It's Official: Livin' the Dream.

I'm finally a full-fledged Peace Corps Volunteer. I know what you're thinking, "What?! Just NOW you're a volunteer? What the heck were you all this time that you've been over there?! Those are my tax dollars and you weren't even a volunteer yet?!"

Answer: No, no I wasn't. I was just a PCT-->Peace Corps Trainee.

On Friday, November 28th 2014, MAK 19 PCTs were sworn in as official volunteers...you may have read it on my Facebook.

Peace Corps director of Macedonia, Kathleen Corey (left),
Paul Wohlers (right)

       


My host brother Samed, host sister Azra, and future school principal were able to attend the event. Those people along with other volunteer's family members and counterparts from the village that I have gotten to know these past 3 months. The president of Macedonia came along with U.S. Ambassador Wohlers. My Albanian family was much more thrilled with the fact that the Ambassador was coming than they were about the president.  I was surprised they even knew the Ambassador's name! We all took pictures with him and our Peace Corps Director of Macedonia.

         We arrived and seeing everyone dressed up and excited, I cried a little bit. The speeches were wonderful and complimentary, and I cried. We got sworn in and took the oath that foreign diplomats and ambassadors take, and I cried so much.  I mean, what else is there to do except cry on giant, life-changing ceremonies?! I don't put a lot of stake in ceremonies, as it really is just a show and the real-work is done beforehand, and in this case will be done in the next 2 years.  It was just very symbolic and wonderful.

Such a wonderful group of people.

We couldn't have made it without the love, support, friendship, hard-work, and dedication of our amazing PST (Pre-Service Training) staff.  They really are an amazing group of individuals and I can't imagine any other post in the Peace Corps having staff that rocks like our staff rocks. Seriously. All 44 of us PCTs became PCVs due to their commitment to us. So I thank them for all they've done. Благодарам (blah-go-da-rahm) and Faleminderit!

And I suppose I need to thank you, reader. If you're reading this I hope it's because you care about me and you aren't just a weirdo or stalker or something. (I have yet to get any weird things mailed to me, so I think I'm in the clear.) Thank you for your support, be it big or small.  I feel loved from all you people back home.  Being able to follow your dream, doing something good for the world with an organization that you truly believe in...all while having the love, support, and companionship of friends and family? That's incredible, and I'm truly living the dream.

Dobroshte group--including our 2 LCFs (language and cultural facilitators), the PC director, and the US Ambassador.

The girls of my language classes during PST, they also lived in Albanian homes.

Nuse Shqiptarë

One night I went over to my cousin's house and we played "Dress up the American". I wore 3 different, traditional Albanian Nusë (bride) outfits, called Dimija.  PLUS another cousin was there who works as a professional hair and makeup artist for weddings, so I got the works done! Hair, makeup, clothes, shoes, and accessories. So much fun was had by all.  There was laughing. Some laughter. More laughing. Oh, and 2,752 pictures were taken of me. Here are a few for you to enjoy.

With hair done, awaiting makeup.

Copious amounts of makeup. 

I just stood there and they dressed me. So many parts, so much cloth.

Gold on gold on gold.

Traditional way to greet others, instead of just shaking their hand and kissing their cheeks. It's like an up-down, up-down hand motion.

We're dancing the Valle. It's the traditional dance, and typically the only dance done at weddings...for all 5-6 hours. It's about 8 counts and quite simple. 

I tried to be more traditional by not smiling, and also by folding my hands like that.

It's traditional for a bride to wear her dimija and wedding dresses for up to a year after her wedding, and it's common for her to be the one serving the guests.