The good news is that the weather was wonderful and we had a good time at the beach. Since the summer season doesn't start until the end of June, we had the beach practically to ourselves. It was wonderful! The bad news is that things didn't quite work out as expected while there. As I have grown accustomed to here, nothing works with a plan. I left this weekend hoping to make reservations for 33 people for one week in July. Unfortunately this didn't work. I left the beach town with some phone numbers to call later, once things are actually open and working or closer to the time the team is coming. So it was a quick weekend trip...in the end just for fun.

beach

I am headed to the beach tomorrow. Typically I would be excited...but this is a work related trip...and it has not been easy to plan it. I am just going to make some reservations and prepare for a team we have coming there this summer. I hope that the time there works out better than planning for this quick weekend trip. I hope it doesn't continue to rain and we at least have some nice weather the one day we will spend there. Maybe I will have some pictures when I return. Ok, I take that back...I am sure I will have pictures when I get back. My camera crazy friend is coming with me. She loves to take pictures and takes about a million anytime we go or do anything.

And again I will leave you with a few more pictures from last week.

Hanging out after game night:

A trip to visit the hospital (just for fun):

Teaching the game of baseball to my university students:Trying to show off my mad flipping skills while making pancakes for the team:

Thirsty? Why can't you find Fanta exotic in America?

Ultimate Frisbee

The team has gone, my classes have finished for the semester and my life has started to settle down for a few days. Before I know it I will be busy and hectic again, but for now I am enjoying my relaxed schedule.

While the team was here we played some Ultimate Frisbee in the park (after teaching a class on how to play that and other American sports.) Here are some pictures from that day....well the internet here is slower than I expected so I am not sure how many pictures you will get right now. Frisbee is not something that is played here, so it was fun to teach it to my students. They caught on quickly and I think they enjoyed it. I love playing Ultimate and it reminded me of my college days. I am looking forward to playing more this summer. One night we even went to the lawn by the university dorms and played a little Ultimate there...but there was not much light and I think we need to try to find a different location for next time.







Speaking of internet, in my flat I now have fast internet again and I love it. Okay, its slightly annoying because the wirless connection randomly stops working every once in awhile..but the wirless works and so does my Vonage phone...so that makes me happy. A new fast computer and fast internet....its amazing!

a day with the team

Here are some pictures from this past Saturday.



It started off with a drive one hour south to a small village.



There we played some games with the kids.






And then enjoyed the scenery on the way home and stopped at a river for pictures.






After returning to our flat for quick break to freshen up we got back in the car and headed west. There we first stopped at a local war memorial...



and enjoyed the view of the landscape all green and budding.
Spring is in the air.

After this we went for a walk around a small lake and enjoyed the fresh air.


After our excursion outside we finally made it back to my friend's house and visited with her famil.

And no night is complete without some Russian tea...and a good game of UNO.

So I have been too busy to use my new computer much or post anything here. There is a volunteer team here from Texas this week. They are busy teaching some classes, drinking coffee with students, learning traditional dance, hanging out at the park, and many other things. Last night we visited a friend who works at the hospital and spent two hours there. Its fun to see my friends here get to know these other Americans and practice their English.

While walking home from the hospital at 10:30 last night at one point we stopped and three people (Albanians and Americans combined) broke out into a song they had just created and we all started dancing on the sidewalk. It was hilarious. I saw a new side of some of my friends last night. It was a fun time.

happy

I have a new computer....I am happy. It will take some time getting used to Windows Vista and switching over all my stuff....but it will be worth it. So far I like Vista...and I love my computer!

new computer

I am too excited....I am getting a new computer tonight. I bought a new laptop about two weeks ago. It will finally arrive with a team coming today. I am ready for it. I hope that it will be as exciting as I hope. My computer is pretty old, very slow, and often doesn't like to work. I decided to splurge and purchase a new laptop before the one I have completely dies.

Okay well back to work for me. Right now I am in a village supervising an English club. I should pay attention to how that is going.

who needs sleep

So I got into this habit of going to bed early and now I am completely exhausted when I am awake past midnight. But I figured I am already up this late I might as well write something quickly on here. I had this website open for the past couple hours, working here on my computer, but I kept remembering other, slightly more important and time sensitive things that had to get finished tonight. Now those are almost done, so I have a moment (and needed the break) to write on here.

Not that I think I have any stories to write, but I will try to post some pictures.

Saturday was my friend's sister's birthday. So we enjoyed a day outside.
Then we visited another sister who was working at the hospital.

Saturday night I slept out in their village and on Sunday we went for a walk outside.

The lovely car I drive around here.

games in the village

Thanks Donna for the pictures (I took them from your slide). These are from two weeks ago when we were out in a village. I go there every other week to play games with the kids there.

May already?

Wow, where does the time go. First of all I am surprised that its May already. It seems like just yesterday it was New Year's Eve. Secondly I can not believe that its been over a week since I wrote something on here. I will say I have been overly busy and tired lately. Today I am thankful that I have nothing to do, and I am going to try to stay home all day. And thankfully its cloudy/rainy outside so I have less of a desire to be outside.

Last night I got home at about 7:30pm, after being out from 11am. I talked with a friend for a little bit and then I laid down on the couch to watch TV. Before I knew it I was asleep on the couch and had trouble even getting up to wash my face and go to bed. I think by 10:30 I was in bed and ready to sleep. I was very surprised with myself. I never go to bed that early. But I really needed it.

I think driving really makes me tired, and I do not enjoy it too much. Lately I have been driving 3 or 4 days a week, to different places an hour or so away. I think this is what is making me so tired. In two weeks I will be done with my classes for this semester, so hopefully I will be able to rest a little before our summer schedule starts up.