Shayne's Crazy Makdo Life

Every year, around this time, there is a huge festival down in Strumica (southeastern Macedonia) called Karnival. It lasts a few days and each day there is something new- one day is a children's day, etc. I'd say most Macedonians attend this sometime in their lives- it's a pretty big deal. The big day, though, is always on Tuesday. I was invited to go last year but declined, seeing that my friends were going that night and returning the same night around 3 am. But, this year I realized that this was my only chance to go, and who am I to deprive myself of a new cultural experience? So, I decided to go. And I'm SO glad I did, because it was such a blast!! It reminded me a lot of what I picture Mardi Gras to be like, even though I've never been. Basically, it's millions and millions of people (ok, not really, but I like to exagerate) all getting together to party all night long. Everyone dresses up in costumes, and there's a huge parade with lots of different groups and schools dressing up in different themes. After the parade, everyone heads to the cafes and bars and the party always spills out into the streets with people dancing and drinking and just having a great time. I was recently informed that Karnival has something to do about celebrating fertility, but I really have no idea what the historical background of it is. I'm sure there was some celebration of fertility *wink wink nudge nudge* I went with a group of friends from Orizari, and my friend Ats (also known as my personal hairdresser) made all of our costumes. As you can see in the pic, I was an Indian, Ats was a pharoah, Daniela was a female pharoah, Mare was a Japanese woman, and Koka was Dracula. We had SUCH a great time! We got into Strumica around 8:00 at night and were able to catch the last part of the parade. Then, we basically spent the night walking around and checking out all the crazy costumes and occasionally stopping to dance in the streets or in a cafe. We left around 2 am and I got back home around 4 am. Needless to say, I didn't go to work the next day, but the other teachers were so excited that I was going to Karnival that they didn't care that I wasn't going to be at school the next day. I can't even express how much fun it was. I'm SO glad I went!

In other news, my rise to stardom has begun. Peace Corps Macedonia is making a movie to show to prospective sites for new volunteers and they wanted it to primarily show current volunteers and their counterparts and the interaction there so that these prospective sites could see what it'd be like to have a volunteer. So, because my counterpart, Emilija, and I get along famously, they decided to pay us a visit and film us teaching one of our classes. It was pretty funny- it all felt very Hollywood. After they filmed the class, they wanted to get all these different shots- one of she and I walking up the school stairs, talking, another one of us talking to the kids, another one of us standing by a window talking, etc. And, of course, they had to take each shot a few times. Then, they interviewed Emilija about what it was like to have a volunteer. They're also hoping to make a movie to give to Peace Corps applicants who are invited toMacedonia, so they can see what kind of country it is, which I think is an absolutely fabulous idea. So, then they interviewed me about what it was like to live in Macedonia, what to expect, what to pack, etc. I mentioned packing peanut butter and the woman who was in charge of it (a former Peace Corps Volunteer who is now married to the British ambassador of Macedonia) thought that was the funniest thing. So, then they went to my place and filmed me walking into my apartment three or four times, then walking out of my apartment a few times. After that, they came into my main room and she saw my guitar and was like, "OK, play the guitar while we're filming" So, I strummed a few chords and looked like the soulful hippy volunteer. Then, since the woman got such a kick out of my peanut butter comment, she filmed me taking my peanut butter out of the cupboard, spreading it on some crackers and eating it. I feel like Skippy should be paying me royalties! It was pretty fun, and I'll hopefully get to see a copy of it once it's all finished. They're filming a few other volunteers and then will put it all together. I assured everyone at Peace Corps that when I win my first Oscar, I'd make sure to remember the little people and how I got there. Better start asking for autographs now before I become too famous and don't have time! ;) 

posted by Shayne @ 10:01 PM