Meet Alex

Варено вино and good times with Alex and Katie.

In this installment of Meet the MAK 19s, we're introducing you to our good friend, Alex. Alex is caring, easygoing, and hilarious. We've shared many laughs, and a good bit of food and drink too, which is why we're so sad that he lives probably as far away as one living in Macedonia can live from us. Check out what he's up to on the opposite side of the country.

  Meet the MAK 19s

Alex making ajvar with his host baba in Losovo during training.

Name

Alex Jones

Where are you from?

Portland, Oregon

Site Name

Ohrid (Red Cross)

Sector

Community Development

How did you react to getting assigned to Macedonia?

First thing I had to do was turn on Google Maps and figure out where Macedonia was. I was first just excited to finally receive my invitation into the Peace Corps. I didn't think too much about the placement for a little bit. The more and more I started to learn about it, the more excited I was. There was some hesitation, because I had this image of serving in a destination that you could visually see the need. Eastern Europe was not on my radar when applying for the Peace Corps, but I was quickly able to get past that, and start preparing for my new life.

What were you doing prior to Peace Corps?

I was working for an alternative school in Portland as a college prep counselor for a targeted group of students who were the most under privileged. Before that, I was working as a Behavior Interventionist at a charter school in New Orleans.

What is your living situation like?

I live with a homestay family here in Ohrid. I have a 73 year old Baba. I have my own bathroom but otherwise we share the living space. Her son lives upstairs and she has a daughter that lives elsewhere in Ohrid.

I was definitely nervous to move in with a host family before coming to Macedonia. My PST experience helped ease this transition. I am very happy to have my Baba in my life and to learn from her. I do miss having my own space, being able to cook and clean on my own, and not have to be always on, but I am more grateful to have this family right now than to not. They are a great source of knowledge and add a family atmosphere when it can be a very lonely experience.

How big is your site? What is something that makes your site special or different?

Ohrid has about 40,000 to 45,000 people. Ten years or so ago Ohrid used to be much bigger, closer to 100,000 people. When the factory shut down many people lost their jobs and had to leave. You can still see the consequences of the economy with the lack of youth in the area.

Ohrid is famous for once having 365 churches, one for everyday of the year. It is not known now how many churches Ohrid does have currently. Ohrid is the tourist destination of Macedonia. Beautiful Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest and deepest in all of Europe. The lake and city of Ohrid are both designated by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. Also based on the beauty and importance of Lake Ohrid NASA declared one of Titan's lakes after Lake Ohrid.

A photo Alex snapped of Lake Ohrid.

What was one of the best moments or memories of your service?

I was having a conversation with someone from the area. It wasn't about work, it was just a friendly conversation. She told me that I was starting to change her perspective of Americans. It showed the importance of the two other pillars of our service that had nothing to do with our main work assignment.

What was one of the hardest days of your service?

I have two. The day my godson was born. It was really hard to not be there to see him born, but to also be there for two of my best friends. It was also the realization that I will be missing out on its first two years of life. I love seeing photos of him on a daily basis, but its not the same.

It sounds corny, but the other hardest day thus far was the day that my favorite soccer team opened their season back home. It was the weekly event me and my best friend had. It is one of my favorite times. It was hard to be watching the game here at 4:30AM and not being there with him. I am not missing home much but I am missing experiences.

What are some projects you're working on outside of your primary job?

Currently I am creating curriculum to teach early intervention trainings at a special needs organization in Struga. I am going to start teaching TOEFL classes at the American Corner in Struga as well.

What do you do to fill your time when you aren't working?

When I am not working, I am loving exploring the areas around Ohrid. There are many sights and places to visit. The history in this area is outstanding.

A couple of the other volunteers in the area have organized a book club. Reading has become a very important part of my time away from work.

Learning the language is something else that takes a good chunk of my time as well. Even though it should take more.

Alex, Kait, and Katie modeling Macedonian scarves the soccer game against Slovakia.

Meet Allison

Today, we're sharing a little bit from fellow-MAK 19, Allison. Allison is outgoing, beautiful, and such a blast to be around. She keeps everyone laughing, and also has some really insightful things to say. One of my first memories of Allison was after a long day of training, we went to a restaurant in Skopje with a group of trainees, and talked about the most influential books we've read over a plate of попфрит со сирење (cheese fries). That conversation has stuck with me.

  Meet the MAK 19s

Name

Allison Smith

Where are you from?

Born and raised in sunny San Diego, California!!

Site Name

Kratovo

Sector

Community Development

How did you react to getting assigned to Macedonia?

I was stoked! I was originally assigned to Azerbaijan, which sounded exciting and exotic, but also extremely challenging (squattie potties, etc.). I was, however, all packed up and ready to accept the challenges head on, but the day before I was to ship out I received a call from the PC HQ in DC stating Azerbaijan had pulled the plug on the program, and that I would not, in fact, be going there after all. After waiting on pins and needles for about a week and a half, having numerous phone calls back and forth with Placement, I was told that Macedonia was on the table and I didn't hesitate to accept. Having read a bit on the Balkans as a neighboring region to Azerbaijan I was ecstatic to travel to this part of the world and experience a brand new culture.

What were you doing prior to Peace Corps?

Prior to the Peace Corps I was working as a Senior Research Analyst for a NYSE company called CoStar Group, Inc. in the famous La Jolla area of San Diego. CoStar is an online utility for the commercial real estate industry that provides information, statistics, and predicts trends. I was responsible for maintaining several high profile (which just means it was one of the companies top paying clients) portfolios in addition to researching the very active commercial real estate market of Los Angeles, CA. It was interesting and kept me VERY busy, but was life in a cubicle.

What is your living situation like?

Here in Kratovo I live in the lower apartment of a two-story home with an amazingly sweet family. I have a host dad, mom and two sisters. One of my sisters lives and works in Skopje and is home on weekends, from time to time, and the other finishing up her degree at the faculty in Skopje and lives in the home full time with her parents. My dad works at the municipality and my mom at the hospital. Both are incredibly giving and very well known in the town.

My set up is pretty sweet, having my own space that includes two bedrooms, a full kitchen and bathroom. My only complaint as a SoCal girl is the cold here in the North-East mountains, but I am learning to cope just fine. I spend time with my family almost everyday. We exchange cultural conversation, food and dance moves! We laugh A LOT and travel to neighboring villages to visit with extended family members often.

How big is your site? What is something that makes your site special or different?

Kratovo is one of, if not the oldest, city in all of Macedonia. It is most famous for it's many towers and bridges, each with their own historic or urban legend story. Every street here is made of cobblestone and it is about 25 minutes away from a natural phenomenon known as the Kuclica (the Stone Dolls). The town gets a few visitors from in country as well as from the neighboring countries of Bulgaria and Kosovo often.

The municipality for Kratovo is about 10,000 people, but here in the town there is about 4,000 people living and working everyday.

What was one of the best moments or memories of your service?

The best part of my service so far has been the people I have met. I have developed some pretty strong relationships with volunteers from my own group and the groups before me still in country. Friendships that I know will last far beyond my service time. Anytime I am around a group of those people there are too many laughs and good times to single out just one.

What was one of the hardest days of your service?

I remember it well, Sept. 24th. It was the day that my Grandmother passed away back home. She was diagnosed with lung cancer that had metastasized and placed in hospice care about two weeks prior to me leaving the country. Although she gave me (demanded I go actually) her blessing to leave as scheduled mid Sept. for my service here in Macedonia, it was very hard for me being away from my family during this time. My grandmother was my best friend, life coach and comic relief in life.

I was on the phone with my Mother (who was by her side day in and day out) while she took her last breaths. I was able to tell her I loved her and not to be afraid and that her greatest adventure was waiting for her. She mumbled almost inaudibly that she loved me and was gone shortly thereafter. This was without a doubt the hardest day for me in Macedonia.

Special thanks to Evelina, Corey, Helen, Meredith and Alex for having been serious rocks for me here during that time. I am forever grateful.

What are some projects you're working on outside of your primary job?

My first secondary project has been very successful! It is an after school program for the youth here in Kratovo that helps them learn more about American culture while developing their English skills. We have had game days where we teach them to play interactive Jeopardy, Bingo and Scrabble, we watch educational films like an Inconvenient Truth and teach them about American Historical moments like the Civil Rights Movement.

I am currently awaiting response from the US Embassy for a grant I wrote and submitted for funding for the project that would allow us to take the children on day trips to the American Book Store in Skopje and to fund prizes like a Kindle loaded with free books.

You can learn more about our group here.

What do you do to fill your time when you aren't working?

I have reunited with my loves,

reading and film. Having brought a Kindle with me, I have read over 15 books since January 2015. My laptop gives me access to Netflix and any movie I want :) I also hike a lot in the mountain range surrounding my town and journal about my experience often.

Additional comments/thoughts about yourself and your service.

This experience has been magical, challenging, enlightening, and spiritual for me. I try not to compare my service to anyone else's and focus on making the best out of everyday I am here.

Meet Katie

Today, we introduce you to our dear friend Katie. Katie was in our training group in Veles, and we became quick friends. We bonded over book discussions and топло вино. She is kind, smart, and is always thoughtfully celebrating others. Since moving to our sites, we haven't seen enough of each other. A trip to Skopje to visit her is in order, or, Katie, if you're reading this, come to Delcevo!

Meet the MAK 19s

Name

Katie

Where are you from?

New York

Site Name

Sopiste

Sector

TEFL

How did you react to getting assigned to Macedonia?

I was originally assigned to Sierra Leone, but due to a medical hold had to be re-assigned. I was offered a choice between Botswana and Macedonia. I chose Macedonia based solely on the program, I felt more qualified for the position there. Only after accepting the placement did I do more research. I was surprised that Peace Corps was still in the Balkans, and did not know much about the region or the country I was headed to. I was not headed where I expected to be, but found myself excited at the prospect of an entirely different adventure.

What were you doing prior to Peace Corps?

I started my Peace Corps application in my final year of undergrad at American University. The time between graduation and my departure was spent waitressing at a restaurant outside Washington D.C. I also volunteered as an adult ESL teacher, and worked as a summer camp counselor.

What is your living situation like?

I currently live in a homestay. I share the basement apartment with my baba (Macedonian for grandma). In the main home, upstairs, lives her son Igor, his wife, Sirma, and their five year old twins, Ana-Maria and Philip. I have been told that both homes are always open to me, though I spend the majority of my time downstairs. The kids are one of the best parts of my homestay, they are loving and brilliant, speaking significantly better English than I do Macedonian. Sirma and Igor have been warm and welcoming as well.

How big is your site? What is something that makes your site special or different?

My site Sopiste, it is a suburb of Skopje, the capitol city of Macedonia. It’s nestled in the mountain, and is a large, spread out municipality. It’s made up of several small villages, three of which I work in. It is a mixed population community, 20% of the population is ethnically Albanian, and the other 80% is ethnically Macedonian. It has become a popular site to build homes for those who work in Skopje, but want to raise families outside of the city. Due to this commuter mentality, I have had a hard time finding community in my community; everyone seems to socialize in the city and there are no cafes or restaurants where I live. It is convenient being so close to Skopje, but I am still adjusting and finding the balance between family life and city life.

What was one of the best moments or memories of your service?

The small moments have been some of the best. Making Christmas cookies with my host family was one of the first real bonding moments I had at site. It made me feel welcomed, and it showed the family was interested in my traditions. I am also leading a book club, and watching the students actively participate in the book discussion I designed was amazing. It was great to see students interested in something I also love. My boyfriend’s visit also has to be on the list; sharing this experience with someone from home made it feel more real. It has made discussing my highs and lows easier, because I now have someone who has witnessed me in this environment. It was great to get to share this part of my life with him.

What was one of the hardest days of your service?

I think my birthday or Christmas both rank pretty high on the, “well, this sucks,” list. This was my first time away from home for both days. I am very close to my family, and Christmas is my favorite holiday, I love the traditions that my parents and I have. It was hard to chat with them, and my family, and hear how much I was missed. My birthday was a similar phenomenon, my friends and host family here were wonderful. They made me feel loved and celebrated, but nonetheless, I felt very far away from home, and very disconnected. I’m happy the holiday season is over, and I only have to miss it once more.

What are some projects you're working on outside of your primary job?

Currently, most of my secondary projects are run through the American Corner in Skopje. I have worked with them on a drama club, a book club, and various holiday projects including a Valentine’s Day workshop and a Christmas Tree Decorating workshop. My favorite project is the book club. I work with students from the Competitive College Club, who are interested in attending college in the states. Each month they read an assigned book, and we discuss it in various formats. Last month we discussed the Great Gatsby through quotes, this month we’ll be having our own version of the Hunger Games. The students are engaged and willing to match my enthusiasm, which makes for a fun environment.

What do you do to fill your time when you aren't working?

I’m sure this will come as no surprise based on how much I just gushed about book club. I read. I read a lot. An abnormal amount, really. I’ve probably read close to 15 books this month. I’m also re-watching the Gilmore Girls. I just finished season three. I also spend time with my sitemates. At least once a week we meet in Skopje, and do dinner, or coffee. I’m hoping to spend more time outside as the weather gets nicer, but until then I’ve got plenty of reading to do.

Additional comments/thoughts about yourself and your service.

Peace Corps thus far has been a great opportunity for personal growth. I’m still struggling to find my place at work and in the home, but every day I get closer. Some days two years seems overwhelming. However, most days I know that I will need this time. I consider myself very lucky to be placed in Macedonia. We have an amazing staff here, and even more amazing volunteers. I could not ask for a better group of people to take this journey with.

You can read more about Katie's experiences on her blog, betterremembered.wordpress.com

Breaking the silence

It has been too long since our last post. We wanted to continue to blog regularly, but nothing was happening on our end. Things are looking up now. In the last couple of weeks, we went rock climbing, traveled to a new city, hung out with other volunteers, joined a hiking club, and hiked up a very snowy mountain. More on all of that later.

For now, I want to introduce something else I've been working on. In my downtime, I collaborated with a couple of other PCVs to create a short questionnaire for our fellow MAK 19s to fill out. [MAK 19 is the name for our group of PCVs. We are the 19th group of volunteers in Macedonia.] There are 43 MAK 19s serving all over the country. Every volunteer is having a vastly different experience. We want to share a little about what their lives are like. To kick things off, we are sharing our own responses. In the following weeks, we'll share what a few of our friends are up to.

Meet the MAK 19s

Name

Andreya + Jarred Taylor

Where are you from?

We grew up in Silsbee, TX, but most recently we lived in Nacogdoches, TX where we both attended Stephen F. Austin State University.

Site Name

Delcevo

Sector

A: Community Development

J: TEFL

How did you react to getting assigned to Macedonia?

A: When we applied, we didn't select any preferences, and had no idea where we might go. I always had Africa in my head. I think that is what many people think of when they think of Peace Corps. Before getting our invitations, we promised each other that we would wait until we were together to open them. Jarred texted me when he got the email. We were both really excited and anxious to see where we had been placed, but we had to wait for several hours for me to get off work. Once we read Macedonia in our invitations, we spent a lot of time staring at the world map that hung in our living room and Googling. We had no idea what was in store for us, but we were crazy-excited to be going somewhere, anywhere!

J: When we found out, we had no idea where Macedonia was. Once we located it on a map, we were really pumped to live in Eastern Europe.

What were you doing prior to Peace Corps?

A: I graduated with my bachelor's degree in social work in 2013,we got married a couple of weeks later, a month later I started the social work master's program, and we started our PC applications. I finished my thesis in June of 2014 and graduated in August. We spent our summer traveling, and departed for Macedonia in September.
J: I was working on master's degree in music while working as a graduate assistant for the outdoor program at our university. After I graduated in May 2014, we spent the summer traveling and hanging out with friends and family.

What is your living situation like?

We live with a super-sweet couple. They are both retired and in their 60s. We live on the second floor of their home. We have a separate entrance, our own kitchen and bathroom. It's really like our own apartment. We love it. Honestly, it is bigger and has more amenities (wi-fi, washing machine, terrace) than our apartment back in Texas. We like having our own space with the benefits of a family. We have coffee with them regularly, and they are always bringing us food.

How big is your site? What is something that makes your site special or different?

Delcevo is a pretty small town, but it has everything we need. There are a couple of small markets, a T-Mobile store, a handful of cafes and restaurants, and a nice pazar on Saturdays. I think the population is somewhere around 15,000, but that includes the surrounding villages. There are several monasteries around. So far, we've only been to one. The Bregalnica River runs through the center of Delcevo, and Mount Golak is just a few kilometers from the center. 

What was one of the best moments or memories of your service?

A: Work has been kind of off and on for me. Some days I've felt totally lost, and some days things have really clicked, reminding me that there is a real reason for me to be here. A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to Bulgaria with my organization for a grant informational seminar. We spent most of the day in a hotel conference room listening to presentations about the new grant period and what kinds of projects they were looking for. I was doing my best to understand as much of it as possible (It was all in Bulgarian). I was really pleased with how much I could understand, I felt I was on the same page as the others from my organization, and we had fun checking out a little of Bulgaria. The whole day re-energized me, and reminded me to keep pushing at work.

J: After a long winter, Andreya and I went to Prilep (a city in Southwestern Macedonia) to visit other volunteers, and I was hopeful to get out and do some bouldering while we were there. In my early research of Macedonia, I learned Prilep was known for its rock climbing and was excited to see it for myself. A few weeks before our trip, I found the contact info for the president of the rock climbing club in Prilep. With my limited language abilities, I explained that we would be in town, wanted to climb, had limited gear, and asked if there was anyway he could help us out. He was really helpful. We met up with him, he personally showed us a few good climbing sites, and lent us crash pads and a guide book. It was the first beautiful weekend of the year. It was warm, and nice to spend the day outside. It was reassuring to me to know that there are people here with similar interests who are passionate and generous.

What was one of the hardest days of your service?

A: There isn't one day that stands out from the rest. Adjusting to life here as a PCV in a new place has been much harder than I expected. PC tried to warn us all in training about the ups and downs, but there is really no way you can be prepared. Trying to carve a place for myself in a new country/culture/community/organization has been difficult - creating a lifestyle that blends how I lived in America with Macedonian culture and learning from that. Winter in particular has been hard. I'm from Texas. I didn't even know what Winter was really like until I moved here. The constant freezing temperatures, snow, and ice made me feel trapped in our apartment. Good news, though, we recently joined a hiking club, and they are teaching us how to remain active in the winter months. 

J: There have been a few days where I've felt ineffective at work. I teach English at a high school. I work with 3 of the English teachers there. Some classes go better than others, but some days it really feels like an uphill battle. It has been difficult to get the teachers to plan with me, so often I don't until a few hours before class what I'll be teaching.

What are some projects you're working on outside of your primary job?

J: The school I work at already had an English club. I meet with them every couple of weeks. Its an opportunity for students who are passionate about English to get extra practice through games and group activities outside of the classroom. I don't have any official secondary projects, but I spend a lot of time helping out at Andreya's organization.

What do you do to fill your time when you aren't working?

A: Reading, crocheting/knitting, watching too much tv, cooking/baking, yoga, hanging out with my counterpart and her family

J: I watch tv, play guitar, read, play soccer with a group of guys at the local sports center every week, and run.

Additional comments/thoughts about yourself and your service.

A: So far, my Peace Corps experience has been nothing like I imagined. It has been much tougher than I anticipated, but it has been so fun. I've met so many fantastic people, started learning a new language, and immersed myself in a new culture. I'm really excited to see what happens next.

J: Peace Corps is cool. Be chill. Live big.

-Andreya