Pictures from the Water

This morning I was graciously invited to a meeting of the social agencies of Vlora. The Italian government is helping the 3 larges municipalities develop regional social programs. I was hoping to speak a bit about sustainability- in terms of health and the environment, however the meeting mostly focused on women's issues. In the spirit of trying to be more participarity, people were asked to speak aafter the presentation of the social problems. To my surpirse, the moderator actually asked me to speak. I was pretty surprised, as I had just wanted to listen, but then did. One of the women graciously agreed to translate. I spoke about girls not going to school and how upset I was when I had arrived in the village to find out that my host sister wasn't allowed to pursue an education past 14 years of age. I also spoke about how, from my perception as an outside, I feel that the society places an unhealthy emphasis on thinness here really takes away from any value on intellectual
pursuits. I said that though I am from NY- an admittedly image obsessed city- and we
we do not value clothes and thinness to the extent it is valued here. I am frequently told that I am fat. In fact, it was the first thing my host mother told me after I t returned to Elbasan from my site visit.
I then hosted a meeting at the Aarhus Center to teach people about how to form Neighborhood Associations. It is my belief that it will be easier for the Bashkia to fulfill it obligations of reaching out to the public if groups were formed. I also think that if citizens formed neighborhood associations, then they as a group could focus on the few issues that are truly pressing for their community.
After work I went to the beach with my camera. That's right- after work, I walked down to the beach took a swim and then took some pictures.
It shows a bit of Vlore, and I particularly like that I was able to get pictures from the water. The shelf life is so shallow that I walked out pretty far before I with my camera.