Departure

January 18, 2025, I convene with my cohort in Philadelphia. My cohort spends about one full day in Philadelphia and then flies to Albania. During this day, we check in with PC staff and meet other PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers). We begin our flights Sunday evening starting at the Newark Airport. We have a ~5 hour layover in Vienna, and then we fly to Tirana. Then, we'll be bused to a monastery.

Packing has consumed a decent amount of time and planning. We are allowed two checked bags (50 lbs each), one carry on, and one personal item. Once I spend a while in Albania, I'll release a comprehensive list of what I packed/packing recommendations. Hopefully, that will come in handy for future PCVs.