First off I'd like to thank all my friends from AT&T, Javelin, agencies, etc. who sent awesome emails and send-offs. THANK YOU all, I wish I had more time to thank you personally.
All my friends, y'all know I love y'all.
Macedonia is so incredible, so different than America. It's an undiscovered corner of Europe; full of history, culture, and language (not part of the EU, so it's truly unique).
The first week, me and the rest of my class (the 16th class of PC volunteers in Macedonia), went through Orientation week in a hotel outside of Kumanovo. It was exhausting, taxing, and HOT...but great. My class is very diverse, many young people, Masters candidates, older/retirees, married couples, etc..
A highlight was that the American Ambassodor (Ambassador Wohlers) came and addressed us, which was much appreciated considering he arrived in-country the day AFTER we did.
Here is a photo from my Orientation hotel room...(can you say 'wine country'?)
On wednesday of Orientation week the Macedonian National Basketball Team defeated Lithuania...it was a pretty big deal in a country of ~2 million:
I could blah, blah, blah about the orientation week, but I can't even orient myself at the moment to collect my thoughts.
After orientation we met our host families. My host family lives in an incredible old home on the main street of Kratovo. I go to Macedonian language classes ~4 hours a day, and then afternoon training classes on other days....my brain is fried. Of course I still can't converse with my family (and there are so many other cultural differences), but I feel so lucky to be living this life.
OK, I won't ramble on. I miss everyone in the States! See y'all in a few years...
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