This has been a really hard week. Even though we have a week and a half left, it is spring break next week. This was my last week at school. It was hard saying goodbye, especially to the students. I realized during the week that I will be the English teacher that these students will have had the longest in high school. High school starts in 10th grade, and I was one of their English teachers from the start of high school. Gazmend was with them for a year and a half, and Emine will be with them for a year and a half. I was with the students for a year and a quarter (almost 2 years). I left school yesterday with tears in my eyes as I said goodbye to the last group of students. I gave Emine my key to the English lab and fittingly started my walk home in the rain. It has rained a lot this week, and that is fitting as well.
It has been a very busy week. Early in the week, the English teachers and I were preparing for Wednesday's English language competition. We had some of the top students for all grades competing in Kahoot!. It was fun, and there were gift cards and certificates for the winners. Students competed in pairs, and two of my students won first place. Classes were only half an hour long, so that we had time at the end of the morning schedule to do the competition.
The afternoon classes were also shortened so that all of the staff could go out to dinner in my honor. They selected a location near a park in Straza that typically has a fantastic view of Luboten (my favorite peak). Unfortunately, the peak was in a cloud layer, and we could not see it. Almost all of the staff showed up, and it was a fantastic evening. Gazmend and the mayor came as well. Thom and I received awards from the municipality for our work here in Kaçanik. We received a large painting from a local artist, V. Kupina. I believe her name is Valentina Kupina from Kaçanik. The link is an interview with Valentina. It is too large for our suitcases, and we were not sure how to get it home. It is a painting of some of the features of Kaçanik, including the old mosque, the castle wall, the cobblestone walks, the rock face, and the main bridge. To bring it home, we will take the canvas off the frame and roll it in a tube. This morning, we bought a large suitcase to put the tube in. We will fill around the tube with winter coats and clothing that we probably would have left behind. We have to pay for an extra suitcase, but that is cheaper than shipping it and I will bring more of my stuff home to fill in around the tube in this super large suitcase. It is nice to be appreciated, although I was never in doubt during my two years here.
Now, we are busy saying goodbye and completing some last bucket list items. One of which is the Via Ferrata in Peja. It is a trail in the Rugova Canyon where you must wear a harness and clip in to traverse rock faces. Other volunteers have done it and said that it is fun. We were also going to hike the highest peak, but yesterday we found out there is still too much snow. This morning, we got a safety message saying that there is a greater danger of avalanches in the Shar Mountains. Oh, well.
On Wednesday, two volunteers from KOS 9 left for the U.S. On the 15th of April, David and I will close our service. On the 29th of April, the last two of our group will be leaving. It is hard to see the volunteers that we started with leave, and it will be hard to leave the volunteers from KOS 10 behind. I am, however, ready to be back home in the states!
These are translated transcripts from Facebook. The first one is about the English language competition, and the second is about the dinner on Wednesday:
1) Today, at the IAAP “Feriz Guri and the Çaka Brothers”, a special activity was successfully organized – the English language quiz, in honor of greeting and gratitude for the valuable contribution of Brenda Weiss, who, for two years in a row, has given a voluntary contribution to our school.
This activity took place in a very positive atmosphere, with active participation of students and great dedication on the part of teachers, demonstrating a high level of cooperation and engagement in our institution.
We express our most sincere gratitude to all students who participated and showed knowledge, creativity and healthy competition, as well as to the teachers who contributed to the organization and realization of this magnificent activity.
A special thank you is dedicated to Brenda Weiss for her dedication, energy, and valuable contribution during these two years. Her contribution will always remain appreciated and unforgettable.
2) Thank you for the two-year contribution of the Peace Corps volunteer in Kaçanik
Today, the collective of the IAAP “Feriz Guri and the Çaka Brothers” in Kaçanik organized a special dinner to greet and thank the Peace Corps volunteer, Brenda Weiss, on the occasion of the end of her engagement as an English language teacher.
During her two years of stay at this institution, Brenda Weiss has made a valuable contribution to the education of students and in supporting the teaching staff, leaving important traces in the school community.
As part of this cooperation, together with representatives of Peace Corps Kosovo, including Aliyya Mattos, Hyzri Halimi and the director of the Atdhe Neziri school, the new English Language Cabinet was inaugurated, a donation provided by volunteers Brenda and Thom Weiss.
This investment is considered an important step in improving teaching conditions and a testament to successful international cooperation.
Although their mission in Kaçanik is coming to an end, the gratitude for their contribution remains deep. Brenda Weiss and Thom Weiss will always be welcome and part of this community.
Congratulations and success in their further journey!
It is hard to leave behind our home for the past two years. If it were easy, then we probably didn't do what we set out to do. It feels like a success!
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