Making connections through the Red Cross in North Macedonia

I had served as an Americorps volunteer years ago, so I knew that the Peace Corps’ vision and mission aligned with my interests, and I also knew I had what it took to complete a successful tour of service. A major life goal of mine was to live outside of the United States one day, and I also hoped to one day work for the federal government, so the Peace Corps felt like a natural next step.

Getting ready to depart

After applying and being notified that I was accepted to serve in North Macedonia, I was equal parts elated and stressed! Elated because I knew that Peace Corps was a great opportunity and stressed because I had to transition out of a job, wind up my affairs, and move out of the apartment I had been living in for 11 years—a daunting task when I realized how much stuff I accumulated over that period.

Training

My first 3 months of pre-service training in North Macedonia were spent in a small village where there was a single restaurant open occasionally and two small convenience stores. I spent a lot of time with my wonderful host family and took long walks in the fields near my house. I learned Macedonian but found it difficult to retain all the new vocabulary; however, my host family helped me improve quickly throughout training. Some Volunteers struggled with not having their own space, but I quite enjoyed not having to do laundry, cook, or clean the house while being doted on and fed delicious, healthy food. I sometimes wish I could go back!

Service begins

After pre-service training, I moved to a small city in the southwest region of North Macedonia. Even though I live in my own apartment, I do have a host family living in the apartment above mine, and they are very kind. Often they invite me to have lunch with them on major holidays such as New Year’s Day and Easter, and for coffee and sweet treats on the weekends or after work. When the weather is nice and they are relaxing on their balcony, they greet me and check in.

I am assigned to work with the Red Cross, a well-respected organization that everyone here knows. I help them execute community events such as the local first aid competition and the “For a Better Childhood” celebration, both of which are held in the city square. My counterpart and I also host a speech and debate club for youth.

Teaching English to retirees

One project my counterpart and I have worked on throughout my service is teaching English language lessons to retirees. It’s a group of 16 to 20 folks with long-term ties to the community and the Red Cross. They meet weekly in our office to discuss major events and plan community service activities. When I can, I lead fun and engaging activities to help them learn useful English vocabulary and grammar and teach them about American culture, while they help me learn key words in Macedonian.

Building relationships with the retirees has been a big highlight for me. They often tell me about their lives, their families, show pictures of their grandkids, invite me to their houses for coffee, and teach me how to make baked goods such as “kifli” (traditional crescent rolls). Sometimes we talk about the history of North Macedonia and Yugoslavia, and how they celebrate different cultural events and religious holidays. All of which have increased my knowledge and appreciation of the local culture immensely.

Continuing to serve

I’ve enjoyed my time here so much that I will be extending my service for an extra year. I’ll continue working at the Red Cross and connect with additional local NGOs to strengthen their capacity.

If you’re interested in the Peace Corps, I recommend doing a lot of research about the country you hope to serve in and think deeply about what you hope to get out of the experience to ensure that Peace Corps finds a good fit for you. This can help reduce the culture shock you experience and keep you motivated during difficult times.