Walk in the Park

Yesterday was the first day of Ramadan. For a month, many of my friends are fasting food, drink, cigarettes, and even water from sunrise to sunset. During these long summer days, this means no eating or drinking from around 5:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Instead, people eat once at night and wake up early to eat again before going back to sleep, often around 2:30 AM. It's certainly an amazing sacrifice, and I have nothing but respect for my friends observing the fast.

After school ended on June 6th, I attended a conference in an area outside Albania's main port city, Durres. The luxurious hotel was a welcome vacation after a long school year. However, I learned some technical skills and a lot about post-Peace Corps opportunities, so the stay felt justifiably productive as well.

Even though school ended, I feel almost as busy as before--just not constantly tired from listening to children shouting all day. Studying for the GRE and applying for project grants are what I'm making my "work" for this summer. However, I feel the urge to push myself this summer, traveling to new places and making the most of where I am. So, hopefully I'll have some exciting news to report you over the next couple of months.

Today's title comes from Beach House's 2010 album, Teen Dream. I bought the album on vinyl recently, so I've been listening to it a lot lately, imagining how nice it'll sound on my turntable when I get back to the states.

The second mural that we completed in Peshkopi.

The third mural that I worked on.

Heavenly beds at the conference hotel.

The view from my balcony.

The hotel's pool--the first pool that I've swam in for a year. Each day of the conference I swam for an hour before the buffet breakfast. 

Rafting with some of my best friends in Albania.