Tetovo and my new apartment!

I wrote this on different days because I didn't have the internet for a while. Enjoy!

Today I arrived in Tetovo, which is where the city is. I woke up this morning with a little cold and that took my emotions for a roller coaster. I took a bus to this city and then went to the supermarket with Bruce, who also lives on campus. He’s from the states. Bruce is very passionate about helping the dogs. He has two that follow him around campus. I bought a ton of things for my dorm. I still can’t believe how cheap it is and it makes me feel guilty for some reason. I will return tomorrow by myself to make sure I know how to get around before all the students show up. I found something I need. Bug spray! I watched a movie on my laptop and when I got up to go to the bathroom I saw three roaches!!! Two were…not small. I was a little hesitant to live here because the guy who worked here last year lived in this dorm and he just disappeared, so some of his things are still here and it hasn’t been touch in about nine months.

After having a conversation with Bruce and John-Paul, I know a lot more about Macedonia, and the university. In case you don’t know, Macedonia used to be a communist country, so everyone worked, and basically didn’t care about their job because of the security of always having it. At the university there are two basic types: good and lazy. There are the people who are helpful and great at their job, and there are people who are lazy, don’t really care about anything, and make you run in circles. Why don’t they get fired? Because they have a connection to the university, some political connection. What is the result of this? Some people who are actually qualified to have a position are rejected because they don’t have a connection. This is the reason why there isn’t an academic semester already planned (finals didn’t work last year and they’re not planned for this semester), etc. Another result of the past is that students don’t have good work ethics because their parents don’t or didn’t. I’m told students are going to show up late, not do their work, and then cry after they get their grades and ask me to change it. I’ll let you know how much of this is true after I start teaching, which I can’t wait for!

I’ve finally moved into my own apartment. It is very nice. I live about five minutes walking to the major grocery store and about five minutes from my Irish colleague Ben. My landlord is nice. She is well educated. She’s a lawyer and her husband is Montenegrin and an Engineer. Since I’ve been in Macedonia, I’ve thought of some things to be thankful for in California:

1. Flushing toilet paper in the toilet (not having to throw it way in the trash!)
2. Not being asked “Sparkling or still water” (If I wanted gas in my water I would have ordered soda!)
3. Having lines dividing the lanes in the streets. (People drive crazy!)
4. Having a stable shower. (a showerhead that doesn’t face out of the shower, but in the direction you stand)
5. Nobody smoking everywhere you go!!!

Other than those things, I am enjoying this country and look forward to compiling a list of the things I love here.