OMG... SUMMER HAPPENED! (PHOTOS)

It has been 18 months since I left California for Albania. A lot has happened, some things never happened, and there are a lot more things yet to happen in the months to come. So...

Summertime for this Peace Corps Volunteer means summer camps and secondary projects! Woop woop!

Here are some summer highlights:

For a short while, I was on an Albanian Fitness TV Show! lol

Me and Alba are all smiles helping the kids in our community brighten theirs!

OMG it's my parents! In Scotland!

At Kampi Pa Emer - Face-painting Day! So much fun...

Getting ready for Matura (Albanian Traditional Promenade)

Popped into the Senate on the last day of the Patriot Act, said 'hey' to Sen. Paul

Exploring the UK and Ireland with my boo

Showing our PRIDE in Albania!

ZUMBAAAAAAA!

Meet and greet with our new Ambassador Donald Lu

• Rode a gomar (that's a donkey)
• Tried on a traditional Albanian outfit
• Participated in the annual Matura prom ceremony in my town
• Taught Zumba with kids
• Taught Zumba with even littler kids!
• Was a Camp Counselor for the fabulous Kampi Pa Emer!
• Marched with my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and welcomed the US Ambassador at  Tirana Pride.
• Worked with Peace Corps Washington on development of LGBTI Handbook.
• Took a vacation in the UK/Ireland with Sid, met up with parents in Scotland
• Visited family and had family reunion in DC/Maryland Area.
• Worked on a SPA Grant Application with fellow PCV's and two amazing NGO's in Albania on LGBT Awareness.
• Did a regular fitness spot for Albanian TV (A1Report) called Good Morning Fitness.
• Did a retreat with the amazing Gender And Diversity Committee to plan the upcoming year.
• Welcomed a new PCV to my site! :-D
• Marching with my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and welcoming the US Ambassador at the Tirana Pride Parade
• Went fishing in the river with only a jar and some bread! (Yeah, it's a thing) 
• Personal training with folks at the local gym

What's on the horizon:

• Getting ready to start my grant project and visit remote, poor village areas of my home for Breast Cancer education.
• New grant pending for LGBT Awareness through SPA Grant funds (Peace Corps) - we will visit regions across Albania to raise awareness of LGBT issues. So excited!
• Working on various LGBT initiatives with Peace Corps Albania and various NGO's in Albania - there are exciting things in the works... more on this soon.
• Coordinating a second clothing drive for the LGBT youth shelter of Albania (Streha).
• More Zumbaaaaaa! Of course.
• Rolling out various projects with the Gender And Diversity team! (More on this soon..)