Lately I am not feeling too perky. This is the main reason for there being no updates on this blog.... sometimes, living abroad is not all it's cracked up to be. At least for me.
There are many reasons why I say this, but I don't want to be a downer and bore you with them. I think that the biggest reason is being torn between two things. Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I'm not someone who likes change or likes to be away from what is comfortable for me. Maybe I would be okay moving to Massachucetts... but across the ocean? At this point, everything is just too different. Nothing here is remotely the same as home, and that's tough, especially for me. I like to have my adventures on week-long vacations. Now, being here, being pregnant... I can't stand it anymore.
Home is where the heart is? This is where Bledi is, this is where I need to be. Of course. But I'm starting to get antsy. I need Bledi, yes, but I need him in the United States with me. I'm not saying I would choose living in the States over him - obviously not. I've already been there, done that, chosen Albania. But at this point, I'm not nearly as happy as I was when we first got here. The culture, the standards of living... these things are dragging me down.
So in June I am leaving, and I have mixed feelings about all of it. Of course, I'm pregnant... the baby can not be born here (for many reasons, the main of which being the standard of healthcare here. Sorry to Albanians, but it's very true). I'm okay for now, but I would not give birth here. And also obviously, I miss home. I miss my family. I can't imagine having the baby away from my family and friends.... but going home means I'm going solo. For now. For an unidentifiable amount of time solo. It's up to the US Government when Bledi comes home, not me, not him. Leaving means that I'm leaving him - and we have never been apart for that long. I'm hoping and praying for the best, but this is a tough situation to be in. You don't have to feel bad for me. I'm just trying to deal with everything in the best way that I can, like I have been, and like we have been doing. I hope that all of my (and our) sacrifices will pay off soon.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Preggo... Abroad!
Well, since being pregnant is consuming my thoughts and actions lately, and nobody knew about it, I couldn't very well write on this blog. Now that the cat is out of the bag, here we go!
Yes, so the un-imaginable has happened! Okay, well maybe that is an exaggeration. :) Once you get married, this is bound to happen any time! So I am 3 months along, about 13 weeks to be exact.
Don't let me fool you, we are really happy about expecting a little Vrioni! Now that I am out of the first trimester, I am feeling so so so so much better. I know it sounds cliche, but wow, what a difference a week can make! The first trimester was terrible, whew! I know I had it amazing compared to other women out there, but still, it was no picnic. I have never experienced exhaustion like that in my life! Actually, it was kind of comical. I would wake up at 6 am, go to school and teach all day. Of course, during free periods, I would doze off while doing just about anything. Kid's coats make good pillows! And once I got home, by 6 pm I was out until 6 am the next day. This doesn't lend itself very well to correcting papers, planning for the next day, etc. Oh well!
Of course, then there are the parts about being sick (and getting sick, if you catch my drift) but I'll spare you that!
Another part I am not enjoying very much is food cravings. Oh my gosh, food food food food food is all I can think about! It keeps me from falling asleep at night! I would lay there and just think of Panera sandwiches, McDonald's chicken nuggets, anything and everything under the sun that absolutely can not be found or replicated in Albania. Cruel baby! He/she only wants food that mommy can't find here. And it won't give up until I eat it... so I guess I'll be suffering for another two months or so with dreams of panera bread!
Hilariously enough, I am loving pickles. Again, cliche, I know. I honestly didn't even think about eating them until last week when the school served them for lunch and I ate 5 servings of them. FIVE! mmmmm. I think I ate only pickles for lunch that day. Now my mouth is watering just thinking of them.
Last week we saw the baby for the second time on the ultrasound. Wow, there really is no emotion like seeing your little one for the first time(s). Last time, it was just a little blob with a heart beat. Now it is huge! It waved it's hands at us, moved all around and was jumping up and down.
That makes all of the sickness, food cravings and exhaustion worth it. :)
Yes, so the un-imaginable has happened! Okay, well maybe that is an exaggeration. :) Once you get married, this is bound to happen any time! So I am 3 months along, about 13 weeks to be exact.
Don't let me fool you, we are really happy about expecting a little Vrioni! Now that I am out of the first trimester, I am feeling so so so so much better. I know it sounds cliche, but wow, what a difference a week can make! The first trimester was terrible, whew! I know I had it amazing compared to other women out there, but still, it was no picnic. I have never experienced exhaustion like that in my life! Actually, it was kind of comical. I would wake up at 6 am, go to school and teach all day. Of course, during free periods, I would doze off while doing just about anything. Kid's coats make good pillows! And once I got home, by 6 pm I was out until 6 am the next day. This doesn't lend itself very well to correcting papers, planning for the next day, etc. Oh well!
Of course, then there are the parts about being sick (and getting sick, if you catch my drift) but I'll spare you that!
Another part I am not enjoying very much is food cravings. Oh my gosh, food food food food food is all I can think about! It keeps me from falling asleep at night! I would lay there and just think of Panera sandwiches, McDonald's chicken nuggets, anything and everything under the sun that absolutely can not be found or replicated in Albania. Cruel baby! He/she only wants food that mommy can't find here. And it won't give up until I eat it... so I guess I'll be suffering for another two months or so with dreams of panera bread!
Hilariously enough, I am loving pickles. Again, cliche, I know. I honestly didn't even think about eating them until last week when the school served them for lunch and I ate 5 servings of them. FIVE! mmmmm. I think I ate only pickles for lunch that day. Now my mouth is watering just thinking of them.
Last week we saw the baby for the second time on the ultrasound. Wow, there really is no emotion like seeing your little one for the first time(s). Last time, it was just a little blob with a heart beat. Now it is huge! It waved it's hands at us, moved all around and was jumping up and down.
That makes all of the sickness, food cravings and exhaustion worth it. :)
Preggo Abroad
Well, since being pregnant is consuming my thoughts and actions lately, and nobody knew about it, I couldn't very well write on this blog. Now that the cat is out of the bag, here we go!
Yes, so the un-imaginable has happened! Okay, well maybe that is an exaggeration. :) Once you get married, this is bound to happen any time! So I am 3 months along, about 13 weeks to be exact.
Don't let me fool you, we are really happy about expecting a little Vrioni! Now that I am out of the first trimester, I am feeling so so so so much better. I know it sounds cliche, but wow, what a difference a week can make! The first trimester was terrible, whew! I know I had it amazing compared to other women out there, but still, it was no picnic. I have never experienced exhaustion like that in my life! Actually, it was kind of comical. I would wake up at 6 am, go to school and teach all day. Of course, during free periods, I would doze off while doing just about anything. Kid's coats make good pillows! And once I got home, by 6 pm I was out until 6 am the next day. This doesn't lend itself very well to correcting papers, planning for the next day, etc. Oh well!
Of course, then there are the parts about being sick (and getting sick, if you catch my drift) but I'll spare you that!
Another part I am not enjoying very much is food cravings. Oh my gosh, food food food food food is all I can think about! It keeps me from falling asleep at night! I would lay there and just think of Panera sandwiches, McDonald's chicken nuggets, anything and everything under the sun that absolutely can not be found or replicated in Albania. Cruel baby! He/she only wants food that mommy can't find here. And it won't give up until I eat it... so I guess I'll be suffering for another two months or so with dreams of panera bread!
Hilariously enough, I am loving pickles. Again, cliche, I know. I honestly didn't even think about eating them until last week when the school served them for lunch and I ate 5 servings of them. FIVE! mmmmm. I think I ate only pickles for lunch that day. Now my mouth is watering just thinking of them.
Last week we saw the baby for the second time on the ultrasound. Wow, there really is no emotion like seeing your little one for the first time(s). Last time, it was just a little blob with a heart beat. Now it is huge! It waved it's hands at us, moved all around and was jumping up and down.
That makes all of the sickness, food cravings and exhaustion worth it. :)
Yes, so the un-imaginable has happened! Okay, well maybe that is an exaggeration. :) Once you get married, this is bound to happen any time! So I am 3 months along, about 13 weeks to be exact.
Don't let me fool you, we are really happy about expecting a little Vrioni! Now that I am out of the first trimester, I am feeling so so so so much better. I know it sounds cliche, but wow, what a difference a week can make! The first trimester was terrible, whew! I know I had it amazing compared to other women out there, but still, it was no picnic. I have never experienced exhaustion like that in my life! Actually, it was kind of comical. I would wake up at 6 am, go to school and teach all day. Of course, during free periods, I would doze off while doing just about anything. Kid's coats make good pillows! And once I got home, by 6 pm I was out until 6 am the next day. This doesn't lend itself very well to correcting papers, planning for the next day, etc. Oh well!
Of course, then there are the parts about being sick (and getting sick, if you catch my drift) but I'll spare you that!
Another part I am not enjoying very much is food cravings. Oh my gosh, food food food food food is all I can think about! It keeps me from falling asleep at night! I would lay there and just think of Panera sandwiches, McDonald's chicken nuggets, anything and everything under the sun that absolutely can not be found or replicated in Albania. Cruel baby! He/she only wants food that mommy can't find here. And it won't give up until I eat it... so I guess I'll be suffering for another two months or so with dreams of panera bread!
Hilariously enough, I am loving pickles. Again, cliche, I know. I honestly didn't even think about eating them until last week when the school served them for lunch and I ate 5 servings of them. FIVE! mmmmm. I think I ate only pickles for lunch that day. Now my mouth is watering just thinking of them.
Last week we saw the baby for the second time on the ultrasound. Wow, there really is no emotion like seeing your little one for the first time(s). Last time, it was just a little blob with a heart beat. Now it is huge! It waved it's hands at us, moved all around and was jumping up and down.
That makes all of the sickness, food cravings and exhaustion worth it. :)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Details
So yesterday I was just so excited about my new job that I didn't even mention any details about it :)
Well, to make a long story short, one of the American teachers at the school I sub at decided to return to the States and so therefore left the school in need of a permanent first grade teacher for the rest of the school year.
Since I have been doing a lot of work for them subbing and tutoring since I got here in October, they thought of me and... I was hired!
I now have a beautiful first grade class all of my own. The kids are super sweet and very well behaved, really. The previous teacher was one of those absolutely stellar teachers that everyone looks up to. She left me with a lot of neat projects in the works and a well-mannered class.
So, I started today! I didn't really have any notice at all, just an okay, here's the class... start tomorrow! But I had already worked with this class before and, not to brag, the kids really liked me, too. So it was a pretty easy transition for them to see me in the class and in charge.
Not that taking over in the middle of the school year is easy, mind you. This teacher has everything set up her way and the kids are used to that. So, I am the one who will have to adapt myself and hopefully make my small changes slowly. I will have to learn hands-on how to do this!
Life is looking good! I'm happy for the job at a school I like with American teachers who were already my friends. I'm happy for an amazing opportunity in a field that I hope to get into... someday.
This job ends in June, and hopefully Bledi and I will be home within a few months after that. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
Well, to make a long story short, one of the American teachers at the school I sub at decided to return to the States and so therefore left the school in need of a permanent first grade teacher for the rest of the school year.
Since I have been doing a lot of work for them subbing and tutoring since I got here in October, they thought of me and... I was hired!
I now have a beautiful first grade class all of my own. The kids are super sweet and very well behaved, really. The previous teacher was one of those absolutely stellar teachers that everyone looks up to. She left me with a lot of neat projects in the works and a well-mannered class.
So, I started today! I didn't really have any notice at all, just an okay, here's the class... start tomorrow! But I had already worked with this class before and, not to brag, the kids really liked me, too. So it was a pretty easy transition for them to see me in the class and in charge.
Not that taking over in the middle of the school year is easy, mind you. This teacher has everything set up her way and the kids are used to that. So, I am the one who will have to adapt myself and hopefully make my small changes slowly. I will have to learn hands-on how to do this!
Life is looking good! I'm happy for the job at a school I like with American teachers who were already my friends. I'm happy for an amazing opportunity in a field that I hope to get into... someday.
This job ends in June, and hopefully Bledi and I will be home within a few months after that. Keep your fingers crossed for us.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Hello again...
So, I'm back... again. I haven't posted in a while, but I don't want everyone to think I have forgotten them!
Things here are pretty much normal. Bledi is working crazy amounts of hours completing this government project, which ends... today! Woo hoo!!!! After this, he will be working more normal hours every day and not leaving the city. Thank God for that.
At least Bledi is working, though, because as for me, well... I haven't been so lucky. My job is now simply four hours a week tutoring at the school and my other private student. Since all of this work is a few hours a day after school, that leaves me in the house, doing nothing, all day long. Pretty boring... I guess I am pretty stir-crazy. It's not like there is much for me to do here on my own... I can't really go out because there isn't really anywhere to go. It's not really socially acceptable for a woman to sit out somewhere by herself... even just on a bench outside. People stare. I have been spending a lot of time with friends, going for coffee, to the movies, or out to dinner.... but that doesn't fulfill my life.
For Valentine's Day this year, Bledi drove us down to the south of Albania to a town on the border with Greece called Saranda. It was about a 7 and a half hour drive through winding roads in the mountains and countryside. The views were breathtaking. We stayed in a little hotel and had dinner by the water. It was sweet. Here's a few pictures so you can see what it looks like down in the south!
The one with Bledi is a picture of a cute traditional restaurant that we ate at on the road... the guy is wearing a traditional costume of that region.
Things here are pretty much normal. Bledi is working crazy amounts of hours completing this government project, which ends... today! Woo hoo!!!! After this, he will be working more normal hours every day and not leaving the city. Thank God for that.
At least Bledi is working, though, because as for me, well... I haven't been so lucky. My job is now simply four hours a week tutoring at the school and my other private student. Since all of this work is a few hours a day after school, that leaves me in the house, doing nothing, all day long. Pretty boring... I guess I am pretty stir-crazy. It's not like there is much for me to do here on my own... I can't really go out because there isn't really anywhere to go. It's not really socially acceptable for a woman to sit out somewhere by herself... even just on a bench outside. People stare. I have been spending a lot of time with friends, going for coffee, to the movies, or out to dinner.... but that doesn't fulfill my life.
For Valentine's Day this year, Bledi drove us down to the south of Albania to a town on the border with Greece called Saranda. It was about a 7 and a half hour drive through winding roads in the mountains and countryside. The views were breathtaking. We stayed in a little hotel and had dinner by the water. It was sweet. Here's a few pictures so you can see what it looks like down in the south!
The one with Bledi is a picture of a cute traditional restaurant that we ate at on the road... the guy is wearing a traditional costume of that region.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
It's a beautiful day in Tirana....
Today is just gorgeous! It's sunny... no rain in sight. It's just the least bit nippy, but nothing that a good scarf can't fix. Thanks to mom who made me the softest scarf which I now where EVERYWHERE. Sometimes it gets pretty chilly here (although compared to the States, I'm sure it's summer-like here, haha), and on those days, I have a cute little knit hat that I like to wear on my long walks to and from work to keep myself from freezing to death. Boy, do these Tirana-ans really think my hat is strange! It's true, the only people wearing hats are usually oldies. But I can't help it, my head just gets so cold! Boy, do I get stared at when I wear it, though! Hmmmm. Maybe it's just my amazing good looks. haha ;)
Today I slept in until a leisurely 9:30. I then went for a nice coffee with my mother-in-law (she had an espresso, I had a macchiato, of course... I still can't stomach a straight-up espresso! I am American, I guess), followed by a trip to the market and then a nice long walk together. I always find it so amusing to go to the market here... it's such a different experience than back home. All the vendors outside with their vegetables and fruit splayed out on the sidewalk and all the people haggling with them over the prices. Potatoes can cost you either 70 lek per kilo or 50 lek... (that's about 50 cents)- you just have to look around! I find it fun to walk around and make sure that you are getting the best produce for the cheapest price. Certainly different than Stop and Shop!
And boy, does the food taste fresh here! No preservatives... it's like shopping at Whole Foods every day!
Today I slept in until a leisurely 9:30. I then went for a nice coffee with my mother-in-law (she had an espresso, I had a macchiato, of course... I still can't stomach a straight-up espresso! I am American, I guess), followed by a trip to the market and then a nice long walk together. I always find it so amusing to go to the market here... it's such a different experience than back home. All the vendors outside with their vegetables and fruit splayed out on the sidewalk and all the people haggling with them over the prices. Potatoes can cost you either 70 lek per kilo or 50 lek... (that's about 50 cents)- you just have to look around! I find it fun to walk around and make sure that you are getting the best produce for the cheapest price. Certainly different than Stop and Shop!
And boy, does the food taste fresh here! No preservatives... it's like shopping at Whole Foods every day!
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