Hello everyone,
First of all I would like to wish everyone Halloween! Halloween isn't celebrated as much here in Albania as it is in the states. However, it cheers me up to see everyone posting pictures of their costumes and celebrating with family and friends.
A lot has happened since I last posted in my blog. I've moved into a new house and I'm now living alone at my site. My previous host family was fantastic and I'm truly grateful for their hospitality. I was very fortunate to be able to live with such kind people. My new house is small but it has everything I need. My new place has a wood stove, kitchen, bathroom, living room and a small bedroom with a twin sized bed. It's perfect for me because I'm only one man and it makes it easy to cook, clean and do any work that needs to get done around the house. My neighbors are fantastic. I'm fortunate to live next to one of the teachers at the school in Gjader and they she has welcomed me to the neighborhood like a family member.
School has been going well so far this year. It makes my day to see all the students in school ready to learn my native language. There are so many bright young boys and girls in my school and I hope to help them learn as much as I can. My new counterpart is great as well. We are starting to build chemistry in the classroom and I'm optimistic about working with her for the rest of the school year. I already miss last year's Matura students (Seniors) but I know they are all starting their own journeys in life and I wish them all my best.
The days have been going by quite quickly here in Albania. It's been about nine months for me in country and it feels like I've only been here for just seconds. My Albanian is slowly but surely improving and I have been studying the language everyday. It seems like the more I learn Shqip the more I realize that I have much to learn over the course of the next year and a half. Not to mention each region of the country has their own separate dialects and slang I have to adjust to. It's quite amazing how many dialects there are in Albania considering the size of the country is close to the size of Massachusetts in the United States.
Speaking of the United States, I miss my family a lot. If there is anything I've learned from my experiences here in country it's that family is the most important thing in the world. I'm sure right now my sister is getting ready to go trick or treating tonight and my brother is out with his friends in Spain celebrating Halloween. I'm ecstatic to see my whole family this coming Christmas. It's especially important for me to see both my Grandmas. After the passing of my Grandfather while I was in Belsh, my grandma Alba has been on my mind. I can't wait to give her a hug and share all my stories with her in the short time I will be in the states. My other grandma "Mom Mom" has been on my mind as well. I really hope to see her for Christmas! I love both of them with all my heart.
Right now, I'm thinking about all the things I'm going to eat when I'm back in the USA. First of all, I'm going to have myself an ice cold heady topper with a big old American cheeseburger with franks hot sauce drizzled on the patty. Then I plan on eating potato skins with sharp cheddar, bacon, sour cream and a little salt. Later on in the evening, I'm going to have a root beer float with extra Hood ice cream and hot chocolate pudding. The next day in the morning, meat lovers omelet is on the menu. I want all different kinds of meat, Vermont cheddar cheese, vegetables and a light drizzle of franks hot sauce and a side of all American ketchup. For lunch I want a potato salad, coleslaw, Caesar salad, and a 32oz ribeye. For dinner, I want surf and turf lobster and chicken with a side of corn on the cob. But most importantly of all, I need some microwave popcorn. I never realized how great American microwave popcorn was until I lived in Albania for nine months. If I end up living here in the future, I'm going to have to have that shipped in on a weekly basis (along with franks hot sauce).
I could write a whole essay on food that I want but I will spare you guys the trouble and time. To all my family and friends back in the USA, I hope you know that old Mully is doing just fine and well. I'm thinking about you all and I hope that everything in your lives brings you happiness and joy. To my Albanian friends and family, thank you for the overwhelming amount of kindness you've showed me. Especially to all of you that I know from school and Gjader. I can't emphasize enough how lucky I feel to have been placed in such a great village with some of the most genuine people I've met in my life.
Have a great Halloween! Naten e mire! Goodnight!
Jacob
