TrailBlazing Life

In my life, I’ve always had circles of friends. For example, in college, I had my fellow architects, my sorority sisters, my roommates, my high school friends and my teammates. It gives me a high to bring different groups of people together and create new friendships. 

In Macedonia, I’ve created a new network of loved ones. My colleagues at Braka Miladinovci are the people I see everyday, rain or shine. They are more then colleagues. We are a family there. When the directorka and I are in public, she always excitedly asks me to tell people what I call her. Ritually, I reply, “Directorka Majka” (Principal Mom) I was warned by cultural teachers that Macedonians are very serious about titles. It seems our directorka adores her new title.  Our staff consists of a younger generation majority. We are enthusiastic, friendly, inclusive, energetic and without drama. We have inside jokes, favorite spots and crazy bus rides. When I enter the room in the morning, at least five voices call out within seconds and handshakes and cheek kisses are exchanged all around. 

I’ve always been a friendly neighbor. I value a good neighbor. My mother and father showed me the family of neighbors. Through their own friendships, I saw the amazing experience you can create in the network of your neighborhood. My family was always putting on Friday Night Happy Hours in our garage, planning the parkland cleanup or leading the Fourth of July Parade and Picnic. In college, I knew everyone in my dorm after the first week. I was known to knock on the doors of strangers, introduce myself and invite people up for a drink. The easy friendship of a neighbor is increased by the proximity of location as well as accessibily. A good neighbor will call you before they call the police. A great neighbor will join the party.

The Number One Question I receive: Is Macedonia beautiful?

The Number Two Question: Which is more beautiful America or Macedonia?

My response? Neither, Zvan! (That always gets a smile : ))

The Village Phrase of Zvan: There are people, There are no people, and then, there are Zvanians.

Most believe the best culture is the one you were born into. Neighbors and ‘Nagostis’ house visits are the core of the Macedonian village social life. Many Macedonians ask me about my neighbors in America. It usually goes like this, “Americans aren’t friends with their neighbors, Right?” I quickly put them in their place. My neighbors in America are some of my great friends. Then, to keep them culturally accurate, I feel inclined to add that many people drive to their best friends’ house. After a cocky knowing look, the next question is “Do people have “Nagostis” guests at their house?” My response, “Yes, but sometimes we meet our friends out on the town.” A small comment comes about Americans being unhospitable, while I think about the last time I was “out on the town in America”. A open mind is a true accomplishment. Your culture raises you to believe it was the only life for you. If I open one mind a day, I’ve achieved something.

My mom always said, You discover yourself in College. And what do you know, Moms are always right. I did discover a lot about my self at the University of Virginia. I understood that I was a positive person. I know now THAT is an understandment. I’m happy all the time. The peace Corps give us three goals to achieve within two years. One. Two. Three. I try to live by those but I’ve created my own Goal as well. It’s Simple, it’s pure. Make people happy. And going along with that, To Make People Happy, you have to be happy yourself. 

In Peace Corps Macedonia, everyday is an experience. I’m always learning; culture, language, people, self and travel.  My work at the school is unique and flexible. If I had to label my work position, I would say Youth Event Organizer first, Teacher second. The past four months have been full of experimental projects, with both successes and failures but all full of enthusiasm!

I’ve spent a huge amount of time celebrating Holidays; Macedonian and American! The Cultural Holiday Series was my first successful project idea at Braka Miladinovci School. During this second semester, I led student Holiday events for seven American Holidays! The middle school events were held as an afterschool club. For the 5 satellite elementary schools, my counterpart, Vlatko, and I traveled to have events in their English classes.  The Christmas introductory party was Gingerbread House Construction. (with the lack of gingerbread, we used crackers!)

My 23^rd Birthday was my first out-of-country. My roommates used to joke that I always made sure my birthday party lasted at least a week. It was no different in Macedonia. The Valentine’s Day Holiday events started in January! After my short PPT on cupid, the students created their first ever Valentine’s Day Mailboxes. My excited director insisted that all the projects stay up till the end of the year. Our V-day Post Office is still displayed in the school hallway!

A Birthday ‘Slava’ Celebration in Macedonia is often quite a formal affair. The reputation of the ‘Doma Kinka’ Housewife/Hostess is very important to all Macedonian women.  A typical ‘slava’ starts with appetizers of ‘kifla’ handmade croissants, cabbage salad and ‘blago’ chocolate sweets. The main meal usually consists of a huge piece of meat and beans. For my 23^rd AMERICAN Birthday Slava, I wanted to be out of the norm. My 25 guests were served Bruschetta, Loaded Potato Skins and Deviled Eggs, TACOS, apple pie and carrot cake. I never thought I’d be given a lesson on how to fill a birthday taco in Macedonian! I’ve learned to expect the unexpected!

            My biggest birthday gift was a week of snow days! After a week of igloos, sleds and ‘slavas’, I started my second official project idea, The Creative Club. Our first event was a Nation-wide school program called Healthy Food for Kids without Limits.  The application asked us to create a menu and cook a dish. We took an out of the box approach. With only fruits and vegetables, the students built, cut and molded works of art. Kids’ imaginations are endless; animals, flowers, cars, boats, aliens, all out of apples, oranges and maybe a carrot or two.

            Unlike our Valentine’s Mailboxes, our Healthy Food display only lasted one day. The next week, my director wanted a more tangible display to show off the Creative Club for the Patron Day. In Macedonian schools, the Day of the Patron is the most important show of the year. Our Patrons Braka Miladinovci, the Miladinovci Brothers, are celebrated on March 16^th. . The Creative Club’s Patron Program was called Creative Recycling! We created masterpieces out of tin cans, toilet rolls, plastic bags and bottles. All the guests were impressed by the ingenious works of their own kids!

Holiday just kept coming! I introduced Groundhog’s Day by designing the burrows of the famous shadow man in the main hallway. We waited in anticipation for the prediction of the season to be announced on YouTube! St. Patrick’s Day was a festival of green, gold and leprechauns. Do you know who St. Patrick was? Together, we learned St. Patrick scared away all the snakes in Ireland! My Irish heritage came out when I held an Irish dancing class. Handmade Irish rainbow hats made our entire school lucky for the entire week! Stay tuned, next email  I’ll tell you all the stories about April Fools Day, Easter and of course, Cinco De Mayo (I won’t give anything away but Piñatas were involved!) I’m splitting my update into a series of upcoming emails. 

Today, I received the most exciting news! Last month, I wrote an application for a USAid Grant for the Interethnic Integration Education Project. Today, the principal informed me that our school was accepted into the project! Tomorrow, the mayor and the project coordinators from the capital will be coming to congratulate and prepare us for the upcoming program. Grant writing was never something I knew I could do! Things just keep getting more exciting!

I’m waiting at the bus station for my parents to finally arrive in my home away from home. Unfortunately, my parents couldn’t find my village. Zvan’s not the biggest place on the map…My mom and dad rented a car from the capitol of Macedonia (throughout the week, the majority of my neighbors would ask them how much they paid for it) My dad, the prepared plan man, printed out Mapquest directions from Skopje to Zvan. If you’ve used Mapquest before, you know, sometimes Mapquest gets a kick out of taking you on a little adventure. After successfully making it to the middle of the country, they were lost. In the large city of Prilep, they pointed and grunted questions about my area. After many Macedonians tried to help the confused Americans, they decided on the path over the mountain, through the villages, on the tiniest dirt path. After an extra hour and half, they made it! Our reunion in the bus station parking lot was worthy of a blockbuster movie. (running towards each other, hugs everywhere and even some jumping)