HANA TRUSCOTT: Picture This: Spring in Macedonia

Let everyone whom you meet on this day be blessed by you. Just by your eyes. By your smile. By your touch. Just by your presence. Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you. And then it will really be a good day.

-TED Talk on Gratitude

SPRING IN MACEDONIA HIGHLIGHTS...

1. The U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia visited us at the Municipality of Novaci and then headed to a local farmer's house for a chat with the 6 farming families that have been chosen for the USAID funded project "PeLAGonija LEADER." The 4-year project commenced earlier this year at the beginning of the growing season, providing the 6 farmers with drip irrigation systems and expert planting guidelines. Now we're waiting to see if the crop yields increase as significantly as anticipated. Side-note: the Ambassador's family has a cabin on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

Photo courtesy of Karli-Marie Reyes-Dimovska

2. Weddings galore! The Peace Corps Volunteer living in Bitola got married this May to a Macedonian man from Bitola. They had a wedding this spring that fused American and Macedonian culture. There were about 20 of us Peace Corps Volunteers in attendance. After several hours of traditional Macedonian oro (line) dancing, the DJ made a music switch and all of us PCVs put on a show of American line dances including the funky chicken and electric slide, among others. A few brave Macedonians joined us on the dance floor to learn, while the rest of the guests sat wide-eyed watching this dumb-founding American phenomenon. We got an ovation at the end.

3. The Senior Citizens project has wrapped up, but the results continue to unfold. Every Sunday the women continue to meet and plan events. They have been partnering with organizations from around Macedonia to put on cultural events, including the Bitola in Bloom event at the Monastery in Novaci this past May. The event featured the women's homemade cookin, as well as dancing by the local traditional dance group made up of kids from Novaci. The event brought in buses full of tourists from Skopje to learn about their own Macedonian culture. The Mayor of Novaci has been pleased with the results of the senior center project, saying we sure hit a bulls-eye with it. His wife has been a regular attendee at the women's night and even celebrated her birthday there yesterday. She said that ever since she's been going to the Senior's Center, she's caught up on all the news from the village. :)

4. The Mayor of Novaci, who was re-elected for his third term in March, has been busy with projects in the Municipality. Every two weeks or so, there is a ceremonial event to commence the building of a road or playground, etc. The local priest or imam will lead the ceremony depending on the main religion of the people in that particular village, followed by a feast with representatives gathered from the Municipality and the locals.

5. Another round of baby chicks, puppies, kittens, baby storks...as well as guests galore! I've hosted 10 visitors the past month, including my parents, my auntie Carole, my host sisters from Kratovo, friends from Skopje and am currently hosting high school friend Deanna Gerwin (pictured above with Veselka) and her husband! Life is GOOD. More about their visits later. :)

For a glimpse into the life and times of Peace Corps Macedonia, here's a link to our Spring 2013 edition of Pauza Magazine. To honor my passion for writing and to actively cultivate a space for it in my life, I've been working as the Managing Editor of this magazine the past 7 months. Click HERE to see the newest issue of Pauza Magazine.

Fore more Spring pics, see below...

Lots of LOVE.