Haircut AND a Shave

Maybe I can get a neck message at Big League Haircuts in Hebron, but at Verona Salon in Podujeve I get a SHAVE along with my haircut. It's like a mini-spa experience. Musa charges 3.50 euros for a haircut and a shave. As a matter of fact, you can get lots of stuff here with the change in your pocket. A kilo of carrots - 50 cents. A car wash - 2 euro. Hamburger and fries - 1.50 euros. Movie ticket - 2 euro. Language lessons - 2 euros/hour. All-day Parking - 1 euro. They do have a 1 and 2 euro coin which is nice. I now think America should get rid of the one-dollar bill.

Skilled Labor

We’ve traveled a bit since arriving in Europe. When we venture out of Kosova we see modern cities offering many of the amenities we’re used to in the states. Within Kosova, however, there are no drive thrus, malls or franchises like Applebees. Many trades still exist here (cobbler, blacksmith, butcher, seamstress, furniture maker), so walking the streets is often fascinating. Of course the blacksmith hammering out an axe is right next to an internet café. Such is the mix of old and new, traditional and modern. This picture was taken in Prizren, the oldest city in Kosova and the second largest. We first noticed that it was clean compared to the capital city of Prishtina. Traffic wasn’t as busy either. It’s a quaint town with 15th century buildings, a 16th century Turkish bath, tree-lined streets with shops and a river flowing through it. We visited so we could attend a growing Christian church there and were encouraged by the intimate praise given up to God in the pastor’s apartment. On the way home we figured Sam Walton should just stay away from Kosova, but it would be nice to have a Taco Bell…with a drive thru.

Karate

My brother and I have been doing karate and it is interesting. Instead of the trainer counting in Albanian in karate he counts in Japanese. Speaking of trainer, he is only about 19 years old or so. He is still in school and is also being taught some karate too. I know one kata and am about to learn another. A kata is techniques put together. I practice every other day but not on weekends usually. The karate place is a Dojo as some people in Orllan call it. Daniel and I walk there and it takes about 5 minutes or less. The girls would change upstairs and the boys down stairs. First we would start out with lots of exercises, then we start doing a little practice, and then we battle. Sometimes at the end of karate we would do katas. Since the trainer speaks only Albanian, my friend Lydia is always beside me to translate. Sometimes when we are practicing the trainer will come by and say good job in English or something like that. Sometimes in battles I will battle against different people but most are my friends. At the end of next month Daniel and I will be getting our yellow belts. We will have to do katas and battle in front of other trainers. We will also get to go to tournaments and compete. Every day is interesting with new things to do and that’s the way I like it. I love to explore the unknown.
--Melanie

Happy New Year

We brought in the New Year with some O-town friends and a grand batch of fireworks. "Best New Year ever," Daniel stated. He kinda liked lighting the rockets and firecrackers with the older boys. They make some stout firecrackers here - kabooms that put an M-80 to shame. We're looking forward to 2008 and our continued blogging, Skyping and e-mailing. May the new year bring you blessings (Dan), special surprises (Melanie), joy (Julia) and little pleasures (Gary). God Bless you!