As Carol continues her exemplary service at the Durrës library, she is continually surprised by reactions from the patrons. Just the other day, a woman came in and Carol was at the front desk by herself. The woman wanted to open a new library card. The conversation went like this, except in Albanian:

Carol: “Good day”.

Woman, with uncertain look: “Good day.”

Carol: “Can I help you?”

Woman: “I need to open a new library card.”

Carol: “No problem, do you have a passport or other identity document?”

Woman: “Are you a foreigner?”

Carol: “Yes.”

Woman, troubled: “And you work at the library?”

Carol: “Yes, I am a volunteer with Peace Corps …(full story here)..”

Woman, confused: “And you work at the library?”

Carol: “Yes.”

Woman, surprised: “Well, you speak Albanian very well. Here is my passport.”

Carol starts writing the out the library card, and the woman grabs it and looks at it.

Woman, very surprised: “And you write Albanian too! You Americans are so clever!”

Footnote: When Criss tries to speak Albanian, the response is “Why don’t you speak as well as Carol?”