Jayhawks Around the World - Jeb Adams (Macedonia)

a street in Kicevo with mountains in the background — Jeb Adams lives in Macedonia, where he first met his wife while he was working in the Peace Corps. A few years after completing studies at KU, they moved to Kicevo, Macedonia (above).

Where are you now? How long have you been there? We (Jeb, his wife and their daughter) live in Kicevo, Macedonia and have been here since 2008.

Where else have you lived? Prior to living in Macedonia we lived and worked in Washington, D.C. Kristina is originally from Macedonia. I am originally from Basin, Wyoming. We met while I was teaching English in the Peace Corps.

KU degrees? M.A. in Russian and East European Studies (2004) -- same as his wife, Kristina

Jeb Adams teaching a class — Adams and his wife run Adams Education Center, which provides provide EFL (English as a Foreign Language) instruction to all ages and levels. They moved to Kicevo in 2008.

What do you enjoy most about where you live? The slow pace of life and owning a small business with my wife, which allows for maximum family time. I also enjoy living in a multi-cultural community made up of Macedonians, Albanians, Serbs, Turks, and Roma. Living here has ensured that my education revolving around East European Studies will never truly end.

What are the biggest differences between where you live now and living in Lawrence, Kansas? No humidity and no cicadas!

What’s your job title and the name of your company or organization? Co-Owner / EFL Teacher (English as a Foreign Language) at Adams Education

What do you do? Teach English to school age children and manage and implement project aimed at providing English and leadership instruction to underprivileged Roma children.

People on a parade float — Adams (in sunglasses), his wife, Kristina (center, in hat), and daughter, Marija (left), ride on a float in the Big Horn County Fair Parade in his hometown of Basin, Wyoming, in summer 2013. They were promoting their school and the Roma capacity building project that they have been implementing for the past five years in Kicevo, which has led to the EFL education of dozens of Roma children in their area.

What do you enjoy most about your job? Working with kids and inspiring them to take a more active role in their academic future and the future of their community.

How do you use what you learned as a KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences student in your career? The study of Slavic languages and cultures made it easier for me to work and thrive in Macedonia.

Favorite place in the world? Wherever my family happens to be at the moment!

Favorite KU memory? The graduation march into the stadium! It was a great feeling of accomplishment and it was something that Kristina (coming from Macedonia) had never experienced before. Photo credits: Zero | CC-BY-2.5-pl | Wikimedia Commons; Adams Education Center; Jeb Adams