Patti S.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I became interested in the Peace Corps as I was nearing retirement. I had learned the Peace Corps was seeking Volunteers with experience and not only faces fresh from university, and I was intrigued. After researching the website and other sources, I knew this opportunity would provide an excellent next chapter to my life. Deciding where and in what discipline I might best utilize my background, I decided on the TEFL teacher position in Albania/Montenegro. It has been a tremendously rewarding experience, more than I had anticipated.

2. What projects are you working on?

My primary responsibility is to provide supplemental English communication opportunities for students attending the local high school. I and three English language teachers attempt to meet the needs and competency level of each class with creative projects and exercises to increase their proficiency in the English language. I work with students at the nearby vocational school as well, teaming up with three teachers at that institution, offering weekly English communication sessions to interested students.

We also initiated an English club at the local library. When they began charging a fee to use a room that had been free previously, one of our counterparts offered us an unused space in his building. My counterpart and I went about scrubbing the place down and making it more user friendly for attendees. We opened the club mid-July and ran it for 5 weeks, offering 3 hour-long sessions for elementary students, high school students and adults. We incorporated drawing and other art forms to jumpstart conversations in English. It was located along the river, and many community members walked by, saw our hand-made sign, and came inside to see what we were all about. Our attendance grew from 10 to 30-plus principally through word of mouth.

3. What strategies have you used to integrate into your community?

Working with my counterparts at both schools has afforded me the opportunity of meeting many faculty and staff at the various elementary and high schools in the municipality. The projects we put together, including the “Art Rožaje” (art fair) invited even a broader group of people from surrounding towns.

My host family is also involved in the community, and I have met many neighbors, extended family, and community members through their engagement.

Nature abounds in this area and I try to take nature walks 4-5 times a week, engaging passers-by with my newly acquired Montenegrin; they seem to be pleasantly surprised that an outsider has learned some of their language.

There is also a strong coffee culture, with numerous coffee shops surrounding the main square. These shops offer terrific opportunities to sit for a minute or two and catch up with colleagues, friends and neighbors.

4. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

Two main events come to mind. One is the aforementioned art fair, which initially drew students from the traditional high school and the vocational high school. We put together an exhibit showcasing the artwork of students throughout the municipality but also invited poets and musicians to showcase their specific talents. The art fair was repeated again in April of 2024 with even greater student participation and audience attendance. The counterparts at both schools have indicated they will continue this Art Rožaje as an annual event.

The second event is the “Taking the Lead” two-week program held this past August. Sixteen young ladies representing 5 local elementary and high schools participated in an intensive computer skills and leadership seminar lasting 12 days. At the conclusion of the course teams of two presented a proposal for an issue they identified in their community. This PowerPoint presentation was presented entirely in English and was covered by the local media. Several proposals are being considered for action within the community.

5. What have you enjoyed most about the community where you are serving?

The people, first and foremost. They have been so welcoming and patient as I fumble through learning their language. The students have been enthusiastic and receptive, on the whole embracing clubs, events, and interactive activities.

6. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from your community?

Patience, patience and no need to rush. The buzzword here is “polako” which translates to “slowly, slow down, slow…” you get my drift. They’ve really shown the benefits to slowing down and not rushing from one thing to another. It took a while to embrace this mindset but I do believe I’m much less stressed than before I arrived.

7. How do you spend time when you are not working on a project?

Mostly, I’m enjoying nature, either alone on long walks through the many forests that circle the area or with a friend or colleague, catching up or scheming as we hike trails leading up and down the many terrains surrounding my village.

8. What are you looking forward to in your remaining time as a Volunteer?

While I’m very much looking forward to getting back home with family and friends that I miss every day, I know I will miss this place and especially these people a lot.

As we wind down this last school semester here, two of my colleagues, one each from the high school and vocational school, and I are attempting to put together an adaptation of “Snow White” with actors representing both schools. We hope to present the play on the last week of November, pretty much taking us to the very end of my service here. And it’s all in English! We shall see. But the rehearsals are keeping us pretty busy and it’s a great way of ending my time with them.

9. Once you finish service, what will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

Remember the lesson in living “polako.” I hope to bring back this sense of living slower and not rushing so much from point A to point B. Also, although not an extravagant person to start with, I hope to pare down even further to live simpler and more conscious of what I need and what I don’t. What I’m doing and why.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Montenegro.