Nicole & Katie in Albania: Video Update 19

January 12, 2012 marked our sixth month in Albania. It's hard to believe it's been 6 months.

Check out our 6 month recap video below. In this video Katie and I will knock your socks off with our amazing ping-pong playing skills. You will also find out why Katie and I are wearing the same shirt, and we discuss some things we've perfected during our first 6 months. 

Nicole & Katie In Albania: Video Update 18

New Years. Albania. 3 words that fit so nicely together.  Based on Albania's history with communism New Years is THE holiday here. This was the one holiday that the country could celebrate together as a family, and as a nation. Though the days of communist rule have passed, the New Year's Eve celebration still goes strong. What a special treat to be here to witness this holiday in person.

The night started with a family dinner saturated with toasts of well wishes in 2012. The meal was topped off by the traditional New Year's dessert- baklava. As midnight approached the T.V's were shut off, and the lights dimmed as everybody made their way up to the roof. We welcomed the new year together, as a country, hootin'-n-hollerin', watching, and blowing off fireworks. The simplicity, yet magnitude of the fireworks show blows any fireworks display I had seen previously out of the water. Caught in the middle of a 360deg firework show was more beautiful and peaceful that I could have ever imagined.

(Thanks to my wonderful housemate Katie Hawkins) you can check out the VIDEO recap below for highlights of our first New Year's Eve in Albania.