The car mystery has been solved! This morning at church--yes, we have church on Saturdays here instead of Sundays--pastor told us what happened to his car. As you may remember, there was no answer at the 126 number when he called from his house that day because it was after hours. The next day he decided to call Agron because Agron has a friend in the police force who might have a better idea of what happened. Sure enough. His friend said that on the street we parked on, that section is no parking. Even though there was no sign, pastor's car, along with all the other ones that were there at the same time, got towed. He had to go to the lot and pay the fine to get it out. But he has it back and we even got a ride back from church today. So all is well in Albanian traffic land.
All is also well in our apartment. We cleaned and scoured everything and rearranged and reorganized and rearranged some more. We thought the TV cable cord was very short and that we couldn't move the TV out of one specific corner in the living room. This made it very hard to rearrange the furniture and we were really stuck because the TV couldn't move. I suggested to Emily that we should check outside on the balcony to see if there was extra cord. Sure enough, there it was, coiled up on the wash line on the balcony. Haha! We were in luck! It worked to move the TV to the other side of the room, even if we did have to tape the cable cord to the floor and cover it with a rug. lol :) It worked. We just figured it will feel like dorm life in which case we'll feel right at home. Hey--been there, done that. Plus, you really don't even notice it with the rug. We taped it down to the grout part between the tiles on the floor anyway so it didn't stick up that much. But after we got that process taken care of, the rearranging of furniture was a cinch! We love it now!
That was all last night so we got to bed really late and then my mind was going a million miles an hour and I couldn't fall asleep. The last time I looked at the clock it was a little around 3:15am. That meant that getting up at 9:3o to get ready for church found me very quickly. I was tired but excited that I could go to church this week. It was my first Albanian service! Singing in Albanian is much easier than doing the congregational readings like the Creed and everything. They go so fast when they read, totally unlike churches at home where group readings are always so slow that I practically lose interest. Ok, that was exaggerating a little, but they are slow and home and really fast here. But because singing is slower, it gives me more time to read it and pronounce it slowly so that part was fun. I didn't really have a clue what he was saying, but we have a list of the readings and the sermon text so we can read it out of our own Bibles instead of the Albanian ones at church. But trying to follow as it is read will help me learn Albanian as long as I can keep up. Good grief! They go fast!
And then the best part of today happened in the afternoon. I got to talk to my parents on the phone!!! It wasn't long. Only about 10 or 15 minutes. But it was awesome! It was so good to hear their voices and find out that their first week of school went well and that they both sounded excited about another week instead of tired and worn out from the first. lol That happens to all of us sometimes. They are doing good and sounded happy and healthy. Thank God! I pray for that every night. :) And they said David is doing good too. I miss them all, but that's natural. I like it here so far and wish they could see it too! Guess I better start using my camera more for pictures and videos, huh? That would be fun to send. I've never sent a video before....Hmmm.....The gears in my head have started turning......
But before I get to carried away thinking about that, I need to remember to describe a few other things here. First of all, the buildings here are all made of cement. Some are brick, but most are cement. As I understand it, this is a result of the communist regime that ruled here. Now it is just that way because that's what people know how to do. And when people build here, there isn't really any sort of building permit you need, so people find a spot and build a big apartment building. But then many things happen. Either they find out the land belonged to someone, they run out of money and it sits there unfinished until they have the money to finish it, or they might totally change construction, which accounts for why some buildings look like they were broken in pieces and randomly mixed and matched with other buildings that were broken in pieces. It makes for lots of cool things too look at when I walk around. The people who build these don't really mind if their project gets stopped because they don't have to pay a property tax or anything anyway. It doesn't cost them to just have a building sit there, half completed.
But walking brings me to another topic--the roads. Many roads have apparently been paved since Emily arrived here last year. But that doesn't mean they're level or without potholes. In fact, there are drains without grates on them. Actually, most drains aren't covered because there aren't really drains in the gutters because there isn't really a curb and gutter system. Also, there are square manhole sized holes in the roads that are uncovered. It's kind of hard to miss them when walking, but for biking and driving, they could be hazardous. There is an Albanian music video on TV that makes of of that.
It also makes fun of how sometimes the electricity just goes off for no real reason. That's happened 3 times so far. Although luckily it hasn't been for long each time. I guess sometimes it's out for awhile when that happens. Also, in certain places, the water doesn't always work either. (This was the case at church the other day when Emily and I were there to use the scanner. We found that out when we tried to use the bathroom. And this morning, we didn't have power at church. But then, just as church ended, the power came on. God really must have a sense of humor. ;) Am I right?) The music video also makes fun of the water not always working. It strikes me as funny that an Albanian guy makes fun of his own country, but I guess everyone does that. You have to have a sense of humor about things because it's much more useful to laugh about things and joke about it than it is to get mad and angry about it.
So that's the news from here for today. I'm not really sure what's on our agenda for tomorrow. I guess I'll find out in the morning. Until then, I need to get some supper and then I think I'll relax for the night. For those of you in the States, enjoy the rest of your day!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Embassy and the Car Mystery
Yesterday, because I had business there, Pastor Ahlers took Emily and I to the US Embassy here in Tirana. The guide book I read said that the US Embassy building is a great example of architecture here from a certain time. But the funny part is that you couldn't even see it because there is a big thick cement wall around the whole entire perimeter. lol Go figure!
We didn't get to see the architecture, but we did get into the Embassy without problems. I needed to get some papers notarized so I could fax them to my dad. That way, he had legal rights to sell my property. So, sad as I am about it, my car is sold. I'm not actually sad. More relieved. But I did love that car. It was perfect for me. But, I digress....back to the Embassy....
We spent two hours there while they were helping me. I also needed to take care of some other paperwork on my way to getting residency papers. So it all got taken care of. Our time there was interesting. We listened to plenty of different situations. One guy was married to an American woman but got sent back here because he was found guilty of a "crime of moral turpitude" and was trying to find out how he could get back to the US. I don't know what "turpitude" means, but it doesn't sound good. Another lady was filing for asylum. She had been in the US illegally and waited 7 months before applying. Now she's back in Albania with her three really cute little kids and she's trying to go back. Eventually it was determined that she would be able to go back in as soon as a week and a half. She was so happy she was crying. And the kids, who didn't seem like they spoke any Albanian, kept saying, "We get to go back to Chicago! We get to go back to Chicago!"
The consulate lady who worked there told us that at the Embassy here, they see more stories and situations in a day than most US Embassies see in a month. I believe it! That place was busy! She then gave me the final papers I needed and we were on our way out.
We were walking back to Pastor's car and all of a sudden Emily said, "Um, is it just me or is your car not there?" Sure enough. Pastor's car was gone. So were all the rest of the cars that were parked in that section of the street. Pastor looked around for a sign that prohibited parking, but found nothing. He went to ask the Embassy guards about it. They didn't know anything except that he should call 126 because that's traffic control. By the time we'd walked all the way back to his house, he couldn't get an answer for that number because it was too late in the day. So it's a mystery as to what happened to Pastor's car and where it is.
We stayed at his house for awhile because he and Mrs. Ahlers had invited us for dinner. She is an amazing cook! The food was so good. We had salad (remember, all vegetables are fresh and organic here), homemade lasagna, garlic bread, and kreme karamel for dessert. Delicious! Then we stayed and played two games of Ticket To Ride. I'd never played before, but that one is really fun. I liked it immediately and am looking forward to more dinners and games at their house while they are still here, hopefully. :) We had a nice visit with them too. They are very friendly people.
On our walk back to their house, we saw a car with a Florida license plate. I'd already seen one with a New York license plate and an Ontario plate. I asked Pastor about this. He said that Albanians who go to the states can buy fancy cars for less there than they are here. The prices here on lots of things like that are raised exorbitantly. So they buy the car, and ship it back here. I keep thinking that's expensive, but they get a good price for it when they sell it here. So I guess it's worth it for some people. Right after we had this conversation, I saw a Michigan license plate. Emily said that last year, she and Laura saw a Wisconsin license plate. lol I want to see it! She said one day she saw an Albanian guy in a Brewer's jacket and figured he was associated with the car with the WI license plate. Funny, funny! :)
Pastor and Mrs. Ahlers had an extra suit case with them so they had told Emily and I they could bring more things here for us. Emily didn't need anything else since she'd left plenty here, but there was stuff I would've liked to bring but didn't have room for. So the Ahlers' brought it for me. So nice of them! Now I have everything I need, but have plenty of organizing and unpacking to finish. That's the goal for today and then Emily and I are going to do some cleaning tonight. So it's a busy rest of the day ahead of me. Until next time, take care!
We didn't get to see the architecture, but we did get into the Embassy without problems. I needed to get some papers notarized so I could fax them to my dad. That way, he had legal rights to sell my property. So, sad as I am about it, my car is sold. I'm not actually sad. More relieved. But I did love that car. It was perfect for me. But, I digress....back to the Embassy....
We spent two hours there while they were helping me. I also needed to take care of some other paperwork on my way to getting residency papers. So it all got taken care of. Our time there was interesting. We listened to plenty of different situations. One guy was married to an American woman but got sent back here because he was found guilty of a "crime of moral turpitude" and was trying to find out how he could get back to the US. I don't know what "turpitude" means, but it doesn't sound good. Another lady was filing for asylum. She had been in the US illegally and waited 7 months before applying. Now she's back in Albania with her three really cute little kids and she's trying to go back. Eventually it was determined that she would be able to go back in as soon as a week and a half. She was so happy she was crying. And the kids, who didn't seem like they spoke any Albanian, kept saying, "We get to go back to Chicago! We get to go back to Chicago!"
The consulate lady who worked there told us that at the Embassy here, they see more stories and situations in a day than most US Embassies see in a month. I believe it! That place was busy! She then gave me the final papers I needed and we were on our way out.
We were walking back to Pastor's car and all of a sudden Emily said, "Um, is it just me or is your car not there?" Sure enough. Pastor's car was gone. So were all the rest of the cars that were parked in that section of the street. Pastor looked around for a sign that prohibited parking, but found nothing. He went to ask the Embassy guards about it. They didn't know anything except that he should call 126 because that's traffic control. By the time we'd walked all the way back to his house, he couldn't get an answer for that number because it was too late in the day. So it's a mystery as to what happened to Pastor's car and where it is.
We stayed at his house for awhile because he and Mrs. Ahlers had invited us for dinner. She is an amazing cook! The food was so good. We had salad (remember, all vegetables are fresh and organic here), homemade lasagna, garlic bread, and kreme karamel for dessert. Delicious! Then we stayed and played two games of Ticket To Ride. I'd never played before, but that one is really fun. I liked it immediately and am looking forward to more dinners and games at their house while they are still here, hopefully. :) We had a nice visit with them too. They are very friendly people.
On our walk back to their house, we saw a car with a Florida license plate. I'd already seen one with a New York license plate and an Ontario plate. I asked Pastor about this. He said that Albanians who go to the states can buy fancy cars for less there than they are here. The prices here on lots of things like that are raised exorbitantly. So they buy the car, and ship it back here. I keep thinking that's expensive, but they get a good price for it when they sell it here. So I guess it's worth it for some people. Right after we had this conversation, I saw a Michigan license plate. Emily said that last year, she and Laura saw a Wisconsin license plate. lol I want to see it! She said one day she saw an Albanian guy in a Brewer's jacket and figured he was associated with the car with the WI license plate. Funny, funny! :)
Pastor and Mrs. Ahlers had an extra suit case with them so they had told Emily and I they could bring more things here for us. Emily didn't need anything else since she'd left plenty here, but there was stuff I would've liked to bring but didn't have room for. So the Ahlers' brought it for me. So nice of them! Now I have everything I need, but have plenty of organizing and unpacking to finish. That's the goal for today and then Emily and I are going to do some cleaning tonight. So it's a busy rest of the day ahead of me. Until next time, take care!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Cast of Characters
**Note** Due to the time of day right now (1:05am), I will not be proofreading this post. Not that my proofreading is perfect, but for more errors than usual, my profound appologies.
Well! I am finally feeling better after a good three and a half days being sick. I told you before that I would spare you the nasty details, and I will stick to my promise. But to put things in perspective, in that amount of time I consumed a few saltine crackers, a piece of bread, and a bowl of noodles. That's it. I sipped on Sprite and water and proceeded to lose approximately 4 kilos (about 8 pounds). Yikes! Definitely not my ideal way to lose weight.
Anyway, I'm feeling much better now and therefore have the energy to update this blog with a list of the people I have met here thus far. This will help you in the future when I mention people. If need be, please use this post as a reference. I will also post about new people I meet from this point forward.
Agron and Vitori - (pr. ah-GROAN and vih-TOR-ee) They are a married couple who are very active in the church. Agron works for the church and oversees many functions, especially now with pastor moving back to the states at the beginning of October. He even reads the sermons (written by pastor) when pastor is gone since we have no other pastors around to fill in. They have a son my age and a daughter a few years older who lives in the states and is married. Both are teachers by profession and speak English quite well. They lived in Canada for three years. The first day I met them, they told me that their home is my home. :) And Vitori also added that "We lost our children when they were young--15...16...- to go to the States for school. So now we do what we can to help others' children." They are wonderful people!
Dorien - Agron and Vitori's son who, coincidentally, was in my class in college. He has a very good job here but it keeps him very busy so I'm not sure how much we'll see him. He has his own car though so he is often the shuttle to and from the airport (as was true in our case) and for varous other trips that are out of walking, biking, or bus range.
Olsa, Neda, & Ledio - Two sisters and their younger brother who are members of the church and are faithful attendees of our English classes. Well, Olsa is more advanced than any of our classes. She tutors other kids from her school and hopes to go to college in the US. She is 18 and is starting her last year of high school. She's interested in WLC so hopefully I'll be able to share a lot with her! Olsa is a very sweet girl and told me she likes music and dancing.
Neda (pr. NAY-dah) is 16, soon be 17 in September, as she will readily tell you. She is a big ball of energy, and is not afraid to be stubborn or blunt. Neda loves to help in any way she can and practically keeps a look out over what is happening at church and who is there on what days since they live in the building next to the church. She speaks English fairly well and is excited about improving. She is very active in English classes and church activities and wants to be a nurse someday. I told her she should ask my brother about what nursing classes are like.
Ledio (pr. LAY-dee-oh) is the youngest. He is 15 or 16 (I can't remember). He comes to classes when he can, though this year he has a job so we'll see what his attendance will be like. He likes sports and was thrilled when he found out I play basketball. Now he always asks me when we can play. I say, "When we have a ball!" because he lost his. He is friendly and very energetic. I can already tell he likes to be a clown or a joker. Oh yeah, he likes to wink at people. Haha!
Aida - (pr. eye-EE-dah) Aida is a few years older than me and speaks English so well that even Albanians mistake her for a foreigner! Haha! She often gets asked if she is American because of her English skills and because she's not the typical Albanian female; she rides a bike everywhere, dresses sporty, and doesn't wear heels. Thank goodness! Aida likes to joke around and talk. She asks very good questions about life, American culture, and our opinions on things. She has already started teaching me Albanian. She's good at answering my questions, and since Albanians seem to be more open and less private than Americans, encourages me to ask any questions I have.
Xhuli - (pr. like Julie) She is Aida's boss, which is how Emily got to know her. She's a very friendly woman and Emily was tutoring her and her sons. She's married and has a car and a motorcycle, which her husband drives. lol Her English is not as good as Aida, Olsa, or Neda, but she likes to meet often at her house or kafes (cafes) to practice. She likes to learn and is fun to be around because she's always smiling. Xhuli recently finished her degree in finance and will be starting a new job soon.
Leda - (pr. LAY-dah) I have only met her once, but she went on vacation shortly after that and I'm told she is someone I'll be spending a lot of time with. She was very smiley and energetic. Totally upbeat and positive, and, oh yeah, camera crazy! Haha! That first time I met her she was taking pictures of everyone--even me--within 5 minutes of getting together. Her comment after the first picture? "Oh! This is a good one for facebook!" Too funny!
So far that seems to me the "major list of players" over here. ;) I know there will be many more friendships made and built and I'm only excited for what's in store!
Well! I am finally feeling better after a good three and a half days being sick. I told you before that I would spare you the nasty details, and I will stick to my promise. But to put things in perspective, in that amount of time I consumed a few saltine crackers, a piece of bread, and a bowl of noodles. That's it. I sipped on Sprite and water and proceeded to lose approximately 4 kilos (about 8 pounds). Yikes! Definitely not my ideal way to lose weight.
Anyway, I'm feeling much better now and therefore have the energy to update this blog with a list of the people I have met here thus far. This will help you in the future when I mention people. If need be, please use this post as a reference. I will also post about new people I meet from this point forward.
Agron and Vitori - (pr. ah-GROAN and vih-TOR-ee) They are a married couple who are very active in the church. Agron works for the church and oversees many functions, especially now with pastor moving back to the states at the beginning of October. He even reads the sermons (written by pastor) when pastor is gone since we have no other pastors around to fill in. They have a son my age and a daughter a few years older who lives in the states and is married. Both are teachers by profession and speak English quite well. They lived in Canada for three years. The first day I met them, they told me that their home is my home. :) And Vitori also added that "We lost our children when they were young--15...16...- to go to the States for school. So now we do what we can to help others' children." They are wonderful people!
Dorien - Agron and Vitori's son who, coincidentally, was in my class in college. He has a very good job here but it keeps him very busy so I'm not sure how much we'll see him. He has his own car though so he is often the shuttle to and from the airport (as was true in our case) and for varous other trips that are out of walking, biking, or bus range.
Olsa, Neda, & Ledio - Two sisters and their younger brother who are members of the church and are faithful attendees of our English classes. Well, Olsa is more advanced than any of our classes. She tutors other kids from her school and hopes to go to college in the US. She is 18 and is starting her last year of high school. She's interested in WLC so hopefully I'll be able to share a lot with her! Olsa is a very sweet girl and told me she likes music and dancing.
Neda (pr. NAY-dah) is 16, soon be 17 in September, as she will readily tell you. She is a big ball of energy, and is not afraid to be stubborn or blunt. Neda loves to help in any way she can and practically keeps a look out over what is happening at church and who is there on what days since they live in the building next to the church. She speaks English fairly well and is excited about improving. She is very active in English classes and church activities and wants to be a nurse someday. I told her she should ask my brother about what nursing classes are like.
Ledio (pr. LAY-dee-oh) is the youngest. He is 15 or 16 (I can't remember). He comes to classes when he can, though this year he has a job so we'll see what his attendance will be like. He likes sports and was thrilled when he found out I play basketball. Now he always asks me when we can play. I say, "When we have a ball!" because he lost his. He is friendly and very energetic. I can already tell he likes to be a clown or a joker. Oh yeah, he likes to wink at people. Haha!
Aida - (pr. eye-EE-dah) Aida is a few years older than me and speaks English so well that even Albanians mistake her for a foreigner! Haha! She often gets asked if she is American because of her English skills and because she's not the typical Albanian female; she rides a bike everywhere, dresses sporty, and doesn't wear heels. Thank goodness! Aida likes to joke around and talk. She asks very good questions about life, American culture, and our opinions on things. She has already started teaching me Albanian. She's good at answering my questions, and since Albanians seem to be more open and less private than Americans, encourages me to ask any questions I have.
Xhuli - (pr. like Julie) She is Aida's boss, which is how Emily got to know her. She's a very friendly woman and Emily was tutoring her and her sons. She's married and has a car and a motorcycle, which her husband drives. lol Her English is not as good as Aida, Olsa, or Neda, but she likes to meet often at her house or kafes (cafes) to practice. She likes to learn and is fun to be around because she's always smiling. Xhuli recently finished her degree in finance and will be starting a new job soon.
Leda - (pr. LAY-dah) I have only met her once, but she went on vacation shortly after that and I'm told she is someone I'll be spending a lot of time with. She was very smiley and energetic. Totally upbeat and positive, and, oh yeah, camera crazy! Haha! That first time I met her she was taking pictures of everyone--even me--within 5 minutes of getting together. Her comment after the first picture? "Oh! This is a good one for facebook!" Too funny!
So far that seems to me the "major list of players" over here. ;) I know there will be many more friendships made and built and I'm only excited for what's in store!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sick As A Dog
As I told Emily this morning, I feel like I'm dying. :( I am so sick today! I was sick yesterday but it is worse today. Emily said it happened to her and Laura after they'd been here about this long and it happened to Josh the year before that too. I guess it's just my body cleaning itself out so it's ready for a new place, new schedule, and new toxins or something. But, take it from me, if that is the case, the cleansing process feels awful! I'll spare you the nasty details but suffice to say I have no energy, I hurt from my shoulders down through my intestines, and I'm getting the most horrible pains I've ever gotten in my entire life in my gut. This is some unpleasant business.
So though I have much more to write about, I just don't have the energy to do it. I'm sorry. I really want to share, but I want even more to feel better so I am just going to rest and take care of myself. As Vitori said the other day, "Health comes first." She's right. And Emily has been taking good care of me. I feel sorry that she has to but I'm thankful she's here to help. Otherwise I would be crying to be at home in the recliner with my mom taking care of me. I still want that, but who doesn't when they're sick?
So though I have much more to write about, I just don't have the energy to do it. I'm sorry. I really want to share, but I want even more to feel better so I am just going to rest and take care of myself. As Vitori said the other day, "Health comes first." She's right. And Emily has been taking good care of me. I feel sorry that she has to but I'm thankful she's here to help. Otherwise I would be crying to be at home in the recliner with my mom taking care of me. I still want that, but who doesn't when they're sick?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Out And About
Where did I leave off last time? Oh yeah, I think it was right after we got here the first night.
Well, that night I fell asleep around midnight or 12:30 just because I hadn't slept in over 24 hours. I didn't sleep well, but I did sleep long. I didn't wake up until after 2pm here, which is after 7am central time. That night, even though I was tired, I didn't fall asleep until after 5am here. You have no idea how frustrating that was. I went to bed around 1:30 and just laid there for hours. I tried reading for about 45 minutes, and eventually my eyes just hurt to keep them open and my body was too tied to keep switching positions, so I just laid there for-e-ver. The last time I looked at the clock it said 5:05am. Anyway, that next morning we got up at 11am. That was the latest night I've had so far. The rest have been getting a little better. Tonight I really hope I can fall asleep before 1:30am. Then I want to get up by 9am tomorrow. I need to sleep to catch up, but I still need to start more regular hours here.
Besides the jet lag, things have been going well. The first two days were very overwhelming. It was just so much to take in at once that I did sort of think to myself, "What the heck did I get myself into? I can't go home for a year." But once I got more sleep, that thought flew right out of my head. Now that I can get to a few places myself (though Emily's been with me) I am starting to get my bearings. It's fun to go places now! Except it's hot. It's hot here anyway, but not humid. However, since we walk or take the un-air conditioned bus everywhere, you get very hot and sweaty quite quickly. So we're getting used to a lot of sweat. Don't worry-we don't stink! Well, not that bad anyway...Our deodorant is living up to it's reputation. Haha! :)
When we were on our way to our apartment after Dorien picked us up from the airport, we saw a bunch of fireworks. What a welcome! Tuned out they were shooting them off right in the middle of everything about 2 blocks from our apartment. Apparently it was some street party celebrating the national soccer team, even though they lost or something. Dorien said it was kind of funny. I just liked the fireworks.
Remember how I mentioned the crazy traffic? Well, I found out why. There really aren't any traffic rules except "everyone has the right of way." Four people have told me this now and I can see it's true; cars, bikes, buses, and even pedestrians act like they have the right to do what they want when they want. Remember the game Frogger? Well, crossing the street is like playing a live game of Frogger. It's not so bad if you cross with someone else. You just have to make sure the drivers see you because they won't stop but they'll slow down enough so they just barely don't hit you. Time will tell if I get the courage to try riding a bike. Wanna put bets on it? ;)
Oh, the sad part about this traffic is not just that it's loud because people are constantly honking, but that when an ambulance needs to go though, people don't even move or pay attention. Someone needs help and can't get it quickly. No one even flinches for the ambulance. :(
Some of you have asked me if the water here is ok to drink. Apparently the answer is yes, but many people don't. They buy bottled water because they don't know what condition the pipes are in, how long the water has been sitting in the pipes, or what could be in the pipes. So we use the hot water for showering and washing dishes, but when I want a drink or need to brush my teeth, I use bottled water. Pastor Ahlers has a very good filter on his tap and told us when he called last night that we can go over there and fill up our bottles whenever we need to. They left us a key as well. That was nice of them to think of us.
The one thing that I just can't get over, and those of you who really know me will think this is funny, is the milk. It comes in a box. Now I've seen milk in a jug, obviously, a bottle, or even a bag, but in a box? And, this is the extra strange part, it's warm. I'm serious! It's not in a cooler at the stores or anything. It's in a box on the shelf at room temperature. Emily drinks it and I've seen other people drink it too. I know it's fine because it's pasteurized and vacuum sealed in the box so no air or anything gets in to spoil it, but my mind just has trouble comprehending it. Once we open it, then it stays in the fridge. I've tried it on cereal and in cooking so far, but can't bring myself to just drink a glass. If you know how much I love milk, you know how much of it I drink. Emily had a good idea though. She said that to get used to it, I should buy some NesQuick (which is very easily available here) and make it chocolate milk. I think I will try this. Chocolate milk always tastes a bit strange to me, so I'm sure that will help me get used to this milk in a box.
So far we have kept ourselves busy trying to adjust to the time change by running errands for food, cleaning supplies, and living supplies. We needed shower caddies, hangers, plastic bins and things like that. We've cleaned out our rooms and have the majority of our things unpacked. This took me a little while because the light in my room was broken. The bulb was dead, but the light itself didn't work. Someone came today and fixed it so now I have light in my room at night. Yay!
Tomorrow we'll finish getting the supplies we need and we'll make a menu calendar. We've pretty much decided to cook and eat together so that we won't both always be buying lots of food. Plus it's more fun to cook with someone. Hopefully it will help us eat better and for less money.
Speaking of cooking, I have to end with a funny story. We planned to make Chicken Parmesan last night for dinner. We bought all the ingredients when we were out running errands the previous evening. The only thing we didn't get was mozzarella cheese because the store we were at, Euromax (kind of a small scale version of Walmart, but with many more food items than housewares type items), didn't have it. We decided we'd wait until the next day to get the cheese. So last night before we started cooking, we walked down the block to Big Market (that's what it's actually called) and found a package in the cheese cooler that said "La Mozzarella" and got it. We get back and open it up only to find out that it's butter. What? We were confused so we tasted it. It was butter alright. So we put the cooking on hold, went to another closer smaller market store and asked for mozzarella or pizza cheese as they call it. They didn't have any so we found some processed cheese slices that said "Sandwich Cheese" and bought it. We figured it was just normal American cheese that you'd put on a sub so it would melt. We were right. We made our meal and it tasted delicious. But now we know that when we see "La Mozzarella" it is not what we want. lol :)
Tomorrow I'll write more about the people I've met so far. They all seem wonderful and I can't wait to meet more. I just need to get better at using the language and then I might actually be able to talk to more of them. Go figure, right? :P
Well, that night I fell asleep around midnight or 12:30 just because I hadn't slept in over 24 hours. I didn't sleep well, but I did sleep long. I didn't wake up until after 2pm here, which is after 7am central time. That night, even though I was tired, I didn't fall asleep until after 5am here. You have no idea how frustrating that was. I went to bed around 1:30 and just laid there for hours. I tried reading for about 45 minutes, and eventually my eyes just hurt to keep them open and my body was too tied to keep switching positions, so I just laid there for-e-ver. The last time I looked at the clock it said 5:05am. Anyway, that next morning we got up at 11am. That was the latest night I've had so far. The rest have been getting a little better. Tonight I really hope I can fall asleep before 1:30am. Then I want to get up by 9am tomorrow. I need to sleep to catch up, but I still need to start more regular hours here.
Besides the jet lag, things have been going well. The first two days were very overwhelming. It was just so much to take in at once that I did sort of think to myself, "What the heck did I get myself into? I can't go home for a year." But once I got more sleep, that thought flew right out of my head. Now that I can get to a few places myself (though Emily's been with me) I am starting to get my bearings. It's fun to go places now! Except it's hot. It's hot here anyway, but not humid. However, since we walk or take the un-air conditioned bus everywhere, you get very hot and sweaty quite quickly. So we're getting used to a lot of sweat. Don't worry-we don't stink! Well, not that bad anyway...Our deodorant is living up to it's reputation. Haha! :)
When we were on our way to our apartment after Dorien picked us up from the airport, we saw a bunch of fireworks. What a welcome! Tuned out they were shooting them off right in the middle of everything about 2 blocks from our apartment. Apparently it was some street party celebrating the national soccer team, even though they lost or something. Dorien said it was kind of funny. I just liked the fireworks.
Remember how I mentioned the crazy traffic? Well, I found out why. There really aren't any traffic rules except "everyone has the right of way." Four people have told me this now and I can see it's true; cars, bikes, buses, and even pedestrians act like they have the right to do what they want when they want. Remember the game Frogger? Well, crossing the street is like playing a live game of Frogger. It's not so bad if you cross with someone else. You just have to make sure the drivers see you because they won't stop but they'll slow down enough so they just barely don't hit you. Time will tell if I get the courage to try riding a bike. Wanna put bets on it? ;)
Oh, the sad part about this traffic is not just that it's loud because people are constantly honking, but that when an ambulance needs to go though, people don't even move or pay attention. Someone needs help and can't get it quickly. No one even flinches for the ambulance. :(
Some of you have asked me if the water here is ok to drink. Apparently the answer is yes, but many people don't. They buy bottled water because they don't know what condition the pipes are in, how long the water has been sitting in the pipes, or what could be in the pipes. So we use the hot water for showering and washing dishes, but when I want a drink or need to brush my teeth, I use bottled water. Pastor Ahlers has a very good filter on his tap and told us when he called last night that we can go over there and fill up our bottles whenever we need to. They left us a key as well. That was nice of them to think of us.
The one thing that I just can't get over, and those of you who really know me will think this is funny, is the milk. It comes in a box. Now I've seen milk in a jug, obviously, a bottle, or even a bag, but in a box? And, this is the extra strange part, it's warm. I'm serious! It's not in a cooler at the stores or anything. It's in a box on the shelf at room temperature. Emily drinks it and I've seen other people drink it too. I know it's fine because it's pasteurized and vacuum sealed in the box so no air or anything gets in to spoil it, but my mind just has trouble comprehending it. Once we open it, then it stays in the fridge. I've tried it on cereal and in cooking so far, but can't bring myself to just drink a glass. If you know how much I love milk, you know how much of it I drink. Emily had a good idea though. She said that to get used to it, I should buy some NesQuick (which is very easily available here) and make it chocolate milk. I think I will try this. Chocolate milk always tastes a bit strange to me, so I'm sure that will help me get used to this milk in a box.
So far we have kept ourselves busy trying to adjust to the time change by running errands for food, cleaning supplies, and living supplies. We needed shower caddies, hangers, plastic bins and things like that. We've cleaned out our rooms and have the majority of our things unpacked. This took me a little while because the light in my room was broken. The bulb was dead, but the light itself didn't work. Someone came today and fixed it so now I have light in my room at night. Yay!
Tomorrow we'll finish getting the supplies we need and we'll make a menu calendar. We've pretty much decided to cook and eat together so that we won't both always be buying lots of food. Plus it's more fun to cook with someone. Hopefully it will help us eat better and for less money.
Speaking of cooking, I have to end with a funny story. We planned to make Chicken Parmesan last night for dinner. We bought all the ingredients when we were out running errands the previous evening. The only thing we didn't get was mozzarella cheese because the store we were at, Euromax (kind of a small scale version of Walmart, but with many more food items than housewares type items), didn't have it. We decided we'd wait until the next day to get the cheese. So last night before we started cooking, we walked down the block to Big Market (that's what it's actually called) and found a package in the cheese cooler that said "La Mozzarella" and got it. We get back and open it up only to find out that it's butter. What? We were confused so we tasted it. It was butter alright. So we put the cooking on hold, went to another closer smaller market store and asked for mozzarella or pizza cheese as they call it. They didn't have any so we found some processed cheese slices that said "Sandwich Cheese" and bought it. We figured it was just normal American cheese that you'd put on a sub so it would melt. We were right. We made our meal and it tasted delicious. But now we know that when we see "La Mozzarella" it is not what we want. lol :)
Tomorrow I'll write more about the people I've met so far. They all seem wonderful and I can't wait to meet more. I just need to get better at using the language and then I might actually be able to talk to more of them. Go figure, right? :P
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Hello, Albania!
I'm here! I'm here! I'm here at last!
Ok, that sounds a little more excited than I feel right now, but remember, it's 1:16am here, which feels like 6:16pm to me, complete with tummy rumbles. I am wide awake. But I'm here in one piece, safe and sound. Oh, yeah, so's Emily. ;)
So to begin the travel process, my parents and I drove down to south of Chicago where Emily's parents live. We spent the night at their house so that the next day's ride to O'Hare would be shorter. On D Day (Departure Day), I woke up with a knot in my stomach, along with butterflies, and a pounding heart. I was so nervous! In 100% honesty I have never been that nervous in my entire life. I was also anxious and a little excited. But the combination was unlike anything I have ever felt. I was just so overcome with emotions that I kept randomly crying all through the morning. It was hard for me to handle it all. The only thing I wanted to do was load the van and get to the airport. The waiting was killing me and I knew that once I was on my way, excitement about the actual traveling would kick in. I was right.
Once we had the van loaded I started getting excited thinking about a plane, and in-flight movies, and airplane food, and using a bathroom on an airplane. Can you tell I haven't flown much? Seriously, what gives it away? Just kidding! :) But those things really were going through my head. I did start to get a little sad too because in a short time I knew I'd have to give my parents one last hug. I'd already said goodbye to David a week earlier, and that had made me very very sad. Think about it--he's my only sibling and I love him. Of course saying "See you in a year" was super sad.
We got to the airport, took the little train into the station, checked in and checked our luggage. We both had two suitcases. Not bad for having to pack for an entire year, right? All four of the suitcases were under the weight limit so we didn't have to pay any extra. Then we went and got food at McDonald's. I was finally hungry by this point in the day (it was around 2:30 or 3pm) because I'd been so worked up in the morning that I couldn't really eat any breakfast. But the McDonald's tasted good and I had to have something ultimately American before leaving the US. Haha!
Then the dreaded D Day time came. We got in line to go through security and I had to say goodbye to my parents. I know it's not forever, but it's still a long time to not see family. But I did feel better know that other people have done it. I'm not the first one, and it really helped to know God is in control taking care of all of us no matter where we are, close by or far far away. So we gave lots of hugs, and kisses, said lots of blessings, and I love yous, shed tears, and I went through security. I was very very sad but excited for the things to come.
Going through security was fine except that if I wanted to take the few liquids I had with me, (face wash and eye make up remover) they had to be in smaller containers even though the amounts were ok. The bottles were all at least half empty. The lady was nice and asked if there was someone outside security for me, I said yes, and she gave them to my parents instead of throwing them away so they could mail them to me. So she walked over there while I had to stay, but there were more waves, tears, and I love yous. I miss them already, but know that we're all fine and dandy in Jesus' arms.
The plane ride was fine and British Airways is awesome. Free drinks (even alcoholic--don't worry, I stuck to water and ginger ale, except for wine with my supper), good airplane food, and personal TVs. I watched 2 movies and listened to some music they had to chose from. While flying, the sky turned to night. That was cool to see. We could trace our flight on the TV screen, so I checked it often because I'm always curious about where I am. We flew over Newfoundland and the sky was clear. I could see the lights from the city of St. John's. It was awesome! It quickly got cloudy then so I couldn't really see any of the Atlantic Ocean as we flew over it. It was also kind of cloudy coming in to London, but it cleared up enough to see the city. I found the big ferris wheel that's by the river with a little help from Emily. That was cool too! The flight was long, but I couldn't sleep. Even though it was dark outside and I had a window seat, I didn't feel tired, because to me, it didn't feel like nighttime. Oh, and I did use the airplane bathroom. lol It's pretty much just like train bathrooms on Amtrak.
We had some turbulence, but none that made me nervous. We landed at Heathrow in London ahead of schedule at about 20 to 7am, their time. This felt like midnight to me so I was starting to get tired. Once we got there, we had to walk these long windowless hallways to get to customs. The line to have your passport checked and stamped was long and slow. By the time I got to the front, I was tired and then the lady asked me a question. "Are you here with family?" I couldn't hear her. I thought she said something about sanity so I didn't know how to answer. My pause must've made her curious, because she added "Or with a friend or are you traveling alone?" So I said, "Family...well....a friend...." Then she looked confused so I said, "She's my cousin" and pointed to Emily. It was a simple question, but I didn't understand her so it became complicated. Then she wanted my boarding pass for my next flight, but Emily had all the papers so I had to call her over. I'm sure by this point the lady thought I was suspicious so she asked me questions like where was I going, how long was my stay in the UK, what was my occupation, etc. I answered them all, she stamped my passport, and I was on my way.
We went to the baggage claim, or as it's labeled in London, "Baggage Reclaim" and got our suitcases. Emily's had big rips in it. Her stuff could fall out and surely would on the next flight! So our first order of business, was to exchange some American dollars for pounds and buy her a new suitcase. She got it, unpacked the old one and packed the new. Then I needed coffee. By this point, it was a little after 9am (2am to me) and I hadn't slept yet. I needed Starbucks. I got some and perked up for awhile.
Figuring out the shuttle to Gatwick was somewhat confusing because they are in the process of creating a new International Terminal (Terminal #5) and we arrived at Terminal #4. So after we checked multiple signs and former ticket windows, we decided to ask the information desk. This was when we figured out the business about Terminal #5. There was a free shuttle that took us there and I have never had such an adventurous ride.
To begin with, they drive on the wrong side of the road in London. Secondly, Europe has roundabouts instead of stop signs and many intersections, and Heathrow Airport is no exception. Thirdly, our driver must've thought the speed limit was about 90mph. He drove like a lunatic. For the Harry Potter fans reading this, imagine the Knight Bus minus the beds. Even though the bus was pretty much empty, I had to stand because my luggage was blocking me between the seats and the door and the driver took off before I could squeeze through to a seat. Once he took off, I just had to hold on for dear life. The suitcases were falling over and everything. I thought I was going to fall backwards through the door. But, on the plus side, we did meet a very friendly family from Dallas who were traveling on frequent flier miles the fight attendant wife had.
We got to Terminal #5, figured out how to get tickets for the shuttle bus to Gatwick, waited outside, and got on the bus. This shuttle was like a tour bus so it was a nice ride. We went around the city on the highway and got nice views of the fields. There are a lot of sheep there!
Gatwick was a much nicer airport. We got there, checked in, checked baggage, got through security quickly and easily, and then we were practically in the middle of a mall. We got food (where I got Euros for change from my pounds) and eventually found a place to sit and rest until our flight boarded a couple hours later. We played Uno for awhile, took turns going for walks and watching the carry-ons, tried to doze off, found nicer chairs to try and sleep in, and dozed on and off for about the last hour before boarding.
Boarding took awhile because 90% of the passengers seemed in a huge hurry and didn't listen to instructions. We left about a half hour late because the runways were busy. The flight to Tirana was smooth. We flew over the Swiss Alps and they were gorgeous! Very beautiful and very impressive even from the air! We landed and got our passports looked at and stamped and I paid the entry fee of $17 American dollars and again got Euros for change. We waited for our bags, found Dorien, and loaded the car. It was funny to me that Dorien picked us up. I just found it ironic that in a brand new country so far from home, the person who picked us up was the one person I knew. He was in my class in college. Funny, isn't it?
Albanian divers are crazy!!!! Dorien drove safely, but in general, there don't seem to be a lot of traffic rules. When I pointed that out, he agreed. There are stop lights and signs, but besides that, there is no real right of way which makes everything, especially the roundabouts, insane. Add in the fact that no one cares or looks for pedestrians and the pedestrians don't really have rules about when and where to cross and you've got a mess. But it didn't take an overly long time to get to our apartment. He helped us unload and left.
Emily gave me the general tour and showed me where things were. We were hungry and needed food. Even though it was late, we had to go to the ATM to get Lek (Albanian currency) and buy some food for supper and some fruit for breakfast. We were exhausted by this point. I'm very glad she knew how to get food because I was on currency #4 for the day and it was all in the same pocket so I was confused.
We got back, ate showered, and went to bed. I was so overwhelmed from pure exhaustion. It was about midnight here when I went to bed, which felt like 5pm my time. I'd been up for over 24 hours and yet it took me forever to fall asleep because my body and head told me it wasn't bedtime. No wonder I slept until after 2pm today and am wide awake yet after midnight. :) Tomorrow I'll sleep late but will get up before 11. That way I get a decent night's sleep and will hopefully be tired at the right time here.
This is pretty long already so I'll save the news about where I've been and who I've met for tomorrow or Tuesday. I'm still somewhat overwhelmed and am certainly disoriented, but the apartment is cozy and I already feel more comfortable than last night so I know things will only get better as I get my bearings. I'm sure I will like it even more here as time goes on. :) Keep me updated on all the news!
Ok, that sounds a little more excited than I feel right now, but remember, it's 1:16am here, which feels like 6:16pm to me, complete with tummy rumbles. I am wide awake. But I'm here in one piece, safe and sound. Oh, yeah, so's Emily. ;)
So to begin the travel process, my parents and I drove down to south of Chicago where Emily's parents live. We spent the night at their house so that the next day's ride to O'Hare would be shorter. On D Day (Departure Day), I woke up with a knot in my stomach, along with butterflies, and a pounding heart. I was so nervous! In 100% honesty I have never been that nervous in my entire life. I was also anxious and a little excited. But the combination was unlike anything I have ever felt. I was just so overcome with emotions that I kept randomly crying all through the morning. It was hard for me to handle it all. The only thing I wanted to do was load the van and get to the airport. The waiting was killing me and I knew that once I was on my way, excitement about the actual traveling would kick in. I was right.
Once we had the van loaded I started getting excited thinking about a plane, and in-flight movies, and airplane food, and using a bathroom on an airplane. Can you tell I haven't flown much? Seriously, what gives it away? Just kidding! :) But those things really were going through my head. I did start to get a little sad too because in a short time I knew I'd have to give my parents one last hug. I'd already said goodbye to David a week earlier, and that had made me very very sad. Think about it--he's my only sibling and I love him. Of course saying "See you in a year" was super sad.
We got to the airport, took the little train into the station, checked in and checked our luggage. We both had two suitcases. Not bad for having to pack for an entire year, right? All four of the suitcases were under the weight limit so we didn't have to pay any extra. Then we went and got food at McDonald's. I was finally hungry by this point in the day (it was around 2:30 or 3pm) because I'd been so worked up in the morning that I couldn't really eat any breakfast. But the McDonald's tasted good and I had to have something ultimately American before leaving the US. Haha!
Then the dreaded D Day time came. We got in line to go through security and I had to say goodbye to my parents. I know it's not forever, but it's still a long time to not see family. But I did feel better know that other people have done it. I'm not the first one, and it really helped to know God is in control taking care of all of us no matter where we are, close by or far far away. So we gave lots of hugs, and kisses, said lots of blessings, and I love yous, shed tears, and I went through security. I was very very sad but excited for the things to come.
Going through security was fine except that if I wanted to take the few liquids I had with me, (face wash and eye make up remover) they had to be in smaller containers even though the amounts were ok. The bottles were all at least half empty. The lady was nice and asked if there was someone outside security for me, I said yes, and she gave them to my parents instead of throwing them away so they could mail them to me. So she walked over there while I had to stay, but there were more waves, tears, and I love yous. I miss them already, but know that we're all fine and dandy in Jesus' arms.
The plane ride was fine and British Airways is awesome. Free drinks (even alcoholic--don't worry, I stuck to water and ginger ale, except for wine with my supper), good airplane food, and personal TVs. I watched 2 movies and listened to some music they had to chose from. While flying, the sky turned to night. That was cool to see. We could trace our flight on the TV screen, so I checked it often because I'm always curious about where I am. We flew over Newfoundland and the sky was clear. I could see the lights from the city of St. John's. It was awesome! It quickly got cloudy then so I couldn't really see any of the Atlantic Ocean as we flew over it. It was also kind of cloudy coming in to London, but it cleared up enough to see the city. I found the big ferris wheel that's by the river with a little help from Emily. That was cool too! The flight was long, but I couldn't sleep. Even though it was dark outside and I had a window seat, I didn't feel tired, because to me, it didn't feel like nighttime. Oh, and I did use the airplane bathroom. lol It's pretty much just like train bathrooms on Amtrak.
We had some turbulence, but none that made me nervous. We landed at Heathrow in London ahead of schedule at about 20 to 7am, their time. This felt like midnight to me so I was starting to get tired. Once we got there, we had to walk these long windowless hallways to get to customs. The line to have your passport checked and stamped was long and slow. By the time I got to the front, I was tired and then the lady asked me a question. "Are you here with family?" I couldn't hear her. I thought she said something about sanity so I didn't know how to answer. My pause must've made her curious, because she added "Or with a friend or are you traveling alone?" So I said, "Family...well....a friend...." Then she looked confused so I said, "She's my cousin" and pointed to Emily. It was a simple question, but I didn't understand her so it became complicated. Then she wanted my boarding pass for my next flight, but Emily had all the papers so I had to call her over. I'm sure by this point the lady thought I was suspicious so she asked me questions like where was I going, how long was my stay in the UK, what was my occupation, etc. I answered them all, she stamped my passport, and I was on my way.
We went to the baggage claim, or as it's labeled in London, "Baggage Reclaim" and got our suitcases. Emily's had big rips in it. Her stuff could fall out and surely would on the next flight! So our first order of business, was to exchange some American dollars for pounds and buy her a new suitcase. She got it, unpacked the old one and packed the new. Then I needed coffee. By this point, it was a little after 9am (2am to me) and I hadn't slept yet. I needed Starbucks. I got some and perked up for awhile.
Figuring out the shuttle to Gatwick was somewhat confusing because they are in the process of creating a new International Terminal (Terminal #5) and we arrived at Terminal #4. So after we checked multiple signs and former ticket windows, we decided to ask the information desk. This was when we figured out the business about Terminal #5. There was a free shuttle that took us there and I have never had such an adventurous ride.
To begin with, they drive on the wrong side of the road in London. Secondly, Europe has roundabouts instead of stop signs and many intersections, and Heathrow Airport is no exception. Thirdly, our driver must've thought the speed limit was about 90mph. He drove like a lunatic. For the Harry Potter fans reading this, imagine the Knight Bus minus the beds. Even though the bus was pretty much empty, I had to stand because my luggage was blocking me between the seats and the door and the driver took off before I could squeeze through to a seat. Once he took off, I just had to hold on for dear life. The suitcases were falling over and everything. I thought I was going to fall backwards through the door. But, on the plus side, we did meet a very friendly family from Dallas who were traveling on frequent flier miles the fight attendant wife had.
We got to Terminal #5, figured out how to get tickets for the shuttle bus to Gatwick, waited outside, and got on the bus. This shuttle was like a tour bus so it was a nice ride. We went around the city on the highway and got nice views of the fields. There are a lot of sheep there!
Gatwick was a much nicer airport. We got there, checked in, checked baggage, got through security quickly and easily, and then we were practically in the middle of a mall. We got food (where I got Euros for change from my pounds) and eventually found a place to sit and rest until our flight boarded a couple hours later. We played Uno for awhile, took turns going for walks and watching the carry-ons, tried to doze off, found nicer chairs to try and sleep in, and dozed on and off for about the last hour before boarding.
Boarding took awhile because 90% of the passengers seemed in a huge hurry and didn't listen to instructions. We left about a half hour late because the runways were busy. The flight to Tirana was smooth. We flew over the Swiss Alps and they were gorgeous! Very beautiful and very impressive even from the air! We landed and got our passports looked at and stamped and I paid the entry fee of $17 American dollars and again got Euros for change. We waited for our bags, found Dorien, and loaded the car. It was funny to me that Dorien picked us up. I just found it ironic that in a brand new country so far from home, the person who picked us up was the one person I knew. He was in my class in college. Funny, isn't it?
Albanian divers are crazy!!!! Dorien drove safely, but in general, there don't seem to be a lot of traffic rules. When I pointed that out, he agreed. There are stop lights and signs, but besides that, there is no real right of way which makes everything, especially the roundabouts, insane. Add in the fact that no one cares or looks for pedestrians and the pedestrians don't really have rules about when and where to cross and you've got a mess. But it didn't take an overly long time to get to our apartment. He helped us unload and left.
Emily gave me the general tour and showed me where things were. We were hungry and needed food. Even though it was late, we had to go to the ATM to get Lek (Albanian currency) and buy some food for supper and some fruit for breakfast. We were exhausted by this point. I'm very glad she knew how to get food because I was on currency #4 for the day and it was all in the same pocket so I was confused.
We got back, ate showered, and went to bed. I was so overwhelmed from pure exhaustion. It was about midnight here when I went to bed, which felt like 5pm my time. I'd been up for over 24 hours and yet it took me forever to fall asleep because my body and head told me it wasn't bedtime. No wonder I slept until after 2pm today and am wide awake yet after midnight. :) Tomorrow I'll sleep late but will get up before 11. That way I get a decent night's sleep and will hopefully be tired at the right time here.
This is pretty long already so I'll save the news about where I've been and who I've met for tomorrow or Tuesday. I'm still somewhat overwhelmed and am certainly disoriented, but the apartment is cozy and I already feel more comfortable than last night so I know things will only get better as I get my bearings. I'm sure I will like it even more here as time goes on. :) Keep me updated on all the news!
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