In the news...

About a month ago I was interviewed for a national newspaper, Zëri. The title of the newspaper means "voice". I have never been interviewed before and found it to be very interesting. Through a translator...Urim, I was asked many questions, and here are some of my answers:

• What do you find hard about living in Kosova? "when the power goes out and I have to close my clinic because it is cold, or there is no water...but I know that everyone else also deals with these difficulties...it is part of life here."
• What do you like about the people of Malishevë/Kosova? "I like the way people are friendly, and how they value families and relationships. The people of Kosova are very hard workers. "
• What do you not like about the people of Kosova? "the cigarette smoke" (we all laughed when I said that, especially since the man doing the interview had just lit up a cigarette.)
  
• What would you tell the Mayor of Malishevë? "continue to encourage the people to be a part of the change that is taking place in Kosova...it will take time, but step by step good changes are taking place, be patient"

I was also able to share that I was a Christian missionary, and that God gave me a love for the people of Kosova, and especially for the community of Malishevë. They found it difficult to understand why I would leave the wealth and comfort of America to come help the people of Kosova. There were also general questions about my family and friends in the US, as well as questions about my physical therapy work and clinic.

There was one question that I was not asked..."where is your husband?" That is usually the first question people ask me.

A few friends have read the article that was released today and told me it was very good, very positive about the work that is going on here in Malishevë. Yes, I bought a few extra copies of the newspaper.

Perëndia ia fali dashurinë për Kosovën is translated "God gave her a love for Kosova."

Yes, He did...

Slow down....! (part 2)

Ok....so I got a speeding ticket. Last Sunday when I was returning from Skopje on my first "airport run", I was stopped for going 23kph over the speed limit. Pastor Jeff was with me, we were talking, I probably wasn't paying close attention. Then, there was a police officer standing in the middle of the road with his little stop sign in hand. He asked me for all of my paper work, and license. He asked me where I work, live, and what I do there. He then showed me the speed gun...73kph...in a 50kph zone. He returned to the car with a ticket, and a 25€ fine.

He did not keep my documents...that was a very good thing. It was on a Sunday, and on Monday I had to drive to Skopje again, and needed my documents. I am told you drive to another city, pay the fine and get your documents back. I only had to go to a bank in Malishevë and pay the fine. Yes...I have already paid the fine.

Returning from my second "airport run"...I watched closely the area where I got the ticket...looking for a speed limit sign. There was a 50kph sign at the beginning of a long mountain drive with steep hills and winding roads. The last speed sign was about 10km away from where I got the ticket. Where I got the ticket was a straight stretch of road, completely out of the mountains. I have been told that a good rule of thumb is when driving through villages, 50kph, on straight roads/highways 70-80kph, unless there is a posted sign. I now know what the speed limit is along that stretch of road...I am teachable!

I don't mind driving the speed limit...it is just hard to figure it out sometimes...

Strategies...

The last 3 years I have developed strategies for dealing with the frequent and unpredictable power outages. At first it was just a matter of buying a little propane burner to heat water for tea or hot chocolate. Then when I moved to Malishevë the strategy was to have a gas stove/oven, and to have a heater that stayed warm when there was no power. Being on the second floor with no place to store wood for a wood burning stove, I obtained a heater that has heat retaining bricks...does the job nicely, even when there is no power.

Other strategies included watching the clock to see if it close to the top of the hour, since the power usually goes out on the hour or shortly after. So if it is 6:50am...quick go make toast, use the curling iron for taming bed head, and then if there is time a quick touch up to iron the clothes you plan to wear.

On the other end of this strategy...when the power will come back on...usually at the top of the hour. So when it comes back on...quick put a load of clothes in the washer so it can finish before the power goes out again. Also...quick get into the shower (if there is water), because there will be light and warm water, and time to get your hair dry before the power goes out again.

The only thing that really frustrated me was the loss of the internet connection...and recently many disconnected skype calls with friends and family in the US. I have a good computer battery, so I had that...but otherwise I was in the dark, with only candle light or a oil lantern. Not enough to read or do anything else. Recently the power has been going out around 5pm...just as it was getting dark, and staying off for 2-3 hours. For the last few weeks, the power has been off during some time every evening...

But...I have a new strategy!

I purchased a voltage inverter and battery system, that seamlessly switches on when the power goes out. I continue to have a good light and a connection for my modem for the internet, for 3+ hours. So...I can continue my skype conversations, or work on the internet for school, even when the power is off. There is one small glitch...my modem turns off after 2 hours, or when the power comes back on...oh well...it is still better than before. This new strategy does not include the termo heater, blow dryer, or light anywhere else but in my living room. It is much better than how it was before, I am happy to have good light so that I can read or crochet...or not have to sit in the dark wondering what I can do (besides going to bed at 6pm).

Always an adventure...

PS...I finished this blog post with no power...