Pre-Departure Expectations

A few days remain before my trans-Atlantic flight to Macedonia.  I am starting to become a bit more excited at this point, but packing is still dominating the majority of my thoughts during these final days.  

The most surreal (yeah, I hate that word too, but my mental Thesaurus is not completely functional at this point) thing is that only few days separate what I anticipate Macedonia to be and what I will experience.  So before my bubble is popped, I am listing below what I look forward to and what I will NOT look forward to (based on hearsay, research, etc.)

Things I Look Forward To

1. No cell phones!!!- Well, not exactly.  I am not bring my cell phone from the States because A) it seems a hassle to get it cracked before I depart and B) It is a sh*##y Windows phone that did little for me besides providing me with maps and Outlook.  But it will be nice to live in a society that may not be (assumedly) dominated by cell phone use.  Current PCVs in Macedonia seem to highlight the “Na Gosti” (На Гости) aspect of the Macedonia culture, where neighbors visit you/ you visit neighbors, and each spends hours over Turkish (Macedonian) coffee talking IN PERSON.  I look forward to reverting back to a dumb phone.
2. No Driving to work= No traffic-  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy driving, and I may even miss it.  But my three-year commute of driving back and forth in traffic, driving to the North side to meet others at bars, etc., those days are OVER!  But this gain does not come without its own loss…  (to be explained below)
3. Two Christmases and Two New Years- Macedonia seems to celebrate both traditional Christmas and New Year (based on the Western Standard) as well as the Orthodox Christmas and New Year.  That means more time for Christmas music, more time for that season tidings!  Orthodox New Year 2014 falls on January 14, which means my birthday will fall within the superfecta of holidays!  Of course, this can all change if I am placed in an Albanian/ Muslim community.
4. Mountains and Nature- I will finally live in a place with mountains (and real mountains with glaciers, nothing like those Midwest mountains, which are really big hills and look like mountains to a Flat-Lander like me).  There are also plenty of places to hike and camp throughout the country, and plenty of volunteers who will join me for adventures!
5. Autumn- Autumn is my favorite season, and I have basically missed the best part of it for the past three years!  Since I traveled through Florida each September and October for work for the past three years, my seasons have basically been Summer>Summer2>Winter>Winter2 (because, let’s face it, spring solely exists in Chicago during the last two weeks of May, and is therefore non-existent).  I miss the cooler weather and changing leaves oh-so much!  While in Macedonia, I look forward to the harvest, and hopefully my host family will allow me to participate in the Ajvar-making.
6. FIFA World Cup and NO NFL- I am super excited to be in Macedonia during the 2014 World Cup.  Unfortunately, it does not seem that Macedonia pass forward into the competition.  Nonetheless, watching the World Cup in a European backdrop will be a realized fantasy.  I am also happy that I do not have to pretend that I have knowledge of NFL, standings, Fantasy teams, etc.  But if the Bears win the Super Bowl while I am gone, I may be pissed.

Things I Do NOT Look Forward To

1. Cigarettes and Second-hand Smoke- Supposedly, everybody in Macedonia smokes, and they smoke a lot.  There is a current anti-smoking law on the books for cafes, restaurants, etc, but few seem to follow it and enforcement is weak.  Smoking is expected to be prevalent at home as well.  I was lucky with my host family in Japan, of which did not smoke,  so maybe I will be lucky again?  Or maybe my luck card has already been played…
2. Promaja- Promaja (pronounced PRO-mai-ya) is a Macedonian/ Balkan belief that cross-winds cause all types of disease.  Unfortunately, I do not do well when I lack fresh air.  I do not look forward to those bus rides in the summer where only ONE window is allowed to be ajar.  It sounds like I am in store for some of the worst motion sickness of my life.
3. Queues- Second-World countries are known for their waiting.  Lines for provisions, lines to speak to officials, waiting forever at a bus stop because the service is hardly on schedule.  This may be all hearsay, but at least I will not be in any rush to get anywhere.
4. Stray Dogs and Cats- Supposedly Macedonians rarely spay or neuter their pets, and thus the stray cat and dog situation in Macedonia is rampant.  I will have to find a way to harden my heart against all of the hungry eyes of the stray dogs and cats. 

Are You Nervous?

September is here, this American summer is over, and my journey to Macedonia and the Peace Corps is just over the horizon.  Excitement, curiosity, and imaginations of what my experience may be like has changed into a dull checklist of items I need to buy and tasks I need to accomplish before I depart.

Over the past weeks, as I exchanged my last goodbyes with friends and loved ones, many questions were asked of me that I frankly did not have the answers to:

Q- "What exactly will you be doing?"
A- "No idea.  I was nominated for Economic Community Development, invited for NGO Development.  I will find out my assignment once I arrive."

Q- "Where will you live?"
A- "Not in the capital, most likely a city.  Macedonia is a country of just over 2 million, so the city will be small by Chicago's/ American standards."

Q- "How many other volunteers will live in the city you will be in?"
A- ???

Q- "What is the weather like?"
A- "Cold winters, hot summers.  Depends if I am in a valley or higher up in the mountains."

Q- "What language will you speak?"
A- Macedonian for certain.  Quite possibly Albanian, if I am assigned to a city with a larger Albanian community."

Q- "Will you be able to come back to the US anytime during your service?"
A- "Yes, but I do not intend to unless an emergency occurs."

Q- "Are you nervous?"
A- "No."

Overall, I could only provide generic answers to the questions asked of me.  Peace Corps volunteers serve in a vast number of countries, and even within a small country like Macedonia, volunteer experiences can differ by sector, location, time of service, etc.  Despite all of these unknowns, I can confidently respond that I am not worried about the looming experience because there are so many "knowns" that give me a good expectation of things to come.  I have scoured the internet and Wikipedia for non-fiction articles on the history of Macedonia, the Balkans, and the culture of its people.  I have seen the movie "After the Rain", read the book "The Bridge on the Drina", and I have thoroughly read through current and returned PCV blogs.  I have started learning the Macedonian language.  Finally, I have met via Facebook many of volunteers who are currently serving or will be serving with me in Macedonia.

I feel that most of the other PCVs preparing to embark on their service in the coming months feel as confident going into their service, mainly because the Peace Corps prepares all invitees through their 10 Core Expectations.  We are interviewed on these expectations early during the process, and training along these expectations is provided throughout PST.  The Core Expectations demand upon each volunteer personal flexibility and integration into one's community.  If anybody reading this blog is considering joining the Peace Corps, I am providing the Corps Expectations to this post for review (the picture below cannot be magnified enough, so a link is also provided in the title).  Reading through it, one gets the sense that no matter where a volunteer is placed, success is built on working with one's community to address the needs of its people.  Relationship-building is key.

But, am I nervous?  At first that question was so simple, but has become much more ambiguous the more I pondered about it.  Am I nervous about my 27 months in Macedonia?- "No."  Am I nervous about what awaits me upon my return?- "Possibly."  It was great to see my friends and loved ones before I left, but when I return in 27 months, what will change?  Every last "farewell" was ideally a "let's pause for now, and pick up again in 27 months."  But while that may be easier for me, I am sure many factors will change my friends' lives and make that impossible for them.  27 months can seem so short and yet so long.  I do not doubt that re-integrating into the USA upon my return will demand just as much flexibility and relationship-building as during my service in the Peace Corps.

So in 27+ months, where will I live?  What will the weather be like?  What will I be doing?  Will I know anybody in the city in which I live?  Will my friends and I be able to pick up where we left off?

This set of unknowns makes me a bit nervous.  But luckily, I do not need to think about them for 27 months.

Macedonia- Timeless

The past two weeks have certainly whirred by!  My friend was a great host to me while I stayed at her place in Seattle.  We had legendary sushi, stayed at a nice B&B on Vashon Island, fished for crabs, and enjoyed a relaxing bike ride.

Visiting Madison, WI was also great and took me back to my college days as I visited Sameer.  Finally, my family hosted a party for me this past Saturday, and it was certainly a blast to see everyone before I took off.

A current volunteer shared the following Youtube link with me.  The video is a compilation of Macedonian tourism ads, and they tend to show the very glamorous side of Macedonia within each.  Feel free to watch the video to experience the magic of this country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83QkWNPu7mE

Crabbing on Vashon Island, WA

Angela and me!

The sign my brother made for the family party

One month to go!

Today (well, about 17 minutes ago) I received the email addressing the details for staging!  And the best part is that it will take place in Washington DC!  I am excited that this will be my first time in the District, but unless I arrive a day early, I probably will not be able to explore the city much...

For the complete itinerary of staging, please see below.  The email mentioned that staging will be brief but intense, and it certainly looks to be so.

STAGING DATES: September 13, 2013 - September 14, 2013
REGISTRATION: 12:30 PM on September 13, 2013

SCHEDULE:September 13, 2013
12:30 PM: Registration
2:00 - 4:25 PM: Who We Are, What You Expect, What's Next
4:25 - 4:45 PM: Break
4:45 - 7:00 PM: What We Expect, Closing
September 14, 2013
11:30 AM: Check out of hotel
12:00 PM: Bus arrives for loading and departure to the airport

The flight to Skopje will connect through Vienna.  Total flight time (without layovers) will be 10.5 hours long (9 hours to Vienna, 1.5 hours to Skopje).  The longest, single flight I have ever taken was 13 hours long (to Tokyo), so this flight should be a breeze.

But there is still so much of this American summer to enjoy.  Within the next 5 hours, I am off to Seattle.  

FUNemployment Part 2- An Ode to Strangers

Anyone who knew me during high school or my early years of college knows that, deep at heart, I am an introvert.  Working at UChicago Admissions has turned me into much more of an extrovert than I ever thought I could become.  I know this to be true because I have discovered that one of my favorite “activities” was meeting people on the road during my recruitment travel.

The following was my strategy of “kicking it off” with unassuming strangers:

1.  Research for the perfect restaurant- I would search Google Maps for something “local”, ie. not a chain.  Places with local cuisine and craft brews usually were the best options.  Also, nothing too classy. (Arriving after 8PM (great timing to slip a workout in beforehand) ensures success in luring the perfect stranger for a conversation)
2. Drive/ walk to the restaurant with a book in hand.
3. Sit at the bar and order drinks/ dinner. 
4. Sit and wait.  I always start reading and usually wait for a person to ask me “what I was reading”.  Or if I overhear a loud conversation that is interesting, I will often chime in.
5.             If all else fails, enjoy a good meal, a nice brew, and a few chapters of a good book.

           Now don’t get me wrong- I am NOT a sex offender or thief, or anything of the nature.  This is solely my way of breaking the monotony and loneliness of living in a hotel room alone, often for weeks on end.  Nobody, including myself, has ever been caused any harm by this “activity”.

Moreover, traveling alone and engaging in conversations with locals or other tourists from the area has really changed my perspective on traveling.  I have concluded long ago that I enjoy traveling alone much more than traveling with a group.  “But, Chris, that sounds like a very lonely, introverted thing to do,” one may remark.  My response to that thought is, you cannot be more incorrect.

What do we do when we travel with a group of friends?  We live life just as we do at home- we drink with the same people, eat with the same people, discuss each one’s problems (which will be waiting for each of us at home), walk around with people we know, and take group photos in front of tourist attractions.  What has changed besides the new locale?  Taking vacations as a group is like extending one’s life to a new environment for a few days.  Nothing really changes besides the weather and architecture.

Of course, some places cater to the “group vacation” (ie. Las Vegas, Cancun, Disney World).  And road trips are a different story.  Traveling as a group insulates us and protects us from meeting someone new. But by traveling alone, one becomes vulnerable, and he must quickly adapt and meet new people, lest he experience the journey alone.  Meeting locals is often the best way of immersing oneself into the environment.  What types of jobs do the locals have?  What has changed in the area in the past few years?  What problems does this stranger face?  What books, movies, interests does this person have, and how does this compare with others in the area?  The accent?  The political leaning?  Life story?

So here is my ode to a few of the people I met on the road over the past three years.  I cannot recall each character, but I will try my best to share the highlights.  I hope you enjoy about reading about these strangers:

·      The former-CEO of a medical supply shop at Keegan’s Seafood Grille in Tampa Bay.  He was forced to shut down his company because Obama’s new business laws forced too much red tape on his business, or so he claimed. 
·      A woman (and her boyfriend..?) at the River City Brewing Company in Jacksonville, FL.  She worked as a consultant for the railroad companies.  She was excited about legislation that would require all trains to have automatic anti-locking brakes.  This legislation was introduced after a conductor “missed” a signal when checking his texts and caused a casualty.
·      The Flamenco dancers that performed at my hotel on Miami Beach.  I learned that the lead guitarist had won a lottery to emigrate from Cuba to the United States.  I promised them that I would try to book them some venues in Chicago, but unfortunately that was one of the few promises that I failed to keep.  Whoopsie!
·      The woman in Huntsville, AL, who was really drunk and gushed to me about her kids (who were half-Asian, not a very common ethnicity in Alabama).
·      The public defender and her friend who escaped a South Florida squall by claiming a seat next to me (at Democratic Republic of Beer).  Eventually, she thought I was hitting on her (although she was the one who approached and sat next to ME), and I had to turn her advances down (because I was happily in a relationship at the time).
·      The two young ladies in Atlanta who were about to start their service with TFA.  One mentioned that an alligator lived near her soon-to-be home, and she was contemplating feeding it so that she could report it to services to be terminated.
·      The “hippie”, middle-aged woman who shepherded me to the perfect spot on Key West for the sunset.  She embodied the true spirit of Key West, “One Human Family”.
·      The Brazilian couple in Fort Lauderdale who insisted that I visited their hometown, João Pessoa, Brazil.  He was a hotel mogul, and she was an attractive news anchor.  They both smoked an obscene amount.
·      The young man in Portland, ME, who grew up on a nearby island and took on various jobs.  That summer, he spent his time pitching tents at golf courses and hotels for weddings.  He was very proud of the branding on his chest, which his friends and he created with scalding hangers (the tattoo was nothing but an indiscernible cluster of welts).
·      The couple from Montreal who were taking a road trip through New England.  Their stop in Portland, and mine, coincided at a portside bar with bluegrass music.
·      A newlywed couple (on their honeymoon) and a recently engaged couple that I met at the hotel bar in Portland, as I was on my way to my room.  We went on an excursion for beer, and ended up swimming in the hotel’s pool.

I knew I would never meet these people again, but they have certainly made an impact on my life.

FUNemployment, Part 1

August 8, 2013 was the last day of work for me, officially kicking off my month or so of FUNemployment.  For three years I have worked for the University of Chicago Admissions Office, and many of you know that this was the first full-time job I had right out of college.

Overall, my experience working for UChicago Admissions was rewarding and formative.  I knew as early as graduation that higher education was not my calling.  Since high school, I knew that I would eventually join the Peace Corps, but I needed time to pay off some student debt and think through my life.  Any UChicago alumnus knows that the academics at UChicago do not allow much time for thinking about one’s future, and I needed all the time I could afford in the “real world” to contemplate my long term plans.

Now here I am, ready to embark on this adventure that I always knew I would pursue.  Yet, I would not have predicted that I could gain so much experience and meet so many great people that eventually helped form my professional identity.

For the past three years I have worked with UChicago’s Alumni Schools Committee (an alumnus volunteer network that interviews prospective students, represents UChicago at college fairs, hosts yield events, etc).  I also interned with the ASC for two years previous while in College.  Helping with the ASC and eventually taking control of the program as a director has wielded me many non-profit management skills that I am sure I will use again during my service in the Peace Corps.  Furthermore, working with all of the Chairs and volunteers has further cemented my adoration for UChicago.

I am also blessed to have met so many great colleagues during my time at the UChicago Admissions Office.  All offices (I assume) have their own politics and short-comings, but I have learned that it is often the people who invest in one’s abilities and care for their own work that make any dysfunctional office bearable.  While I will not identify anyone by name, there were a great few who had invested themselves into my work, and allowed me to invest in theirs, and they had truly made a difference in how I approached each challenge in the office.  Leaving these folks definitely makes this journey to the Peace Corps bittersweet for me.

Finally, I cannot close this long chapter without reflecting on my experiences and thanking those I have met in Florida.  Since Florida was my “major” territory for the past three years, it has definitely developed into a second home for me (especially South Florida).  Being able to travel and relate to a new environment has definitely been one of the most positive aspects of working at UChicago Admissions.

Again, thanks to all of my colleagues, volunteers, and associates who I have worked with over the past three years!  I hope you will enjoy reading about my adventures through this blog!