OMG!!! So I have finally found an internet cafe! It has only taken 4 days! Well I have been Albania for 4 days and it has been interesting! We arrived at Tirana International Airport (which by the way has one landing strip) and I knew I was in Albania when I saw a donkey on the side of the strip. The country is absolutely gorgeous! There are mountains everywhere! It's true that Albania has a little bit of a trash problem but I'm sure I'll learn to overlook it.
So I was in Elbasan for the first 2 1/2 days. Now I am in Cerrik which is about 25 minutes away. I am living in an apartment with a host father and mother. They have a son who is 23 that is studying in Italy (his name is Aldo) and a son who is 21 who studies in Tirana (his name is Besmir). I live in the living room which I have been told is my room. We're on the first floor so luckily I don't have to do stairs everyday. Now the bathroom... They have a turkish toilet. Which if you're not familiar with, google it. YOu'll feel my pain. The shower is not really a shower as much as it is a shower head over the toilet with a tiled floor. It is going to be interesting to do that.
Today I have walked around town with Besmir and he has shown me things to know. This has been interesting since he doesn't speak English. There are 4 other volunteers living in Cerrik. Courtney and Chris ( they are married), Karen and Rebecca. I know, another BECCA!!!! hahaha :) Well I'm about out of time on this thing so I'll wrap up with my new cell number. Dial it exactly as you see it here (0355 69 34 75 492). Calling is extremely expensive for me but I'll be able to send text messages. Oh and I don't have all your addresses so if you want mail send me a message with your address!!!I miss you guys!
Leslie
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Time to Hit the Road
Ok, so after what seems like forever I am leaving tomorrow for STAGING!!!! I can't believe I really am. I've hit a few minor problems (my suitcases didn't fit the specified dimensions, they were over the weight limit......) I think I am ready to go. Tomorrow morning at 4 am I will be waking up, walking out my front door for the last time for awhile and saying good-bye to my parents.
I'm not going to lie, it hasn't really sunk in yet that I really am leaving. Like this is the REAL THING! Saying good-bye to everyone hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be (I thought there would be a lot more tears...) but you guys have helped me to have a blast the past few weeks and I have so many new pictures and memories that it has made it a little bit easier to actually get on that plane and go.
I guess what I want to say is thank you. You guys are the most amazing friends ever and I don't think I would actually have the courage to go if I didn't know that you guys are supporting me all the way. With that said, I expect mail!!!! My address for the first three months is:
Leslie Surrett
Peace Corps Albania
Rruga "Ali Visha" Nr. 15
Tirana, ALBANIA
Good-bye everyone!! I will miss you all! I wish the best for all of you!
All my love,
Leslie :)
I'm not going to lie, it hasn't really sunk in yet that I really am leaving. Like this is the REAL THING! Saying good-bye to everyone hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be (I thought there would be a lot more tears...) but you guys have helped me to have a blast the past few weeks and I have so many new pictures and memories that it has made it a little bit easier to actually get on that plane and go.
I guess what I want to say is thank you. You guys are the most amazing friends ever and I don't think I would actually have the courage to go if I didn't know that you guys are supporting me all the way. With that said, I expect mail!!!! My address for the first three months is:
Leslie Surrett
Peace Corps Albania
Rruga "Ali Visha" Nr. 15
Tirana, ALBANIA
Good-bye everyone!! I will miss you all! I wish the best for all of you!
All my love,
Leslie :)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Good-byes
So this weekend was a blast! Here's a recap......
Friday March 7th we were at Magoo's. My friend Paula bought me a doodle bear which all my friends wrote on for me. Some of the comments got very inappropriate very fast. Anyways, the bartender knew it was my going away party but he decided to tell everyone it was my birthday instead because it would be "more fun". Thanks James. So everyone was buying me shots all night. We played a lot of pool and joked around and took lots of pictures. I didn't get home until about 4 am and I had to baby-sit at 7:30. Surprisingly I was able to get up and I felt fine all day so overall a good night.
Saturday March 8th we went to La Cage. I met up with Scott, Ryan, and Paul at Scott's house so we could pre-game. Apparently my straight guy friends did not want to go to the gay bar sober. Hahaha. Well we did a power hour (which is when you take one shot every minute for an hour) and then headed off to La Cage. It was pretty packed. Lots of dancing followed. I got the guys to take off their shirts and they liked it!! Hahahaha. Seriously I don't know what their big fuss was. I asked them if they had fun and they were all like, "Let's come here again!" What a good time.
Sunday March 9th we went bowling. Katie and Maria made me a very sparkly card which Andrew went ahead and signed his name on later. Thank you Andrew. Toni, Becca and me were the only ones bowling until Jessica showed up. Toni was rocking it and me and Becca were just doing our thing. You know, the not such good bowlers thing :) hahaha. Everyone else who came was just sitting around and talking but it was pretty amazing. Scott, Paul, Toni, Becca and I went on to have dinner at Steak & Shake. Oh I will miss their shakes! We were causing so much trouble I'm sure the waiter was very happy when we left. Oh well, we bought stuff and paid so too bad for you mister! Oh we are such trouble makers!
Anyways, I got a lot to do this week. For instance PACK!!! I'm starting that today. I need to go make some prints of some of the pictures from this weekend. I have a few miscellaneous things to buy. I need to go over the language courses that the Peace Corps sent me so I can know a few words when we get there. I have to finish all the paperwork they sent me to bring to staging. I have to spend some time with my parents but I know I have a lot of things planned for with friends too. This week may get kinda hectic but I can't believe I leave in 6 days for Philly!!! AHHH!!!! I'm so excited! My next post will probably be from Philly so until then, keep on smiling!
Leslie :)
Friday March 7th we were at Magoo's. My friend Paula bought me a doodle bear which all my friends wrote on for me. Some of the comments got very inappropriate very fast. Anyways, the bartender knew it was my going away party but he decided to tell everyone it was my birthday instead because it would be "more fun". Thanks James. So everyone was buying me shots all night. We played a lot of pool and joked around and took lots of pictures. I didn't get home until about 4 am and I had to baby-sit at 7:30. Surprisingly I was able to get up and I felt fine all day so overall a good night.
Saturday March 8th we went to La Cage. I met up with Scott, Ryan, and Paul at Scott's house so we could pre-game. Apparently my straight guy friends did not want to go to the gay bar sober. Hahaha. Well we did a power hour (which is when you take one shot every minute for an hour) and then headed off to La Cage. It was pretty packed. Lots of dancing followed. I got the guys to take off their shirts and they liked it!! Hahahaha. Seriously I don't know what their big fuss was. I asked them if they had fun and they were all like, "Let's come here again!" What a good time.
Sunday March 9th we went bowling. Katie and Maria made me a very sparkly card which Andrew went ahead and signed his name on later. Thank you Andrew. Toni, Becca and me were the only ones bowling until Jessica showed up. Toni was rocking it and me and Becca were just doing our thing. You know, the not such good bowlers thing :) hahaha. Everyone else who came was just sitting around and talking but it was pretty amazing. Scott, Paul, Toni, Becca and I went on to have dinner at Steak & Shake. Oh I will miss their shakes! We were causing so much trouble I'm sure the waiter was very happy when we left. Oh well, we bought stuff and paid so too bad for you mister! Oh we are such trouble makers!
Anyways, I got a lot to do this week. For instance PACK!!! I'm starting that today. I need to go make some prints of some of the pictures from this weekend. I have a few miscellaneous things to buy. I need to go over the language courses that the Peace Corps sent me so I can know a few words when we get there. I have to finish all the paperwork they sent me to bring to staging. I have to spend some time with my parents but I know I have a lot of things planned for with friends too. This week may get kinda hectic but I can't believe I leave in 6 days for Philly!!! AHHH!!!! I'm so excited! My next post will probably be from Philly so until then, keep on smiling!
Leslie :)
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