tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82893536006551890092012-02-04T11:45:31.945+01:00Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.comBlogger711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-34534433524460700252012-01-15T09:10:00.006+01:002012-02-04T11:45:31.954+01:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-89628810830251073222011-10-09T15:03:00.003+02:002011-10-09T15:09:25.922+02:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-41262375115939640102011-05-15T00:45:00.003+02:002011-05-15T00:48:30.378+02:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-50246340113894212242011-02-19T16:50:00.011+01:002011-02-24T15:49:25.593+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Byrek is a big part of Albanian culinary culture. These tasty pastries stuffed with spinach, beans, cheese, yogurt, or meat

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-59060610639841392182011-02-15T16:47:00.003+01:002011-02-16T15:15:54.416+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } In the U2 song New York the lyrics say, “In New York freedom looks like too many choices.” My return to America seems

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-44493849571226020512011-02-13T13:44:00.004+01:002011-02-13T14:34:32.352+01:00

I don't usually write about cooking on here, but since it is one of my favorite hobbies, I thought, "Why not?" Below is my new favorite salad. It is nutritious and its ingredients are found easily during the winter months - key in a place where only seasonal vegetables are available.Dressing2.5 tbs. olive oil1 tbs. soy sauce1 tbs. honeypinch saltpinch brown sugarsesame seeds (as desired)Salad3

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-84814692110925657202011-02-11T20:10:00.009+01:002011-02-11T20:34:18.720+01:00

I've violated my New Year's resolution to post once a week. So, I thought I would just post a few pictures of what I have been up to. We started an educational campaign on sexually transmitted infections, and here are a a few pictures from our activity today. We went to two village high schools, and we talked about STIs and what information students should know about them. Then,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-23483926014191946182011-02-03T08:05:00.002+01:002011-02-03T08:13:21.420+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } One full year has passed since Gimi’s obsession with Lola first began. He has not seen Lola in his morning café, Bar

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-38649150884105477532011-01-31T22:34:00.009+01:002011-02-01T09:16:52.275+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Per my interest in gender development and gender equality in Albania, I decided to start reading a book by one of Albania’s

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-91211673417976879022011-01-30T21:02:00.006+01:002011-01-30T21:21:16.516+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Albania is in the midst of many legal changes that affect gender development. One of these changes is a law on gender

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-82341247468503218782011-01-23T19:09:00.003+01:002011-01-23T19:31:13.721+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; While out for a walk with two of my best friends last spring, we found ourselves at the familiar topic of corruption. As we

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-81522582001885793952011-01-16T10:47:00.002+01:002011-01-16T11:06:39.645+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Discussion of public transportation, rules of the road, and pedestrian rights in the developing world is undoubtedly a bit

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-13824374732164649852011-01-10T19:19:00.007+01:002011-01-11T23:39:30.488+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } In the weeks leading up to the New Year festivities in Albania, the number of turkeys roaming the streets can quickly

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-18982343194065381762011-01-04T20:25:00.005+01:002011-01-07T15:59:59.521+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "TimesNewRomanPSMT"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }ol { margin-bottom: 0in; }ul { margin-bottom: 0in; } New Year’s Eve has

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-15645976031112162192010-11-06T17:44:00.004+01:002010-11-07T14:07:59.869+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } I was recently asked to take part in a Peace Corps recruitment project at Ohio State.

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-76217035547351932402010-11-02T23:04:00.002+01:002010-11-02T23:11:06.029+01:00

Download: KML RSS | Create your own travel map on MapMe.com

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-47718873719705062162010-11-02T21:19:00.014+01:002011-01-03T14:32:58.125+01:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "georgia"; }

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-13696809801000807242010-09-30T11:12:00.004+02:002010-09-30T11:18:49.984+02:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Clearly defined gender roles are pervasive in Albanian society. The type of work and social behaviors a person may engage

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-40305620898149075592010-09-13T21:10:00.001+02:002010-09-13T21:13:50.642+02:00

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } I have always been a proponent of tolerance and diversity because these values simply resonate with something inside me.

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-47786253421390537712010-08-29T18:46:00.002+02:002010-08-29T19:02:28.325+02:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-31455755001735176362010-08-20T13:28:00.004+02:002010-08-20T20:45:49.042+02:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-24010921610994622082010-08-19T07:49:00.005+02:002011-01-16T11:15:08.582+01:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-23017654058101291932010-08-04T22:17:00.014+02:002010-08-06T08:02:34.476+02:00

Last night out in BeirutDinner in ByblosByblosCedarsSacred Valley in LebanonSacred Valley in Lebanonbeach in LebanonYummy Lebanese dessertsBaalbekJaber Jaber Sons (awesome sandwiches inside)

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-9097437338573103992010-08-04T21:41:00.006+02:002010-08-26T15:27:08.334+02:00

While on a run a few weeks ago, I became aware that I had been staring at my feet hitting the pavement when I looked up to see the sun gracefully sinking among pinks and purples in the distance. However, after fixing my graze for too long at the setting sun, I almost took a nose drive when the pavement became uneven. It was a good reminder that if we stare too long at our feet, we will miss the

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-45187581214204370592010-06-17T17:37:00.007+02:002010-06-17T21:37:37.793+02:00

Despite the sullen mood of my previous post, again life has taken a turn for the better here in Shqiperia. Just as the bad should be expected to come when things are going well, the good should be expected to return when things are going poorly.I am happy to say that last weekend we (the Peace Corps Albania Gender and DevelopmentCommittee) successfully held our Girls Leadership conference. It was

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-24603735068744496432010-05-24T18:51:00.000+02:002010-05-24T18:53:13.669+02:00

Things were going smoothly. Our thalassemia and blood donation project had taken off. Our first day teaching in the villages went wonderfully. There was a great chemistry between my counterpart and I when we taught. It was the kind of chemistry that is created when two like-minded people, who have grown to be close friends, collaborate. The students were energized, and they understood the

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-14376173423843323722010-04-26T21:03:00.003+02:002010-04-26T21:14:10.281+02:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-41162768561313378252010-03-18T23:52:00.005+01:002010-03-26T20:09:19.603+01:00

During my application process for the Peace Corps, I became aware of the “great debate” that exists within Peace Corps commentary – that is, how useful is the Peace Corps? Many an op-ed piece has criticized the Peace Corps for sending undereducated, immature Americans abroad with unrealistic illusions of changing the world. The strong RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer – for those of you not

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-17844838643589806742010-03-18T14:43:00.001+01:002010-03-18T14:45:24.007+01:00

It seems impossible to believe, but I am now celebrating my one-year anniversary here in Albania. The beautiful spring flowers that I arrived to last year are slowly bringing my second spring in Albania to life. It is not only the coming of spring that reminds me how long I have been here. There are so many other ways that I measure this year. I measure it in the things I have learned, the ways I

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-19768211132439988322010-03-11T13:15:00.003+01:002010-03-11T13:19:44.145+01:00

I get a lot of e-mails asking what people can send me. So I decided to add a "wish list" to my blog. It's on the side, and I will keep it updated with things I think of. I appreciate all of your support via letters, packages and even internet contact. Miss and love you all!

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-81243732372115280152010-03-07T13:53:00.003+01:002010-03-08T12:04:08.705+01:00

The official Teachers Appreciation Day here in Albania falls today, March 7th; however because today is not a school day, Friday was the celebration day. The day is spent, as are many other Albanian holidays, circling dancing in a local café. As I found myself in one of these cafes, filled with the haze of smoke and Albanians dancing together all in step, as if they were born doing valle Shqiptar

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-12203948401904182272010-03-04T12:58:00.005+01:002010-03-04T14:06:39.664+01:00

Greetings faithful readers! This post is mostly just to open up the opportunity for you to help with a project I am working on here in Albania. I'm currently the co-chair, and next year's chair, of the Gender and Development Committee for Peace Corps Albania. For our big project this year, we are hoping to hold a summer leadership camp for Albanian girls. We want to get them out of their houses,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-72068767753139868062010-03-02T16:24:00.000+01:002010-03-02T16:25:01.982+01:00

Whenever I complain about everyone sitting around drinking coffee all the time in Albania, my counterpart always tells me that I am going to miss drinking coffee when I am back in America where, as the Albanian sayings go, we have “punë, punë, punë”, and we have only two outfits, work clothes and pajamas. Depending on how low my patience is running, I laugh and agree, or I just shake my head.

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-50130332433075683452010-02-26T12:01:00.000+01:002010-02-26T12:09:24.439+01:00

The other night I had the pleasure of accompanying a friend of mine to an Albanian birthday party. As I tossed my worn out Peace Corps wardrobe around my room in the company of my friend, frantically searching for something nice, I felt surprisingly normal for the first time in a while. It was almost like a Friday night back in America, except it was a Tuesday night in Albania. I finally chose

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-75824185957110548352010-02-20T10:20:00.001+01:002010-02-20T10:20:25.459+01:00

Last night I found myself visited by two old friends, one of which has frequented me here in Albania, and the other of which has been nowhere in sight: intense headaches and insomnia. The headaches are probably more frequent simply because I don’t drink enough water, and I drink too much espresso. While the insomnia hasn’t hung around much due to my sheer exhaustion, brought on by completing

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-39952258360904279962010-02-12T07:11:00.001+01:002010-02-12T07:23:34.844+01:00

It has been pouring rain for days here, but despite the rain, I have started to feel signs of spring. Whether they are real or just in my head, I am not sure, but the effect is the same. I haven’t been seeing my breath inside my apartment this week – hurray! I can’t complain too much, as I live in an area with some of the mildest winters in Albania. Though I must admit, I can’t help missing the

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-882209556210149742010-02-04T20:42:00.003+01:002010-02-04T20:47:57.951+01:00

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Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-88255778715511590012010-01-07T15:58:00.003+01:002010-02-05T14:23:47.899+01:00

Today I realized that we are already six days into 2010. Another year has escaped, never to be seen again, taking along with it all it’s precious time, but leaving behind all its unfinished business.As I traveled home from another Albanian town today, I enjoyed my favorite i-Pod playlists and gazed out the window, observing again the contrast between the extreme beauty of Albanian – snow capped

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-76977849763696194812009-12-21T17:14:00.000+01:002009-12-21T17:15:17.021+01:00

I supposed this is a rather random thought, but I felt compelled to share it with all of you that read my blog. I posted something similar to this a few months back, but it’s time for me to explain my distaste for a common American saying.I have always hated the saying, “Life isn’t fair.” One reason I hate this saying is that it implies that the person feeling that life has treated them unjustly

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-2485010985835898952009-12-01T17:44:00.012+01:002011-01-03T14:33:34.260+01:00

It turns out that Thanksgiving in Albania can be quite an adventure, if you choose to make it one. My actual Thanksgiving meal was spent eating pizza in the Albanian town of Gjirokaster, but only in anticipation of a long hike Raino, Seth and I decided to leave for early Saturday morning. The three of us decided to embark on a hike from Seth’s site, a small village near Gjirokaster, Asim Zeneli,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-17285937743303881112009-11-14T00:28:00.004+01:002009-11-18T20:10:47.578+01:00

I am pleased to report that despite what felt like multiple attempts by a higher power to thwart my running of the Athens marathon (lost shoes, food poisoning, the flu, hotel room miscommunication), I successfully completed the marathon with a time of 4:26. I had a cold/flu while running, and the hills of the course alone explain why Pheidippides kicked the bucket after completing it. Therefore,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-38982180172549764552009-10-25T15:10:00.002+01:002009-10-25T15:14:12.420+01:00

Okay, the title is a just a joke - a quote made by the Albanian prime minister in his broken English - but I really have been bestowed a miracle. Somehow, after over a month, my luggage was returned to me the other day. Thus ending the dramatic Alitalia saga. Although I'm a bit frustrated that I already spent money trying to buy things back, I am extremely happy to have my things back. I don't

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-44811728697767936002009-10-09T07:57:00.003+02:002009-10-09T12:21:28.221+02:00

So, it’s been a rough month, from my lost luggage to my food poisoning, harassing phone calls from obnoxious and anonymous Albanian men and/or boys, and my neighbor, who continues to turn off my electricity at her discretion. I think the reality of living in a developing country is really starting to hit me. There is no rule of law in Albania, and when things go wrong, you will experience a new

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-37321233140805444612009-10-08T20:36:00.001+02:002009-10-08T20:42:16.327+02:00

I should have named her "Sanity."

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-59475885471940302792009-10-04T19:54:00.008+02:002009-10-05T20:38:41.871+02:00

Today was my first official Lushnja Girls Empowerment Organization meeting. I had an whole four girls in attendance, two of who were a bit late, and one who had to leave early. Not to mention the four girls that showed up were only the girls that have been helping me plan the introduction of the group to the community, meaning, none of the girls I announced the group to at the local schools

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-14419596746054183862009-09-29T14:05:00.007+02:002009-10-31T18:47:08.253+01:00

After having lost have of my things here, I thought it couldn't hurt to give some direction to those of you who plan to send me packages in the future. So, below are listed some coveted items:- contact solution!!! please #1 request!!! I am completely out having lost my first collection in my move to Lushnja, and now my new batch is gone with my lost luggage.- French press- Starbucks coffee (not

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-89961160904518561692009-09-26T01:13:00.001+02:002009-09-26T03:08:59.723+02:00

Going through my current crisis (yes I believe for once my complaint of losing $2500 worth of stuff deserves a full-fledged “crisis” characterization, versus the usual “mini-crisis” characterization) has me meditating on that old cliché, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” I think touting this mantra can be a good self-preservation tool, but now that I am considering it in light of my

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-9591825328908053952009-09-24T20:40:00.005+02:002009-09-24T20:54:14.273+02:00

Still no luggage . . . Never fly Alitalia!

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-89184555855056396942009-09-24T20:40:00.004+02:002009-09-24T20:53:43.134+02:00

I probably should have seen the foreshadowing when only days before my departure for Spain Peace Corps staff warned me about the luggage problems that often accompany reasonably priced air travel with the airline Alitalia. On my way to Spain, I was careful to pack some necessities in my carry-on. However, riding on the euphoria of a week back in the developed world, I was not as cautious on my

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-26884406827595567062009-09-21T19:53:00.002+02:002009-09-21T19:58:46.088+02:00

Hello loyal blog readers . . . I am writing to you all in request of advice. I recently returned from my trip to Spain; however, my luggage did not. I have been toyed around with by Alitalia airlines, and the company seems not the least concerned with the fact that they have lost thousands of dollars worth of my belongings. I have been trying to research what kind of compensation I am due, but

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-92075471368320730692009-09-11T11:33:00.003+02:002009-09-11T22:36:40.279+02:00

The “vape e madhe” has finally started to subside, and you can see the vendors selling new backpacks sporting obscure cartoons and Rihana on the side of the road. Yes, fall has begun, and I can feel it in the now cool breezes coming through my windows. As fall is my favorite season, and I was so sick of the heat I was beginning to get a bit whiny (we all know I am never like that normally), I am

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-47893294464700897692009-08-30T22:23:00.007+02:002009-09-07T12:59:11.905+02:00

This weekend I made a trip back to my old training site, Bishqem, to visit my host family. In many ways, I liken it to returning home from college on breaks. One of my former training site mates and I joked about how we come back to everyone excited to see us, and ready to feed us. We make the rounds to see people we knew around town, and then after spending some time with the host family, go for

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-57671101806693238172009-08-27T10:47:00.005+02:002009-08-27T11:29:14.102+02:00

(Lida's wedding, Berat castle and some other stories)Last weekend I went to my first real Albanian wedding. The wedding was for my "parukiere" (hair "stylist") here, Lida, and it was filled with the excitement of all Albanian weddings, from plates full of meat to lots of circle dancing. The way wedding festivities work is a bit different here in Albania. First of all, Albanians have two weddings,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-57927151643515963842009-08-24T14:08:00.003+02:002009-08-24T14:16:25.616+02:00

Below are public links to my facebook photos from Albania. The albums are listed in order from least to most recent. Sorry it's taken so long to post them!(Trip to Albania, Training, etc.) - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2545020&id=12414771&l=eb678e5a6a(my birthday in Albania, volunteer visit in Puka) - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2573648&id=12414771&l=7c4123eb69(day trip to the

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-88179878171430297862009-08-20T13:07:00.003+02:002009-08-20T20:21:20.647+02:00

So, as you have most likely gathered from the title of this post, there's not a lot to report. Life is continuing slowly during August's "pushime." My biggest accomplishment this week, managing to find the patience to upload pictures on to facebook, despite the incredibly slow internet. The most excitement I've seen this week was today when I attempted to get a package from the post office, which

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-32359582537270875662009-08-03T20:22:00.003+02:002009-08-03T20:39:03.127+02:00

Today I met with one of the Peace Corps Albania coordinators from Tirana. They usually travel around to check in on everyone and see how we are doing. During our meeting today she randomly says to me,"Oh, I saw you running the other day." I am completely confused by this because she lives in Tirana, which is about two hours away. She proceeds to explain that she and her daughter were driving back

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-59431173412500774952009-07-30T07:40:00.002+02:002009-07-30T14:17:54.480+02:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been a bit under the weather for a few days. Though a cold or a sinus infection of some sort appear the most likely explanations to me, my Albanian friends and neighbors seem to have another explanation.Due to being sick, I have had to cancel my "running club" (Initially started out as a group of about four neighbor girls, who wanted to go running with me,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-19599219526964998212009-07-28T12:09:00.005+02:002009-07-28T13:26:51.740+02:00

After being thoroughly harped on by Michael (my brother for those of you who don't know), I realized my blog hasn't been updated since the last century. It's not that there isn't anything to write about, but quite the contrary. There is so much going on; it seems overwhelming to summarize it all in a blog post. That being said, I have decided there is no need to feel pressured to summarize

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-40948993124695152722009-06-06T13:27:00.004+02:002009-06-06T13:38:00.306+02:00

(This is Ariel when she crawled into my bag - - >Well, I survived the first week at my permanent site. However, I am pretty sure that I picked up some bad luck on my way to Lushnja. Looking back, the week was quite comical, but at the moment of each of my mini-crises I did not have quite the same perspective.I guess I will start with my departure from Bishqem. This is backtracking a bit since my

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-11417685347417151422009-05-31T16:37:00.005+02:002009-06-01T12:11:48.531+02:00

Well, I can now say I am an official Peace Corps Volunteer, and no longer a trainee! Swearing in was on Thursday and now I am in Lushnja permanently. I'm a little bit tired from moving. I had to carry all of my luggage across town, clean my apt. and wake up at 5:30 a.m. to fill the water tank, which apparently I did not do correctly because I currently have no water. I guess I will learn with

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-77189896063207739772009-05-18T12:06:00.001+02:002009-05-18T12:09:48.453+02:00

I know, I know; it’s been way too long. I must apologize for my lack of blog posting lately. It might sound like excuses, but I have been incredibly busy. I need to be in a certain kind of a mood in order to write a post that is even the slightest bit interesting, and the chaos that has taken over my life here lately has prevented me from being in that mood. However, the longer I wait to write,

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-77472660334135856772009-04-19T15:47:00.003+02:002009-04-19T16:25:18.668+02:00

I try to plan out my blog posts and meticulously edit them (it's the perfectionist in me), but this is going to be a little impromptu due to my busy schedule and the announcement of important news! As you can see, there is an Albanian map to the right. This is because I now know my site placement for the next two years and I want everyone to be able to see where my town, Lushnja, is located.

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-77259044696502957972009-04-07T10:35:00.003+02:002009-07-28T13:34:32.174+02:00

I know it has been a while since I have written, and I am sure you are all sitting on the edge on your seats. So, get excited because this is bound to be a lengthy post. I am in Tirana, the capital city of Albanian, using the internet at an American style diner run by a missionary group. I will put up with Christian rock for a few hours in exchange for internet and some American coffee. I am

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-90900358496971141722009-03-25T15:22:00.003+01:002009-03-25T15:49:36.290+01:00

I have been typing blog entries each night at home, but by the time I get to the internet cafe they are always outdated. Also, I am not comfortable putting my flash drive into the internet cafe computers because of viruses. So, this is a short summary of what has happened over the past couple of days: The first thing I must say is that a lack of central heating is something you must experience to

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-91469199431171188652009-03-20T08:36:00.004+01:002009-03-20T09:21:58.616+01:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan;

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8289353600655189009.post-42032960619555323752009-02-18T00:24:00.003+01:002009-02-18T18:07:25.239+01:00

I would like to welcome all of you to my new blog that will document my experience serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania. Before I get into too many details, I would also like to apologize in advance for the possibility that this will end up being extremely boring to read, but ultimately, it’s your choice to indulge. Take the disclaimer and read with caution, or possibly a pillow handy. :

Carrie Ann Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05637800391363762092noreply@blogger.com1