Well internet access is not exactly what we had anticipated.  In the community we are living in, Peqin, there are no internet cafes.  In fact, there are no high-speed connections anywhere.  A few families have dialup service, but it seems to be rare.  At least once a week, we get into a larger city, Elbasan, and there we can get access to the internet at the local internet cafes.  Criss has also set up a wireless access point in the training center.  We like to call it the MoJo Cafe, but it is Jo-less, because we don’t have coffee.
It evolved because when we arrived in Elbasan, the only option was to use internet cafes down the street.  Our schedule was so tight that Criss decided to approach the training director about putting an access point on the network.  Yes, 25 lbs of clothing and 75 lbs of gear – it finally paid off.  And to think he almost jettisoned the access point to get under the weight limit!  We had to address the security issue and much of that was done by only having the service online during breaks and lunch.  Also, the 1 ft thick concrete walls do a nice job of containing the signal.  We received permission to tie in with the limited access and it has been a huge success. 

Well, that sounds great until you realize that in our 9 to 5:30 days in the office, we get two 30-minute breaks and about 30 to 40 minutes for lunch.  If you have any administrative things to do, want to talk to other volunteers, look for supplies not available locally, or eat lunch, these breaks don’t give you much time.  Stay late you say.  Would love to but we must catch a local ‘furgon’ (a mini-van taxi that runs between cities) before 6:00 for our 45 minute commute back to Peqin.  Even with these time constraints, the access has been appreciated by all.  Criss continues to receive thank you cards, text messages, and someone even opened the door for him!  However, they have not let him cut in line for the bathroom – 50 people, 2 bathrooms, or offered to buy him coffee – they are volunteers on pretty thin allowances.

So you get the picture.  Not much time to really access the internet and post things.  We hope, though, as we get more into the routine, we will be able to post more consistently, and with pictures.  But for now, we need to queue up in a line.