The Begending*

*Or the end of the beginning. Courtesy of Stephen Hallstrom. 

After 2 ½ months in Macedonia, our pre-service training is complete. In just two days, we will swear-in, and officially become Peace Corps volunteers in Macedonia. Over the last 11 weeks, we have learned so much about Macedonia, the culture, and what it means to be a Peace Corps volunteer here. We have made new friends, started learning a new language, and become part of a Macedonian family.  It feels like we are just growing into our roots in Veles, but now it is time to move to Delcevo and settle in there.

Winding a yarn ball from the yarn I successfully bought in Veles.

The last couple of months, we have gone to language class for four hours per day, four to five days a week. Our language teacher and fellow classmates have been fantastic, and helped us learn so much. We have been with these five people nearly every day, and starting on Saturday, we will be on our own.

Language learning is the heart of pre-service training. It has been the toughest and most enjoyable aspect of our time here so far. There were days when we really felt like we were picking it up, and then there were days when we felt as if we would never understand anything. In the end, we are able to communicate with people in Macedonian on a basic level.

Our final language class.

Worldwide, Peace Corps requires volunteers to have a “reasonable proficiency” in speaking the language of the country they serve in. Peace Corps uses Language Proficiency Interviews to assess volunteers’ level of language. The LPI is a 15 to 30 minute conversation. During this time, the interviewee answers questions, acts out role plays, and asks questions of the interviewer. The interview is recorded, and the interviewee is given a rating. There are 4 categories: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. Each category has a score of low, medium, or high. At the end of pre-service training, Peace Corps’ goal is for all trainees to have an intermediate low level of language.

Last week, we had our LPIs. Jarred and I were both pleased to learn we are currently at an intermediate medium level of Macedonian. There is still so much we want to learn. Our language learning is far from complete. We will continue to learn by talking with our family and community in Delcevo, and Peace Corps will provide tutoring throughout service. In the middle of our service and again at the end, we will have another LPI to evaluate our language ability.

For now, среќен ден на благодарност - Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We are celebrating Thanksgiving with the other trainees in Veles and all of our host families tomorrow. We will be thinking of you all.

-Andreya