jrpeppen

Week 2 My second week here in Albania has been nothing short of emotionally exhausting. On my way to work today I was caught off guard by a man who had some form of mental disability, most likely Down Syndrome, sitting and begging on the street. This is the third mentally disabled person that I have seen who is homeless and ignored by the rest of society. Not only am I learning about women's rights here during my stay, but my eyes have been opened to the problems involving minority rights such as those of the disabled. Today, I visited the first government sponsored domestic violence center in Kamza. We stood and waited outside a large metal gate that blocked the entire center from public view, and when we were finally let in I was ... read more

Hello Everyone, I cannot even begin to describe the experience I am having. I arrived in Albania two days ago (without my luggage of course), and I was in culture shock from the moment I stepped off the plane. It is so different here. When I arrived I was bombarded with cab drivers tugging at my bags and pleading with me in Albanian to choose their cab. Driving into the city, all I could think to myself was "what the hell did I get myself into this time?" The poverty and filth is overwhelming. I arrived at the HDC (Human Rights in Democracy Center, (http://www.hrdc.al/index.php?lang=en) where I will be working and researching throughout the course of my stay. Everyone was very welcoming and excited that I was here. When I got to my apartment I was ... read more