Goce Delcev Primary School

    Today was my first day of schoool (as mom would say)!!!!  My new schools name is Goce Delcev Primary School; it has students from Kindergarten to 8^th grade.  Irena and I were the first ones to arrive since it was her day to watch the students that arrive early from the villages.  I was introduced to the other teachers and the director.  I went with Irena to her 5^th grade and 4^th grade classes and I also went with the other English teacher to the other 5^th grade class.  Irena does not have her own classroom so she has to take all of her materials with her.  All of the students were excited to see me, but shy to ask me questions in English.  I told and showed them that my Macedonian is not good hoping that would break the ice, but it is going to take some time. The younger grades have one teacher for all of the subjects, except English, and the older grades have a different teacher for each subject.  There are 3 English teachers total at the school and around 400 students.

    We finished up around 11, yes I know that is early, since we had to meet my landlord in order to register me at the police station.  This is something that each foreign has to do when they travel in Macedonia.  When I was staying at the hotel, the hotel registered me as their guest, but when I was staying with Lydia she had to register me at the closes police station to Lozovo saying that I was staying with them.  I am not sure the exact cause of it, but it seems like a good idea.  The consequence for not registering with the police is that both (the person who did not register and the person who was not registered) get a large fine.  Something I have heard has happened to some volunteers when family and friends have come to visit.

    After the trip to the police station, Irena and I went back to school for a teachers meeting.  Today was the beginning of a new schedule at the school.  There is a village school that is getting some construction work done.  So the students and teachers from the village school will be using our school until June.  All of the schools in Macedonia work in shifts, there are 2 shifts in a day (1^st shift 8-1 and 2^nd shift 1-5).  In the larger Primary schools they have the older students in the morning and the younger students in the afternoon, but since my school only has 400 students they only need one shift, so the village school will use the school during the 2^nd shift.  This change in schedule through off all of the teachers because they and not used to having other teachers using their classrooms.  Today was full of surprises, visiting school and a new teacher from America.

   Now its time for dinner, and I am working on some “make shift” tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes and onions, since finding tomato sauce in the grocery store is rare and if you do find it expensive.  I also do not have a lot of ingredients in my kitchen right now.  Oh well, “Ima Vreme” – In English, “there is time”.

I'm Back!!!!!

        Thursday was full of celebration.  It was not only Thanksgiving but the day when the 37 Macedonian trainees became volunteers.  I woke up early Thursday morning and started making deviled eggs, my contribution to the Thanksgiving pot luck meal.  Afterwards, Lydia, my host mom, and I got on a bus with the other 7 trainees in Lozovo and members of their host family and we were all off to Kumanovo for the celebration.  When we arrived we met the other trainees and their host families at a restaurant located outside of Kumanovo.  All of the host families sat with the other families in their towns and the trainees were all sent upstairs to take our “official” Peace Corps MAK 15 photo.  After the photo shot we all lined up, in alphabetical order waiting for our grand entrance. Once the American Ambassador for Macedonia arrived the ceremony started.  It was full of speeches, from the Peace Corps Country Director, the Minister of Education and Science, and the American Ambassador.  The American Ambassador was the one who swore us in as Peace Corps volunteers. Each new volunteer was called up and we were handed a certificate, by the Ambassador, saying that we had completed our training.  The most memorial part of the whole ceremony was when we all sang the American national anthem and then sang the Macedonian national anthem, which all of the host families joined in and sang with us.  After the wonderful ceremony, it was food time.   We were warned before to eat a big breakfast!! Macedonians do not know what a buffet line is so you have to try and push your way to the table.  People were filling up their plates, and by the time those on the outside of the mob got to the table there was only a little bit left, but there was plenty of turkey!!! Peace Corps had order the turkeys in August from the states so there was plenty to go around.  After everyone had their food and were eating they were still bring out turkeys.  There were many families that went and got plate full of turkey and put them in plastic baggies for other members of the family or grabbed the bones for the dog.  The true meaning of the word “doggie bag”.  The Lozovo training community celebrated our first night as volunteers and our last night in Lozovo by having some drinks at Café Bar Trend and then going home to finish up our packing.

     Friday was not spent at the malls of stores, like many people were doing in the states, but instead full of suitcases and boxes because that was moving day to out new sites.  The Peace Corps car came to Lozovo at 7am to help us take all our things to the Veles bus station instead of us moving our things from bus to bus.  As many of you know I am not the one for knowing how to pack light, so I had 3 suitcases, an electric heater, 3 boxes, a backpack, and a purse.  Thank goodness there was only 2 of us scheduled to leave Lozovo at 7am, because there would not have been room in the van for anyone else’s things, I packed enough for 2 haha.  After a 3 hour bus ride I arrived in Resen in the pouring rain.  Irena and her father were waiting for me and they helped me get my bags and boxes off the bus.  I had warned Irena before hand of all the “stuff” I would be bring, so my landlord also showed up to help and had his car with him so we did not have to carry all my stuff in the rain to my apartment.  My apartment is not far from the bus stop, 5 minute walk, but with all that stuff and in the rain we would have never made it.  My landlord is very nice, he and his wife, they used to live in this apartment and raised their children here so there and many memories here as well.

      Now I know you all want to SEE the apartment, BUT I am still unpacking and I do not want to post pictures with boxes and clothes everywhere, since last time when I posted pictures of Lydia’s house I was “scolded” by my nana that I did not make my bed.  And I do not want to show you all a messy apartment, so pictures will come later.  For now you can just image what it looks like.  I would let you to close your eyes so you can image it, but then you would not be able to read the description….  My apartment is on the 4^th floor, the top floor (definitely a way for me to get my exercise).  Through the front door you enter a hallway.  On the wall there are floor to ceiling wardrobes where I will put all my clothes (challenge: getting used to going in the hall each morning to get my clothes, definitely not used to that).  At the end of the hall is the bathroom, it has the standard, toilet, sink, and a tub with a shower spout and a HOT WATER BOILER!!!! I have to let the hot water heat up before using it, but still its HOT WATER!!!!  Next to the bathroom is the door that goes to the living room.  There is a couch, a coffee table, and an shelving unit that has some tea cups and tea pot inside for decoration and a TV.  There are pictures on the walls and curtins on the windows and a rug under the coffee table.  There is also a heater to keep the room warm in the winter.  It a minimalist style, but it is very nice and cozy.  To the right of the living room is my bed room, which has a bed, a couch, and a table.  There is also a door in the bedroom that goes out to a balcony.  You can see the snow topped mountains off in the distance. To the left of the living room is the kitchen, it has a convection oven looking thing with 2 burns.  I am going to have to figure out how to cook with it and there is also a stove, where the oven does not work and that has 4 burners that do work.  So I can do a lot of stove top cooking, but will have to figure out how to use the small oven.  There are two sinks, I use one and have a dish drying rack in the other.  There are two cabinets above the sinks which have some plates, utensils, and cups that my landlords brought me.  There was no other kitchen supplies (pots, pans, etc) so I will buy what I need as I need it.  There is a kitchen table with 4 chairs and I am looking for or might try to build a bookcase so I will have a place to store food. 

      Each day I try to do something different.  Saturday my project was getting the bathroom organized.  I bought a nice plastic drawer set so I have a place to put my things and have a place to store extra things and I felt better going in there today now that everything has a place.  As time goes on I will get to each room and it will start to feel more like home.  Also on Saturday my internet was installed.  I pay for a certain number of giga bites per month so I have to make sure that I use my internet time wisely and do not watch youtube videos or download music cause that takes up a lot of giga bite.  In time I will figure it out, but according to Irena the amount of giga bite that I have per month is plenty, you just have to watch what you are doing on the internet.

     Today’s project was unpacking my clothes and putting them in the wardrobes. They are nice and big, but do not have any drawers to put socks and things like that.  So today, after coffee in the center with Irena I bought a set of hanging shelves so I can put socks and other things away.  One small project a day and it will start to feel more like home.

    Tomorrow is my first day at school!! I am excited to meet all the teachers and the students and supposedly the students are very excited to meet me.  We passed one 8^th grade boy on the street on Friday night and the next day I saw that he asked to be my friend on facebook.  Irena said that he will be bragging that he got to see me first.

That’s all I have for now, I will let you all know how school goes tomorrow!!! Wish me luck!!!!

Harry Potter and a Big Mac!!!!!!!!

Saturday Michelle's group went back to the mall in Skopje to see the new Harry Potter movie.  Their Language Teacher's son works at the mall and got them all tickets.  It was in English with Macedonian subtitles.  It was a little noisy due to the fact that the kids were just watching and talking not reading the subtitles.  Michelle's group didn't care, they got to see Harry Potter on opening day!!!! while they were in the Peace Corps!!!  and a Big Mac on top of it!!!!  Michelle ordered her Big Mac in Macedonian and she said that the people waiting on her gave her the thumbs up that she did ok.

Friday they did the language evalutions and Michelle felt that she passed --- they get the results on Monday when they are in Kumanovo for their last HUB meeting.  Michelle has decided that she will take advantage of the additional lessons offered by the PCorps when she gets to Resen.  Just to be safe.

Tuesday and Wednesday they are going to wrap up the language lessons by learnng how to answer questions like "What is the PCorps?" "Why are you here and what do you do?"

Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) is a big day.  All the trainees will go to a restaurant in Kumanovo. 
The PCorps ordered turkeys from the US in August.  Each of the groups is assigned to bring either appetizers, vegetables, deserts etc.  The restaurant will cook the turkeys for the feast.  Each  of the trainees can bring two host family members. All the PCorps Volunteers in Macedonia are also invited for the feast.  At the end of the dinner, all the PCorps trainees will be sworn in as PCorps Volunteers.  They will then sing
our national anthem and the Macedonian national anthem.   When Michelle gets back to her host family's house we'll have a family telephone call. We'll all be at home waiting to congratulate her and have a nice family visit on the phone.  Friday Michelle will say goodbye to her host family and head to Resen where Irena will be waiting for her when the bus arrives.  It will be tough saying goodbye; but Michelle has already mentioned that she will be back to visit her host family during their Christmas in January. 

With a busy week ahead I probably won't post again until Saturday.  Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Kathy         

Return to Lozovo and Resource Day

Michelle headed back to Lozovo Sunday morning.  Irena gave her a big bag of apples to share with her family and friends.  It was a quick but wonderful visit.  Michelle will head back to Resen on the Friday after Thanksgiving to live.  She has found out that she will have a one bedroom apartment on the 4th floor (top floor) of an apartment next to where Irena lives.  Michelle found out that it is the school's responsibility to find accommodations for PCVolunteers.  The PCorps then comes in to check and approve.  They must also provide the basics:  a stove, bed, table and couch.  Michelle will also have a bathroom with a hot water boiler.  Wonderful accommodations for the PCorps!!!! She will also be given 5,000 dinars or $100 to buy pots, pans, sheets etc.  No washer or dryers in Macedonia.  So Michelle will get a drying rack and wash her clothes by hand.  Earlier, the PCorps provided the group will room heaters while they were with their host families when it got cold a little bit earlier than usual; she will be bringing that with her when she moves.  She will also be able to get internet (at her expense).   Michelle is extremely excited and pleased with her living situation.

On Monday, the group headed to Skopje for "Resource Day."   They visited The American Corner there and the British Counsel  where they talked about teaching and community development.  They also visited the English Center where they distribute textbooks from the Oxford Book Company.  She said that they had all types of books.  For lunch they went to the RamStore Mall, which is the only mall (like Tysons) in Macedonia.  You walk through the doors and head up the escalators and there at the top was a McDonald's!!!!!!!! It was in a food court.  Michelle had Chinese food --- a spicy peanut chicken on brown rice for about $4.00.  It was a huge portion and delicious.  Most of the group headed to McD's!!!!!!! Afterwards they went to an ice cream place where Michelle had fig ice cream --- another huge portion for about 50 cents.  It was freshly made and amazing.

The group then went to the PCorps headquarters.  When they walked in, the first thing they saw was the reference desk (reception) and on the wall behind the desk was a picutre of every current volunteer in Macedonia!!!! Michelle loved it!!!!! They also found out that they each have a mail box to use for inter-PCorps mailings; so they can contact other volunteers if they would like.  The office has a library and a medical examiner's office.  This is where everyone goes to for medical attention.

While they were traveling into the city in the morning by bus they got caught in traffic with everyone going to work.  Michelle she got so excited because it reminded her of home!!!!!   Everyone in the group was laughing at her because she was so excited about the traffic!!!!  There was actually a heard of sheep walking through the city amongst the cars.  You won't find that in No.Virginia.  There's no such thing as traffic in Lozovo just buses, people walking and cattle!!!!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are language lessons.  The group is getting ready for Friday when they take their LPI or Language Proficiency Interview.  They need to pass at an intermediary level.  Michelle feels confident they she'll do well.  If they feel unsure, the PCorps will provide additional tutoring at their assigned sites.

Enough for today; will post  again on Sunday.  Kathy    

Resen

As you heard from her last blog, the PCorps sent Michelle to Resen on Saturday to get acquainted with where she will be living for the next two years.  She left early Saturday morning and Irena was waiting for her at the bus station.  They did a walk-about through town, and had a lovely family meal at her home.  John and I were extremely grateful for their hospitality.  Michelle said that the time spent with Irena and her family "felt like home."  What more do you need to hear!!!!  Michelle saw the local grocery store, post office, and the school where she will be working.  She stayed at the local hotel, where she had a HOT shower, internet and TV (it was like staying at the Ritz!!).  The hotel staff was very accommodating and wonderful.  She feels extremely comfortable with her surroundings and can't wait "to get in that school."  It was a  great weekend.  She headed back to Lovoso Sunday to her wonderful host family and will spend the next two weeks going to school and finishing up her language lessons.  This has been a wonderful experience.  Michelle is looking forward to her next step in the PCorps experience; but is already thinking about saying goodbye to her host family (and coming back to visit) and the little village she now lives in.   John and I are also extremely grateful to Lydia and her family who have welcomed Michelle into their home.  She feels like part of the family.   We will talk again on Tuesday/Wednesday and will post then.  Kathy

The city of Apples!!!

Hello Everybody, I know mom has been keeping you all updated.  Today was able to travel to Resen and see where I will be spending my time for the next 2 years and it is beautiful.  It took about 3 hours to get here by bus from Veles and the whole trip was up and down mountains.  This part of the country is very green and full of nature.  When we got close to Resen the first thing I started noticing where all the apple orchids around.  Resen produces tons of apples and through out the day every tracker that passed by had bags and bags of apples.  I have already told Nana that I want/need her apple pie recipe. When I arrived at the bus station Irena was there waiting for me.  We walked to her families apartment, which is in the building next to the one that I "might" be living in, will not know for sure until next week.  We sat and had coffee with her father for awhile and then we went on a walk around the town.  There is about 9000 people who live in Resen and about 15,000 when you include all the people that live in the surrounding villages.  It is just the right size and has everything that I would need.

This is a photo that I found on line, I took some pictures today but I left my camera cord in Lozovo. I have 2 years to take plenty of pictures.  After coffee, Irena and I walked through the center of town and today was pazar day, farmers market.  Here it is only on Saturdays, but there are 3 big grocery stores where I can get anything else I need.  The newest one, which is right in the center, looks like a grocery store from home.  It has anything I would need and more.  They had a whole aisle for coffee and another whole aisle for tea, unlike in Lozovo where there is only a few kinds on the shelve and you have to buy what you can get.

Irena helped me check into the hotel, Hotel Dior, and then we kept exploring the town.  I saw the outside of the school and it is very big and nice.  3 floors and they have received new windows and doors and computers for the Ministry of Education here.  It also has a central heating system, so it wont be cold teaching in the winter.   It is about a 10 minute walk from Irene's home, which is a piece of cake.  All of the classrooms face the south so there is tons of natural light and from the 3rd floor you can see the Chateau that is modeled after one in France.

It is a museum now which is housing a ceramic collection.  Irena and I walk through the exhibit and it was interesting hearing where all the artist came from.  They were current pieces of art work and every summer the is a month long camp around Lake Prespia, which is very close to Resen, and artist come from all over the world to create ceramic pieces and then some of the artist leave their work for the museum.  There was works from artists from New Zealand, Korea, and even from the states.  It will be interesting to see this camp over the summer and meet some of these artists.

After our walk we went back to Irena's home and her father had made lunch for us.  It was very good, chicken, Macedonian salad, which has tomatoes, cucs, onions and cheese on top, he also made oven roasted potatoes and a sour cream, mayo, and pickle sauce.  It was wonderful, I did not want to stop eating.  We rested awhile at her house and then were off walking again.  I saw all of Resen in one day lol.  Buses going to Ohrid, the big tourist location of the summer go right through Resen so it will be interesting to see all the vacation traffic in the summer.

I also meet Irena's mom, she works in a doctors office in Bitola, the 2nd biggest city in Macedonian and about 20 minutes outside of Resen.  It was funny listening to Irena's parents talking with one another because it reminded me of talks with my parents.  It does not matter what country you are in all parents are the same!!!

We ended the day by having coffee at one of the cafes.  When sitting in a nice cafe, listening to American music, and drinking a cappuccino, its moments like that that I forget that I am in the Peace Corps.  It makes sense why they call Macedonian Peace Corps, "Posh Corps".  After one day here I am very excited about being able to live here for the next 2 years!!!  That's all I have right now, I or mom will keep you all posted.  Right now I am trying to decided being watching Macedonian Idol, yes they have their own, or The Fresh Prince, in English.  Toooo many choices!!!

Meeting Irena

As mentioned in my last blog, the group went to Kumanovo to meet with the Counterparts that they met the previous week visiting their sites.  Michelle met with her new Counterpart, Irena, from Resen.  Michelle said that she was wonderful and that she and her new school were very excited about Michelle's coming to Resen.  Michelle will be working with 3/4 English teachers (3 that work at the school and another that works at two satellite schools). They are all very young and work and socialize alot together.  Michelle and Irena planned out her first month there.  The first week as introduction to the school and staff and observing.  Then phasing her in a little bit each week.  Michelle heard that the school has a Resource Room that has been neglected.  She jumped on that and plans to update and organize (one of Michelle's loves) the Resource Room with binders of lesson plans and resource materials.  She said that the teachers are very open to new ideas and teaching methods.  They are also open to after-school teaching seminars and clubs.  Macedonian schools run on 1/2 day schedules.  Michelle's school closes at l:30 each day.

While visiting with other Counterparts, Michelle heard of a place in the nearby city of Bitola (which is the second largest city in Macedonia and a 20 min bus ride away) called "The American Corner."  There PCVolunteers can go to get books in English and where ESL classes,  tutoring and workshops are available to Macedonians taught by the PCVolunteers.  During the discussion, Michelle mentioned that she ran over l00 workshops during her tenure as President of the SVEA.  The Counterparts were very interested, and this could be another venue for Michelle to get involved in.   

With teaching, teacher-training, the Resource Room Project and The American Corner, Michelle is very excited about her new assignment and all that she can do.

Irena mentioned that the teachers at the school do alot together in their spare time, including weekly aerobic classes.  Irena also mentioned that Resen is a beautiful little city with alot of historic architecture.  The PCorps is currently looking for an apartment for Michelle so she will hear about that later. 

So Tuesday was a great day and Michelle is very excited about her next step the end of November.  The rest of the week will be language lessons.  We'll talk again on Sunday and I'll post then.  Kathy 

New Assignment

Injevo had a volunteer (MAC14) who left early.  It left an uncomfortable atmosphere in both the village and the school.  The school now needs time to work things out.  Hopefully later on, the PCorps will be able to place another volunteer.  At the site meeting back in Losovo on Friday, the PCorps project manager who met with Michelle was very receptive to the situation.  Later that day, Michelle received word of her new assignment which is. . .

. . .Resen.  Resen is south close to the border of Greece.  Michelle is assigned to a Primary School of about 400 that has two satellite schools.  Michelle has heard that her Counterpart from Resen is very excited that she is coming.  On Tuesday, the group goes to Kumanovo to meet with their assigned Counterparts.  Michelle doesn't know if she will be able to visit Resen before her move date the end of November due to budgets/money, but she is very happy and excited about her new assignment and meeting her new Counterpart.

Today, the group went to Probishtip to attend a workshop on grants (how to obtain money for their schools and/or projects they might want to establish).  After the workshop, they went to a restaurant where Michelle had a "palichingki" or crepe filled with bananas and chocolate and topped with whipping cream and a cappuccino .  Yummy.  It cost about 100 dinars or $2.00.  Very yummy.

Today was also the Macedonian version of the Day of the Dead.  This is when families bring food and beverages to the local cemetary; and they spend time visiting with each other and pay respect to loved ones who have passed on.

Sunday is Michelle's host family's Saint Day.  Every house has a saint and every family has a certain Saint Day.  Family, again, gets together with food and beverages to celebrate their Saint.  Sunday the group is also talking about going to Stip for a Pasta Miley festival (food and wine).

Monday there will be language lessons.  Tuesday the group travels to Kumanovo to meet with their Counterparts.  I will blog on Wednesday.  I'll also have Jen add a link to this post that gives info on Resen tomorrow.  Kathy

Here's a link of Michelle's new town-Resen.
http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/?ItemID=7D670A5C9473FA4BBD3C4337BB2C8227