Bird's Spot

I try to look at Goodbyes as a "see you soon" rather than goodbye. The last few days of my time in Macedonia was filled with a lot of "see you soons". The emotions that come along with these were mixed for me. On one hand I was sad to be leaving but on the other hand that meant that I had made friends and had had a wonderful experience. I truly will miss all of these wonderful people that I met and now call my friends. These moments of my time ending in Macedonia will stay with me just like every moment while I was there. I have made amazing friends who will remain in my life forever. I have learned about myself as a person and as an educator. I have seen this world in a new light and learned that I am only one of many. I will never be the same and I have changed for the better.

The first goodbyes were at SEE-U. The Language Center, Faculty of Languages, Cultures, and Communications and many others came to a cocktail to celebrate our time together. It was such an amazing and heartfelt gesture. We exchanged memories both in words and in gifts. Thank you to the amazing individuals I was blessed to get to meet while working at the university.

The cocktail set up

The table

The other side of the table

A special gift from Veronika and the Language Center

Gifts from Heather in the Recotorate

My amazing roommate Rezehana

Bujar the reason I had a phone and towels the first week!

Husker gear!!!!

More Husker gear!!

Fulbrighters! Lizzie, Cassidy and I to Macedonia, Hajro from Macedonia to the USA.

Learning Center Staff

SEE-U friends and staff

Following the goodbyes at SEE-U, Lizzie, Cassidy and I traveled to Mavrovo National Park. None of us had gotten to go yet, and so we wanted to make it a point to get there before we traveled home. It was so worth the time and trip. The park is up in the mountains and has a lake in the middle of it. We spent a few hours there walking and driving around the lake.

For dinner it was out to Bella Mia, a traditional restaurant in Tetovo, the same place I had celebrated my birthday 8 and a half months earlier. This time we went to dinner with my dear friends, Artan, Linda and Adora. I count these friends as one of the many blessings I have received while in Macedonia.

Adora, Cassidy, Lizzie and I

One of Adora's amazing drawings that also brought many laughs as we told stories of what it was a picture of!

Saturday morning brought a goodbye party at the American Corner. Both kids and adults came to have one last time together. I was able to give them all some of their own husker gear including stickers, bracelets and tattoos. My time at the American Corner helped me realize what a true passion I have for teaching and for kids. I enjoyed every moment with the individuals who attended the clubs that I had the honor to host. Thanks!

One of my friends at the AC

Saranda, Gezim and I with their Husker gear!

More friends and amazing helpers from the American Corner

Thank you to my family, Nancy and Holmes Elementary for the awesome pop-up book, Oh The Places You'll Go. I was able to read this to the group as a farewell. Although they could not understand much of the book, they so enjoyed the pictures!!!

Gezim and Saranda presented me with the Good Will Ambassador Award

Saying goodbye

One last big hug!!!

Before heading to Skopje for the last few days, I had to clean out my room. I was taken back to September 13th when I arrived in Tetovo to a stark white room with no clue what I was doing. But today as I cleaned out the room and left for the last time, I remembered the journey. The tough moments when I was trying to figure things out, the skype calls with my friends and family, the whole 9 months came to mind...all the great memories.

Saturday evening brought dinner and going out with friends. Not only did I spend much of my time at the University and the American Corner in Tetovo but also I spent time making friends in Skopje. We met friends out at a traditional restaurant and enjoyed a meal of traditional food.
Thank you to the amazing friends in Skopje that helped me see another side of Macedonia :)

Erin, Lizzie and I on the way to dinner

At dinner

Great friends!

A special dessert from wonderful friends.

Lesson: Thanks Macedonia for your warmth, hospitality, and wonderful memories. You have made me a better person and I will never forget that. Fala! Falemnderit!!!

The Book Drive was finally here!!

After months of planning and waiting, it was finally time for the book event!
Coming to Macedonia, I knew that I was going to have the experience of a lifetime. I was embarking on a year that would change me as an individual. My hope was that while I was here I would find some way to make a difference for the people that I would be working with. I thought that I might of found a way when I decided to have a book drive at my school back home, Holmes Elementary. The original goal was to celebrate Read Across America Day by Skyping with the students at Holmes Elementary and have them send us at most 1,000 books for the American Corner. I had no idea what this would grow to become... I have been born and raised in Nebraska so I know the generosity and kindness of the people, but this project showed that to the world. Word traveled throughout Lincoln Public Schools, then the community of Lincoln and all the way to Omaha, NE. My goal of 1,000 books turned into 14,400 books all donated and shipped through a safe and reliable shipping company arriving at the door of the American Corner! Because of the generosity of students, teachers, administrators, and community members we were able to make a huge difference in not only the lives of those I worked with, but in the lives of children all across Macedonia! I don't know if I will ever be able to truly understand the difference that was made and the number of lives that were touched.

I want to publicly thank: Holmes Elementary School the staff and students, The 5th Grade Leadership Team of Holmes Elementary School, Lincoln Public Schools: Saratoga Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Eastridge Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, Pyrtle Elementary, Zeman Elementary, Super Saver Grocery, Russ's Market, Runza Restaurants, The Ebers and Zulkoski Families, numerous personal donations and Mainfreight Omaha who was responsible for donating many books and the entire shipping process.

With many volunteers from the American Corner and Tetovo community, the event went off without a hitch! We were honored to have United States Ambassador to Macedonia, Mr. Wohlers attend the event. He brought greetings and read a book with Adora, one of my dear friends from Tetovo and an amazing reader! We also were able to Skype with some of the 5th Grade Leadership team from Holmes. This was a moment I will never forget. These kids were getting to make connections with other kids halfway around the world. Representatives from each of the schools in the municipality of Tetovo were in attendance and were able to take a box of books. Each of the American Corners from around Macedonia were presented with 5 boxes of books each to use in their Corners and share with schools in their communities. Each and every student that was in attendance were able to take home a book of their own as well. Following the presentations, there were several activities outside for kids to participate in including making book marks, puzzles, learning about Nebraska, and signing a big thank you note. Today was such a celebration of friendship and literacy. I was so proud to have been a part of this Nebraska Effort to make a difference across the world. This was beyond special and I truly will never forget the faces of the kids and the feeling of excitement throughout the building.