Once again i have neglected my duties as a blogger.  It has been over a month since my last entry.  Oh wait, two months i think.  Oops.  Writing is not my forte; it is so much easier for me to take pictures and include captions that explain what is happening. I guess you could say i’m more of a visual artist.

A lot has happened this summer.  There was the over night camp with the Macedonian and Albanian children from Municipality Chaska. I met some new friends, work, attempting to find a job, and of course Close of Service Conference. The date has been chosen and i will be on a flight home December 15.  Even though i am quite excited for this new chapter in my life, it also has brought about a flood of emotions.

Change of topic. Some of you are probably wondering about the Multi – Cultural stuff i’ve done with MOZAIK. It is rather simple actually.  I did a not so very good program about Peace, Love and Understanding with 10 – 12 year old Macedonian and Albanian children. Really what i did could have been better, but they got the just of it and learned that they must accept and understand each other’s cultures.  We taught them how to draw peace signs. One of the proudest moments of my life.   I was then asked to participate in the overnight camp at the mountain house in Papradiste.  The children all got along so well, that we didn’t even have to use the games we had prepared.  Half the children were Albanian and the other half were Macedonian.  They really tested my language skills.  The children spoke some English, but not enough.  My biggest accomplishment was that i taught them how to play UNO, in Macedonian and they understood me.  They loved it so much, that i had to divide the time of the UNO cards.  In return, they taught me to play a Balkan version of Monopoly called Monopol.  I thank Agim, Alexandar, Avni, and Avaip for allowing me to be a part of this.  It was a multi – cultural event. I learned a little about them and they learned a little about America.

Because everyone in August take a holiday, i was no exception. Karen so nicely invited me down to spend some time with her in Ohrid.  Once again, thank you Karen.  We have gotten real close this past year and spending that five days with you, i believe made us even closer as friends.  You all saw the pictures. There was a couple of beaches, fu fu drinks, pivo (beer) fest, and just plain relaxing with each other and her neighbor Sasho.  There is this little kitten who lives just down the old street from her, why oh why do i not have a picture. He is so cute.  That week in Ohrid was filled with many good times and i wish….oh i wish i could post the shampoo commercial. Blame it on Benson, he doesn’t want to become the next Youtube sensation.  LOL  I will share the link with all who want to see it.  I have a small part.  One peace corps volunteer dream has become a reality….he made his shampoo commercial; and i was lucky enough to be a part of the creative process. LOL

Most recently I attended Grozdober Festival in Kavardaci with Tracy.  Grozdober festival is also grape harvest, which means lots and lots of wine and food.  You had to pay for the wine, but as the night wore on…..and the more people important people you meet….the more free, top of the line wine you get.  Leaving Negotino for Kavardaci in a wild taxi proved to be a small adventure on its own.  The driver thought i was the best of Katie, Tracy and I, but wanted out phone numbers so he could find Tracy a man.  Once there, we found Maggie, who invited us to her boyfriend’s uncle’s small personal winery. Lots and lots of free wine here. It was good, but other adventures awaited us.  In the rain, we located the wine booths and the cute young man working at the Tikves booth.  Hanging with him to get out of the rain proved to be a wise decision.  As the night wore on, we say the most awesome parade and fireworks and then a concert.  During the fireworks display, it rained, which proved to be real emotional for me.  As i watched the fireworks alone in a crowd of Macedonians, i cried, not a blubbering kind of crying, but a tear streaked face kind of crying.  This was just one of those moments i knew i would remember forever.  The moment passed and the concert started. The music was awesome.  The band (s) played American music, songs we knew, so for hours we danced and sang.  At some point it was decided that Tracy and i would leave our Macedonian friends to find a toilet and water. This brought about the next adventure of the evening.  After doing our business, we happened upon the Tikves booth and our friend.  There we also met some other people. Some i remember and some i don’t. Here we met the owner of a French restaurant and his chef/friend. Denni in return knows the important people at Tikvesh, so we proceeded to make friends and drink really expensive wine…i mean…the best of the best in Tikves.  Denni at some point said something about going to the Mayor’s house where the president of the country was visiting. Unfortunately, we missed the president by like 10 minutes, but the people there thoroughly welcomed us into their home with wine and food.  We danced and drank.  This whole day was one to remember for a long time.  Amazingly, after drinking wine for like 10 hours, we managed to survive. Two very single,independent women in the region of wine.

Next week Tracy, Lillian, and i will visit Denni and Sasho at the French restaurant.  Should be lots and lots fun.

Back to…what this months addition of what i will miss here in Macedonia.

• Enjoying rakija and dinner with my male Macedonian friends at their Mountain House in Papradiste.  Really, i love these moments.  They truly are priceless.
• The wine… Superb quality wine at rock bottom prices

June is almost over and i have forgotten to post a few more thing i’m going to miss about Macedonia. So here you go.

1.  Rainbows, rainbows, and more rainbows. Not only have i seen more rainbows here (than in my life combined), but i have also seen A LOT of double rainbows.

2.  Wildflowers. They grow wherever they can, even in the most dirtiest of places with such color and variety.

3.  Being able to sit outside and eat or drink coffee or do what ever. I cannot think of one restaurant or cafe that doesn’t have some sort of outdoor seating, even if it is only one table. Literally, some restaurants triple their size in the warmer months this way.  Even when it is over 100, some restaurants/cafes even have fans with misters. Why would any one want to sit indoors with such opportunities.

Stayed tuned for next month’s selection.  Less than 6 months till i’m home (for a bit at least).

The job hunt has officially begun and the countdown starts. Summer will go by too quickly and before any one realizes, December will be upon us all.

In bidding my home for the last 3 years farewell, i would like to share some of the people, places, and just things i love and will miss.  Not all will be listed at once, do come back from time to time to see what has been added.

Take 1:

1.  Year round, locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables +  2.  The fact that i must walk every where i go, meaning that on some days i walk no less than 3 miles (should) = a skinny Jennifer.  But no matter how much i walk or how awesome i eat, for some reason, i am still not minus the pounds. Hopefully the new bike will help. Which brings us to the next.

3. The newly acquired, used bicycle.  Of course per U.S.law i must wear a helmet, which brings many stares and laughs, and the seat is too high; but who cares it works and it makes me sweat.

4.  There was and still is a need to deal with the bike seat issue.  Today after work the bike and i went to the hardware store and pazar  to purchase a tool that will loosen the nut and fix my little problem.  The women at the store did not have the right tool for me, so she went to the store next to her, got a tool and together we worked to loosen the bolt. After 3 different tools, and some oil, the nut still hadn’t moved. so i said my thank you and moved on to the next place.

At the pazar, there were a line of booths selling various hardware.  After asking one, who was looking for the right size, the man next to him found something and together they worked on fixing my seat.  Many tools and more oil later, the bolt still hadn’t budged. We all concluded that the bolt was to rusted and it couldn’t be fixed.

In conclusion, i never purchased that tool and thanks to the sheer kindness of all these people, i now know that the seat is a lost cause.  In the U.S. i would have been charged for these services. Here it was totally free and i made some friends.  For the record, we found two tools that fit, but since the bolt wouldn’t move, there was no reason (according to them) i should waste my money.

to be continued…………