Today I came home from Fushekruje a few hours earlier than I had anticipated. The rhythm of life and work in the country is fluid in nature. I am coming to appreciate the variety in my schedule. Life here is kind of adventurous even for people who aren’t in my position, because systems provide luxuries and not staples of existence. I was transposing some measurements onto my plan-set today at the Cafe Nord, which is the cafe nearest my jobsite. The power went out on three different occasions in about 45 minutes time. No one seemed to notice.
In 2004 I fell in love with the woman of my dreams. Ever since the spring of the following year I have been able to appreciate the beauty of flowers like this one. Some relationships, however fleeting, can still usher in miraculous changes to a person’s mind. You cannot see that just below this rose is a roughly constructed CMU wall stacked atop a litter strewn, packed earth road. You don’t need to see that. The truth is, all I see is beauty and sky.
Today a wedding was held here at the school. Because I came home early, I was clean and dressed by the time it began. As an American I have inherited the status necessary to attend such an event without being questioned by anyone. However, I felt like it wasn’t my place. I could eat an entire cheesecake, but that doesn’t mean that I should. I did take some photographs. This wedding was more like the ones I have seen and participated in back home. Christianity has a lot of European baggage, and it seams we cannot divorce the bride and groom of “Christian Marriage,” with “Western Norms.” The homogenization of traditions is often mistaken for progress. That said, the wedding was of course beautiful; a grand celebration.
The second floor of the school provided a special vantage point for people like me who were not invited guests. Cimi’s family eagerly took in every moment of the nuptials. The way of affluent Europe is a fascinating study for the country people of Albania.
I suppose I was caught up in the fascination as well.
albaniacalling 