any level will be expected of them and therefore, neser is the busiest day of the week...This is why PC is here I guess.

As for the weekend...lots of reading...Saturday was great, did a lot of reading outside, today was rainy, a lot of reading inside.

The website are going to have make big progress this week but I only have 2 days to work on them. M/T..wednesday is my teaching day, Thursday is a travel day and Friday is my presentation. As for the weekend that will be shot since I just found out that all of us in Lezhe will get new PCV staying with us for the from Sat to Tuesday... As long as the weather is good it will be fine..if not lots of Coffees..Good thing we have 50 or more cafes and about 10 of them are good places to hang out. The rest are old man bars...

To give you all an Update of "My Projects" here we go:

*Website on cruise control for Department of Agriculture

*Website for CAAP a non profit organization in Tirana...will start working on this week

*Survey of 100 farmers and had 9 people implement...90 interviewed...and nobody is writing a report...now has been two weeks...we have the "report writing team" ready but have too much work to do such as playing cards and shopping and skype to do a report....ARG.

*Started an Outdoor Ambassador youth group..now up to 13 kids but still in the developing stage. I will be glad if I get 10 to come regularly(we learn about the environment and go on hikes in the summer).

*Assisting classroom English 3 hours a week

*Teaching classroom English 2 hours a week

*Private tutoring 1.5 to 3 hours a week

*Business Presentation to New PC volunteers who came in this week to be done April 3.As for other stuff...I have been feeling really bad the last couple of weeks. While most of the day I am fine...the last hour or so at work I am crashing...Last night I went to bed while it was still light out and a hard time getting out of bed this morning. Today, I am out of gas spending only a few hours on work. Latest Quick Meal...Cook 2 diced apples in a sauce pan with sugar and cinnamon until soft...pour Kos (plain yogurt) over the top...shume mire and easy. Found a couple of Basketball players/hackers like me to shoot around with a couple times a week...At my age and with their smoking...games move real fast and full of competition. This not having a computer is killing me..I share with 3 people now and just as I get into stuff, they need their computer or as I have just spent lots of time working, the power goes out for 5 minutes to 6 hours each day.This week I have 5 bicyclist staying at my place...one gets the couch and the rest get the soft warm tile floor...Lucky them.

March 13th 2009Since my last blog entry, I have officially started the Outdoor Ambassador program here in Lezhe.  Wednesday afternoon I get a call to meet someone in for cafe in 1/2 hr.  Dila,  a woman in charge of the Student government program made some of her kids partake in it.  We talked a bet and suddenly on Friday/today was our first meeting...not the turnout that I had hoped, 4 highschool kids, but a start. It went well and so for the next 60 some Fridays I have to show up .......Arg...too much time.  As for my computer, maybe I can watch movies, but to do work on it..it shuts off...the motherboard is shot.  Not a good time for it to got out.  My director wants the website finished and freaked out a bit after someone from Tirana told him how hard it as to build....Now he wants to pay someone to come in and do it. He has not even seen mine yet.   He should have paid someone in the first place and had them wait 5 months for information from his staff. I am still missing 20% of the information and most of that is the information I had asked him to give me....I just got an email from another peace corp volunteer....his website has taken him 1.5 years to make and he still waiting for stuff.  The interviews for survey are almost done..We have 90 of the 100 needed.  Its a good thing that they are not ready because starting then, they will have to sit for a month or two or three before they do anything with it.....As for my Teaching...So I go in at 8:00 like always and was then told that my classes don't start until 9:30 and that I will, starting today have my own class of 5th graders to teach.  That is along with my "special group" of 10 that also started today..that turned into 16 kids.....some how I missed that memo too.  I told  the director how he should have called me as he had told his other 30+ teachers...all-be-it all nuns who work/live there. ...He did a lot of back paddling to get out of that....To borrow a line from C&R Clothiers 20 years ago..."What a difference a day makes" and roses smell different now.

The seminar I went to was regarding the Outdoor Ambassators..It was the group I am trying to get going in Lezhe. Only 4 groups have started one in their sites and all are having trouble for various reasons. Most of the volunteers cannot get parents and kids to commit to something that is free...but if they have to pay they will not even participate in the first place. My problem is I cannot find a person to take on the responsibility of kids and who speaks english. The ones that do speak english are already teachers and want nothing to do with kids outside the week. I have one last hope and that is organizing it through the private school in the spring and summer. There I will have a set group of parents that know me, kids that know me and hopefully will fall under the safety umbella of the school.

Upon my return from the seminar, Oreos family said are late in returning..I have her again until Wednesday. I took her to a locale/bar today...she barked at some guy about my age, he jumped, gave me a look and never entered the bar...

Hey Bergie, if you are reading this....Good to hear from you for the first time since early 1980s. I guess it is good that I now have a facebook account.

My newest big project is putting together a presentation for the new volunteers. My topic. Business and the Business Envirnment. I am not reinventing the wheel since last years presentation was solid, I only have to update it and put in anything I think can be added. I hope to have it in 3 parts Part 1 our role as volunteers...and some background on the history of business and the business mess. Part 2. A college professor on the business enviroment currently, and part 3 either how to start a business or have a actual business owner come in and talk. My day 9-12 on April 3.

My computer is on the Outs...it looks like I am going to have to buy a new one.

Too those few who read my blog...Sorry for all the bad grammar and spellings. It sounds so complete and good as I write it, but upon review...someday I will have to fix it....

Today is the last day of Oreo, I am going to Tirana today and Oreo goes to a Brazilian Missionary's home for her last days in Lezhe...After that, she goes with her family and unless i visit them in another city, I won't see her again. A good dog, but not a great Ambassator to the dog world. She barks at many, even those with good hearts, which scares the people here. For many, the first response is to try to kick her or scare/tease her back. I brought her to work on 3 occasions and even the veterinarians get freaked out.....I almost smacked one of my best friends out of my anger, when he smacked Oreo after she barked at him . Last night I made a spaghetti dinner for the family of 5 next door. (Only adding to the rumor that I am a housewife in training) Men NEVER COOK or wash clothes or clean house) The family has had me over for dinner several times and for the last few weeks have been visiting Oreo while I am at work. While the 2 youngest kids 5 and 3 get scared, Dad is good with them and shows them that Oreo is harmless, only loud. As for the dinner it was good, not my best since I did not use enough meat but good. Even the kids ate it and they never eat pasta with sauce, only with butter and cheese.

My computer should be coming home from the shop today...the Department of Agriculture said they will pay for repairs...so cool...I was supposed to go on a few interviews today regarding the survey, but since it is raining, the director felt it was better to drink coffee and not go out to the villages...Exaggeration maybe...but I will have a least one coffee today as I play on the borrowed computer.

This weekend I am going to Tirana to a seminar on getting an Outdoor Ambassador program started in our community ....I have exhausted my personal resources in getting help in starting-up in this area since few volunteer for anything and to do it with kids...NO WAY...I am trying to get a female to help so that girls parents would let them participate but so far no one,

not even males want to do something new.....many feel that getting involved with kids opens them up to public humiliation/shame if something goes wrong. Also, if an unmarried female helps out, then rumors may also fly about "Us" if a married woman helps, the husband will be shamed by "Us" and he letting her do something outside the house...I may have to modify the program and do it at the private school where I work..There, the parents/teachers trust me and

since the teachers are paid for the time and under the school direction, helping out, will be more socially acceptable.

Yesterday I ventured off to Puka, a mountain villiage about 1.5 hours Northeast of Lezhe. The road was real bad and the while the weather was good, there was about 2 feet of snow all around town. I went to visit Karen and Patricia for input on my webpage and input on the presentation I am giving to the new volunteers coming in next month. After about 4 hours of business stuff it was too late to go home and since T

they were having a party that night as graduation present to one of their Shqip friends I decided to stay the night. Great food lots of desert and always nice to eat food with an american feel to it. We played UNO the card game. I took the 6:00am bus back to Lezhe and am back at work today.

As for Oreo last night...Leslie took him to her house but as she was walking up the steps the landlord said JO Qen..No Dog. Leslie then stayed at may house until 9:30 and left Oreo ALONE...Think ahead 10.5 hours..Oreo got hold of cardboard and shredded it, used up his poop quota in one night and spread some garbage around the house. I guess I had it coming so I couldn't schold her...

As or my computer it will go to the shop. I have about 5 minutes on it and it shuts off with a bunch of weird stuff on the screen.

As for the survey, I went on a ride along with one of the survey teams. We interviewed 5 farmers and judging by the bodylanguage our team looked and asked reasonably enthusiastic and the farmer were very cooperative. I had to have a few shots of Moonshine (Raki) to at their homes but worth it.

Today was/is a meeting of the extentionists (the people doing the survey)...One guy came in today with chest out complaining about the questions and that the farmer did not understand them. Good thing I did not understand his words...but actions..The guy was my age, but much older in every way ... with the help of my officemates I told him that many extentionists help write the questions and that the reason the extentionists are doing the survey is that they are to help the farmers...(translated he did not like me making him do more work) My co-worker asked what question, he pointed it out and he acted happy or mad that the question was so easy.

As for my computer..out of commission for good. Has to be taken to the shop Monday Morning.

Last night Oreo was a bit better, we did some WWF Wrestling and she seemed a much more comfortable in the house. Her real home however has a private enterence and my place is in and appartment building with non-stop residents marching outside...that also kinda freaks her out too.

Today I just learned that the teacher/nun who is teaching English at the private school where I work 4 hours a week, has taken a position at the Vatican Embassy in Tirana and that today was her last day...That kinda sucks since I had just offered to take the 10 worst kids on my own and help them...an extra hour a week. While they say they have another teacher lined up (my Shqip teacher) I don't think it will happen. If it does, great, but then they don't need me...Her diction is much better than mine.

As for work, they still have yet given me all the information I need for their website, BUT they have started a survey that I set up 4 months ago. It was a survey of 100 farmers on how the department of Agriculture can do more to help them...The question I most wanted and they voted out asked what they felt the role of the Department of Agriculture was...The question was taken out for fear of the answer...Hummmmm. so the survery is a bit wateredown. It has 4 teams of 3 people, a vet, and extensionest from our office and a local extentionist. It covers 20 villages. I hope it goes well. 5 in each village, 4 commedccialt farm

So the other day at about 9:30 I was sitting in the office minding my own business when the director calls me into is office and says bring your computer. My computer is only working part-time so hope it works for whatever job he want me to do.We talk for while using his computer and then says "can we use your computer to use the projector" I say yes. time now 9:50 after now I get the projector and set it up in the large office for some meeting...As I am getting it set up, a bunch of people start filtering in the office. At 10:00 the projector is set up and then says lets go to my office instead, it is too cold in this office...As I an many people make it into his office the office is already filled with 4 TVstations and about 20 people for a press conference.....I did not know about but was suddenly responsible for the projector..As I said my computer had been acting up and I was praying....It worked and thankfully and as soon as I brought it back to my office the computer acted up again.

Albanian Moment. Several days ago a bunch of male co-workers who always ask about my social life (or lack there of) and ask why I am not married yet to one of the locals said a word that I could not understand. Not knowing the word, I asked a very protective co-worker the meaning....that person did not know the context nor who said it and went behind my back and asked around...A day later I experienced colladeral damage due to the "intervention" and I am hoping it can be forgotten in about 6 months. Such overprotection while with good intentions does a lot a damage. Especially since I don't know enough Shqip to explain properly.

Now it is a week later and the big stuff that has happened is the MUN community project. It was so cool to see 7 good Albanian High School students participate in volunteer activities. While some of the public felt that the girls should be in the home cleaning and the boys should have been doing something productive for the family, most were happy to listen and part-take. The project while not my idea involved the kids passing out flyers and asking for signiture and promises from people on the street for something good... Many promises kinda goofy and involved promises, while related to community, involved their jobs, but it was the thought and the process that was important.

Other stuff...Last night I pick up a dog from an American Missionary family of 5. The dog was named Oreo...and the family is to be gone for 2 weeks. Walking the dog around was a lot more work than I thought. Oreo is a small dog and everyone believes that the only way to interact with a dog is to scare it and tease it...even adults. The young young kids are okay good with curiousity and try but the parents make them nervous and then the dog gets nervous and everyone has a miserable time. Last night it was a little nervous at the house so I let it sleep on the bed...it immediately relaxed only to be stressed again when I took it to work. I took it home to stay in the house by itself..I hope it will destress and rest.

I played ping pong with Tommy a Co-worker today...lots of spin, little consistancy.

This computer is driving my bonkers...it has shut down for no reason 3 times during the typing of this entry.

So I am sitting eating lunch minding my own business...(I have pretty much gotten used to many things...meat markets slottering while you watch so you know it is fresh...meat markets leaving meat out all day without refrigeration, pigs the size of hippos walking aimlessly through town, along with herds of goat, cattle and sheep moving through our city parks...but today) and out of the corner of my eye I see this big fury thing walking across the street...upon second look...it is a bear cub on a leash..while only up to ones mid section in size the first response was...what the ............ and quicky followed by the realization....only in Albania. ... a few people jumped to snap pictures but most just kept walking as if nothing was new.

A few months ago I saw this black lab puppy running the streets of Lezhe and when I said hello to puppy, it came running for some attention...most dogs run away since people think of them as big rats rather than pets and treat them accordingly. Because i was going to be gone most of the month of December I promised the pup that when I get back...I would take care of it. Now almost 3 months later I saw it again going through some garbage with another dog...it saw me came running and suddenly I had a pet.............I took it home, give it a bath, feed it, and it slept in the house...the next morning I let her outside to go to the bathroom, she came back..sort of and we hung out for a couple hours in the house. At about 12:00 we went out for a walk around town with another PC volunteer..after about an hour of hanging with us and while we were sitting outside at a cafe with her by our side....the dog decided we cramped her style and ditched us....

I guess the corn flakes, albanian salami and clean water is not nearly as good as old chicken bones from the garbage and drinking out of puddles...

From one night with the lab I got a room full of fleas and mud...they dont have flea collars or frontline here...who knew...good thing my place is made of tile and cement with no carpet.

This week all that has happened work wise is one other person has giving me some information for the website. Even after the director has told them to get their butts in gear.... Nobody here is worried about losing their job, but do worry about getting yelled at. Since the director is gone 4 of 5 days to meetings...he usually forgets anything that he may have told them that week....so why do anything???????

For fun, I played some pingpong with some guy that has spent 2 years in England...We split 3 games to 3 games and by then I had played for over 2 hours and was wiped out. I played for over an hour before he got there.

This weekend for the Super Bowl, the US Marines stationed in Albania have invited the PC volunteers to their place to watch the game....It is on the Embassy property. The game starts at 11:00 pm so we wander the streets of Tirana until 10:30 pm when they will let us in... then we cannot stay the night so at about 4:00 am we head off to Freddies Hotel and sleep until 6:00 am where I head off to work at 8:00 to teach 2 hours of English.

As for other stuff at work....I just got an email from the director of Rural Development in Lezhe...I told him of the How to start a business seminar and he /wanted an Outline. Hopefully he is a little more proactive than D of A and will participate....

Computer is having bad days

The Road to work/the hospital had a huge hole in it...for 3 days not covered/or fixed...and finally on the day 5 was fixed...Why they did not fix it before it broke...something I have been watching and waiting for for 6 months...who knows...They fix only when things have to be and not a second before and then and only then...it may take a few days, weeks months etc....

My Lights went out...they made a mistake and turned them off...and if I did not complain...they would have have never gone on again. Since lights go out daily here I had to give them some slack...not knowing if it was normal or a problem..after 2 days and one real cold shower on a real cold day I figured it out. Gotta love this place.

This week was spent in Elbasan, taking last weeks seminar in English. This one was much better and had a good variety of participants 8 Albanians and 4 PC volunteers. One participant was from World Vision in Lezhe (a non government, non profit organization) and I hope to work with him to try to get my Department of Agricultures butt in gear and teach farmers how to start a business. Something the D of A should have done 17 years ago when they started the program. Argggg...I tried to see a movie at the movie house also...there were only 2 of us and they said they needed 4 to have the movie...I guess that is way there are not many movie houses in Albania.

I still have yet to get the information I needed from my Coworkers for developing the Webpage... This went from a 2 week project to now a 3 month project and still have only recieved half of the information I need. While I enjoy the coffees I get , it kills me when I hear they don't have time or will get my information next week and it never comes...I know you ask why don't you just ask them or make them or smack them around a bit... Keeping work and social relationships mean the same thing and going over their heads or going somewhere else to get things done would be insulting. Two, them doing my stuff add work and they will not get paid more or recognized or fired if they do or don't do anything beyond their day...As of now I remind them once a week and the director once every 2 weeks.

Anyway, I am back from Elbasan and home in Lezhe tonight after sleeping in another PC volunteers house for the last 4 nights. Lots of movies, saw the swearing in, made me feel proud and that we made the right decision this year.

Jan 18, 2009 So I thought that I would have more time these last 2 weeks to write in my blog...Albania showed me...each time I had time to write, the power went off...or had an unexpected coffee to drink...so much stress......What took up much of last week was a seminar conducted by Opportunity Albania...A micro finance, institution that wanted to show bee farmers how to write a business plan, apply for a loan and start/run a business. The class content was actually put together by one of the Peace Corp Volunteers who had worked for 3M for 17 years as their one of the Accounting Mangagers. The class was exactly what I was trying to do with our Department of Agriculture but never got the approval to start. Anyway it was good, and I can now apply that information to the D of A and I hope bring it to the community as well. It was all in Albanian so there was an interpreter there for myself and few others. This week the seminar will be given again in Elbasan and it will be in English...I will go to that also.

As for the the Weather here...so cold that after dinner I go right to bed and watch Sopranos, I am warm and asleep by 9:30. I hope I can keep this sleep pattern when I am back in the States. It is nice waking at 6:30 each morning and not needing an alarm clock. What's life in the winter compared to the summer.In the summer: All your free time is spent walking in town until 9:30pm or 10 then slowly making it back home. Between 12 and 5;00 much of the town shuts down because of the heat and often the water is off citywide. If your a young guy, you hang out after 10:00pm...the women however are in their homes by 9:00. During the day the locals spend much of their time at the Beach, 6 kilometers away. After a day at the beach, many walk around the town of Lezhe.

Winter time:Free time is spent in the house or if you are a guy, in the pubs. Women only go out to shop for food and supplies. This takes place between 9:00 and 5..after that the town shuts down. Pubs are open and only men are there. The women are home for the day at 4:30 not to be seen again until the next day. Streets are empty by 6:00 pm.

For me yesterday was great. I started the day going to Tirana and read a bit of Mark Twain in a coffee shops...I then went to see "Body of Lies " at the local movie house. The girl at the ticket window remembered my ability to speak shqip from several weeks ago and said "enjoy the movie" in English"...Man that pissed me off...Here she was trying to be nice and I wanted to smack her for remembering my "outstanding" shqip abilities. The movie was great and worth the $3.00 or $11.00 including coffee and transportation.

Back in Lezhe, I went to how private home with the other PC volunteers for Snacks. It was the home of an American Missionary and he and his family (wife and 4 kids )have been in Albanian for just over 2 years. There were 10 of us all together for lots of American style deserts. We played a few board games (apples to apples) and (telephone pictionary). At 9:00 pm myself the 3 boys a few of his friends, and one of the PC volunteers headed to a bar and watched the NFL playoffs Cardinals vs Eagles...great game and the first football game I have watched since march of last year. The pub stayed open for us until 12:00. Only in Albania can a kid stay out til 12:00 at night in a pub...The oldest kid was 17 the youngest about 11. The game was broadcast from the internet onto a big screen for us..Needless to say we were the only ones that cared about it. An All American Day

I am lucky to be alive today..It is not because of the unathourized and unsupervised use to fireworks in town...or the wild drivers in bad wheather who drive just as fast in the rain as they do in the summer...but because I survived my New Years Dinner. One of the locals had a few people over for dinner. 4 types of sausages, some local fruitvegetable plate, appetizers, byrek, and a huge turkey....All seems good so far right...the person who invited us over, and who cooked was sicker than a dog...for the last 3 days I had seen him get sicker and sicker as the New Year came closer. At 8 we started dinner and true to form, as for the last few days, he was still sneezing and coughing...and did so ...While serving..while talking...will cutting...while cooking...while bringing out...while, while, while......no mouth covering...even if he did...he would still be using his hands...I ate about 1/2 of what I would have anyway and hoped for the best in a couple of days...as of now..I am not sick...It was a great spread...tasted okay....but could not take advantage of the hospitality in which it was meant.....

As for the New Years Eve in Lezhe. It consists of a freeforall of fireworks....people all over town...focused in the center however, shoot off home fireworks...Shooting at cars driving...parked cars, into 5 story balconies, into crouds..etc....It was about 1 hour of excitement and ducking for cover occassionally. It was great to experience, but next year...I will try the New Year in another country. As far as I know, there were no deaths or injuries....It was then I realized that Lezhe does not have a firedepartment....But who needs one? The buildlings are made of brick and cement...the trees were lumbered during communism for wood and so that the country could use the land for agriculture. It was never replanted...

NYears in Tirana I heard started at 1200 midnight for the parties. Before then they all stay with their families and celebrate like Christmas...Most people stay out until sunrise...

Two days ago a few vollunteers Leslie and Amber came to visit me. We spent the day having coffee and pizza and the next day took the train from Mirlot to Tirana to have breakfast at the Stevenson Center (a local that serves American food). I had pancakes with whipcream and strawberries..We then parted...and I went to get my luggage at the Airport. (only 5 days late) After a production with transportation back to Lezhe, I carried my bag, one that is 52 lbs for 1 mile..in the rain and with a head wind..I was so cold that I stopped by the bank..with a 24 hour guard for cover and he invited me in to sit by his heater to defrost. Then with only 100 yards from home, I had to stop again since my hands could no longer carry the suitcase, and with only dirt/mud roads I could not put the bag down every 20 yards. I finally made it home to find that we had no water...

Today is January 4 and for the first time in 5 years it snowed...totally beautiful and only made better that there has been now water for 20 hours and now no electricty for about 16 hours. Who needs to see, heat, drink or go to the bathroom when there is snow on the ground. Today is a day of reading and the internet cafe...on project done...now a day of reading.

Sorry all, it has been two weeks since my entry...and in case you are wondering, my laptop is finally running well. As good as new. I even have the updated versions of Microsoft XP and everything else. It was almost worth the wait. My wireless is also working so I can now go to an internet cafe plug in my computer and work for free. Now/today is the first day for this.

Work update..Language classes with co-workers...Going well. My first few classes I thought went very well since I wrote the lesson plan myself, but then my co-workers wanted me to follow a book recommended by the local schools. The book was not written by native English Speaker and is loaded with improper grammer and miss spellings. The class likes using the book, so I asked my fellow "English Teachers" from the Peace Corps why Albanians like the using books. They said it was because every subject is highly regulated in the schools, and teachers are required to teach only what they are instructed to teach, and the books are their resourse...This leads to a lack of imagination in the classroom and very boring lessons in all subjects, but it is how most Albanians feel comfortable learning....so for now.."its by the book"

Language in Schools. I am pretty worthless there so far. The teacher and I go over the lesson in the morning before class 7:15 to 8:00 and she tells me what to read and where to jump in. Those books are so messed up that I try to encourage her to skip some of the lessons in them...She says that in Albania, if you skip lessons, even if they are poorly written and impossible to do according to the instructions, you do them...Why...because students will feel that the teacher is skipping them because they cannot do them...We teach them anyway...the kids get them wrong...but are impossible to get right...and the students feel that they are stupid not the teachers....humm......

As for my 3 girls (daughter of those I work with...they are doing well. I did a review of words from many weeks ago, they still got most of them...but now we have to really start working on speaking. They can translate well from English to Shqip and Shqip to English but cannot form sentences orally.

Work Projects...."Neser" i will start them...I tried to set up a meeting with my director last week to pin him down on projects that I have started or can start, or his vision of my role here at the Department. He said he has not had time to think about it, so we went to a meeting in another city...had coffee for a couple of hours with a few people and came home. End of day....

Hows My Shqip.

1. I was walking one day by a cafe and waved to a woman in the cafe that I thought I knew. She looked at me funny and after a closer look, I realized it was not her...Then...3 big guys come out of the bar...one her fiance, and started asking me "What is up!!!"... in Shqip, and made lots of toughguy jestures and words...needless to say...I ended up having a beer with the boys...and the next day played one of the guys in PingPong..He said he was #1 player in Lezhe...Not any more...thank you very much...we had a few beers and called it a night.

2. I set up a pre-test for myself with head of language department in the Peace Corps. She ended or session by calling my language teacher and complimented her on her teachings...She said "not her words" He butchers the language in terms of grammer and pronounciations, but speaks in sentances and I can understand what he is trying to communicate...and he can understand me...His vocabulary is comming along well. ............I am happy with that...See above example for my communication abilities.

3. I am really tired of studying. I just want to start reading some books. I have only read one since getting here.

Ping Pong:There is still one guy I have not seen since he beat me, so am waiting for him to come back in to try again.

Mistakes Made

The computer guy said that in some places around my apartment I have wireless internet access. One day about 5:00ish I set out to find it. I figured most of the kids in the hood knew who I was, and while being interested, would leave me alone. Within 5 minutes I had about 15 kids around me all ages and most of which I had not seen before and some asking for money, thinking I was rich being and American with a Laptop. Most stopped asking for money after a few words but ..... Opps,........ I later talked to my counterpart/coworker about it, she said that they all are good kids and while talk tough, will leave you alone and besides, like most people here, think that peace corps people are really CIA or FBI or Police. Kinda Cool Ey? Others feel that I am in training to be a housewife, since I have been spotted hanging my laundry outside my balcony and cook my own meals....

In my attempt to type yesterday, I forgot to mention some guests I had. They were two Bikers, a couple, traveling through much of Eastern Europe on their bikes. I ran into them in a city just North of Lezhe while I was visiting a fellow Peace Corps Volunteer. They were talking to a few other people when I heard English being spoken. Not wasting an opportunity to talk English, I talked to them and invited them to visit as they passed Lezhe, only a days ride away. The next day as I was walking home from and English lesson about 7:00 at night I ran into them. I felt so bad since they had been all over town looking for because the number I gave them was a digit short...Anyway, I found them only about 100 meters from my place. Phillip and Elisabeth were great company and it was fun hearing some of their stories of the trip. Lezhe that night was not at its best since it was raining and while we went to one of my favorite pizza places (during the summer) it lacked the charm inside while it is raining outside. They got and earful of stories about life in Albania and crashed that night on my couch. I went to work the next morning and they were off to another city, visiting another castle and later who knows....

Looking back after over a week away from the computer and internet I saw that my cat story has to be finished...sadly, it is...I never saw the kitten again. As for my computer and the office computers...still not working. I am now in the Internet cafe of our Computer guy hoping he will drop by......

Now New Stuff. Last week, my director tells me we are going to Puke for an exhibition and presentation. He said wear warm clothing and that the presentation will be much like the one we organized 2 months earlier in our region....

After we get there..we are standing around in the middle of the street and this young lady with a headset is walking around looking kinda stressed....After a few minutes of watching her walk with her head cut off... the doors to the municipality open, and a bunch of BIG guys in nice suits walk out.....Followed by....... President Topi (the George Bush of Albania)...The band of Big guys make their way in our direction, parting the masses of people, and Topi is stopping to shake hands with all those in his path...(one was me)...sooo cool

Following the handshake...we wander to the Auditorium and we sit near the front. Shortly thereafter President Topi walks on stage and he sits directly in front of me....It was the stage, followed by the orchestra pit, and 3 rows of seats between me and the President of Albania...sooo cool..... After the presentation and serveral speeches later, we went to a large hall and had lunch, with the president and about 350 other people. Good food, beer paid for by Albanian government and lots of Power in the room. Later that day, I met the Vice President of the Department of Agriculture...had coffee with him and 8 others and including the Head of Rural Development. He spoke English and we talked for about 1/2 hour on his visions and how the Department of Agriculture and his Department can work together. I got his card, and hopefully he can help implement my projects if I ever get the GO...

Beside being the only one dressed in a sweater...everyone else had ties...I had a pretty good afternoon. That night I went to a party thrown by my neighbor...He and his Bride (someday wife, his possible 3rd wife after 5 kids from 3 mothers her having 2 of them ages 2 and 4). What they were celebrating I am not sure but she had on a wedding dress. Not an engagement I am sure of that but I can only assume she was wearing it as a hint.

This last weekend starting at 7:30 Thursday morning, I get a call from my host dad from Shales. (See pictures at albanianwindow.blogspot.com) saying that he is coming up for a visit that day. Time unknown. At about 11:30 am he arrives with his brother and a driver as they are passing through on business.(his brother being a veterinarian with the Department of Agriculture. They were totally impressed with my house and liked Lezhe a lot. My host dad had not ever been that far north before. I took them to my favorite (bar/restaurant) which is owned by and older guy, former communist, and the 4 of them had a great time talking and making fun of my superior language skills....When the bill came, the owner put the bill next to me...me forgetting the culture...took it...4 pizzas and 2 bottles of wine...1/8 of my months pay went to that meal....Nobody offered to pay since they all think that I am now rich working for the Department of Agriculture and living in a newly remodeled flat. In Albania..there is only the noun "volunteer" there is no verb "to volunteer".....I guess it was worth it, they talked about it on the ride back. I guess it makes up for all the meals, beer, and cafe, they bought me when I was living in Shales.

They gave me a ride to Shales where I was going to go the next day anyway for the 40 day ceremonies of the host dad that died last month. I stayed with my host family again for the night...Host mom understanding me fine...Host dad...gave up months ago. Computer update(the computer guy just walked in....he said he will fix my laptop neser (tomorrow)...the busiest workday of the week in Albania)

That was followed by a night in Elbasan...3rd largest city in Albania. There were 8 other volunteers staying there in Preparation for the picnic we had for the new Georgian Volunteers who were evacuated from Georgia after the Russians attacked it. They were a nice group and I kinda felt sorry for them having to learn another language. Heck they are young. ...they can handle it.

Other stuff: Last week was my first day teaching English to my co-workers. 2 groups, the true beginners and beginners who had English 15 years ago. I also have my first day as the tokan male American Teacher at the private school. I do conversational English. No lesson planning only lesson reviewing. That gives me 10-12 hours of English Teaching a week. More than many of the volunteers who are teachers.....Just in case you did not know, I am a COD volunteer. Community and Organizational Development. All for now, I am paying for this online usage at the computer guys place.

For the last 4 days or so the computers in the office are shutting down. In September, our specialist, put an antivirus on our computer. Now most of our office computers are down, including my laptop and many the computers in his internet cafe are down. ... so he cannot fix ours just yet...until his business is up an running again. hummm

So last night, walking in my hood, I saw for the second night in a row this little kitten about 6 weeks old hidding in the corner on the steps leading to the road. This time, I could not walk by him,which I did the night before so reluctantly. I picked him up, took him home, bathed him, made him a bed (box and dishtowel),fed him some kos(yoguart) and tried to kill the pound and a half of fleas on him. He slept quietly UNTIL..................about 4:00 am. What do you do? Since I live on the second floor, I marched him out and let wander outside...... he did not come back. Ouch....If you were at cat..what is a better life, indoors 24/7 with food, shelter and 10-16 hours a day in a small room by yourself or out in the my hood...I decided he has a place to sleep if I see him again, food if I see him again but being stuck indoors....I would hate it.

End of the cat story for now. All my sence of respondabity is up in the air and feeling kinda guilty and not sure if I did the right thing.

This was a weekend of what to expect as fall and winter approaches. Sunday and today, it rained so much that coming out of a another PC apartment yesterday, my foot was completely covered in water. It was so deep in the entry way that the bricks they use to walk on, where completely underwater and I could not even see them as I wandered to the sidewalk. The clothes that I had hanging out to dry were wetter when I brought them in than when I put them out.

As for the good things...Friday we had a meeting in Tirana (the capital). In the wake of the evacuation of Georgia we had our refresher on what to do in an emergency. It was a full day leaving the Friday night and Saturday night open for some heavy money spending activity. Saturday night, we went to one club called the "Living Room" was on the the top floor/roof on an old ugly building overlooking the city. It sold Corona Beer for $6.00 and Heineken for $5.00. OUCH...at most places, beers go for $2.00. The place was incredible, and since we were "Rich Americans", they gave us a reserved table. We showed them my nursing our beers, some for over 2 hours. They I am sure were real happy with that.

Friday night was spent at the movie house seeing Ironman. It was awesome. Maybe the fact I have not seen a movie in 6 months affected my opinion but it was a great movie. 5 guys just going to the movies was a blast. Why was it so fun for me with 5 guys (I share my office with 3 ladies, in Lezhe, are 3 PC women, and while in Shales there were 4 PC women and me....

The movie house had real chairs, not seats, with small armrest tables and wide armrests. Lots of cushion. Definately worth the $7.00 or 600 leke.

As for this week coming up it is make or break. If my director does not give me the okay for doing some projects...I may have to go somewhere else. World Vision or Opportunity Albania.

a couple NGO set up here to help Albanians. All for now, still paying for internet use.

Hey All,

So you are wondering what the effect Russian's invasion of Georgia, has on us. Well, there were Peace Corps Volunteers there and they were evacuated. Each person was given the option to go home, or finish there service in Albania. Many of the them had been in service for a year and chose to go home. Some had just finished training and were about to leave for their sites. Most of those that had done their one year chose to leave, those that just went through training came here. Albania now has about 15 new voluteers. Gota go

Gossip News in Albania,

We may have the first dropout of our group. Why..who knows. Group 9 had over a 25% dropout rate.... We are group 11......Modern Technology ...makes the grapevine move so much faster.

Good News....The Peace Corp person that set us up in our jobs, housing and, came for a visit yesterday. We talked a lot about work and shes had mentioned that she has set up a meeting with herself, my director, me and the head of the Department of Agricutrure. She liked my ideas and hoped that we could get the Head of Agriculture to help us get the ball rolling on many of our projects.

Bad news...the school I will be teaching 4 hours a week at has also recruited another PeaceCorp Volunteer..she is cuter, younger, always smiling...Speaks very good Shqip...We went to the meeting with the school director together and he dragged her into the fun. She has the young kids, I get the older kids...Comparisons in Shqip abililities are always a fun thing to be a part....hummmmm.

Today, I am taking off to another city ...Schroldera(spelling) North of here. This is one of the cities where I would have really liked to have been place..Job Wise, no, but city wise...It is supposed to be progressive, and very active, with lots of bicycles and places to go. It is one of the larger cities in Albania.

My computer is not working for some reason....computer story has more to come..not interesting stuff but can be a major problem here.

Yesterday was Labor Day so the 4 of us PC volluteers in Lezhe got together for a dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, onion rings, watermellon, and of course beer. The grease involved in such a meal just does wonders for ones figure and nights sleep. Last night I had an idea for a new home video called "Stomachs gone wild" I am sure all of you have not only seen such fun but experienced it.

Please notice on the ride side of my entry is the mailing address if you want to send package with $5.00 worth of cookies for $50.00....please don't or if you just want to send regular mail. Plan on a minimum of 10 days.

Also included on the side are my friends stores/businesses. Check them out.

August 29. On Monday Gjavajir, the host dad of one of my Training Sitemates in Shales died. He was working on the second floor with some electrical wiring and was electricuted. We found out on Thursday and by Thursday night, myself and 2 other of us who had training in Shales had gone back to Shales to pay our respects. This week the remaining 2 volunteers will be there. Gjavajir, treated Stephanie as one of his daughters calling her nearly daily after she left Shales. He was also the host dad that helped us the most with our community projects. He was only 58 years old, and looked and acted like he was 45. Something unseen here in Albania. From 30 to 80 you just look and act old all the time. While the funeral was 2 days earlier, there were still people coming by to pay their respects. All week the family (wife,sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren) remained at the home and greeted those that dropped by. Lots of silence, and a fair amount of eating. I stayed with my former host family for the first time since I left them in June . It kinda felt like going home again. I even spoke to them in Shqip. It was not pretty, and conversational moments lessened drastically after the first hour but they still could ask me questions, and me of them. Havash Havash (spelling) Step by Step. They cooked my favorite meal, turned the TV on the the American Movie Station with Shqip subtitles and we were back to normal again. We watched a really bad (is there any other)Steven Seigal movie and an okay Clint Eastwood, Charlie Sheen movie. Following the services in Shales, I took the furgon back to Elbasan, the old Peace Corps office and I met up with one of the PC English teachers for coffee to discuss the business plan I had written and Emailed to her. After about 10 minutes of business discussion and 3 hours later, I left back for Lezhe, only 3.5 hours to home. As for her doing the business...... in Albania, venturing into the unknown and with something that requires lots of work is something that is seldom done. I hope she does, but....neser is part of her culture too. Since the Peace Corps is one week late in paying us and I am living on borrowed money, I decided stay at home Saturday and took a hike to the telephone tower. The tower is at the top of a large foothill, that from the top, one can see, what seems, forever. Most of the locals had know I idea how to get up there. After getting what seemed to be the right answer from someone who seemed to know, I ventured up there. About have way up, it got pretty confusing so a stopped to ask a sheepherder. A lady who was nearby working on her home, heard the confusion and came to the rescue. She spoke okay English having lived in England for a year and invited me over for coffee. I met her cousin, mother, aunt, newphew and son. Her husband was in Italy. Anyway after about 30 minutes of me talking ½ Shquip and her talking ½ English, she decided that going on a hike with me was more fun than building her new home. So we went on a 2 hour hike. When we had finally go up there, the 4x4 trucks that passed us going up, asked us who we were...Albina, (my new friend) did all the talking. As it turns out, Albina's kid and one of the guys kids , went to school together. The workers then liked us even more and they opened a few gates and let us climb around a bit on the towers. We just did the roof top adventure however, the towers were a bit much for Albina, and I kinda got the feeling the workers may have gotten too carried away with hospitality. I finished the day with Frisbee with the some neighborhood kids and homework (PC quarterly reports due in 2 weeks). Too give you all an idea of pay and life out here...her male cousin, also building a home not far from hers, is a teacher. He makes about $200 a month, and is the sole supporter of himself, wife, 3 kids. I get just a bit more than that a month and feel restricted. The people at my job make a bit more than I do, and they have what is considered good jobs.

For those of you that have forgotten my last blog...it was "albanianwindow.blogspot.com". This one is "newalbanianwindow.blogspot.com".

My next blogging session will have my mailing address for anyone that wants to spend $50.oo to send $5 worth of Cookies, or a letter...much cheaper.

Last time I left you with blood on my leg and pants. Today I start with, the blood got on my sheets too. Somedays this place drives me crazy, the driving here while I don't want to say is bad, because I could not drive here, it is lawless, crazy and filled with a bunch of A Holes. I see several bicycle tourists and they, like me on my trip, are blessed with naivety. If they knew how their close calls are intentional and that if something happened, few would help, then I am sure most would not come...well maybe..I would have still made the trip. The only law the seems to make sense is "I am more important than you, so I will go faster and be first" Arggg!!!

Last weekend was filled with localized adventure. In a town only 1 hour away is a resort called Nor Park......It had a great restaurant and swimming pool. A great alternative to the beach. The place was clean, pool and deck were large and more importantly very very clean. Only problem. No rules. There was lots of running pushing, yelling....... all part of being Albanian.

Another adventure was that I found a clean gym. It just opened up a few weeks ago and hopefully they will run it differently than the other gym in town. The owner is a karate instructor and his brother and dad work there too. The owner speaks English, so we had a good talk about gyms. When I went there in the morning 6:00 am, the only other people there were two Americans who have been in Albania for 15 years on a religious mission. They work with the Bee Farmers, so I had met him before. Yes as in Bee (honey). They are an older couple who keep to themselves mostly, but have made themselves available to PC volunteers if needed..

Spare time summary: Between Ping-Pong, the full serious of the "Godfather" on DVD, a good gym and lots of cafes to study shqip and read, I pretty much have enough to keep me busy during the winter months.

Next months also starts my teaching/playing games in English at a school 3 hours a week along with my teaching English here at work 2 hours week. Including the teaching I am doing now, it looks like 10hours a week teaching.

As for my projects, Kozeta my counter part came back from holiday. We discussed some projects and hopefully next week when the director gets back from vacation, we will get rolling on a few things. Since Kozeta has been on vacation and is the only one that speaks English, and since many of the other department heads have also been on vacation, and since the lights go out for hours at a time, the last month has been filled with me wandering from office to office talking Shqip. These people are so great, allowing my to butcher their language and use only the simplest of words. Some of the conversations lasted almost 1/2 hour and I had fun...I hope they did. Some topics were interesting, some not. As for how good my Shqip is...I had a problem at the bank with my account, they spoke no English...I got it fixed in only a few minutes...was not pretty, but they never got mad nor reached over the counter to slug me. All for now, off to English class. I am sure you are thinking...we cannot even understand Peter, and now a whole country is going to talk like him........get over it.

Hello folks, now you have experienced our first problem with trust. I am sorry we have had to change but I cannot write whatever is on my mind when others are involved. Detail in last Email.

Last weekend was a Beer Festival in one of the cities across the country. While it was only 300 kilometers away it took me 8 hours to get there and 6 hours to get back. I was in the city of Korce. The drinking was not the fun part but the next day was when we wandered to a nearby village. Myself 2 Peace Corps Volunteers, hooked up with an Austrailian and went on a self walking tour. Richard the Australian was what they call "Couch Surfer" He travels around the country sleeping on peoples couch. There is a website I believe couchsurfer.com where people around the country with couches to spare in their homes, allow travelers to sleep there He was a 20 year old kid, out on the road for 18 months traveling the world. Not a bad education. What Richard did is look up someone in Albania who had a couch and after visiting Greece came to visit our Peace Corps friends in Korce Albania.

Back to story....After 5 months of seeing sheep in the middle of the road, Donkeys carrying large amounts of produce and pigs in my yard I now take things for granted. Richard had his eyes wide open and took pictures right and left. It was a great way to again appriciate what and where I am. I had the most fun, when a local, saw us wandering in his village and insisted on taking us to a church he was building himself. The other two Peace Corps members speak Shqip very well but he still insisted on talking to me. Anyway, we were with him for almost and hour and I pretty much understood all he was trying to say and he understood me. I will not say it was a pretty conversation...he used easy words and I used easier words, with gestures and sound affects but non-the-less we talked for an hour.

Chuch history:

200 years old

Destroyed by explosion killing his grandparents who were burried nearby;

Pictures of Christ on the wall represented his grandparents and parents

He works most of the year in Greece

Works on building the church only 2-3 months a year

I only wish I had been able to speak more Shqip. He had a vast wealth of history in his heart and would have loved to been able to talk in detail about it.

Things I get mad at...Last night in the dark, I moved out of the way of someone walking...fine..they moved also....I smacked my leg on this steel rod sticking out of the sidewalk about a foot. WHY it was there WHO knows...WHO...Cares nobody...WHO I want to SMACK...the workers that left it there many years ago, and the government for letting such hazards stay there...Who to blame..me...I knew it was there. I have walked by them many times...just forgot while I was being nice...A bloody leg with blood on my pants for being polite

All for now.