Just Like Home

Just a week and a half ago, I was complaining about the long cold snap we were experiencing. Today, just 12 days later, it will reach 60 degrees  by afternoon.  Ever day this week we have flirted with the 50 degree mark.  So, instead of dealing with the ice on my decent from this "peak", it has been the mud for a few days.  However, I am not and will not complain.  It did make me think of the weather back home.   Of course the ladies in my office still had the heat cranking and occasionally would, as usual, leave their desks to sit for a spell on the heater. For me, it is a welcome relief to venture out without the long underwear, scarf, sweater and gloves. 

Started my English classes in earnest this week and had a fairly good turnout.  All four in my first level class did return which is great.  I actually enjoy this group the most.  Possibly because I can empathize with them as they struggle as I continue to struggle two or three times a week with my tutor.


I think I am starting to know what life was like for women in the 40's...or maybe thirties.  Last night when I finished my Macedonian lesson, I washed four dress shirts in the kitchen sink and hung them on a rack in front of my space heater to dry.  This morning, after cleaning up a bit (for the first time), I washed three jerseys in the same manner.  Geez, my hands feel like sandpaper!!!  My last place had a clunker of a washing machine and I now appreciate it more than ever.  There is one here and the landlord did say I could use it.  However it always seems to be in use by the family (there are 4) when I am home.   I may have found a new place anyway.  A fellow volunteer went with her Macedonian counterpart to see it this week and said it is a good one and in my price range.  I now need to be put in contact with the owner, find a good interpreter, and see what I can do. The place actually has a bedroom, a washing machine and an old TV.  Best of all, it is right in the center of town on the same street where I lived when here last.
I wish I had been able to connect this week as another three months rent is due here next week.  should I get the place, I must first get Peace Corp approval and then give 30 days notice to this landlord. Asking for a refund on the other two months can be awkward.  


This coming Monday I will take the 6AM bus to Skopje for a three day Peace Corp conference.  It is called the "mid-service" conference and is for my group, MK 15's.  Of course, this is nowhere near mid-service for me just yet, but I was invited to attend.  It will be nice to catch up with those I have not seen since my return.   I am prepared for constant harassment by a certain group that has made it clear I will not escape unscathed and will face considerable grief for my nine month hiatus.  They have already started with a face book page , secret thankfully, where invited guests can post any number of harassing comments.  I did warn a few of them that there may be some sort of revenge planned. 
  
While in the capital, I hope to be able to buy a few things not available here.  One for sure is a hair trimmer.  I brought mine and also brought a power adapter that supposedly enables US appliances to work on European current.  Well, it does not work with my hair trimmer.  This one bit the dust just like the one I brought the last time.  There is also a small group of us that will be getting together Tuesday night and heading to a restaurant to celebrate a volunteer's birthday. 


the conference is a nice break from routine for those who have been here, and I will be enjoying it too.  All except the three hour bus rides!

It is Cold out there !!!!

Entering my fourth week back and the main story continues to be the weather.  Just a few minutes ago I ventured down a couple of icy hills, on a short trip to the neighborhood store.  It served a purpose too as it reaffirmed my decision not to walk to the office this morning.  It is COLD and icy out there!!! Today feels colder than ever.  Another few inches of snow last night didn't help much either.

Central Heating I

Central Heating unit II

                                                      





It is amazing what you do see here, even on a cold one like today.  As I was bemoaning my short return walk from the store, I noticed a guy up ahead of me pushing what appeared to be a pretty heavy load in a wheelbarrow.  He turned up the steepest portion of the hill, the same one I was about to undertake,  and off he went with this heavy load.  Here I was huffing and puffing, slipping and sliding, and this guy is pushing a load up the very same hill.  He did have the advantage of big rubber boots, but he was thin and looked my age.  He may have been quite younger though as a hard life has taken its toll on some of the Macedonian men.


Tomorrow I start my English classes again with the employees at the municipality.  Hoping for a good turnout but I won't know until class time.  Responding to e-mail is a somewhat foreign idea here.


I have also become involved in a photography club a fellow volunteer started at the high school.  We are going to try to expand it to the community in general and use the municipality to get the word out.  I know nothing about photography but I can help with the organization and maybe learn a little too.


This week I will begin looking for alternative housing arrangements.  This apartment is absolutely fine but the location is not.  I am just too far from the center of town and from my place of business.  Hoping to get more involved in community activities this time, I really need to be closer.  Once I make that mile + trek up the hill, I really don't have it in me to head back down.  The problem will be finding a suitable place at Peace Corp rates.  This place is very reasonable and finding one at the same rent will be a challenge.  I have several leads but no quotes on monthly rates just yet.  Of course I need a furnished place at minimum and pray I can find one with a washing machine!  I already did some laundry in the shower and that was a side show.  There is not enough room for me and my dirty clothes in that tiny shower.  Several bumps and bruises later, and coming close to knocking the doors off the enclosure, I did have clean underwear, socks and T's for another spell.


                                                             

Where the magic happens!

That is a small fridge!

I am hoping the new place will have a larger fridge too.  This one is tiny.  On the plus side for this apartment is the bed.  It is a lot better than that couch I slept on in my old place.  Nice comforter too.!

Different and yet the same

After two weeks, I guess I am settled. Well... close anyway. The many trips to the local shops (for a lot of things I had purchased the last time here)have me feeling far more at home than I did a week ago.  I now have pans, a coffee makers, glasses, bedding etc.  And food, of course, food.  Now it is time to fill in the gaps.  Gaps that are very apparent when I try to cook or to clean.  No change here from the last time.


My living arrangements are much different this time, yet in one aspect, the same.  Instead of 86 stairs up to an apartment I simply go down one flight to a lower level in a private home.  That is after walking a mile or so uphill to the home's location.  When getting my supplies, I need to decide carefully just how much to purchase before making the "climb" home.  After one particularly exhausting haul, I  decided to take a taxi when really loaded up. 


With my shopping nearly completed, I now can sleep soundly under two comforters.  I also was provided with a second electric heater by my landlord, a blessing and a curse.  It is surely warmer but we are now given an allowance and pay our own electric bills.  Previously the Peace Corps payed them for all volunteers and cranking the heat was the norm.  this new arrangement makes sense and makes it necessary to be prudent with the heat. I have a feeling my first bill is going to be a shocker.   I have a private entrance and my own bath that is in the hall only a few icy steps away.  I take one of the electric heater when showering as I figure it is better to be electrocuted than it is to freeze to death.


Being settled means being back to eating grilled cheese, soup, and potato chips, lots of potato chips.  That for sure is the same.  Oddly enough, while here previously for seven months I managed to lose 17 lbs. ( I found every one of them while  home).  I don't think there will be this magical weight loss this time around.  One big difference is lunch!   Something I avoided last time was Byrek (burek). 

 It is baked or fried filled pastries made of a thin flaky dough and it can be filled with cheese, often feta, sirene or minced meat.  It is usually served with plain yogurt and is becoming addictive.  I have a feeling, thanks in part to the byrek, and in part to the tightening of my jeans already, that I will not be losing anything this time.  That is surely a difference.





I have met with a few of the new volunteers as well as several of my old colleagues.  I will see them all at what is termed a mid service conference next week in Skopje.  I will surely hear it about being at this event as it is no where near the mid point of my service.  I am glad I was invited though as I will get to see everyone from my initial group.

A new young lady has been assigned to the schools here in Kocani . Morgan  lives in my old place and being quite young does not complain about all the stairs!  I hope to work with her on a couple of her initiatives with her students.  It will be a nice diversion from the municipality. 

Last weekend I had a visit from the son of the family I lived with during pre-service training.  Goce now has a car and an American girlfriend.  She is a volunteer from the new class assigned to Kumonovo.  He arrived with gifts of course... wine and homemade bread from his parents.  I had brought his father, Sveto, a pair of glasses from the US that I hope are the right strength.  I will soon plan a trip to visit the family and reconnect.

I am not sure if this winter or last are the "real" Macedonian winter.  I recall last year only a bit of snow and just a few days of frigid weather.  I think I hauled out the long underwear for only five or six days a year ago.  Well, this year, it has been out and on every day since arriving.  It has been C-O-L-D.  We have not had a big snowstorm but we have had several dustings of three to four inches.  Just enough to keep the walk to and from home treacherous.  Each morning means three layers of shirts and a sweater before reaching for the coat to leave.

Sunday is the party for our fantasy league.  We will all be bringing a bottle of Rakia for the champ, Blake the owner of the Stip Stallions!.  After running off to a 10-0 start, I collapsed , losing three of the last four and of course my one and only playoff game.  I will simply blame it on injuries!
The big decision Sunday will be whether or not to remain in Stip and watch the Super Bowl or return home to the wide screen 14 inch Levono.  It comes on at 12 midnight our time so I probably should return for a pre game nap!  Go Pats!

With all this whining one might think I am having an awful time of it here.  However I am very happy to be here!  Now that is different!