It has been so long since I blogged that I don’t even remember when I wrote my last blog, or what it was about. So, expect a few blogs this week, covering: Christmas, New Years, and my recent trip to Italy.
WordPress did a little 2011 year in review of my blogging, so I thought I’d write out a year in review of what I accomplished and saw in 2011. 2011 was my first (and last) ENTIRE year in Peace Corps Albania. It was definitely a year of ups and downs. Here are some highlights of my year:
- Survived living through political strife in Albania, which luckily didn’t last long, but had me worried
- Also survived my first Albanian winter (with lots of wool socks and long underwear)
- Moved into my 3rd (and what seems to be my final) house in Gjirokaster
- Traveled to Athens many times during the summer (I think I was there 4 times during the summer)
- Filled up all my passport pages!
- Had my bff from grad school visit me!
- Went on a small eurotrip with my brother (he also spent time in Albania visiting me)…visited Germany, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece.
- Attended a study session on Peace and Volunteering in Budapest, Hungary.
- Went beach hopping during the summer…visit beaches from Southern Albania up to the central.
- Took a ferry over to Italy to spruce up my wardrobe up a little at H&M with my bff from Peace Corps Kristen.
- Dated an Albanian…interesting experience that taught me a lot about the culture.
- Did many lessons in the schools of Gjirokaster and surrounding villages on H1N1 flu, oral hygiene, contraceptives, STIs, cervical cancer, drugs, alcohol, smoking, anti-trafficking, breast cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
- Started working on my practicum (putting together a prenatal course)…the nurses and I translated and dubbed over more than a dozen videos about pregnancy.
- Washed all my clothes by hand for an entire year…only a few more months left of it!
It has been a busy year; one that has taught me a lot about life and myself. I hope this coming year is as exciting as last!
