Welcome MAK12s
You likely have settled into a routine of frequent miscommunication with your
host family, massive ajvar consumption, and thoughts of “I will NEVER get used
to the P being an R!” If you understand that joke, you’re well on your way to
learning Cyrillic…if not, put this Pauza down and start studying. Sega!
By the way, how are your pants fitting? Watch out, they’ll be snug before you know it. And be careful, you
have to be able to fit into your “nice clothes” at Swearing-In. Seriously reconsider the 4th piece of torta. Thank
goodness for Control Top…not that I’d know or anything…
The best part of your training experience is sharing your stories. Maybe you’re like Rachel from Delchevo,
who got used to wearing her sleeping bag as a dress to keep her warm at night and who generously relinquished
her sheepskin slippers to her host mother, who found them more appealing than her own. So, here are just a few
stories to entertain you….and the rest of us. Enjoy your time in training: it goes by fast.
Amy Coltart – Sveti Nikole
MAK 11
My host father took three other volunteers and me to the mountains.
Upon arrival, we immediately started bounding up the mountain. Apparently my host father did not
understand that hiking involved going up the mountain, because he was shocked that we didn’t want to
view them from below. About 20 minutes into our upward
climb, I got a text message from him, Ku je? (Albanian for
Where are you?). I texted that I was fine, and not to worry
(but in broken Albanian it wasn’t quite as eloquent). Being
rather scared of heights, I decided to let the others go up to
this terrifying cliff while I enjoyed a piece of Zen on a rock
on the side of the mountain. Minutes later, I looked down to
see my host father - all 50-60 years of him - bounding up the
mountain. I greeted him; he said, “Are you okay? This is
not safe.” I said, “Well, you climbed it.” He said, in English,
“Yes, but I am mountain man.” I laughed and he escorted me
back to where we waited for the others.
Anne Schillig – Gostivar
MAK 11
- pauza