What a beautiful day to play outside..

Two years, two new brothers..

Cake & Monopoly..

Saying goodbyes in Tirana..

Eric's last night in town..

Juicebox Fridays...

This is Eric's last week in town before he goes on a 2 month excursion through Asia to make his way back around the world to L.A. so we're just enjoying the good weather together by drinking juiceboxes on his stoop. Usually transitions are weird and seem to go on for too long when you're in them but when you look back on them it's hard to remember. Living with these two guys for the past two years has literally helped me survive this experience and without them I'm not sure I would have made it and now we're about to get spread back across America, where we began, on to the next chapter in our lives. While they're looking for jobs and I'm on to grad school we're right back in the same position we were two years ago; starting over, meeting new people, making new friends.

Sometimes I feel like I like to restart every now and again to keep things interesting. I remember when I was telling people that I was going to the Peace Corps and their response was "well who are you going with?" and when I answered with that I was going by myself they were dumbfounded. Except to me it didn't seem too weird. I started highs chool not knowing anyone, I went to college not knowing anyone, this was just kind of the same thing, except in a country where I didn't speak the language and that I'd never been to.

This is us and our favorite store owner, he's literally fed us
for two years. He also likes to play fight with Eric and hit him with things.

So similar but so different..

Being in one of the most isolated towns in Albania I don't get to see my Peace Corps friends as much as I would want to because that usually means at least 8 hours of travel plus 3 days out of site. I chat with most of my close friends online every week and we talk about our lives so I still feel close to them even though I probably only get to see them once or twice every few months. Now that everyone is leaving at different times (or just starting their second year of service) we're all making more of an effort to visit each other one last time before we part ways.

Last weekend after the wedding in Bilisht, which was beautiful and an amazing time, Garrett and I headed to Durres for a night then up to Shkoder to see our good friend get presented an honorary black belt and certificate for his involvement at a local judo center in his community. After the presentation we went out to eat pizza and enjoyed some village wine on the lake in his community. Peace Corps Volunteers supporting each other is a big part of service and I was lucky to not only have two amazing sitemates but close friends all over the country as well. Even though a lot of our experiences are night and day, big communities, small communities, lots of work, no work, we all are going through pretty much the same things in our communities when it comes to dealing with being an American in Albania.

It's finally come down to it and I have three weeks left in my community. Although I'm excited it is overwhelming with all I have to do before I leave. Some how I've accumulated double of what I brought and only have one pack to fit it all in. Since I'm traveling for two weeks before I head home it then again limits the amount of space I have for things to pack. I'm pretty much leaving all of my hole ridden clothes behind and ditching what I leave when I travel before I get on the plane back to the states, filling up my pack with sentimental items and things I've acquired while traveling outside of Albania.

Saying goodbyes...

Congrats to Corey for his judo award!

 Drinks on the lake in Vau-Dejes..

Durres, Albania

Pattie & Elsi's Wedding Video

Click here to see 3 minutes of dancing!..

American-Albanian wedding in Bilisht.

An Albanian wedding tradition, stuffing money in the brides dress..

Congrats to the happy couple!

Group 16 trainees visit Bajram Curri..

This weekend we had three trainees from Group 16 come and visit Bajram Curri for their Volunteer Visits. They've been in country for only two weeks and this was their first exposure to life as a Volunteer, work, living situations, etc. Of course our situation here is a little extreme compared to most sites in Albania but it gives them a good frame of reference for what it's like in an isolated community. Since we've been the first Volunteers to live in Bajram Curri and have exceeded expectations of Peace Corps Staff they're eager to replace all three of us in this community. Since it is such an isolated community however it would be ideal that the next three Volunteers got along as well as the three of us have for two years but the most important thing is that you mesh well with your host agency.

Luckily the day they arrived was sunny and we got to walk around town and have a few coffees outside. The next few days were overcast but I took the C.O.D. trainee into my work and introduced her to my counterpart, the vice mayor, mayor and head of the financial department. It's surreal that we're finishing our service in a matter of weeks and they've only been in Albania for a few weeks. I hope we shed a little light on what life will be like as a Peace Corps Volunteer here and I think that all three of them have things to offer to Albania.

My love affair with Rubi..

So ugly, she's cute..

Hostel website & gender interviews..

I'm currently working with a friend and hostel owner in southern Albania
to develop a website for his hostel located in Ksamil. It's on one of the most beautiful
beaches in Albania and is directly across from Greece.

This has been an on going project and I just added a new one to the
Barazia Gjinore YouTube account, where high school girls talk about
the struggles they face and where they see themselves in the future.

The LGBT topic is still a new one in most developing countries, Albania being deemed
the most 'anti-gay' country in Europe. A non-profit has published
"Myths & Facts About Homosexuality" that we're promoting.