Quiet Village

About two more weeks of school left. I arrived in Peshkopi about this time last year and, absorbed with my own transition, didn't fully experience how hectic the end of the school year is for teachers. This year, I'm getting the full dosage, closing my school projects while also planning for summer.

On the bright side, going through winter has made spring all the more charming. Almost overnight, we went from days in the low 50's to the mid 80's. All over town, irises are blooming, women are selling homegrown spinach, and everyone's getting ready for cherry season. Myself, I can't wait to go to the river to get a tan. Though living here has definitely opened up my appreciation of the seasons, I imagine that I'll be done with it after next year and eager to get back to season-less Los Angeles.

I fell asleep listening to Martin Denny the other night and could certainly use some relaxing, "Quiet Village," after a week of long days, working in our school's concrete corridors that seem to echo and amplify the constant shouting in our hallways.

Working on our almost finished mural. Tomorrow, we just have to finish the top "9-Vjecare," brush up a few blemishes, and then should be done.

My first iris blossom this week.

My first marigold blossom today!

In 1983 He Loved To Fly

One more month of school. We finish June 6th and, until then, there's a lot to do. This week, I'll be working with some of my eighth grade students to make English menus for the restaurants in town. Other than that, we've won a grant to paint murals in Peshkopi's four elementary schools, so I plan to be running between schools this week, buying paint and making sure things get done before school ends.

In my free time, I've been gardening a lot recently. This weekend, I planted five tomatoes, a row of sunflowers, and a couple dozen marigolds. We'll see how it all turns out. I remember gardening with my mother when I was really young (happy birthday mom) but haven't had much experience since. Also, without a hose, it makes watering the plants a significant chore. However, there's a small spring at the hostel from which I can fetch water, and hopefully it'll help to irrigate the plants.

Today's title comes from an ambient album titled, 'Minor Shadows,' by 1 Mile North. I doubt that there's an album that I've listened to more since coming to Albania, so it seems appropriate to share. It's great for falling asleep to and relaxes me on the painful furgon between Peshkopi and Tirana.

The old national highway to Peshkopi. The current road is a rough four and half hours from Tirana to Peshkopi. Looking at this road, I wouldn't be surprised if it previously took eight to twelve hours. Currently, the government and some private Chinese company are building a new road that will eventually cut the trip down to two hours.

Houses like this can be seen everywhere in Albania. It seems like a lot of people start building with plans for a two or three story house but only have money to complete a single story. Therefore, they live on the bottom or second floor and wait for the next generation to finish the house. In many houses like this, people use the first floor as a garage for cars and equipment, barn for livestock, shed to store wood, or service other practical needs. 

The exterior wall of Grezhdan Castle--a twenty minute drive from Peshkopi. What I gather from rumors and what people say, the castle was built around 900-500BC by the Illyrian people, a tribe from which many Albanian claim direct ancestry. The castle would have had an area of about 1.5 square miles and the walls reached a thickness of 2.8 meters and a height of 4.5 meters. It had three main entrances and was protected by 40 guard towers.

The hills of Dibra