UPDATE: Halfway?!

Well, i suppose it is high time i write another update to you all! Believe it or not, wednesday May 26 marked the halfway point of our trip--i can't believe how fast it is going. Let me bring you up to speed on a few different things. and knowing me, i'll probably make the length worth the wait ;)

CLASSES

i believe at the time of my last update, we had two classes total with the hope of more to come. We needn't have worried... we now have 11 classes between the four of us with TESOL training--in fact, two of the boys (non-TESOL) have had to step up and help teach two of those classes. we came close to being spread a little too thin, but were able to arrange classes between us (they're at three different centers, by the way, each a good 15-20 min walk apart). Some classes are in the afternoon, but most are in the evening. Most classes are ten or less students, some closer to five. Most are for conversation and general lessons, but we also have one academic writing class, and two classes that are prep for the TOEFL test (a standardized english test for college entrance).

Aside from my original 5PM class with 4 students, i now have a 12:30 PM class with just a few students, and on the occasional days that Jon can't teach his night class, i power walk after mine to the lincoln center 3 to teach it.

The smaller classes are difficult sometimes, especially when attendance is low, but i really enjoy my 5:00 class and the others are going well. I think overall there is a majority of women students, but there are a few men also.

Some classes last two weeks, and some four.

Several of us have had chances to have coffee (or tea in my case) with some of our students, which has been great. Laura and i have gone several times with one girl, who is only 21... she is very sweet and we have enjoyed spending time with her. she and another one of my students continue to come to the church that meets here on sundays.

THE GROUP

we have mostly been good as far as health, with only a few small troubles, but are getting better. I think we'd all agree that our group has been getting along very well and working well together, even when we're spread out and don't see everyone as much. over the last weekend we went to the historic city of kruja, it was really beautiful. bought a few things in the old street markets... it was really cool. and we went to the museum, and saw a statue of the old Albanian hero Skanderbeg. we also went to a restaurant and got "fresh chicken"... Genci told us that it would take a bit longer because they have to catch and kill the chicken when we order it... laura of course thought he was teasing, but he wasn't after all. the girls were quite taken aback. ;) we laughed as Laura insisted, "i can still taste it running around in my mouth!!" hahah. but what a gorgeous view, there were ruins and kids playing soccer in them, we got some really great pictures. (i'll have to post them on facebook, later).

A FEW TIDBITS ABOUT ALBANIA

about the religious atmosphere: a LOT of the people we meet will say they're muslim, but of those almost none are practicing at all. some even claim to be muslim when they have started going to a different church... Just as many in the US may perhaps call themselves Jewish or Catholic more by ethnicity or family tradition than actual practice. So, although the great majority of people we meet would call themselves "muslim" as is reflected in Albanian demographics, i think we have yet to MEET one who is actually practicing to a significant extent... although we have seen just a few here and there on the streets with the head coverings. only very few.