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 .
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