The Bake Sale

History was made in Probistip on Monday the 23rd of March 2009. This following the peaceful Macedonian Presidential and mayoral elections the day before. Let me explain.

Several weeks ago I left a Teacher’s Dream Sheet in the teacher’s room which asked the teachers to “write down three items that they would request if they had three wishes.” The items they wished for were very surprising to me because for the most part – one teacher wished for a TV and DVD player- they were items which are taken for granted in most American schools. Teachers wished for permanent markers, paper, children’s musical instruments, math books, scissors, and a new carpet to replace the 15 year old carpet in the after-school classroom.

These wishes offered me the excellent opportunity for me to bring up the idea with Alexandra of fund raising. She already has her students bring in plastic bottles and scrap paper for which she has a buyer but the return is somewhat minimal. I asked her if they ever had a bake sale at school but the concept was novel to her and as I came to find out, every other Probistipian. Baking something at home, bringing it to school and selling it was never done before. I explained that if each of the 24 students in her home room brought in twelve cookies and we sold them for 5 denari each, we could raise 1400 denari in one morning. At first she wasn’t too sure it would work but she’s always willing to give anything a try (a 20%’er). She accepted the challenge of setting up this historic first bake sale.

She brought up the idea with her homeroom class and they were extremely excited about this new idea (all future 20%’ers?). The classroom was abuzz (another word I’ve always wanted to use) with who was going to make the posters, man the table, set up, clean up, and count the money. It was decided that it would be held the following Monday during the school’s breakfast period. There would be over 400 potential customers that would pass by the table set up outside the cafeteria. Location, location, location – we had it all.

Failing to work under my philosophy that it’s always easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission, Alexandra suggested that we get the rubber- stamped permission of the school Director before conducting the bake sale. I explained that in America we would do something experiential without asking for permission and then if need be, seek forgiveness if someone had a problem with us having done it.

But Alexandra knows the Macedonian way and wisely mentioned our plan to the Director. He liked the idea but told us that we couldn’t sell food school-wide because a child could get sick from contaminated food. He gave us permission, though, to have the bake sale within the confines of the classroom , and we could only sell food amongst her class and to staff members (don’t ask me to explain the rationale).

So the new plan allowed us to purchase the ingredients, spend Sunday afternoon making the cookies, carefully transporting them to school over the icy sidewalks on Monday morning, and then buying them back from ourselves at our own bake sale. Although this didn’t adhere to the strict definition of either “bake sale” or “fundraiser”, the students were still excited as ever when Alexandra informed them of the “minor” change to the original plan. At least we didn’t have to make signs and posters advertising the sale to ourselves.

So on a cold and icy Monday morning the historic event began upon the arrival of the 24 students in Class 6V. Unlike most other Monday mornings in classrooms all across the world, this one was filled with energy and determination. The students dutifully set up classroom, proudly displayed their homemade goodies, and quietly scouted their potential purchases from their classmates’ bounties of sweets.

Alexandra did a wonderful job promoting the bake sale to the other teachers – none of whom had experienced one. She made some flyers that the students delivered to each teacher reminding them of the event and inviting them to come to the classroom to make a purchase. The sale could only be conducted until 9:30 when 6V had to head out for another class and German class would take over the classroom where the sale was taking place.

It was great sitting on the sidelines and being able to watch the proceedings as students and staff engaged in an activity that brought smiles to the faces of all the participants. The students were eager to describe to the potential buyers the background behind each cookie: “My grandmother makes that one on very special family occasions”; “That’s my father’s favorite.” ; and “That one is from America. Michael made it”. With such great marketing support behind them, my apple cakes and butter cookies were the first items to sell out.

The teachers were pleasantly surprised by the wide assortment of goodies. They had never been to a bake sale and marveled at the concept. They exclaimed that they wanted to try one of each item as they proceeded to purchase the entire inventory by 9:30. “When’s the next bake sale” echoed throughout the hallways.

Working together, Class 6V was able to raise over 1000 denari for classroom items. The 23rd of March 2009 was a good day at the Nikola Karev Primary School in Probistip, Macedonia.

Bits and Pieces

Alexandra and I had some success with our Homework -Team Project which attempted to get the students to do their English homework on a daily basis. As with classes worldwide, motivated students would complete their homework assignments while the less-than-motivated students would proffer every excuse, to include laziness, for not doing the assignment. We arranged each class into three teams and awarded points for completed assignments. At the end of the month, the team with the most points would receive an American cookie made by Michael (me ) and a free class outside playing an American game with me during a scheduled class. The team with the second-most points would get to participate in the outdoor game while the team with the least amount of points would have to stay inside and complete an English language assignment . After explaining the rules to one of the classes, a student proclaimed, “Now we have a reason to do our homework!” Go figure.

The completion rate for the month of February was over 95%. Peer pressure played an important role in the whole process as students would chastise teammates for not completing the homework assignment. The contests were close and I enjoyed watching the winners respond to their first taste of a Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie. While Alexandra and I work still have to work out some of the kinks, the students are fully engaged in this month’s challenge on newly selected teams.

International Woman's Day (IWD) is celebrated in Macedonia and in many other countries throughout the world, on the 8th of March every year. It recognizes the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is very similar to Mother’s Day, but it recognizes all women . Many children brought flowers or candy to school for their teachers on Friday this year while the teachers distributed sweets to their classes.

Another cute Macedonian custom is the tradition of children bringing sweets to their classmates when it’s their birthday. As they hand a sweet to a classmate or teacher, each classmate or teacher grabs each ear of the birthday child and gently pull upwards, thereby encouraging him/her to grow taller as they wish him/her a “Happy Birthday”.

Tooth Fairies don’t work the Macedonian beat, at least not in Probistip. The children here are fascinated by the idea that you can receive money for a tooth. When a Macedonian child loses a tooth, he/she throws it up on the roof of their home and chants something to the effect of “Take this tooth of bone and return to me a tooth of silver.” (my English speaking colleagues couldn’t remember the exact wording at the time of my writing this blog). A child only gets to do this for the first lost tooth. So if there are any unemployed Tooth Fairies that you might know of, let them know that there is an abundant supply of teeth in Macedonia.

One of my goals during my stay in Probistip is to set up an Ultimate Frisbee league. It’s an activity that requires a minimal amount of equipment and can be enjoyed by the upper grades and high school students. Friends tossing a Frisbee in the center or in the park would be much more preferable than friends sitting on the provided benches with little to do when hanging out. The only problem is that I CAN’T FIND A STINKIN’ FRISBEE OR FLYING DISC ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. I searched over 20 different stores when I was in Skopje last week, and although the clerks knew what a frisbee is, not one of the stores stocked them.

Before they can participate in a game, the students need to learn how to throw a Frisbee and I need to find a source of disks. So my first task is to try to convince a shopkeeper in Probistip to stock some mid-level discs that interested parties may purchase. I did find three light toy discs that are adequate for indoor use and have a travel distance of about ten feet and the students are very eager to use them. So I know that better quality ones will sell once I get the ball (or should I say disc) rolling.

Scooters and mopeds are beginning to appear around town, so the warmer weather must be on its way. The Peace Corps prohibits Volunteers from riding on them but it sure appears to be a pleasant way to get around. You don’t have to worry about some big SUV running you off the road.

Sadly, our Country Director Bob Cone, who only six months ago took over the position, had to resign so he could be with his wife Joan while she recovers from breast cancer surgery. Bob and Joan earned the respect and friendship of all the Peace Corps family here in Macedonia and they will be missed. It’s not that often that everybody loves their boss. They were the perfect fit for the job. Fortunately Joan is expected to recover fully and perhaps someday we’ll cross paths.

No More Waiting in a Line

One of the most mentioned cultural differences that PCV’s talk about is the Macedonian’s ignorance of waiting in a line. Every Volunteer has had the experience of having an individual cut in front of her/him while he/she was expecting to be the next person to be serviced whether it is at the post office, bank, market or entrance to a building. They are not doing it maliciously. It’s just the way they do it. They form semi-circles around the person being attended to.

On Friday I had to go into Skopje for a Sexual and Reproductive Health Education Committee meeting that I had volunteered to serve on (more on that in a future blog). I was standing behind a woman who was purchasing a ticket at the bus station ticket window and leaving her a little space so she could maneuver away from the window. I was obviously the next customer but as she began her move away from the window, this gentleman reaches in front of me and puts his money on the counter and requests a ticket to Skopje. It’s like I was invisible. There were only the three of us in the station at the time. I bit my tongue but vowed to take up the Peace Corp’s mantra and assimilate into the community – no more lines for me, only semi-circles.

The opportunity to assimilate came sooner than I expected - that afternoon on the last bus from Skopje to Probistip. Fridays are crazy at the bus terminal. University students are heading home for the weekend, commuters are commuting and weekend travelers are hustling to their weekend sojourns. So if one doesn’t want to stand for the two-and- a- half hour trip to Probistip, one needs to capture a seat. The word “capture” implies some form of violence and my no-more-wait-in-line conversion mentally prepared me for Operation Get a Seat.

At 4:30 I innocently stood in the back of the crowd of experienced travelers, feinting that I had no desire to participate in the upcoming event. I counted about 60 adversaries meaning anywhere from 10-15 standees. People were shuffling back and forth and the nervous tension could be felt all along the platform as everyone waited for the 4:40.

My position in the back of the crowd gave me the advantage of seeing the bus approach the station before anyone else. Therefore while it was approaching, I casually maneuvered to the front of the awaiting crowd which had not yet spotted the bus. Having this initial advantage did not last long as the crowd began to surge toward the anticipated boarding spot (the no-line mentality). I had to use my backpack to block and push people away. I was able to knock two elderly ladies and three little schoolgirls away from the bus door (it’s an acceptable practice) as college students and businessmen competed with me – the rookie- to board.

When the driver opened the door I was the second person to board, preceded only by an elderly grandmother. My victory in this contest enabled me to pick the seat of my choice and watch the last 15 passengers sullenly take a place in the aisle. If I recall correctly, they were the ones waiting in a line to get on the bus, courteously allowing the elderly and people with children to enter ahead of them.

On the very comfortable ride to Probistip, I was able to gloat over my ability to assimilate so easily. The two elderly ladies and the three little schoolgirls that I knocked over were amongst those now standing in the aisle, rather uncomfortably. They would often look toward me and mutter something in Macedonian that I took to be unpleasant. I would just look back, raise my index finger and mouth “Jac sum Broj Eden“ (“I am Number One”). I have to find out if their reply of sticking out their tongue at me has a universal meaning.

Anyway, I can’t wait to go to the post office.