12 Reasons to Date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer

In the spirit of Valentine's Day Peace Corps posted this on their website.....

12 reasons to date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer:

1. We can woo you in multiple languages. Who else is going to whisper sweet nothings to you in everything from Albanian to Hausa to Quechua to Xhosa? That’s right. Only a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
2. We’re pretty good dancers. Yeah, we don’t like to brag, but after 27 months in Latin America or Africa we know how to move it.
3. We’ll eat anything. Seriously. No matter how bad your cooking, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have had worse and will eat it with nary a blink. Sheep’s eyeball? Water buffalo gall bladder? Grasshoppers? Bush rat? Bring it.
4. We know all about safe sex, thanks to our very thorough Peace Corps health training. In fact, there’s a chance that we’ve stood unblushingly in front of hundreds of villagers and demonstrated good condom technique with a large wooden phallus.
5. We’ll kill spiders for you. Well, actually, we’ll nonchalantly scoop them up and put them out of sight.  Same goes for mice, geckos, frogs, snakes. Critters don’t faze Returned Volunteers.
6. We have great date ideas: wandering a street market, checking out a foreign film, taking in a world music concert, volunteering…. Romantic getaway? Our passport is updated and our suitcase is packed. With us, life is always an adventure.
7. We like you for “you”… not your paycheck. Especially if we are freshly back from service, a local joint with “character” will win out over a pretentious eatery.  Living in a group house? No problem. Does it have running hot water? What luxury!
8. You won’t get lost when you’re with a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Navigating local markets on four continents, we’ve honed an uncanny sense of direction. Or else we’ll ask for directions. We’re not afraid to talk to “strangers.”
9. Waiting for a late train or bus? Don’t worry, we’ve been there, done that. We can share lots of funny stories about “the bus ride from hell” that will make the time go quickly and put it all into perspective.
10. Our low-maintenance fashion style. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer guys are secure in their manhood and don’t mind rocking a sarong. Women often prefer flip flops to high heels. We don’t spend hours in front of a mirror getting ready to go out.
11. Marry us, and you won’t just get one family — you’ll get two! When we refer to our “brother” or “mom,” you’ll want to be certain we’re talking about our American one or our Peace Corps one. You might even get two wedding ceremonies, one in the U.S. and one back in our Peace Corps country.
12. And last but not least, we aren’t afraid to get dirty.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Poo Poo on TP!

When there is even the chance of flurries at home (Northern Virginia), there is a run on TP, milk, and bread.  Well not in Macedonia!! Since over a week ago, Resen has been covered in snow. When I woke up one morning and found about a foot of snow on the ground, my first reaction was "No School!" but sadly I was wrong. Since everything is so close, nothing shuts down.

 My walk on the way to school. After the first big snow fall.

 Heading towards the center of town. The shopkeepers were out "sweeping" (yes using brooms -- no Home Depot) the snow away from the front of their stores.

 Tractors are not only used in the apple orchards.

The front of my school. By the time I arrived, I was covered from head to toe with snow. The maintenance staff was sitting inside at the front of the school; and as I approached, they all started smiling and waving.  I was definitely a funny sight.

Later that week, I had events planned in other towns and was looking forward to heading North where it was a surprising 15 degrees warmer and they did not have any snow.  I had to wait over an hour for the bus to come, because it was snowing again. When I arrived in Bitola, only 30 mins away, I could see patches of green and brown.  I stayed in Prilep for a night to celebrate a fellow volunteer's birthday. Then the next day headed up to Skopje and Kumanovo. When I left Prilep it was only raining, but by the time I reached Skopje it had started to snow. In the end, all the events that I had planned (aka our Mid-Service Conference) were cancelled.  I come up North  to escape the snow and cold and sadly ended up bring it with me.

This past weekend, we got the most snow I have ever seen. From Friday to Saturday we got a total of 15 inches. That plus what we already had, leaves us with around 1 meter (3 ft) of snow on the ground. On Saturday, Maria, Irena, and I went out to go play in the snow.

 The pazar on Saturday morning. Nothing shuts down. I was able to go out and get all my groceries -- no problems!  Take note Northern Virginia!!!

 Can you tell what it is?

 Me, out playing in the snow. We took pictures next to it so you can see how much snow we actually have.

 Making snow angels. Since there were literally "walls" of snow it was easy to fall backwards and make the perfect snow angel. The trouble, since it was so deep, was getting back up.

 I lost my feet!!!

 Some of the kids made a snowman!!

Outside of my building. This guy drove to the little market below my building, but then could not get his car back out because of all the snow.

Luckily the snow has stopped, for now at least. The mayor finally broke down and cancelled school for the next few days. Hopefully, by then the main road will be clear.   But Irena and I are saying that we probably won't see grass until May.

Volcano!!!

Last week at Kids Club (which is at the American Corner in Bitola)  we played with Science.  Normally, I try to do an activity with the closest holiday in mind, but I wanted to do something different this time. We made volcanoes out of plastic cups and plates. I had not heard of the kids doing this activity at my school, so I thought Kids Club would be a good place for it. But some of the students said that they had done this activity in Science class, but were excited to do it again.

 Me showing the kids how to cut off the tops of their volcanoes so the "lava" can come out of the top.

 The kids decorated the tops of their volcanoes and then after they were assembled, we erupted them!!!!

 Waiting for the ERUPTION!!!!  We combined baking soda and vinegar together; and if you get the right amount, the liquid will bubble over the top of your volcano. The boys had a good time seeing whose volcano would erupt the most.

The after effect. You can see some of the "lava" at the bottom of the plate. I also had made a tornado in a bottle.  I just took a soda bottle and filled it 3/4 with water and then a few drops of dish soap. When you turn it over and shake it, you can see a mini tornado inside. The kids had fun taking turns making the tornado.  Even though it was a little messy and the Corner smelt like vinegar afterwards, we still had a good time playing with Science.