Peace Corps Swearing In Ceremony in Veles, Macedonia on December 15, 2007: Our lovely speech was delivered in Macedonian and Albanian...languages we'd learned two and a half months beforehand (so be nice;)!
The Whole Speech:
"Good morning Ambassador, Mayor of Veles, Director of Peace Corps Macedonia, honored guests, Peace Corps staff, and my fellow volunteers.
Let us think back to what triggered our decisions to serve as Peace Corps volunteers in Macedonia. In spite of the diversity of experiences that influenced our reasons for joining, each of the new volunteers before me shares a common commitment to a greater cause. We are here today in the spirit of compassion and social responsibility, in an effort to understand other people, cultures, languages, and traditions, and in order for others to better understand Americans.
We as individuals are the outcome of lessons learned, of our hardships and triumphs, and of our most significant life choices. We are social workers, businesspeople, recent graduates, retirees, musicians, lawyers, artists, doctors, parents, teachers. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we are all here today as Peace Corps volunteers. We have a lot to be both proud of and grateful for in this moment.
The people of Macedonia have generously invited us to serve as volunteers in communities across their country. Our host families have opened their homes to us through training, and since September, they have taken us in as part of their families. Peace Corps staff has reached out to carry us through our language and technical training, and they will continue to be a constant source of support and knowledge in our journey as volunteers. Our counterparts have opened their schools, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations to us, so that we have the opportunity to work side-by-side and share our experiences.
Three months ago today, we were preparing for a life-altering journey. Little did we know how much we would already learn by now. One of our fellow volunteers has realized that her opportunities are endless, "that life's possibilities are infinite and I have the ability to chose the path before me." One volunteer never realized how useful repetition is in learning a language like Macedonian or Albanian, nor did he imagine he'd one day become an ajvar-making maestro. Ajvar, ajvar, ajvar!
In times of need, let us turn to those who listen, who remind us of the courage it took to get this far, who recognize the significance of positive thinking, who motivate us to be and do our best. Let us thank the individuals in the audience, and our families and friends back home, for their overwhelming support, patience, and generosity. Let us thank our teachers, who have inspired us to spur positive change, to join the Peace Corps and serve in Macedonia.
We must all be grateful for the opportunities we have, and we must have faith in the choices we make. Mother Teresa once said, "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." She believed that "the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."
Building a more peaceful future starts with the actions we take today, for our world is a reflection of individual and collective choices. We are all on the right path. Let us never forget our fundamental reasons for joining the Peace Corps. Let us always remember the weight of our responsibilities here, and the potential for change that accompanies this commitment."
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"Hold On" Ribbon Dance 11-22-07by randdwhitford466 views
good macedonian but need more work
ANGIEPHILIPS22 1 year ago
hahahahahahaha...your macedonian is godd :D:D:D:D:D:D
panterche 3 years ago
hey you copied AceOfBrads name. MAK12
Tigard2ndbase 3 years ago