Day 50 - 10/31/11 - Monday

Happy Halloween!!

Today’s post is short- I have to pack for my trip to Zagreb, Croatia!!!  I am leaving for Skopje tomorrow and then Zagreb till late Sunday night.  So no posts or pictures while I am away, but be ready for some AMAZING photos when I return!!

I have to share one thing about today.  After yesterday’s wonderful experience with Vesna’s family I knew I needed to write them a thank you note.  Knowing they do not speak English- I decided it needed to be in true Macedonian. My Macedonian classes have not started yet so it was to Google Translator.  After writing it into a notebook, I asked Vesna if it was correct, before putting it into the card.  She smiled and assured me it was understandable, but that the grammar was not all correct but to leave it, because if it was perfect they would know I had help.  Here is the letter:

Tonight I made caramel apples, and spiced tea for two of my friends here on campus!  I was also planning on showing them a classic- Hocus Pocus!   But when Shkumbin arrived, he had brought a projector!  So we watched Hocus Pocus projected on my wall!!  So awesome.
Happy Halloween!!!

preparing for the party

apples, caramel and crushed peanuts

The movie on the wall!!!

Lesson: Writing in an alphabet and language you do not know, is NOT fluent!!

Day 49 10/30/11 – Sunday

My first visit to an actual home was today thanks to Vesna and her family!  They were such wonderful hosts and I appreciated the day so very much.  It was wonderful to be with a family for the day…

In Orthodox tradition, families celebrate a saint that is unique to their family.  This celebration consists of food and fellowship.  So today Vesna’s family was preparing food for their family celebration next week.  I was able to come and participate in some of the preparations!  I took pictures of each of the steps in the process….

First Vesna kneeded and rolled out the dough into circles.

I then buttered the layer, while she rolled the next one.

We stacked them ontop of each other, rolled dough and butter, until there were 6.

Vesna then rolled them out again.

Her mom then cut them into triangles

We all rolled them

Then they sat by the stove and got egg yolk on the top of them

Then they baked

Then we ENJOYED!!!  (only a few since they are for the celebration next week!)

We also did some experimenting today-it was the same basic beginning only no layers of pastry, and then cheese was rolled inside and sesame seeds were put on top before baking – YUMMERS!

I also had the pleasure to eat lunch with the family.  It was a meal of shopska salad, A la Teke, home pickled peppers and pickles, and bread.  It was so delicious!  The A la Teke is a mixture of meat, peppers, mushrooms and a whole bunch of spices that are then baked together for several hours!!!!

Lesson:  Today was an amazing day.  Getting to see a Macedonian home, spending time with a friend, and having the company of a family- things I will not ever take for granted!

Day 48 10/29/11 – Saturday

GO BIG RED!!!  Way to pull out a victory!!!

That is really the biggest news today- but I do want to share something else.  My Gramma sent me an email today with some questions about Macedonia, and with her permission I have put her question and my response below-  I felt like it was information you all might be interested in knowing!  Thanks Gramma for asking :)

In some of the other pictures of mosques, I noticed the round towers like the ones on this building.  Is there some purpose for them? 

You asked some questions about the churches that I do not have answers for, at least not yet. But I will tell you what I know.  Being a country with both Muslims and Orthodox religions being present, I get to see a lot of different churches and mosques.  When we have traveled to different cities, the places that we visit are the churches or the mosques because 1. they are all so unique and beautiful  2. it is the main part of the community.  I am sure I will have MANY pictures of different places of worship when I get home :)  As for the mosques- the tall towers are called minarets.  This is where the call for prayer occurs. Five times a day, the Muslims are called to prayer and the muezzin who is appointed to be the prayer caller. It use to be that the muezzin would go to the top of the minaret and call prayer from there, but now it is done with speakers and I am not sure if they still go up the minarets and call from there.  I do hear the prayer calls from my dorm room when the wind is right. If I am out in the community I definitely hear the calls.  I also have learned that they are different types of minarets. Now that seems obvious because they are all a bit unique, but their structures are similar or have similar characteristics. The two types represent which group or culture pays for or supports the mosque. Meaning is it Arab or Islamic. I don't know which is which yet though.
As for the Orthodox churches- I have not learned much about their architecture and reasons behind it. I have been inside them and there are not typical pews like we think of in church, it is open, and the alter sits near the center. There are places for people to sit around the edges of the inside.  The paintings on the insides are BEAUTIFUL and unique to each church.  I did find a website that explains more about Orthodox church structure, but it is a generic site and not just about Macedonia. I will keep asking questions and share what I learn!

Lesson:  Nebraska secondary Rocked!

Day 46 10/27/11 – Thursday and Day 47 10/28/11 – Friday

Thursday brings class.  It was another great week.  We talked this week about lesson planning and motivation.  The students all did their own learning styles inventory, it was interesting hearing them talk about their learning styles.  Most of them really identified with their styles and did a wonderful job explaining to the rest of the group what they need as learners.  We then watched some videos of American Teachers doing opening lessons with their students. We discussed what the teachers were doing and why.  Then the students in my class met in groups to talk about introductions they could do to lessons.  Overall it was a great class!

The evening brought Chili Spaghetti, it was like goulash!  So tasty!  It also brought me finishing my first ever fingerless gloves!!

Friday was time in the office preparing for my presentation to Aida's master's courses.  There were two peace corps volunteers that were going to present about specific disabilities so I chose to present on Inclusion.  The greatest struggle I have had in preparing for my course and for presentation has been knowing the culture and norms of the country.  When you are preparing what to teach or share, it really helps to know what is already known as a standard. Or what the culture expects.  I know and understand that it is good for them to exposed to different methods and types of presentations, I am talking more about the meat of what is shared.  For example- how much does this culture already know about inclusion.  It would be easy in America to look up laws and legislation or mission statements and policies of groups on the internet but that is virtually impossible here.  Very little information is accessible and what you do find, many times is outdated.  I have gathered that you have to know someone who can help you or who knows someone...  I am dependent on people because I do not know the language, but I think that it is a culture that you have to depend more on one another to get by, you can't be isolated and as independent. Just an observation...

I had a student come to my office today to talk about her journal.  Last week they had an assignment to write an inclass journal on a topic provided. I assured the students that if I was not sure of what they were trying to explain because of their English, I would not score it but rather give them the opportunity to talk to me about it.  These select few students that this applied to, were allowed to come and talk with me in my office about their journals to increase their score.  This young woman came in and I give her SO much credit for doing so, it is not common to seek out help in this fashion here (as we have seen with the conversation clubs that were started and now have been canceled for lack of interest).   I should explain that my course is in all English - I know- SHOCKER!  The students could select this as one of their electives during their first year and semester at SEE-U.  They were informed it would be in all English.  The student that came today struggles more with English.  My gut tells me that since this isn't an English Skills course, I shouldn't grade them on their English or let it hold them back. (I think this is the accommodating special education teacher in me.  Helping them with English is an accommodation NOT a modification!  :) )  Well the student sat down and I started talking... How about you share with me what you were trying to explain on your journal..... confused look.  I tried a couple other ways and then had to get creative.  I opened google translator and started typing!  I typed what I was trying to explain, google did its part, and the student then read it in Albanian.  Pretty sweet.  She is going to meet with my co-teacher and explain in Albanian what she was writing on her journal.  Problem solved - accommodations granted!

So my presentation - there were actually 3 of us (4 people - 3 presentations) so I volunteered to wait to give mine since we were running out of time and the others had all traveled to Tetovo. What an interesting group of women!  I am looking forward to working more with them while I am here in Macedonia. Each of them is making strides in Special Education in the country. Amazing people!  Here is a picture of us after at dinner.  (the man is the husband of one of the women)

Lesson:   A wealth of knowledge about special education in Macedonia.

Day 45 10/26/11 – Wednesday

Une kam libre!  (I have a book)

Today in Albanian I learned the verb “to have”.   I now know 3 verbs,  To have, to be, and to speak!

American Corner still has no power, so no English Games today.  When it does finally get to happen – it is going to be Awesome!!!   Instead I went to meet with the people at the American Corner about planning a Halloween Party. I don’t want to give too many details now, because 1. It will probably change somehow 2. I don’t want to jinx it!  But it will be fun!!!!! 

I also went to Vero – thanks Vesna for dropping me off!  I bought the things I forgot yesterday but also added a pot with a lid to my list of purchases.  See if you can guess what I used it for….

Yep – my first batch of chili EVER, and I am not just talking in Macedonia- I mean ever!  My mom makes such good chili that I have just never tried to make it.  I can now say, I can make chili, and it is good!!!

Lesson: Flexibility is key to making it in any culture!

Day 43 – 10/24/11 Monday & Day 44 – 10/25/11 Tuesday

Monday was fairly uneventful- I didn’t feel great, but made it back from Bitola safe and sound! So let's move to Tuesday-

Unfortunately when I awoke this morning, I realized that I was missing my beloved comb- I forgot it at Lizzie’s place. Darn it!  I had to make do this morning without, which to most people sounds like no big deal- but when you are counting on it to make your hair look right (I know some of you are already shaking your heads like you know what I mean and others are perplexed at this moment about a comb really being that important) it makes for a tough start to a day.  Being that I still was not feeling too well, I went to the Supermarket on the way to the Language Center this morning.  I bought orange juice and a HUGE water to drink at work with my expectorant pills.  To fast forward through my day- because I know you are dying to know if I ever found a comb or not and if tomorrow will be a better day- I got a bunch of work done, planned more for class Thursday, and went to lunch with my teaching partner for next semester.  I do have to give more than a few words to the fact that I received letters B and C from my family.  (my mom is labeling them, 1, 2, 3 and A, B, C so we know what order I get them in)  I have gotten 2 and B and C… A and 1 are missing somewhere…. In it they put some articles from the local paper- I am so looking forward to reading what they sent!

After work it was off with Vesna to the pharmacy to see if they have more expectorant.  I was able to buy a powder you put in water to prevent colds so that I s a good start, but no expectorant there.  Vesna is going to do some more searching for me – I seriously don’t know what I would do without her!!  From there it was to the grocery store.  I looked all over in the store for a comb but to no avail.. so with two very heavy plastic bags- I am going to get calluses from this I am sure – I left feeling slightly defeated, but knowing that it was not the end of the world.  You might say, why didn’t you go to another store… but you see the world of Tetovo (minus a few café’s and Midpoint) doesn’t start until after the supermarket, so that would have meant walking further from campus with my heavy bags… I chose that it wasn’t important.  I do that a lot these days- weighing of options.  So I walked on switching hands of the bags… and it was by shear luck (or a blessing) that I turned to my right, on this street I walk almost everyday- but there it was GOLDEN ROSE a beauty supply shop- COMBS!!!!  Sure enough fairly close to campus was a beauty shop that until then I had neglected to see!  I bought a comb and some hair spray (not anything close to my favorite Kenra back home). 

I wanted to share one photo of Tetovo today – it was a really foggy day- in this shot you should be able to see mountains…  

fog- you can't see the top, or the mountains behind it...

Lesson: Sometimes we see things only when we need to.

Day 42 - 10/23/11 - Sunday - Prilep

Prilep was today’s adventure.  It was another beautiful city!  We can now say that we have been there.  Some great pictures to prove we were there, but the best part was lunch!!!  We went to Bankok Thai Restaurant and it was amazing!  I had Hot and Sour soup with coconut milk, and Lizzie being a food coinsure like myself, loves spicy food so we got it HOT.  Then for the mail meal, I got Red Curry with coconut milk, and chicken.  Oh Man, to die for!!!

The Thai Restaurant!

Lizzie

Cassidy

Me :)

Hot Sour soup with Coconut Milk

Red Curry with chicken

Prilep also has a cross on the hill

Memorial in the city center

Tobacco is a major product of the city, there were drying leaves ALL OVER!

Remains of a Turkish Bath

Beautiful old house

we had to laugh about the name :)

Another view of the cross, and you can see two fortresses

me at a the ruins of an old mosque

the entire ruins of the mosque

The clock tower in the town

 

I was not feeling the greatest today, and since I have an agreement with myself to NOT GET SICK until at least June, I needed to do something about it!  Email was sent to mom asking for the family recipe for Spiced Tea.  I asked for it before leaving for Prilep knowing she would wake up about when we got back and we could make it!  This did mean going to the store without seeing the recipe, I struggled with one ingredient… is their pineapple juice or not… I decided no.  WRONG ANSWER- but I think it turned out pretty good considering! 

Lesson:  Mom is only an email away!

Day 41 - 10/22/11 - Saturday

I had the best in country pizza today that I have had so far.  It was Italiana pizza and had sausage, cheese, onions, and hot peppers. But I think the cheese was the key it didn’t seem to be anything special but yummy!!!  We also walked around Bitola and went to the out door market.  While buying cheese, one of them men selling the cheese said to me, “Slovania?” I said, “No America”  He smiled and said what country (I figured he meant state) I responded “Nebraska”  He smiled really big and kept repeating “Nebraska!”  and then would point to the sky and smile at me.  It was really funny and made me feel pretty good, because even if he didn’t really know where or what Nebraska was, he sure made me think he loved it!

The green market of Bitola

I also took a bunch of pictures of the buildings in Bitola. The architecture is AMAZING. Many of the buildings here are very old and historic. 

buildings

Mosque in the center turned Art Gallery

Pretty buildings

More pretty buildings

Clock Tower

View from the Apartment

River Running through Bitola

Another shot in a lift!

 

Tonigff

Tonight we attempted making buffalo chicken and then watched American Football :)  LSU vs. Auburn.   Great time eating and enjoying some football!
Lesson:  Red hair stands out here !