Serving in Times of Hardship

Me with my host gma and gpa in Elbasan

What good is a blog that is never updated… I ask myself as each day passes, and my blog becomes more of an artifact than a living document that portrays my journey through the Peace Corps.  However, here I sit in the same apartment, at the same desk, and at the same computer (hopefully) which will serve as my physical setting for the next two years as I update this blog.

Since I do not have access to the Internet at the moment, I have to try and remember what my last blog post was about and have so far been unsuccessful. But, I can tell you what has been new and exciting that I don’t remember posting yet - Reader’s Digest version.

I have finished my language assessment and have met the minimum standards, which is Intermediate-low.  Now that I’m here with just the selected remnants of the original group - namely Bill and John - I hope to have real opportunities to develop my Shqip (the Albanian language, pronounced Ship or Sheep - I think).

Peace Corps Albania - Group 18 Swear-in.  Elbasan, Albania

I have sworn in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. We almost all made it, except one.  That was Monday, Tuesday we went to the coast, Durres, where we stayed at a half-decent resort where only the bravest, including me, jumped into the pool despite the cool temperatures and wind.  None though as brave as me, who jumped in with my phone, which I’m sorry to say didn’t make it.  

Photo of Elbasan - in front of Castle

Around noon on Tuesday, John and I headed back to Elbasan, and John’s counterpart showed me where my apartment building is located.  Let me just preface my whole experience here in Albania, and the following description of my apartment, by stating one of the core expectations of Peace Corps: Serve in times of hardship. To which I say, accepted!

View from my apartment - night

View from my apartment - day

My apartment is on the 6th floor of a newly constructed high rise building.  I don’t have much here, but I do have a two-bedroom place with a balcony that overlooks all of Elbasan out to the cliffs and mountains. It came with a sparse selection of dishes - 3 bowls, 2 forks, 2 glasses, 1 knife, and 3 spoons. I have a queen-size bed in my room and two twin-beds in the spare bedroom. I have a bathroom with a western style toilet, bidet, and hot water heater.  There is also a washer in-unit.  Now for the hardships, my fridge is rather loud and woke me up twice last night. There’s no shower curtain. The elevator is slow. The water supply to the washer leaks (but there’s a drain, so I don’t have to do anything about it). But again, I agreed to serve in times of hardship, so I’m going to get the landlord to fix these things and move on to the good work of the Peace Corps.