Finding Community

We noticed how beautiful Macedonia is when we first arrived, and were excited for the chance to continue a life of camping and hiking. Accepting our lack of language abilities, the minimal gear we were able to include in our luggage, and a lack of knowledge of the area, we waited for our chance to explore.

There was hope when we met Tose in Veles, and he took us climbing in a hidden canyon just a few miles away.  There was a little more hope when, a few months later, we were able to go to Prilep, meet Hristo and climb again.

We were starting to get discouraged when, after over 3 months of living in Delcevo, we were still unable access the surrounding mountains, including Golak just 10 km away from the city center. We received a book from our hosts that showed us proof of hiking, waterfalls, mountains, caves, and archaeological sites in our community. However, it was only accompanied with general locations with no maps or specific directions. We tried to find a few of the sites ourselves by piecing together the vague info from the book, a map of Delcevo, and things locals were saying, but we were unsuccessful. 

Kukulje, or the Stone Dolls, located in the village Nov Istevnik
 in the Municipality of Delcevo.

St. Petka Church is the oldest church in the Municipality
dated back to the 14th century. We never would have seen
it without the help of the hiking club.

Then in February, on our first trip to Golak with Andreya’s work, we met the president of the local hiking club, Ljupcho Chuchukovski, and found our way into PSD Golak. Soon thereafter, we paid our membership dues, got T-shirts, and membership cards to the Federacija na Planinarski Sportovi na Makedonija, (Macedonia’s National Hiking Organization).

Andreya wearing the PSD Golak shirt in front of a man-made
water fall on the Ocipalska River

Joining this club has been one of the greatest things to happen to us in-community. They have given us access to many beautiful hikes here in Delcevo and Macedonia we could have never found on our own.

Passing through someone's field of plum trees

Macedonia does not have the infrastructure for outdoor recreation that we are accustomed to in the United States. It has three national parks, but they are on the opposite side of the country. There are no designated public lands for outdoor recreation like our national forests. This often means people live and build homes in these parts of the country. Nearly every hike has had some part of it cut through people’s gardens, farms, and through forests with no clear trail. Even after visiting these places with the help of a guide, it is very unlikely we could find them again on our own. The locals in the club have been a great resource and friends. 

Making our own trail down a steep hill

Some pigs from a farm we passed on a hike

Outside of our host family and work, PSD Golak is our primary way to interact with host country nationals. There are about 10 members and 5-7 that consistently go on each hike, and are people we see regularly. In the little over 2 months we have been involved with the club, we have done about 5 local hikes, a trip to a national park for a day hike, a walk to a nearby monastery, and a 5k run in Skopje. Nearly every weekend we have done something new together.

I am hoping to get more of my students on the hikes. They occasionally see my pictures on Facebook and remark with interest that they have not seen these places, which are so close to the homes they've lived in their whole lives. From my students’ perspectives, Delcevo is a small town with no theater, no malls, and few parks. The only weekend activity options are going to the coffee bars and the disco. However, Delcevo has a lot to offer if you know the right people. I want to be that right person for my students.

 

Peace Corps often stresses the importance of secondary projects. We are only required to work 20 hours a week at our main job with the hope that we can find other ways of being of service in the community. I am hoping the hiking club can be mine. Ljupcho has it under control and is an excellent guide. We both share the desire for people to appreciate and see the local sights. Getting the youth of Delcevo involved can only improve their physical health, sense of ecology, and appreciation for their town. Right now I am only a participant, but I hope I can help this club grow and get more people outdoors.

-Jarred