Care Package Wishlist

I have broken this into categories so there isn't confusion on what is something I actually need and what would be great to have as a present, but completely not really necessary. The last section is the projects section, which aren't pertinent but again only if you wish. Sorry if I'm asking too much. People ask what I need/want and I'm just putting it out there. I think in general you can see which wishes are far fetched and only if we run out of things or if they're really cheap and can just be thrown in. Like.. peppermint extract not a very large priority. I just have this idea of trying to do as many recipes in the cookbooks I have as possible.

* Alterations made on 12-21-11, the following are all that I can find left that my amazing family hasn't sent me. Again, completely not necessary.


- Taco seasoning mixes- are always a good thing
- Chili pepper
- Spices: cardamon, saffron
- Canned artichoke- I love artichoke.
- Pudding: lemon, butterscotch
- Aprons

Art/ Clothing projects
- IDEA store by the pound old school dress designs

Gardening projects- most of these really aren't even wanted until the Spring anyway
- Seeds- Asparagus*, green beans*, beets, broccoli*, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, cauliflower, horseradish*, lettuce, okra, onions, peanuts, sugar snap peas*, peppers, pumpkin, radishes*, rhubarb*, spinach, tomato, watermelon,
*- hard to find in Albania

Cooking projects
- Cheese- liquid starter or DVI dry starter, rennet tablets, Propionibacterium shermanii culture (not sure if this is the same as starter, 
- General- Healthy living cook books
- Cooking- poultry seasoning, liquid smoke

Worldwise School Program Post #1- Introduction

What is the Worldwise School Program? 
This is a correspondence program where I will share with Mr. Tyne's classrooms information about the history, culture, sociology, etc. of Albania. As well, I will share information about Eastern Europe in general, Peace Corps, and any other topics or questions that are posed to me. 

Who am I?


Casey Loving. I am 23. I grew up on a farm Northwest of Streator, attended Streator High School, and graduated in 2006. I went to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and graduated early in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning and a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. 


While at university I began an unpaid internship at the Champaign Downtown Association (CDA), this position evolved to me being the sole employee as Staff Director and hiring other unpaid interns. The focus of this organization was to improve and market Downtown Champaign. While working for the CDA, I started social media marketing for a downtown nonprofit art gallery. My decision to complete school early was due to the opportunity to take over operations of the gallery. I became the Gallery Director of Indi Go Artist Co-Op in January 2010. In 2010 we had 34 art exhibits and 19 additional events. Check it out on Facebook for lots of photos.  


I applied for Peace Corps while I was still a junior in college. For a full story on the application check out this past blog entry. In short terms I received a placement in March 2010, and officially chosen for a country in December 2010. I arrived in Albania in March 2011. 


What got me here? 
Drive, passion, anxiousness to do something more with my life, desire to travel and see the world- to get out of Streator. But what actual steps? In retrospect I can easily say that the organizations I was involved with in high school and before led the ground work for my interest for more to life and also a passion for volunteering and improving the lives of others. Specifically, I was involved with 4-H for 10 years which required planning, organizing, and creating something. Also, Key Club was heavily influential. We had a crazy busy club that was exciting and entertaining because we were all so dedicated to improving the community and worked together to find innovative methods for such. 


How these particular instances were effective were that they made larger ideas possible. Due to my involvement I was able to accomplish big dreams such as creating the Mr. Bulldog contest, a Whose Line is it Anyway comedy show night at Engle Lane, Spag for Spas, etc. It is empowering to come up with concepts and to have a possibility to see them come to furition through partnerships with my peers and without community organizations. And 4-H taught me to create in the manner that if I wished to compete, I need to be systematic and organized about accomplishing my personal goals. 


Service clubs led the ground work. Working as a volunteer intern opened opportunities for me to show that I have the ability to perform and therefore led to an amazing job opportunity with the gallery. So Peace Corps, is just a probable step on the journey. If you were to ask how can I better myself, do interesting things, and be accomplished; I would obviously tell you to volunteer. 


Where are you volunteering? 
I am a Community Organization and Development Facilitator in Ksamil, Albania. Albania is located North of Greece and across the sea from Italy. Ksamil is located in the most southern tip of Albania. From my living room I can see the crystal clear blue Ionian sea and the Greek island of Corfu. 


Details of Peace Corps in general can best be answered by perusing the website. http://www.peacecorps.gov
I will cover my experiences further, but if you are interested in how you could join this is the best place. In the future I can answer direct questions. Some of the topics that will be covered in the upcoming blog articles and mailings to Mr. Tyne will be about: international travel, eastern european mentality, everyday life, traditional food, maps, walking videos, ancient history of the area, communist and post communist history, perceptions of Americans living abroad, Peace Corps service in general, and my work to improve Ksamil. 


Happy reading, hope that you find this entertaining and enlightening!
Best,
Casey

Nesting

Previously, I was living in what I often refered to as the hotel or dorm room. Well, I can't complain any more. This is a post to celebrate because I'm able to nest now. My new place was a choice between half of a house on the beach or this new larger communist style block housing. New construction in Ksamil is often meant just for those that are coming for a short summer trip and lacks a lot of space or things like.. counter space or a stove because it's just meant for short term living arrangements. But this is new place is very much what could be lived in year round. And also, I think it's really pretty even for Albanian decorating, it has a lot of potential. If nothing else it's comfortable and puts me more at ease.

I feel that the style of the living room is almost Southwestern with the prints on the couches. Overall, the whole place has a lot of tourquoise, yellow, tan, orange, and other shades of red.

Amazing how much I missed have a real kitchen when I was at my old place and how much having one can affect one to be more comfortable. Now I can finally cook the things that I didn't know I would miss. This weekend being apple pie and carrot cake. A kitchen to myself.