Douglas and I with our new tent, and our campsite along a Lake Ohrid cliff. Stellar.

Summer #2 in Macedonia

Fruit is plentiful. 5 cent watermelons, melons, strawberries, fresh produce galore. It can get too hot to sleep underneath anything. Turning on the hot water heater is unnecessary. Recipes don't involve heating elements, and wet hairstyles are completely acceptable (okay, maybe I'm just imagining that last one).

The school is quiet and peaceful, yet teachers are busy attending one training after another. Twice a week, students come for summer English school, and we're slowly trying to figure out how to get the viruses off the computers, why the "free internet" doesn't work anymore, and where we can come up with $50 for printer toner.

Neighbors walk freely amongst each others' homes, and grannies one-up each other about the success of their backyard gardens. The question of the hour is, "Where are you going on vacation?" Although most people I know aren't going on vacation. Internet is cheap at night, and it's cool enough to sit with the computer on my lap.

The amount of time I have left here is rapidly waning, and I'm looking back to make sure I've squeezed every ounce of understanding and meaning out of every moment. My attitude is consistently positive, and I see incredible positive change in my nearly 2 years here. I love this country and I love its people. I love summer time, swimming in lakes, and really cheap fruit. I love all my friends, I love teaching English, and I love having my boyfriend Douglas to share everything with!

Happy Independence Day of U.S.A.!