Before and After....

My apartment building got a face lift. Actually it was more than a face lift...it was insulated. Most buildings are made of red brick and there is no insulation inside. The walls are finished with a rough texture and paint. But there is no insulation...only brick and concrete walls. When a building is insulated, thick styrofoam-like sheets are applied to the outside of the building over the red brick, and then a stucco-like coating is applied. So...this winter I will be warmer in my apartment. I also think
I have been cooler
this summer during the day. What a
blessing! I am also glad that my landlord didn't use the "bright orange" color scheme I have seen on other buildings around Kosova.

PS...that is my new car in front of my apartment building...

The Box...

The missing mystery box has found it's way back to Albuquerque! It left New Mexico on January 31, 2011 the destination was Malishevë, Kosovo. It was delivered back to Jane's house in Albuquerque on May 18, 2011. All of the items were inside and the box was not opened during this adventure. This morning at a women's brunch we opened the box. Inside were the 2 text books, that I can not return even though they are new and undamaged. There was also hot cereal, almonds, Reese's cups, Splenda sweetener, green chile, tea, a Christmas card, and some stickers.

On the outside of the box there was a stamp from the Serbian postal office: " Due to unexpected situation in the region of Kosovo, mail traffic is interrupted and return to original sender".

It was clear that Jane marked "via Albania" on every side of the box...it seems that someone in the US postal service does not read, or does not know the difference between Serbia and Albania. Someone paid an additional $46.15 to have the box returned to NM.

If only this box could speak and share it's traveling adventure of the last 3 1/2 months...

I have a College Graduate...!

My daughter Elissa, graduated from the University of New Mexico on May 14th, 2011. She has worked very hard the last 5 years to earn 2 degrees: A Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Philosophy. She was also a member of the Honors program. Nicole traveled from California to be a part of this special celebration. I am very proud of Elissa, and I am very thankful for all of the people that came alongside of her and encouraged her during this season in her life.

What will Elissa do next...? (after she gets tired of sleeping in...?) Stay tuned...

Elissa with her Grandfather. Elissa with her man, Sam.

My Big Backyard in Malishevë...

Last summer I had grazing cows in my backyard...the area directly behind my apartment. This spring...I have a carnival. As you watch the video...observe how the kids are holding on to other chairs, some going backwards, some have the chains all twisted. Also, there is a yellow and white metal tower that has a stuffed monkey hanging from it. The goal is to be the first one to knock it down...

The only time it isn't running...when it is raining.
I love the rain, especially when I am trying to study...

And the answer is...

I have discovered where to take my trash now. I know that was a pressing concern for each of you. All of the dumpsters have been removed from Malishevë, and now we have daily curbside trash pick up. Now I just put my trash in a bag on the sidewalk and sometime after 5:30 each day, a truck with workers comes by to pick it up. I don't understand the reason for the change, but that is what makes living here such an adventure...

Where have all the dumpsters gone...

Life in Kosova, and Malishevë, includes dealing with the abundance of trash, everywhere. My first experience with the trash dumpsters was during my second trip to Kosova when I took the trash out at night. I carried the bag down 4 flights of stairs, to a dark area behind the apartment building where the dumpsters were. I tossed the bag into the dumpster and out came several cats...it scared me to death.

In Malishevë there has been a dumpster about 100 yards from my apartment, parked right on the street. Yesterday, I went to throw out my trash and the dumpster is not there. I looked at other places where I have seen them parked before, I can't find a dumpster anywhere on the streets of Malishevë. I am sure the locals were wondering why I was walking the streets with a bag of trash...looking confused. Who do I ask to find out where the dumpsters are now...?

I carried my bag of trash back to my apartment. At least it is cold and it doesn't smell right now.

In the US, now, there are all these different recycling trash bins...one for paper, one for glass/metal, one for non-recyclable stuff. I just want one dumpster within walking distance for my weekly bag of trash. The locals would have just tossed their trash out behind the building in an empty field...I will wait until I can find out where to take my trash.

Stay tuned...

Back to school...again

It is official, I am back in school. I am enrolled in a transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy program through Hardin-Simmons University. The school has made it possible for me to take the entire 2 year program while living in Kosova. The faculty will record the class sessions each semester, somehow they will post the class videos online, and I will be sent the exams. Pastor Randy will serve as my "proctor" for exams, we just need to find someplace that is heated and quiet. I am still not sure how it will all work, but everyone is helping in this process.

On Tuesday, I decided I needed to download all of the assignments and research articles onto my computer. Then, if the power was out or my internet was not working, I would still be able to access the articles and study. KEK, our power company, would not cooperate and stay on long enough for me to get online and save the articles. It took me two days of work to get everything saved.

Now, I am facing the challenge of studying while reading articles on my computer. Most are in .pdf format and I can't figure out how to highlight key points as I am reading. It is too expensive to have the files printed out at a local shop, .10€ per page, which is about .14 cents per page. Anyone have a suggestion...for this semester the exams are open book, and it would be really nice to be able to highlight the articles for future reference.

Last night I decided to start reading one of the text books for class. Of course, KEK had other plans. So...I lit my oil lantern and propped up my rechargeable light on the back of the couch. The lantern ran out of oil...reminder to self to buy more oil. The rechargeable light only worked for about an hour. But...I did get about 15 pages read. I guess I need to plan more study time during the day.

So...not only am I adjusting to being back in school, but I am trying to do it in an unfamiliar way. Life here is such an adventure...