Practicum, invitation, conference invite, etc.

Greetings: I meant to post a week ago but things got busy. I’ll have more time to pay attention to this after this week (maybe). 

Another couple of weeks which thankfully kicked off with a very relaxing barbeque with a bunch of volunteers. Allyson, from New York City, is in a neighboring village and her host father runs a restaurant. The best veal, beef, and sausage. The best kick-back few hours since leaving Salt Lake City.

The next day Sardi took the three of us to a local hot springs. Albania is working out pretty well!
 
 

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Then the next few days were fine-tuning our practicum presentations. Seven teacher/trainers and university teachers each presenting for about twenty-five minutes. The crowd consisted of the three dozen or so education volunteers, another two dozen students, a bunch of other teachers in the community, and most of the PC language staff. I am not the only one with time management problems. Mike and Nate, presenting together, nailed theirs, as did Jo and Cristin. I brought up the end with some final remarks on critical thinking. I had another great time, and twenty-five minutes on the dot.

"BAM! You nailed it!!"

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I sat for my language examination on Friday. It wasn’t too much of an exam. A couple of days earlier, Erion my principal instructor gave me a practice run-through. It was over in pretty quick-order with him laughing, giving me a solid hand shake, and saying, “Good luck, Bill.” He is the nicest guy. I tested with Mira, the language director. The oral exam lasted no more than four questions. At which point she

With my biggest fan, MIra - the Language Director

gave me the most endearing smile and simply stated, “Bill, the entire language staff has appreciated very much your positive attitude and your obvious attention to your studies.” The lowest you can score is beginner-low. They will have to invent a new category for me! Anyway, I have a tutor and a new beginning to process all of this information. I have not given up. And since I’m never leaving Albania (“O zot e mahd!” – “Oh my god” - I love it here!), I have got to get this language down.

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At the beginning of last week, working feverishly on my language preps, I got an email from the education director, Agim. He was visiting Alexander Moisiu University in Durres and he mentioned my talk. The university is holding a conference at the end of next week and the department and program chairs asked Agim if he thought I might present. BAM. It gets cooler.

So, tomorrow we get sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers and start Phase II of our training we head out to Durres on the coast (Alexis, Sara, Bryce and Brig: get the map out so the kids can follow the adventures of their grandpa). We have a two-day conference for more information on our specific job descriptions and introductions to our counter-parts - these are the locals we connect with at the universities, schools, city-halls, etc. THEN, I get to hang out in Durres, on the beach, for three days (studying my Albanian), attend the university conference, and then back to Elbasan - my new home. (Take a moment everyone and rejoice at my good fortune.)

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It was just on Friday that we received our official invitation to serve for the next two years. It was a pretty exciting moment. The nine week Pre-Service Training by all accounts is the toughest time in the whole two plus years and we’re all pretty damned excited to get out there. 

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On a more somber note, one of our Thane group was not extended an invitation – the trainee left on a bus to Tirane Friday afternoon and is certainly back in the states by now. A word of wisdom to any considering this adventure: pay attention to what’s going on, do your work on purpose, and let go of most of your American centrist attitudes. Believe me, you don’t know everything – even about yourself. America is a great country and we have a lot to offer the rest of the world – but if you can’t put aside your on-steroid-sense of American exceptionalism, do everyone a favor and stay home. 

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As soon as I get back to Elbasan I'll meet again with my university counterpart. I had coffee (!!) with Helian last week. Talk about a welcome! He acted like he had scored the first pick in the NBA lottery! He’s a great guy. He’s in his mid-thirties and teaches history and is working on his PhD dissertation in Balkan studies – an absolute perfect fit. I was so excited to meet him that I forgot to get a picture. I’ll have a more complete meeting when I see him after next week. For now it looks like I'll be teaching a class in American history or culture and maybe co-teach with him on another course. BAM!

Oh yeah - got my apartment in Elbasan - catch you later with a full report. XOXO