Favorites Part 3...

September and October were fun months to get back into the classroom, work with new age groups, and build on friendships in Bogdanci. "Ah-ha" moments speckled these months- when I witnessed seamless integration at play, when I sensed more comfort in my small Macedonian city than anywhere else, when I longed for lunch with my host family to talk about my day in Macedonian.

I love the challenge of teaching 1st grade to 4th year high school students. Also, it means ALL the kids here know me and say, "Hi!" when I am walking through town. Here are some shots of my Rock-Star 7th graders doing a story sequencing activity (and my main counterpart/partner in crime, Nina). You can also see some of them introducing themselves at this link.

We celebrated the International Day Without Cars in my community with a walk to a nearby town in the same municipality as Bogdanci. I walked with the daughter of my NGO project partners, Angela, and another young woman, Emilija, who is ridiculously gung ho about K-Pop and the dance classes I teach. We picked the last figs from trees lining the road and talked about world travel aspirations. Sometimes the most fulfilling community connections are the most surprising! 

I joined the gym here in Bogdanci. I love afternoon lifting sessions with my gym friends. I bring my music and we rock out while we chat and get strong. It has been an EXTREMELY enlightening look into the positive aspirations of youth here. With few opportunities for work (with or without a college degree) and images of success in America and Europe everywhere they look, it is no wonder many become apathetic. But the positive, active energy of the gym is super. Also, I find lifting in the company of my male high school students has helped my classroom management. Never hurts to use your strength as leverage outside of the gym :)

Here is my Sunday Walk friend, Valentina. I met her at Oro (traditional Macedonian dancing). She comes to my yoga classes. As a professional, successful, single mom with a playful spirit, we have great conversations about life (in Macedonian). She, my counterpart Nina, and my Macedonian tutor, Sofche, help me decipher what it is about Bogdanci, about Macedonian, and about ME that shapes my experience here- INVALUABLE. I always look forward to our long Sunday hikes. 

After sifting through all the sacrifices for Peace Corps, I realize the deepest discovery of self is found after shedding previous notions of what or who you are. Notions are tricky, kind of dangerous things. Notions can diminish our enjoyment of what is NOW, what is waiting for our engagement and enjoyment. At first being present with positivity was pure survival; during the adjustment phase so many other questions bubbled under the surface. Luckily :) I understand enough about culture, work, language, and life to listen to the deeper pondering questions without such urgency, without a need for answers.

So what AM I learning from Macedonian culture? As trite as it sounds: be open to changes, let life flow, recognize most of your disappointment is from a mismatch between your own expectations and factors outside of your control, try everything once, never underestimate the work involved in processing food, enjoy wood-burning heat, vanity is WAY overrated, pay attention because most people illustrate with actions what they can't say, persistence is KEY, be patient with yourself and others, hold your ground when it really matters but not to assert your expertise or ego, connecting with other humans in deep ways is pretty simply and beautiful, just be YOU and don't worry about it. 

I want to close with three amazingly simple quotes from The Artist's Way. I finished the book months ago and still feel the ripple effect of creativity in my life- YES!

Play is the exultation of the possible. - Andre Gide

Don't fear mistakes- there are none. - Miles Davis

What we play is life. - Louis Armstrong