Pauza Magazine Spring 2013 | Page 39

space, and maybe even make a quick denar. Field Day is monumental in bringing together new PCVs and COSing veterans. Current PCVs can find what they need to make their service more comfortable, and volunteers leaving will be able to fit more Hot Dog Chips, ajvar and rakija into their luggage.
Goceslist on Facebook is a virtual garage sale that enables PCVs to coordinate amongst themselves items available for purchase, usually operating on a first-seen, first-claimed basis. Pazar3. mk is another online resource resonant of Craigslist, buy and sell anything from kitchenware to washing machines. Instead of throwing away unwanted clothing, which will most likely end up in a dumpster set on fire, utilize second hand stores which can be found in most cities in Macedonia. Just ask for the nearest“ vtora raka.”
Volunteers before us have implemented creative ways of reducing the volume of what they’ ll take back. Some have paid the shipping to mail boxes

uch from my host family that over bringing two years ago to me now.

features: spring 2013

home ahead of time, rather than paying the fee for overweight or additional luggage. Others have held raffles for possessions in high demand, or simply opened up their apartment for a PCV free-for-all going away party. When all else fails, the donation area in the Peace Corps office will accept any sort of shoes, clothes, bags, kitchenware, knick-knacks and trinkets.
As for me, the majority of my things will be parting gifts for the host family I have spent two years with. How many late nights have I spent with my host sisters, painting our nails and doing our hair and makeup? The hair straightener, blow dryer, nail polish, etc. – all of it will become theirs. The denim skirt my host aunt loves so much, a necklace from America that my host mother compliments every time I wear it. My oodles of crayons, markers, stickers and construction paper will be divided among my two host cousins. I have learned and gained so much from my host family that the material things I fretted over bringing two years ago mean nothing to me now. The high quality winter gear I brought can be replaced, but giving it to people here that will use it for years to come will make me smile – and a smile is so much easier to carry back than trying to fit those darn boots into my suitcase again.
Fortunately, we have the biggest suitcase in the world to bring back everything that’ s most important from Macedonia: our hearts.
Spring 2013 – 39