Sights and Sounds of my Life

Thought it may be neat to take you through a day in my life, and all the sights and sounds that I experience during daily life here in Berat.  Come along for the ride...

My bedroom faces the east, so early in the morning (about 5:30 -6am) I am awaked by the sunlight flooding into my bedroom.  If this natural alarm click were not enough, the roosters outside my window crow to make sure that I know that the day has started.  I am becoming more and more immune to their crys, but occasionally I still hear them squawking about in the garden below.  I rise from bed, usually to a cool house, much different than the warm temperature that I fell asleep in.  I head to the kitchen for some granola cereal (imported from Germany) and a cup of instant coffee (that's as close to American coffee as I can get).  Some mornings I am out of the house more quickly, if I am meeting Marisa (sitemate) for an early hike, and others I set up my make-shift yoga studio on my large front patio and take in the sunrise while I am "connecting my body and mind!" Sounds very serene...and it is!  I have started doing yoga because of encouragement from Marisa.  She really likes it and has quite a collection of MP3 downloaded classes.  Some are hard (toning classes) and others are more easy (stretching and breathing).  Either way I really like them and feel that is a great way to wake up.

Most days I proceed to get ready for work.  In the hot summer months this does not require a lot of prep time.  A mildly warm shower and a splash of blush is about all the effort that I can give as I anticipate the heat the day will soon deliver.  My hair doesn't even get blown, as it will dry in the sun during my 10 minute walk to the office.  On my way down the 3 flights of stairs of my villa, I am greeted by the neighbors and the neighbors dog, who we have affectionally name Wayne (he is a cattle dog, and we figured it appropriate for him to have a country name).  Wayne usually follows me half way down my street, playfully bitting at my ankles the whole way, before returning home.

On my way to the office (a ten minute walk to the center of town) I pass though the Gabby.  This is were the Roma people, a group of Gypsies, are selling used clothes, shoes and homegoods, under open air tents.  They call out to anyone who will listen, announcing their goods for sale.  I am greeted with "Miremengjeses" and as I pass, I hear curious whispers about "Ajo eshte American?"  The road to the office leads me by several of my favorite neighborhood stores.  I collect friendly waves and indifferent stares as I pass, my long red hair drying the breeze.  How different I must look the men who line the street cafes?  Many have never been outside the block where they live.

At the office, a 3 story concrete block standing in tribute to the best communist architecture had to offer, I spend most of my time with the same three people.  Emilijano, is my supervisor, Vali and Asjem, share his office.   I am not really doing work with them, as they are all engineers (a common profession here), but they are entertaining to interact with.  We exchange greets and a mix of shqip and english, then I work on projects quietly or check my email.  Most of my work is focused on the youth group that Marisa and I have started.  I usually only commit a few hours to work here, interrupted with trips to the post office to pick up packages or random visits from people off the streets.  I leave and usually make stop at Marisa's apartment, which is in the center of town.  On the way I may stop in at the supermarket, or a fruit and vegetable stand to pick up the makings of dinner. 

Time at Marisa's is consumed by planning our next youth meeting or SAT prep class.  We may meet for a coffee, or, on slow days, waste our time away suffering the mental torture that a New York Times Saturday Crossword puzzle brings us, or instead drift away into a heat induced afternoon nap.  

The buzz of the cell phone alarm clock wakes us, as we get ready to leave the house for a Roots and Shoots (our youth group) club meeting, or coffee with a friend.  When we return to the house, dinner preparation are fast underway.  Marisa is a better cook, so she is our usual menu planner.  She is a vegetarian, so I am eating meals, pa mish (without meat), or better... the soy or tofu fake meat that she has frozen by the pound-full from here recent trip to germany.  Most of mine dinners, I supplement with either chicken breast or sausage, both of which I can get here at the supermarket.  

Our after dinner plans usually include the Gryo, a community walk down the main street of down.  To gryo is very simple...For girls, you put on your most scandalous outfit and walk up and down the street hoping to be "pick out" as an eligible bride.  When you get the the end you turn around and walk back.  For guys, you sit at the cafes and "shop" for your future wife, or troll street chatting with your other Chuni friends.  It really is quite the spectacle.  The street is lined from curb to curb with people just out for stroll, as vendors sell pop corn and cotton candy.  You can even hear the occasional crash of the bumper cars in the center of town, although most of the time the Albanians simply drive them in a circle around the track.

Marisa and I say our farewells, and set our meeting plans for the next day.  I head home, about a 7 minute walk, down the same street that I walk on to begin my day.  Even though the sun has long since set behind our mountian, the streets are still alive.  Store owners packing up their goods, neighbors sitting on their front stoops, and men watching EuroSport at the local pubs.  I arrive at the house, again greet by Wayne, eager to see if i have brought him any food from town.  Pirro (my landlord) is closing up the gym he runs next to the house, and Taushia (his wife) sits on the patio feeding Ray, her grandson.  Sometimes, from deep inside there house that occupies the first floor of my villa, I can hear the infant cries from the two week old grandbaby and Ray's new little brother.  I say my "goodnights" a head upstairs.  

Night time is a relatively quite time.  Usually the neighbors dog is howling for attention and contrary to popular belief, the roosters are crowing even thought the sun will not rise of several hours.  I lay in bed, reflecting on my day, the differences and similarities of my life here.  I miss my friends and family, but think about the new ones that I am making here.  I thank God for another day, and close my eyes for rest, lucky to be living such a good life!