On My Own...

Last Monday at midnight, Thom left for the Skopje airport with Sami and Valon for his flight back to US.  He is there until the end of April and then he will return with our son, Matt and his girlfriend when they come for a visit.  I never planned to serve in the Peace Corps by myself, but plans change. 

Tuesday was a little rough and I did not have my normal energy on the walk to school.  But thankfully the energy returned once I got to school and headed to class.  During the second class, my co-teacher got a tragic phone call that his cousin was shot and killed in Skopje.  Later, Gazmend (co-teacher) told me his cousin was trying to break up a fight.  It is doubly tragic as two young children will grow up without their dad.  Gazmend left and I taught the rest of the classes.  Mirvete helped me with one of the classes and I was glad to have the help.  After classes were done Mirvete and I relaxed over coffee.  Wednesday and Thursday, I only had three classes each day,

Monday, February, 17, is Kosovo's Independence Day.  It was only 17 years ago.  Thursday night, Gazmend messaged me that it would be a special day at school on Friday.  I only needed to go for two classes and then the students went on a field trip to a nearby museum.  After the second class, I was invited to go with the teachers and students to the museum, but it was windy and cold, and while I hate to turn down an invitation, I was not in the mood to go to a museum with several hundred students.

Kosovar flags lining the bridge before Independence Day

In the end, it was good I didn't go because a Peace Corps staffer was in Kaçanik to check out potential housing for a volunteer from the soon to arrive KOS 10.  Our next group of volunteers will arrive at the end of February and the staff are working to find their placements.  The staffer wanted me to meet her Handikos, which is a non-profit that supports people with disabilities.  I met her there and I now have a new gig teaching English to young people in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade on Saturdays.  That will start in several weeks. 

On Monday, after Thom left I felt really alone.  I am in a different country by myself and this wasn't part of the plan.  But I chose to be in Peace Corps because of the safety nets.  One of the greatest of these is the other volunteers that are here in country.  At 4:30 pm on Friday, I welcomed two volunteers (Alyanna from KOS 9 and Addie a response volunteer) who came to visit Kaçanik.  We did a short walking tour, made homemade pizza, and relaxed in the evening.  Saturday morning, we met with Elisa from Bonavet for coffee and then she gave us a fantastic tour of their STEAM learning and maker space facility.  I was happy to introduce Addie and Elisa, because they are both doing work in Environmental education.

Pizza night in Kaçanik with Addie and Alyanna

Maker space in Bonavet

Bird houses in Bonavet

Computer workspace

Kano put together computer

Later, Saturday afternoon, Ekrem from the hiking group sent me a message that some girls were joining the Sunday hike and there was still room for me to go.  So on Sunday, I went hiking with the group.  We met and took a khombi to Hani i Elezit.  Then we hiked back to Kaçanik.  It was a great day for a hike, although it was a little cloudy.  We had some new hikers and many returned hikers.  Emira was one of the high school girls and she came with Renata.  Renata had hiked before with the club, but I had not met her before.  It was a good group and we had a big fire at lunch and they roasted a lot of sausage.  

On a particularly sketchy part of the trail, Emira hit her knee and she was having trouble walking fast.  The hike took us longer to get back and when we got to a road close to Kaçanik, Ekrem called his son to give her a ride.  I rode with her and Renata and made it back about 5:00 pm.

Hani i Elezit

The hiking group on Sunday

The beginning of the hike

The paver road coming out of Hani i Elezit

Scary bridge along the way

Memorial to Curri family killed by Serbians 1912

The houses in the village

First sign of spring

Finished crocheted plastic bag sit upon

Horse along the trail

Emira, Kjani, Renata, and me (teachers and students)

Pool of water far below

Curri family memorial

Big warm fire at lunch

Roasting sausage 

Putting out the fire before leaving

Steam and smoke

Abandon village school

Mosque in Llanishtë

Another memorial from the war

A part of the Road to Rome Trail as we head back to Kaçanik

Monday, I woke to a dusting of snow.  I had plans to take a bus to Ferizaj for language lessons, but the buses weren't running as it was Independence Day.  I didn't know this when I walked to the bus station, but as soon as I got there and saw the cars parked in the bus spaces, I knew.  So I looked over to where taxis wait and saw Bedri the taxi driver we have used before.  He saw me and waved.  He got out of his car and met me as I walked toward him.  I said "Ferizaj stacioni autobusi" and he said " po".  He drove me to Ferizaj and then returned later at 4:30 once my lessons were done and I had done a little shopping.

Dusting of snow Monday Morning

Flags everywhere

I know that once in a while I will doubt staying here and not returning back to the U.S., but this week was pretty successful for the most part, thanks to volunteers, my school, the hiking club, and the others I know in Kaçanik.  Many have offered their help and support, but I got this for now.  It is nice to know I have my communities behind me.

Gray heron in the Nerodime River

Lemon Muffins