Thanksgiving part dy (two)

As if one Thanksgiving wasn't enough to be thankful for, the weekend included several other great activities and a whole second Thanksgiving dinner. I'm not even sure how I'm able to walk right now . . . I ate so much I should be rolling down the street.

So on Friday (after some well deserved sleeping in and chilling and leftovers) Chris, Courtney and I met up with some other volunteers to go out on the town. It seems, that it is not just Thanksgiving, but also a holiday here too . . . actually it is two holidays and rather big one's at that. Nov. 28 and 29 are Albanian Independence Day and Albanian Liberation Day respectively, so there was a lot going on in Tirana this weekend. We wandered downtown where we found a carnival set up in the roundabout by the University. There were rides, games and a stage and even cotton candy! Although carnival rides always make me a little nervous (how can we be sure they put it together all right?) we braved one ride (because, again, my theory is that it is more fun if you are in actual danger of dying). It was fun, but maybe just a little bit too long. Joe was really lucky in the fact that I was able to hold it in and I did not puke on him (it was really close though). After seeing what the carnival could offer (not that much really) we decided to continue our evening with some bowling. This for me was the real highlight of the evening. Not because I am any good at bowling, but because deep down in my heart, I really love it! I got a strike on my first frame and then things went down from there, but it was a lot of fun.

On Saturday, I went up to Rreshen, a city in the north about the same size as Peshkopi (and actually rather close if there was a road that connected the towns through the mountains, but there's not). A previous PCV there had started a theater program with the English students and Sarah, in my group, has continued it. The students did a performance (in English) of A Christmas Carol. They did a really good job- the language was pretty difficult, but it was mostly understandable and some of the kids were very good actors. It was really nice to be able to be there for Sarah and the other Rreshen volunteers as they celebrated this success.

On Sunday, I traveled up to Puke for my second Thanksgiving. Unlike the last time I actually got sick going up the mountain (puked on my way to Puke, if you will). Luckily, after a bit I felt much better, because Karen had some food for us! Karen is the chef du jour of G11. I think that she missed her calling as a master cook, but that we are all the better for it. I honestly didn't think it would be possible to cook too much food for 14 people, but somehow she managed it. And it was good. We had all the fixins for thanksgiving and then some (and this time even sweet potatoes!). And I went home with two plates of leftovers.

This year I have a lot to be thankful for . . .