11 Weeks Later...

It has FINALLY happened. I have officially graduated Pre-Service Training (PST) and have sworn in as a volunteer! I can't even begin to describe what these last 11 weeks of training have been like. Overwhelming, grateful, anxiety, loneliness, wanderlust, excitement, these are just a few of the many emotions and feelings I have had these 11 weeks.

I feel like finishing PST and swearing in has been my first major milestone here in North Macedonia (other than stepping off that plane). During these last 11 weeks, I have completed 50+ hours of intensive language learning (in both Macedonian and Albanian), completed rigorous training on the Macedonian Education System and teaching English, talked to many different professionals inside of the profession, completed numerous hours of training in Health and Safety, and really dove deep into the Macedonian culture. And that doesn't even cover everything. HUGE shoutout to all Peace Corps Staff here in North Macedonia. I wouldn't have been able to get through all of this without each and every one of you; LCFs, program directors and trainers, medical unit, safety unit, coordinators, drivers, admin assistants, EVERYONE here in country has been nothing but amazing and supportive.

I truly believe that I have made an amazing community here in country. I feel as though Çair has become home. I was driving through the neighborhood with my host mom the other day and I said to her, "Oh! I know where I am!" and she said, "Doesn't it feel good to know your neighborhood?" And it truly does. You take those little things for granted. Other big accomplishments? Giving directions to a taxi driver in a different language! While I was getting out of the taxi, the driver said "Bravo!" because he knew Macedonian was a struggle for me. Or completely using Albanian while getting fruits and veg at your neighborhood produce stand. Or listening to your colleagues speak in Albanian in the teachers lounge and actually understanding the conversation! Albanian is the language I use the most and will be continuing to study for the next two years. Every time I use a new phrase or word to my friends, family or colleagues, it is the best feeling and they support me no matter what! I have been noticing a lot of language accomplishments lately and it's nice to see the hard work I have put into my classes pay off.

Thank you so much to everyone who tuned into the Facebook Live event for the Swearing-In Ceremony. If you didn't get a chance to watch it, follow Peace Corps North Macedonia on Facebook and the recording should be on their page. If you need the link, just let me know. :) Some highlights from the ceremony were that the US Ambassador (who was a Peace Corps volunteer herself) Angela Aggeler was the one to swear us in. Ambassador Aggeler was sworn into office in November and we were her first cohort of Peace Corps Volunteers she has sworn in. She was very down to Earth and was lovely to talk to. She told us to expect visits to our sites and schools (no pressure). The whole event was beautiful. Staff really went above and beyond to help us celebrate. It was so nice to celebrate all the hard work and finally get our Peace Corps pins and certificates. Shout out to all of our volunteers who did speeches! Some where even in Macedonian and Albanian! After the festivities, a group of us went out and celebrated more. It was a bitter sweet moment for all of us. We knew it was going to be awhile before we all got together again.

I am so proud of all of MAK 25! This is a special cohort that not only had the challenges of normal PST, but we also had to overcome COVID restrictions and other challenges along the way. I know I have made some life-long friends and we have barely begun our service. This is where the real work begins. :)