General Meeting

Last week the commander of the US forces here in Kosova visited our high school and chatted with the students for about 2 hours. Brigadier General Douglas B. Earhart heads a Multinational Task Force at Camp Bondsteel in southeastern Kosovo. There are about 1,700 troops there, plus some soldiers from other countries. This is one of 8 or 9 task forces that make up the UN forces (16,000 troops) here in Kosovo. They have been keeping the peace since 1999. The General invited us to camp Bondsteel for a field trip and we will be going there October 31. The students are very excited and the staff likes the fact that there is a Taco Bell on the Bondsteel premises.

Early Winter?

This past Sunday we woke up to three inches of snow on the ground! As always, the first snow was exciting and beautiful. This picture was taken from our balcony. It is not normal for snow to fall in October - today the high is going to be 64. Our weather will mirror northern Kentucky's weather for the most part. We are hoping for a mild winter since our home heating sources are portable electric units, and power is off about as much as it is on. The pattern is not consistent. One day this week we had 4 hours off, 2 hours on. Another day this week we had power most of the day. Here in our village several families use wood to heat their homes. We certainly have a better appreciation for the comforts of the US. Sleigh bells rinnnnnng, are ya listening?

Fli

This is a pan of fli, a popular dish here in Kosova. There are several layers that look like this current layer. This pan is about half done. Each layer of bread strips is spooned in and then a lid with hot coals (on top) is placed over the pan to brown the dough mix. Sour cream is poured between each layer of dough, then another layer is spooned in. Repeat for about 7 layers. Often you eat it with yogurt. This pan is simply placed in the middle of the table and everyone just picks at the portion of the circular pan directly in front of them. Pick until you get to the bottom. We have a hard time getting to the bottom of our section - it's quite filling. I favor the browned (crunchy) strips.

Visiting

Tending to relationships is important here. More so in the villages than in the city, but still, folks visit. Saturday night we visited a family nearby – Dan and their son have become occasional buddies. Our language teacher went along to translate for us. We arrived around 6:30pm, took off our shoes outside the front door and all gathered in one of the two side rooms. One of the girls allowed each of us to rinse our hands in a bowl as she poured warm water from a pitcher.

G and H have six children. They invited us for Iftar, the evening meal during Ramadan. Twelve of us gathered around a small rectangular table as an assortment of food was placed before us. The most prominent dish was fli (flee), a national bread dish often cooked outside with hot coals. Dishes and bowls with cooked peppers, sausage and cabbage slaw were placed around the large circular pan of fli. We all reached and picked and shared which is typical for meals here.

Conversation was brisk and predictable – mutual greetings, kids, work, family history, Kosova independence. We spoke warmly about our transition into Albanian culture and shed some light on our American home and the loved ones we left in the states. Our different faiths did not get in the way, even now during Ramadan. God’s (Zot) name was mentioned in both Muslim and Christian context yet never muddied or restricted the topic at hand. We were two faithful families, genuinely interested in each other for friendship’s sake – we both thought being nice to others was paramount, kids shouldn’t cavort after dark, city life is too busy and politics often get in the way.

Julia and I are always grateful for the hospitality extended to us and the raw experiences our family takes part in. This family shared beyond their means and that is often the case when we are invited for a meal. We get the best from each family we visit. It isn’t excess or splendor – just smiles and friendship.