P a g e
7
P A U 3 A !
2006 Carnival Strumica: Peace Corps 45th Anniversary Celebration
By: Katrina Meredith – MAK 10
Despite freezing temperatures and blowing snow, 15
PCVs and international guests from Australia, Russia
and Finland participated in the Carnival 2006 Parade
on Tuesday, March 7. Folks started getting into
Strumica on Sunday and Nancy Wilson cooked up a
storm and kept us well fed with traditional Macedonian
dishes.
The day before the parade, we gathered to prepare our
sign and watched with wary eyes as the weather worsened. Creative artists Mary Platz, Andrea Foy, and
Rachel Wilkinson fashioned a wonderful sign which
was attached to sturdy poles that Andrea procured from
friends in Strumica. Fortified with a heavy covering of
hairspray, the sign stood up against what nature had to
throw at us.
On Tuesday we assembled all the folks that had made
their way to Strumica and Radovish along with the flags
that James Tomchak managed to bring, by bus, from
Peace Corps headquarters in Skopje. In addition, our
resident juggler, Jesse Warner, brought small Macedonia flags to wave as we marched. Our make-up artist
was Mary Platz, and Jesus Villegas added the final
touch with strips of red and yellow material to wave at
the crowd.
James had secured us a place at the beginning of the
parade, despite the last minute drop out of the kids who
were to march with us. And so, off we went: Andrea
Foy, Luke Hiller, Jillian Lindsey, Jeremy and Jenny
McKinney, Katrina Meredith, Mary Platz, Patty
Provencher, Adam Rockel, James Tomchak, Jesus
Villegas, Jesse Warner, Lindsey Weber, Rachel Wilkinson, Nancy Wilson and an international assortment of
hikers.
We were a fine sight behind a 10 ft. tall, paper
mache, bare chested Carnival Queen! Midway
through our march, we were treated to a fireworks
display. The sight of the waving American and
Macedonia flags held by our PCVs in foreground
against the backdrop of the fireworks, brought a
lump to my throat.
When we finally reached the reviewing stand, we
danced the Oro around the flags and our 45th Anniversary sign while the speech that James had composed was being read. Our performance was impressive enough that we were featured on the TV
coverage of the parade!
All of the PC parade contingent then proceeded to
a nearby restaurant to enjoy a complementary meal
that James had obtained tickets for. After that we
departed to enjoy the rest of the parade and the
lively Carnival nightlife in Strumica. A good time
was had by all! Hopefully when Peace Corps' 50th
Anniversary rolls around, some intrepid MAK 15
PCVs will carry on the tradition!