Weekend Update

Saturday
After going nearly non-stop since we arrived in Kosovo, the group took a break from our daily activities this weekend to bond with our hosts and to visit what many here say is, "the most beautiful part of Kosovo."

On Saturday we started the day by driving to the city of Peje. It took three vans and Liz’s Jeep to get all of us there. And we couldn’t have fit another person even if we tried! The van I rode in all day was packed with my fellow Muscatine adult participants. Just outside of Gjakove we were stopped at a local police check-point. Apparently our van driver doesn’t have the right license to drive so many people around. Luckily, Liz was behind us. She stopped and talked with the police officers and explained she had rented the van because we were here on a music and humanitarian exchange. They eventually let us go without giving our driver a ticket.

Once we reached Peje we walked to the Saturday open-air market. Man, it was hot. I walked through the Weekend Market in Bangkok this past February and I thought it was hot there. I think it was even hotter here. The market itself was filled with traditional crafts, household items and clothing (some, not all, fake versions of popular American clothes). Many people were selling things out of the back of their cars. I purchased a few hand knitted pillow forms. Many others bought traditional clothing, lace and table linens. The youths purchased everything from shoes to Kosovo souvenirs.

About half-way through the market we found a cool spot and ate the sack lunches we brought for the day. It was difficult to keep the entire group together in the market but somehow we managed to do it.

We left Peje just before 2pm and headed for an area known as Rugove Canyon. This breathtaking mountainous area is located along the Kosovo-Montenegro border. To reach our destination (a large, open field next to a shallow stream) we had to weave our way up the narrow road for several miles. It was a beautiful drive. The terrain reminded me of areas of Colorado.

We stopped in an open area with views of a small but beautiful waterfall while waiting for others in our caravan to catch-up. But once we were on our way again we almost immediately had to stop. A large flat-bed semi truck was stuck in one of the road’s narrow tunnels (wedged in-between two rather sharp curves in the road). It was quite a sight. Our driver directed while the truck drive carefully navigated the tunnel. Slowly but surely the truck made it out of the tunnel. I’m not sure how he made it up the mountain to begin with!

When we reached our destination, youths and adults quickly took off their shoes to wade into the shallow stream. I’m told the water was ice cold (I didn’t go in the water). Everyone seemed to have great fun. Jon Fasanelli-Calwelti and Ben Rivera actually took a swim. Others simply dipped their feet. Most of the youths played for hours in and along the stream. I took pictures and just enjoyed the cool mountain breeze.

We were not alone in the area where we stopped. There were several other families picnicking near us. Towards the end of our visit one of the men came over and offered our group sweet bread. Liz told us it was a huge gesture….mainly because this particular bread takes an entire day to make. As a gesture of thanks, Ric and Liz assembled the combined youth choirs for a small performance. I still get goose bumps when I see our Muscatine youth and members of SMF perform.

The crowd applauded the performance. Just around 5pm we left for the two-hour drive back to Gjakove. It was a fun and relaxing day.

Note...see photos from the day below

We arrived back just around 7pm and the entire group was due at the house I am living in at 8pm for dinner. Trying to cook for this many people is a daunting task so we decided to order pizza. We provided drinks (Gatorade and Crystal Light), vegetable salad and a few other appetizers. We were expecting 35 pizzas to be delivered shortly after 8pm so we waited, and waited, and waited some more. Finally, Burim drove to the restaurant and picked-up the pizza himself. We ordered so many pizzas that the restaurant brought the last dozen to our house.
The food was great, the youths had a great time singing and playing and the adults enjoyed a great evening of conversation.

Shortly after 10pm we lost power. Boy…that was interesting. I quickly made my way to my room for one of my flashlights and others in the house started lighting candles. Once we had a bit of light in the main living area, the main hallway and two of the bathrooms, the fun and play continued as if there was nothing wrong.

People started filtering out of the house around midnight and the power returned shortly thereafter. I must say that everyone was really good about cleaning up after themselves. I had fears the house would look like a scene out of the movie Animal House but clean-up wasn’t as bad as we expected. It took longer to boil water so we could wash dishes more than anything else.

Exhausted, we didn’t get to bed until after 1am.

Sunday
Today we are spending the afternoon with various host families. Anne Olson and I are going to Burim’s house. Burim stayed at my house when he visited Muscatine in 2004. I am really excited to finally meet his family. Tonight the children will rehearse. Tomorrow we return to our busy schedule.

Until next time…..