Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
How Many events can happen in a week?
Hello to All,
Hope your summer is relaxing. Mine is ‘different’. I think nothing is really happening – then realize that all is really happening. I just forget that change is now such a part of my life. I have been in Fushe-Arrez for a week. I have not spoken to a native English speaker. Oh, my. For a talker….well, I will learn.
Some thoughts on the crazy last week.
Still looking for another place…..originally nothing to cook with, stove for heating to come in fall…..broken fridge is in another room…..water continually runs(when on)…Now have stove….My counterpart is looking for another place for me.
But then, let me give the American perspective.
Water: 5-7 am, 12-2 pm, 7-9 pm - Hot is turned on and I can feel it – but doesn’t come out. There is a shower head – but only a drain by the toilet???? Learned to wash my hair with a liter of cold water! Over the kitchen sink or the bathroom drain. In a room with too much body odor, remembered Mam’s statement of always being clean, with a small bowl of water. I have soaked dusty feet and cleaned with the small bowl. Last night enjoyed the cold water after a 95 – aka 35 – degree day. Enjoy your shower and tub… and constant water!!!
Women have LOTS of questions. You are alone and here in another country. Women grab teens who are learning English. The Albanians ask questions we would never consider…age, how much money do you make??? Forget the fact that I have left children behind…..and am not married.
People are incredible. The shop owner wanted me to have a soft drink with her. The woman at the bread shop gave me the pita type bread! When I went to buy an chocolate ice cream. YO! Women I have met have given me so many items and are more than willing to help with anything. But still have their place. Oh, PC has a role for me….Is Fushe-Arrez ready? For a woman who left family to come to their village. How do your children feel??
Lots of time to walk. Not what is done in Albania. WHY? I have yet to find many places that are not uphill. But what do find on my walks. There are a number of people in traditional clothes. I have not taken any pictures, trying to honor them. I think now that some will be more open. One was walking down my street with a couple piglets. Today she was walking with her cow. Yesterday, I thought someone had a small dog. Oh, how wrongly American. It was a new piglet and she had a slick to show it where to go>>> , the pigs outside my window are so
clean. Forget the old concepts. And they are taught to be picky eaters…..animals after myself.
Went to the council meeting – 10:00 am. There are 13 members on the council from 12 partie all men >> You can’t even imagine the loud voices. First was the strategic plan which is part of my being in Fushe-Arrez. That was relatively pleasant. Then giving aid to the families in need- unemployed (about 25%) I could pretty much understand this argument…. the yelling. Then another subject, that I couldn’t quite figure…language!?!More Yelling?!? The mayor, after much time said, would you like to leave(not in English, but can understand….YES.) I went into my office across the hall and said to the women ….”need grua….all borre”. They laughed. Quickly I said the PC is non-political. They continued to laugh and know that I meant no harm.
Bank> If they want to join tourism. LOTS to know. Couldn’t use ATM since last Thursday and even with account numbers cannot get money. I have had to borrow from counterpart. Tomorrow, I am off to a larger village. REMEMBER they have only had ATM’s for 2 years, they have only tried democracy for 18 years.
Last, went to mass Sunday afternoon. Church simply lovely in the setting. Oh, the choir would sound FABULOUS. What acoustics! So amazing. Sounded like all voices were present. Not knowing the language…I only knew the responses……. I finally appreciated Latin…I will send pictures later did not want to interrupt. MY thoughts…too traditional – 10 male servers entered with the priest. Four different types of servers…acolytes, I could figure. The readers were two teenage girls and one of the servers who spoke frequently. TRADITION…… I looked around and saw many women in traditional clothing. WHO AM I TO SAY????? Held hands or raised hands at the Our Father. Kiss of Peace….all exchanged greetings and even with the crazy foreigner. (servers in some order went to the priest and gave the traditional double kiss on each cheek) Then the boys greeted those nearby. All who went to communion received on their tongue. Since that last happened when I was a teen and realizing the Peace Corps desire to look at the culture – YO – I went to the priest and took the host in my hand. After mass people were talking, kissing the two statues. The German sister was SO upset. She had to walk outside to talk to me and was apologizing to the wrong person…..Sounded like Victory…..To me a celebration of community. On the way home “talked” to neighbors.
Hope this wasn’t too long. Impressions just keep growing.
LOVE TO ALL
miss you
Margaret
Hope your summer is relaxing. Mine is ‘different’. I think nothing is really happening – then realize that all is really happening. I just forget that change is now such a part of my life. I have been in Fushe-Arrez for a week. I have not spoken to a native English speaker. Oh, my. For a talker….well, I will learn.
Some thoughts on the crazy last week.
Still looking for another place…..originally nothing to cook with, stove for heating to come in fall…..broken fridge is in another room…..water continually runs(when on)…Now have stove….My counterpart is looking for another place for me.
But then, let me give the American perspective.
Water: 5-7 am, 12-2 pm, 7-9 pm - Hot is turned on and I can feel it – but doesn’t come out. There is a shower head – but only a drain by the toilet???? Learned to wash my hair with a liter of cold water! Over the kitchen sink or the bathroom drain. In a room with too much body odor, remembered Mam’s statement of always being clean, with a small bowl of water. I have soaked dusty feet and cleaned with the small bowl. Last night enjoyed the cold water after a 95 – aka 35 – degree day. Enjoy your shower and tub… and constant water!!!
Women have LOTS of questions. You are alone and here in another country. Women grab teens who are learning English. The Albanians ask questions we would never consider…age, how much money do you make??? Forget the fact that I have left children behind…..and am not married.
People are incredible. The shop owner wanted me to have a soft drink with her. The woman at the bread shop gave me the pita type bread! When I went to buy an chocolate ice cream. YO! Women I have met have given me so many items and are more than willing to help with anything. But still have their place. Oh, PC has a role for me….Is Fushe-Arrez ready? For a woman who left family to come to their village. How do your children feel??
Lots of time to walk. Not what is done in Albania. WHY? I have yet to find many places that are not uphill. But what do find on my walks. There are a number of people in traditional clothes. I have not taken any pictures, trying to honor them. I think now that some will be more open. One was walking down my street with a couple piglets. Today she was walking with her cow. Yesterday, I thought someone had a small dog. Oh, how wrongly American. It was a new piglet and she had a slick to show it where to go>>> , the pigs outside my window are so
clean. Forget the old concepts. And they are taught to be picky eaters…..animals after myself.
Went to the council meeting – 10:00 am. There are 13 members on the council from 12 partie all men >> You can’t even imagine the loud voices. First was the strategic plan which is part of my being in Fushe-Arrez. That was relatively pleasant. Then giving aid to the families in need- unemployed (about 25%) I could pretty much understand this argument…. the yelling. Then another subject, that I couldn’t quite figure…language!?!More Yelling?!? The mayor, after much time said, would you like to leave(not in English, but can understand….YES.) I went into my office across the hall and said to the women ….”need grua….all borre”. They laughed. Quickly I said the PC is non-political. They continued to laugh and know that I meant no harm.
Bank> If they want to join tourism. LOTS to know. Couldn’t use ATM since last Thursday and even with account numbers cannot get money. I have had to borrow from counterpart. Tomorrow, I am off to a larger village. REMEMBER they have only had ATM’s for 2 years, they have only tried democracy for 18 years.
Last, went to mass Sunday afternoon. Church simply lovely in the setting. Oh, the choir would sound FABULOUS. What acoustics! So amazing. Sounded like all voices were present. Not knowing the language…I only knew the responses……. I finally appreciated Latin…I will send pictures later did not want to interrupt. MY thoughts…too traditional – 10 male servers entered with the priest. Four different types of servers…acolytes, I could figure. The readers were two teenage girls and one of the servers who spoke frequently. TRADITION…… I looked around and saw many women in traditional clothing. WHO AM I TO SAY????? Held hands or raised hands at the Our Father. Kiss of Peace….all exchanged greetings and even with the crazy foreigner. (servers in some order went to the priest and gave the traditional double kiss on each cheek) Then the boys greeted those nearby. All who went to communion received on their tongue. Since that last happened when I was a teen and realizing the Peace Corps desire to look at the culture – YO – I went to the priest and took the host in my hand. After mass people were talking, kissing the two statues. The German sister was SO upset. She had to walk outside to talk to me and was apologizing to the wrong person…..Sounded like Victory…..To me a celebration of community. On the way home “talked” to neighbors.
Hope this wasn’t too long. Impressions just keep growing.
LOVE TO ALL
miss you
Margaret
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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