Orientation is done...but which way is up!!??

What a week it's been! We have had orientation this week....so starting at seven Allan and I would make our way down to the cafeteria, greet the other volunteers and prepare for classes from nine to seven! What did we talk about? Why, everything from security (theft, assault, wild dogs) to how to get t mobile dumb phones to setting up bank accounts to cultural diversity to my favorite, language classes! These classes are amazing...the teachers patient, the students earnest, the language pretty difficult but man, does it roll off the tongue when you finally get it! We all 45 of us can tell each other our names, say the different times of day, order in a restaurant, as long as the only choices are pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches or Fanta!

And tomorrow is another day...wait, that one's been used before! Nonetheless it is another day and a big one! We got our training sites today and Allan and I and eight volunteers will be going to Negotino,a small town smack in the middle of...wait for it...wine country! Sheesh, leave one wine country for another! Apparently many families grow their own grapes and make rakija,a strong(like 50% alcohol) brandy type drink. We will meet our host families..I hope they are looking forward to meeting us as much as we are looking forward to meeting them!

Some Macedonian differences....morning coffee is served in hard clear plastic cups, light switches get pushed up to turn off, you have to push a switch down to turn the hot water heater in our bathroom on an hour before you need it to get hot water, toilet paper is not common in bathrooms and so you bring your own...but don't flush it, place it in the special basket!!

We all went into tetovo last night, got tours of the world famous Painted Mosque and also of an Orthodox Christian church..both absolutely beautiful! Also enjoyed another shopska salata, my new favorite food!

I miss you all and so so so look forward to better communication...very little free time and almost non existent WiFi.....And a lot of people using it at the same time.....so remember how much we love you and love to hear from you and stay posted!!