Narrator: A long time ago, in a far away place called Philadelphia, 50 strangers converged to embark upon a fantastic journey. Most arrived via airplane [NATHAN: airplane noise], some drove [N: car horn], maybe someone took the train [N: train noise], I suspect somebody honed their hitchhiking skills [N: noise of car passing without stopping] [“Hey buddy! Can I get a ride?!”], aaannnnd Libby walked.
They came from all over the United States. Some were from Texas [Howdy]. Some from California [Gnarly]. Some from Florida [Y’all know if it’s going to be cold there?]. And too many were from Chicago [OBAMA! YES WE CAN!].
Anyway, they flew to Albania [N: airplane noise] which was a LOOONG, and frankly discombobulating, transcontinental flight [N: extended airplane noise]. They deplaned and boarded a waiting bus on the sizzling tarmac …whichhhhhh drove all of ten feet. Beyond the lines of passport control they met this shady lady [“I’ll buy your passport for 50 lek”] who shooed them into the sunlight. Ahhh, they had arrived in Albania!
A whirlwind of cautionary tales and British Berkfeld filters followed, and then, before they knew it they were whisked off to their host families. Here…here they understood nothing [“Mirupafshim.” “Mire-ju-pap-fa-shim.”]. They struggled saying the simplest of sentences and relied upon funny gestures to illustrate highly important points [“Dje (pointing behind) Unë shkoj në shkollë”]. Their families thought they were very curious creatures [“It’s 6pm, when do we eat?”], these uncultured Americans. But, of course in the beginning the Americans thought the same of their hosts [“They made me dress up like a traditional Albanian bride and took pictures of me!”].
Now, many of these people were city-slickers who were now ruralizing on farms…..ya, that was interesting. They were used to electronic alarm clocks [N: beep beep beep] and blindly slapping at the snooze. It was different here though, some had lovely host mothers [“Mirëmëngjes!!!”], some had enthusiastic roosters [N: rooster noise], some cows [N: cow noise], and some were lucky enough to have a donkey rouse them from their pleasant dreams [N: donkey noise]. You really can’t slap a donkey into a snooze.
Speaking of the, uh, fauna, a favorite, and admittedly strange, activity a lot of these visitors enjoyed was hiking. While trekking the wilds of Albania, they saw all types of animals: cats [N: cat meow], dogs [N: dog], sheep [N: sheep], goats [N: goat], female turkeys [N: f turkey], male turkeys [N: male turkey], and sometimes the rare upset male turkey [N: u m t]. Oh my. A regular National Geographic documentary, one might say.
But, slowly, grammar was labored over, cultural coffees became gossip coffees, raki was thrown back, stories were traded, cows were milked, circle dances were mastered, the death wagons known as furgons were braved, and gradually these foreign folk fell in love with the mountains, plains, and people of Albania with the spirit of eagles.
PST was a lot of fun [wink] but these people were destined to become PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS! They had to graduate eventually. They descended upon Skampi Theatre. Everyone cheered [applause and cheers], they made the news and then ensued the tearful goodbyes [goodbyes and maybe crying]. All 50 emerged bonafied Volunteers, ready to brave the unknown corners of this massive country! Why, life could only get better.
So they traveled to their respective sites and everything was perfect! Water worked [N: noise of no water], they had power 24/7 [N: noise of power going out and then a generator starting], chickens were respectful in the morning hours [N: noise of cats and dogs fighting]. Counterparts and assignments were exactly as expected and more. All was peaceful [“MATILDA!”] [“MAMI!”] [“O MA!”] .
And now, here we are today, united again. We have all experienced variable ups and downs, but we have made it this far and can go further. [Begin “Star Spangled Banner” on kazoo] The Peace Corps just celebrated its 50th anniversary and we are compelled to revisit John F. Kennedy’s vision and hope. We are here to serve [“Ask not what your country can do for you…ask what you can do for your country.”]. We are dreamers and do-ers [“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.”]. [“There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.”]. Let’s remember why this organization exists and why we are here [“We must seek, above all, a world of peace; a world in which people dwell together in mutual respect and work together in mutual regard.”].
Peace Corps Albania,
…where vajzat are strong,
…çunat are good-looking,
and the staff is above average.
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