First Half of PST

Happy November! It’s still been relatively warm and sunny in North Macedonia (TYJ), but we recently had a time change and it’s getting dark by 5:00 P.M. As PC promised, it’s been even more busy the last couple of weeks.

Last week, we had our first practice language test, a few admin sessions, practicum, typical hub day, and of course, language class. All is going well and moving along rather quickly and not fast enough at the same time as we get closer to site placement announcements (November 14) and swearing in (December 5).

There were lots of things happening at my site last weekend! The organization I’m working with for Practicum held a Breast Cancer Walk in the town center to raise awareness. The weather couldn’t have been better and there was a great turnout!

On Sunday, my host family celebrated their Слава (slava) or “Saints Day”. This is a holiday to honor a specific saint that has typically been passed down in a family through many generations. My host parents spent all weekend preparing every detail to celebrate. When the table was set and the food was ready, I asked my host dad what time the guests would arrive and he said “it’s the day, not time” which sums up Macedonian culture regarding time relatively well.

Throughout the afternoon and into the evening different family members and friends stopped by with a small gift and enjoyed the meal that had been prepared. When new guests arrived, a new place setting was added to the table, food was restocked, and the meal was shared again for many hours. Then, the following day, my host parents invited my language class over for our own Slava! We enjoyed spending time together laughing and getting to experience a Macedonian holiday.

Some of the other volunteers and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and walked to an archeology site at our PST site, Bylazora¹. The history in this region of the world continues to blow my mind!

In one of our recent hub day intercultural sessions, this was shared: Cultural competency does not equal cultural humility.

I found this to be such a great reminder as I become more integrated in Macedonian culture. Through integrating, the danger could be to become quick to assume I think, understand, or know, not only what is happening around me, but what the best solution is for whatever is being discussed. At the end of the day, the lens in which I see things is completely different from the people I’m around. Culturally, neither lens is good or bad, but what a beautiful reminder to continually seek to have a heart and attitude of humility.

P.S. — I WANT YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS. If you’re sending, I’d be a happy recipient (and may even leave it up all year), so just email or text for my address!

P.S.S. — By the way, it is not December and it’s certainly not Christmas yet, so please do not start with the Merry Christmas (@Tori Church) until at LEAST after Thanksgiving.

1. https://history.mk/where-is-bylazora-located-the-city-of-the-paeonians/