In one week (on March 15), the BIG adventure of the Peace Corps in Albania begins. The last few weeks have included LOTS of good family time, a perhaps symbolic taking down of the wallpaper in my room, and buying loads of...STUFF! Oh, and I've been pretending to pack. Fitting two years worth of necessities into 2 suitcases and 1 carry-on is a rather daunting task.
People ask me how I am feeling about the whole thing. Honestly, I just can't believe it is ACTUALLY happening since I've been looking forward to this for a LONG time!
Just as a quick recap of the agenda for the next 2 years/115 weeks:
Week 1: 1 night in Philadelphia, meeting the other 50 or so volunteers who will be in Albania Group 13 with me; 1 flight to Tirana, Albania, via Germany; meeting and moving in with my homestay family near Elbasan, Albania; and diving into language and culture learning
Weeks 2-10: Working toward passing my competency tests so they let me stay!!!
Weeks 11-115: Moving to a town/village and getting a placement with an organization, living it up in Albania, and getting the most out of the experience!
I hope to write on this blog once a month and post loads of pictures. I also have never written a blog before, so any good ideas for information to post is much appreciated!
If you would want to write me a letter till mid-May, the address is:
Susan Manikowski
Korpusi i Paqes
PO Box 8180
Tiranë, Albania
(No packages are allowed at this location; flat letters only.) I think I have collected everyone's addresses, but if you have a new one I don't have, please send it my way.
Thanks, everyone, for being interested in what is up! I will miss everyone like crazy, so I would love some of your updates, too!
In other exciting news, Peter (my brother) and Stephanie are engaged!
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