To MAK and Back

I’ve been back in the classroom for almost two months since the school year kicked off on September 1st. While the summer provided a welcome break, I hadn’t fully realized how much I missed teaching English to my students. Summertime, with its sweltering heat (consistently ranging from 90-105 degrees) and my village location, didn’t always provide an abundance of activities.

During the first week of school, my counterparts and I primarily focused on reconnecting with our students. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage in simple English conversations and gradually get them back into the groove (it’s safe to say that studying and practicing English weren’t at the top of their summer agendas).

My schedule this semester looks quite similar to last term but with one noteworthy change: one of my counterparts is on a two-month leave. Consequently, I began co-teaching alongside a new colleague until the original counterpart returned to work. It’s been an enjoyable experience working with someone new and seeing how our teaching styles complement each other. So far, it’s been a positive transition!

This year, I’ve continued with my schedule covering all five schools in my district. Although I can’t see every grade, I try to mix up my schedule periodically. When I was handed this five-school rotation, I had reservations about how I’d manage it and whether I would be successful. However, after a few months, I’ve realized that it adds a new dimension to my teaching. Some might call me crazy, but I relish engaging with more students and teaching at all grade levels.

As mentioned in my previous post, the MAK26 cohort arrived on September 11th. Since their arrival, the new volunteers went to four training locations, where they will undergo a comprehensive three-month training program focusing on language, culture, security, and medical instruction. This training period culminates in the volunteer swearing-in ceremony, likely sometime in November. During this phase, they live with host families in their respective communities. Once a week, they are brought into Skopje for extensive group training sessions. This is the customary approach to Peace Corps training in all countries. However, my group had a few additional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did more online training in our communities.

In September, I received an invitation from the Peace Corps staff to speak on a panel to the new volunteers about the North Macedonian education system. I had the opportunity to address the EIE (English and Inclusive Education) trainees, sharing insights into what it’s like to be a volunteer in a village setting. It was a valuable chance to impart my experiences to the new group, especially since most will work and live in rural locations. After the panel, I went to dinner with two of the volunteers in my cohort, and we had a great time catching up!

Remarkably, I’ve lived in North Macedonia for over a year! It’s an incredible milestone, and I still have trouble believing it. Before I arrived here, former volunteers had all warned me that my service would pass by in the blink of an eye, and they were right (though there were certainly moments when it felt like time was dragging). I’m looking forward to embracing the next 14 months of this incredible journey.