Next Chapter - Good Bye Albania.

At the risk of being called lazy, I am going to repost the email I wrote to my dearest friends and family before I left Albania as I feel it does the best job of encapsulating my thoughts and cannot see what I can add to it.

Hard to believe that 2 years ago I was packing up my house and studio,selling my car and wrapping my life in New York up unsure of what this adventure would hold for me or when I would be back. After spending 20 years on that 8 mile island leaving was a big change. While there have been ups and downs, I'm certainly happy I served in Peace Corps. I learned so much about myself, about my tolerances, limits and
weaknesses. I have become so appreciative of things I took for granted: having people and not chicken/goats as my neighbors on the bus, MAIL!, bus drivers who don't stop for 40 minutes to eat their personal lunch at their friends, heat, walking outside after dark(after 4) in the winter, stop lights (none in my city of 80,000), sidewalks, toilets that can handle toilet paper, hot water, running water (I was without for 2 weeks), hot water, sleeping without a coat on, consistent electricity etc... However, I learned I can adapt to those things and live with them. The hardest challenge was the mental challenge: being alone, having no Americans around for months at a time, not speaking my native tongue at the store, work or socially, the cultural differences- some of which are obvious at first and some which take time to realize, having what I realize now is an American perspective and being painfully aware of the limits imposed on women in most of the world.

There are also things I will miss dearly: The stunning blue coast abutting mountains for hours and hours, kayaking down the canyons and in general the stunning beauty of the country. Being walking distance to the beach for the first time in my life. Living so close to Italy and having the real influence (not the Americanized version)- including amazing pizza pies for $3.00. Tasty, fresh grilled whole fish and fresh, organic salad in a hut on the sea I kayaked up to for about $7. My bread lady who shakes my hand each morning, asks me how I am and sells me the most delicious multi-grain loaf for .$50, the women at the corner who say "tomorrow" if I am every short, knowing full well I will always come back and pay tomorrow, eating fresh, organic vegetables in season and in turn greeting the seasons by the vegetables, my neighbors who always help when some disaster strikes in my apartment, my friends who always have time for a coffee with me.

Some of you have visited which was amazing and got to witness the absolute physical beauty of the country and hospitality of the people first hand. Others sent postcards, letters or emails. I'm not sure when I'll be back in the States, but I hope you're all patient with me, my stories and pictures even after the excitement has worn off (We just had our final Close of Service (COS) conference and maybe had 1
too many sessions on "readjustment").

Next week, on Thursday, I leave Albania. Its been a fast two years and am not sure what the future will hold for me, but I'm pretty sure I can handle anything right now.

Smiles and hope to see you all soon,
Molly