October Already!

I wasn't sure if I would be able to update tomorrow or if I would remember so I decided to update today. Its not technically October but close enough. Things have been very busy this last week with Caralee and Ian gone and a cold being spread around the house, but they should be returning in the next couple of days so that will be very nice. In about 2 weeks I will be going to Italy for the week, to see my friend Emily. I am so excited!!! Not only to see her but to have a break! I am really ready for one. Its hard to believe I have been working since July non-stop, it seems so long ago. Its getting colder here and I LOVE it! Good bye Summer, I won't miss you! Some of you may know that I got lice about a week and a half ago. Hopefully it is gone, I am going to use some special shampoo tonight and tomorrow night and that should be the end of it. Unfortunately I just got a cold so I am not feeling quite up to combing my hair for an hour tonight. That's a big culture difference I have learned about this week. In Albania sickness is a HUGE deal for them. If you are sick you are to always stay in the house and if you have even the slightest fever you are to be in bed and they give you medicine after medicine! It was very frustrating yesterday but today has been better, fortunately I am an adult so they can't keep me cooped up in the house. There is an Albanian women who is helping around the house and she wasn't happy that I wanted to sit outside while I write this. Its hard with David though because they think I am irresponsible if I take him out for some fresh air, even if it helps him. Well that's all for now. I can't wait to see everyone in 2 months!

Half Way Until Christmas!

I am already half way until my Christmas Visit! I get so excited thinking about coming home and seeing everyone and especially my Niece and Nephew! Only 5 more days!! I am going to be up all night Monday waiting by the computer! I am going to be starting to get my residence visa any day now because I only have one more month, unless I leave the country again to go to Greece (you get one more month every time you leave the country). In the middle of October I will be going to Italy for about 4 days to visit my friend Emily who is going to school there. It will be really nice to have that break! And super exciting to see her! Pray that I can find cheap airfare and that the planning we need to do gets done. I can't believe that I have already been here half way til my Christmas visit! In some ways it seems very short and in others long. I think this second half will go a lot faster now that I am settled in and I have my Italy adventure in October. Please pray for my work in the Street Kids Center, its very challenging not being able to communicate to the kids. Also pray that I continue to make friends, there are a few people that I think I would be friends with if I could speak Albanian or them English. On that note please pray for my Albanian, I am surprised at what I can understand but I am having a hard time speaking. David is starting school and I have been helping Isaac with his school lately, so that he stays focused. I still have not heard anything about where I will be living but I will keep you posted. I am going to try to go out one of these days to get some pictures of Korca and some of the places I go so all of you can see. Love you all, Miss you! Heidi

Can you believe its been 2 months?!?!

             I don't even know where to begin, these 2 months have been full of so many activities, new experiences, struggles, and fun. My Albanian is coming along nicely but verbs are hard to learn, in English we use the same verb for I, You, He/She, We, and They but in Albanian they are all different. There are parts in Albanian that are very easy as well. Ne in Albanian is all of the above: in, on, by, at, and beside. They also have one word for Watch, See, and Look. Anyways my Albanian is good and my teacher is great. She is 22 and we have become pretty good friends. Its nice to be able to have someone to talk to and go to coffee with. I would tell you what my plans for this month are but I have no idea. Isaac and Ashlie will be starting school soon and David should be going to an Albanian school in the mornings. The family I was to live with are unable to have me because they will be going out of the country for a few months. Ian and Caralee are looking for a place for me to stay instead. They had talked about going to Greece for a week or two this month before they start school but I am not sure when that will be, we will just have to see. It will be nice to have a change in pace and of course it will be really nice for fall to come! I am so tired of the heat! And its very humid here as well. Things with David are going well as can be for a 2 year old. :) I am missing everyone at home but I love being here as well. I am so excited for my Niece and Nephew to come!! September 20th everyone!! For the next months I have something very exciting going on in each, September- The Babies, October- Going to Italy to see Emily, November- Thanksgiving, and December- Coming home for Christmas!! Well I have to go now, Miss you all!! Love you! Heidi.