Do të marr çfarë të më sugjeroni ju.

Today marks the end of the second week of regular classes, and though it isn't the end of the work week, it is a reminder that my time here is nearly half over. Hard to believe that in a little over two weeks I will no longer hear the call to prayer broadcast from the Mosques 3-4 times a day - something I have really been enjoying, and will miss.

It has been brought to my attention that my decision to simply give up on attempting to catch up with missed posts is... unacceptable. And I suppose that randomly showing up in Kosovo does require some measure of explanation - it is certainly not where one would expect me to pop up.

Much as I would love to tell all, I will have to skimp on the details because my activities here are nearly all work related, and thus subject to a high degree of confidentiality. Suffice it to say that RIT provides ASL interpreters for their deaf students who decide to participate in study abroad programs, and that I was selected (miracle of miracles) as one of the interpreters to work in Kosovo for a month of classes and weekend trips around the country.

Though work does keep me busy here, there is still plenty of time to get out and explore. I have gone on a few short hikes up into the hills near my apartment, and am hoping to go a few more times and really start to get into the National Park just up the road. I have also been able to do some exploring in town - Church meetings are held in a residential part of the city, meaning in the 'store' under the missionaries apartments. Walking there takes me through some pretty random back streets and alleys and allows me to see a much more personal side of the city - not just the main streets or historical sights that cater to the internationals.

I have had the opportunity to hit some of the tourist sites, both with work and on my own - including a Turkish Bath, an old Orthodox church, battle sites, natural caves, fountains with purported magical properties, Mosques, statues, monuments, memorials and museums. I have been so impressed by the history and natural beauty of the country - it may be Europe's newest democracy, and only 3 years old, but it has a lot going for it. Not the least of which is the food.

Last night's excursion into town led to a much talked of, but hard to find restaurant, unmarked and out of the way, but beautiful in it's simplicity. Having been told that it was the place to go for good, traditional Albanian food, and that menus were not available, we gave full control to the waiter, who brought us half sized portions of four traditional entrees so that we could try as much as possible. I am still feeling a trace of disbelief about that meal. Who could have imagined such an exquisite melding of flavors from such simple dishes? Before we left, I made sure to have the waiter write out the names of my favorites so that when I go back, I will know what to ask for. Perhaps I will also get lucky and find a good recipe to try once I get home... (for my adventurous cooking friends, take a stab at making some Elbasan Tava and let me know how it turns out.)

It was on my walk home from dinner last night, strolling up narrow brick sidewalks and savoring the memory of that last bite that I realized that with this trip, my regrets about the lost year in Indonesia are finally starting to fade. (It helps that I am still employed at this point, whereas with that job, I would have been seeking work right now instead of playing.)

The evening's final call to prayer has just started to ring across the valley, reminding me that while there may not be classes in the morning, I still have to wake up early tomorrow, and that my pillow is missing my head.


*To forestall additional complaints, you should know that I have been taking pictures. I simply don't have a convenient way to upload and share the photos I have taken. Patience.

Mirëmëngjes

What a tremendously beautiful morning. Last nights rain - short as it was - seems to have scrubbed the air, leaving things smelling vibrant and alive, and sharpening the usually muted, dusty colors.

I am sitting in the little park in front of campus taking it all in and letting the cool, gentle proddings of the wind distract me from my studies - I refuse to spend my time indoors where I might as well be back in the States, (plus, my apartment is hosting a spider family reunion, complete with scary second cousins, children running around, reclusive aunts and commanding patriarchs), but it is awfully difficult to concentrate on the work at hand when there are so many things ready to lure my thoughts down other paths. Hooded crows, magpies, and jackdaws are always on hand to to make me laugh with their antics. The flocks of pigeons are stunning when they take flight, and the little birds - swallows, house martins and chickadees stay hidden in the trees, but fill the air with their calls.

This blissful state of being won't last long though. By this afternoon my eyes will start burning again, annoyed by the smog, and this mornings' green breeze will have dulled to a dusky smell of woodsmoke. Later today cars will start zooming by, blatantly ignoring the speed limit (it seems to be more of a suggestion anyways), motorcycles will roar by, un-muffled, with helmet-less riders jockeying for the position of 'leader of the pack,' and as soon as the morning chill burns off, teenagers enjoying their summer break will start streaming by, laughing and talking as they wind their way up to Germia Park and it's enormous swimming pool.


The maintenance man is washing the sidewalks again. Taxis are pulling up and spilling their loads of students and faculty members, and soon the buses will begin dropping their passengers as well. Classes start in half an hour, and soon the air will fill with students chattering in Spanish, Albanian, German, Serbian, and French, and the breeze will be laced with the heavy scents of coffee and cigarette smoke (80% of the population smokes), but for now I will bask in the early morning sunshine, revel in the beauty of a foreign country and just listen to the amazing mix of languages that surround me.

Çfarë gjuhe flisni ju?

A full moon is rising over the hills across the valley from me and illuminating the hills around me with a glow that only comes from large amounts of air pollution. It is beautiful though, and the cooler temperatures are a relief after the sweltering 40 degree high from this afternoon.



This marks my second night in Prishtina, Kosovo - and the end of my first full day. As hot as it is here, I seem to be setteling in just fine. I have been set up in a very nice little apartment for the next month and have already completely unpacked and made myself at home.


I even wandered into town a bit, trying to find a store with an ATM in an attempt to get some cash, but wound up settling for the first store I could find that was willing to accept a credit card. Since I have tomorrow off, perhaps that will be my main project - make it to the bank!


Then, if I am feeling extra brave, perhaps I will try to find the building where I will be trying to go to church on Sunday. Hopefully I won't get too lost - I don't speak a word of Albanian, and the translation app on my iphone will only go so far.

Even though most people working with me speak some amount of English, I am really feeling the need to learn more than just 'thank you.' The last few days, being surrounded by people who seem to speak every language except English has left me feeling humbled.


I make my living as an interpreter, and rely on communication to feel as though I have some measure of control over my life. It drove me nuts when I went to Costa Rica becaue I had to rely on my sister (who speaks Italian) for communication with the world, because my Spanish proved to be meager at best.




As I sat in the Brussles International Airport Thursday morning, I again felt frustrated, and very much like the stereotypical, arrogant American who speaks 'just English' and expects everyone else to learn it too. Families sitting nearby switched effortlessly between multiple languages, and though they may not have been fluent in all of them, they could make themselves understood.

I want to be more like them.


I have SO much to learn.

Give up.

At some point, you just have to throw your hands in the air, shout 'uncle,' and hope a corner of the universe is paying attention.

I have started 20 different posts in my head since March - and you have seen just how many made it to fruition. It's pathetic.


I really wanted to sit and write all about my trip to NC with Habitat for Humanity, share my newest favorite foods, bore you to tears with complaints about Computer Programming, and make a big announcement about me going to Kosovo.


But once you get behind in the news-sharing department, it can be really hard to catch up - so here it is.

UNCLE!

I give. Getting caught up is officially a lost cause and I am not even going to try. I am just going to try to start again. I may just throw in some of the old stuff later on, but there are no guarantees.


For right now, I will be satisfied if I can get all my tech toys to play nicely with each other before I have to catch my flight. I am about ready to give up on them too...

My kind of Mother's day tribute...

Thanks Mom.

Hibernation

I really should apologize for my lack of posting in the last four months... but I'm not going to. Sometimes it seemed like even thinking about blogging this winter was enough to make me go take a nap. To say I have been in hibernation mode this winter would be a bit of an understatement - I worked, slept, ate (too much) and went to church. That's pretty much it.

Thankfully, now that there are more hours of daylight I am starting to wake up and feel somewhat alive again. Yay! I knew I was starting to come back to life as I started seriously looking over the board log at work (our system of posting extra work hours) and picking up overload - which basically leaves me doing the same things I have been doing all winter - eating, sleeping and working. But at least I will be able to pay my bills this summer while I am not working.

Anyhow - I am still here and although I no longer feel like I am sleep-walking through my life, I make no guarantees about future blogging habits ;)

But for now, the sun is shining (finally!) and I am thinking that a nap in the sunshine sounds delicious.

Also awesome...

Have I ever mentioned that I also work here?

Not only is it an amazing place to serve, it's also right across the road from another really incredible place.