Jeremy's Visit

Picking Jeremy up at the airport in Tirane

My son, Jeremy, was able to come spend 3 weeks in Albania over Christmas Holidays and New Years. He was able to  experience a new culture, new foods, a difficult language, extraordinary hiking, and many other wonderful adventures.  The experience changed his heart and mind at this young stage of his life. He was changed by the true poverty he saw and it touched his heart. He was impressed by the strength and kindness of the people he met. He was treated with such respect and he felt really at home. He enjoyed engaging other Albanians that could speak English in conversations about their experience in communism times, politics, their future, and many other deep topics. He created his own adventures as he explored the North and South parts of Albania on his own. He went North to Shkoder and all the way south to Ksamil. He saw 3 UNESCO sites; Berat, Gjirkaster, Butrint.  Along the way, he met and stayed with some awesome Peace Corps Volunteers and made new friends.

He is really the only one that can tell this story, but I can put some photos of us and share some of my memories and thoughts along the way. I am a true believer that traveling, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures is so important in our growth.

Gezuar and Merry Christmas Son! 

We enjoyed riding bikes to the beaches near Kaveje. 

After a day of riding bikes through the mud, we enjoyed a great seafood meal.

We hiked up Mali I Thate (Dry Mountain) near Pogradec with AST Elbasani.

He was amazed by the beauty of the country everywhere we went. 

It is so very cold. Not everyone made it to the top. It was just too difficult. We are truly miserable in this photo! 

The higher we climbed, the colder it became.

And despite the fact that sometimes we even RAN down the mountain, we were still left behind!  

On Christmas Day, Jeremy returned from Shkoder and we met in Tirane for a nice Christmas Dinner and tour of the Capital of Albania. 

Here Jeremy is squatting in the old bunker that used to be near Enver Hoxha's quarters. 

Jeremy and I in my house. I love this patriotic photo of us. 

We were invited to celebrate with AST for Christmas and the Sejdini family to celebrate the health of their son.

It was a wonderful night with new friends, great food, dancing, and a lot of fun! 

We went fishing in Belsh. 

Skiing in Gjinar 

Celebrated New Year's with Tani's family. 

Went to the Amphitheater in Durres  

Family photo with Tani, DJ, Mom and Jeremy 

Eating great food in Durres on his last night 

Touring the seaside city Durres 

Exploring the Castle of Kruje

An awesome last day of touring and eating and buying souvinirs and saying goodbye.

Thank you for leaving your busy life and work behind to experience my life in this beautiful country Albania.  I love you Jeremy. 

2015 Albania Winter (Dimer)

As a Peace Corps volunteer I try to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

• To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served
• To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

So I occupy myself doing a lot of Goal #2: Building relationships with Albanians and becoming a member of their society in every way possible, then sharing it with you, Goal #3. So here is a list of some of the places and activities I have been doing with my new friends.

DECEMBER 2014

Mali I Thate, Pogradec, Albania with AST Elbasani Hiking Group

 Just a few of us made it to the top. It was so very cold. Jeremy is to my left with the blue box around his face. I have the pink box.

 This was Jeremy's 1st hike with me. A very tough one because of the cold.

The hike actually started off warm, but the temperature dropped fast as we gained altitude. 

My favorite photo of mother and son! 

Coming down is always so fast, but we were left behind! I remember thinking, "Where the heck has everyone gone to so fast? And, what if we make a wrong turn?"

AST Elbasani Holiday Party and Sejdini Family Celebration of Health

Members of AST Elbasani and Friends and Family of the Sejdini Family 

Club Certificates were awarded to all :) 

We were celebrating the health of this young man. What a wonderful night! 

Jeremy and I dancing the traditional Albanian Circle Dance.

JANUARY 2015

Gjinar, Albania, Skiing with AST Elbasani Hiking Group

Jeremy and I are in the red and orange coats. We had some rain in the beginning. 

Jeremy skiing up the hill? :) 

This family cooked all of us a great meal. The weather was COLD!! 

Enjoying the day with my son, Jeremy.

Voskopoje, Albania with AST Elbasani Hiking Group

Vokopoje, near Korce, in Albania 

Vokopoje used to have 25+ churches before they were almost all destroyed during communism. Only 7 remain today and I was able to see 5 of them. 

One of the few remaining churches in Voskopoje, Albania 

ALBANIK, Elbasan with AST Elbasani Hiking Group

Albanik is a resort in the hills of Elbasan. It has cabins to sleep, a lake, and a great restaurant. 

Like always, when we are done hiking, we enjoy a meal together and traditional dancing. 

Great views from the road. 

Hiking is a very social activity for me and a lot of cultural exchange happens.

FEBRUARY 2015

Mali I Dajtit, Tirane, Albania with AST Elbasani Hiking Group

Alpine Ski and Tourism Elbasani. I am in there somewhere :) 

As always, as we ascend, the snow gets deeper. 

and deeper... 

This is the top of Dajti Mountain. Radio Antennas...that is all! 

After the hike...eat, drink, dance, laugh and have a great time together.