Mojot svet

N gulampoza

2011-06-23T13:29:00.001+04:00

Musu atputas bridis, kamer N klejo pa gultu, mamma lasa zurnalu

Can you fall asleep on the kitchen floor?

2011-01-28T14:00:00.002+04:00

Since the birth of Nugo I have been struggling with his sleep and I have read everything possible on baby sleep. I agree with one mother who wrote that "sleeping like a baby" is the biggest myth in the world history.

Yesterday I was talking to my doula on baby sleep-training and she gave me the comparison that a baby who falls asleep while nursing and wakes up in his bed feels the same as you if you fell asleep in your bed but would wake up on the kitchen floor. So, I answered, would anybody enjoy to be put on the kitchen floor and told to sleep?

center of the world

2010-09-29T17:53:00.003+04:00

It seems the new center of the world is Tbilisi - so many odd old friends and acquaintances have found their way to visit me here and it does not seem stopping.

Dakterīši

2010-03-15T10:24:00.002+04:00

Pēdējais laiks ir ticis pavadīts zem medicīnas zīmes un izraisījis nopietnas pārdomas par atbildību, biznesu, veselo saprātu, ticību, neticību, paļaušanos uz "profesionāļiem" vai savu iekšējo intuīciju...

Vispār pie ārstiem Latvijā esmu gājusi maz un nekā slikta man sakāms nav. Iespaids ir izveidojies tikai tāds, ka latviešu ārsti ir ļoti aizņemti un cenšas tevi atrunāt no "liekām" operācijām, t.i. operācijām, kas nav akūti nepieciešamas un ar "uzmanies un pagaidi kādu gadiņu" neko sliktu nevar nodarīt. Varbūt jau zināma taisnība tur ir - labāk pēc iespējas ilgāk saglabāt "dabisko uzbūvi" un katra operācija sevī ietver zināmu riska faktoru. Man ir konkrēti bijušas pārdomas par 2 operācijām - pleca saišu fiksēšanu un mandeļu raušanu. Par zobiem arī ir līdzīgi - mana zobārste Latvijā cenšas saglabāt zobu (t.i. paliekas no zoba) cik ilgi vien iespējams. Vienīgais kronis man šobrīd ir no Maķedonijas un joprojām šaubos, vai tas bija labākais risinājums. Par Zviedriju vispār, kas ir dzirdēts, ir šausmas - tur pie ārsta var tikt vienīgi uz reanimāciju. Telefona māsiņas slimības gadījumā iesaka atpūsties un lietot homeopātiskas bezrecepšu zāles. Cilvēki ir sapratuši, ka jādomā profilaktiski un lielākajā daļā gadījumu jau mēs ar atpūtu un kāju sildīšanu tiekam uz pekām. Bet... ne vienmēr. Un ārstam būtu jābūt tam tiesnesim, kas lemj ar kuru gadījumu viņš ir saskāries. Grūts un atbildīgs darbs. Man jau vispār doktors Hauss jau nedaudz krīt uz nerviem un vairāk neskatos, jo tie viņa "keisi" ir pārāk "kreizī" un normāli cilvēki tāpat nesaprot, par ko ir runa. Un pārējais sižets ap medicīnas tēmu arī ir kļuvis garlaicīgs, jo Hauss ir Hauss... nothing new or special. Bet kāpēc es te par Hausu sāku rakstīt? Diagnostika. Pat nevajag nekādus Hausa dīvainās slimības vēstures, pietiek ar parastajām. Diagnostika ir viena sarežģīta un ļoti atbildīga štelle. Nevar vienu problēmu, saslimšanu, orgānu atdalīt no citiem, no cilvēka organisma kopumā. Ir jāņem vērā tik daudz faktoru un būtu tik labi, ja cilvēki spētu labāk ieklausīties savā organismā un ārsti cilvēkā.

Aizpagājušajā nedēļā manam vīram bija sinusīts vai heimorīts (deguna blakusdobuma sastrutojums). Viss sākās ar zoba sāpēm. Zobam plombe bija izkritusi jau pirms kādiem trim mēnešiem un sliņķis nekādi nebija ticis līdz zobārstam. Nu piespiedu kārtā aizgāja, bet zobārste teica, ka kanāli ir sapildīti labi un tikai "gaļa" samocīta un iekaisusi. To tad piededzināja un ielika pagaidu plombi. Bet viņam pacēlās 38 grādu temperatūra pa nedēļas nogali. Pirmdien zvanīja zobārstei - tā teica, ka tik augsta temperatūra no zoba nevar būt un visi radi uzreiz izlēma, ka tā ir gripa un es ar savu grūtniecību vīram nevaru tuvoties. Tomēr vienu kanālu (no 3) viņa iztīrija un iedeva kaut kādas antibiotikas dzert. Man bija čujs, ka tā nav nekāda gripa un pie vainas tomēr zobs. Aizrakstīju simptomus mammai, kas tos aizkomunicēja mūsu ģimenes zobārstei, kurai pēc mana e-pasta bija skaidrs, ka problēma ir ar deguna blakusdobumu. Piedabūju vīru aiziet pie kāda cita zobārsta uz konsultāciju un beigu galā tā arī bija, ka deguna blakusdobums bija pamatīgi sastrutojis. Fiksi uztaisīja operāciju (šim par pamatīgu šoku), izņēma to strutu cistu, lika atmest tās antibiotikas un sāka špricēt citas. Viss labs, kas labi beidzas. Tomēr vēl nedaudz šaubos, vai tik kardināla rīcība bija nepieciešama un vai ātrākas diagnostikas un pareizo antibiotiku gadījumā nevarētu iztikt bez ķirurģiskas iejaukšanās. Pie tam te liekas parasti ar antibiotikām kopā dzert klaritīnu, kas ir pretalerģijas medikaments. Es tā arī līdz galam nesapratu, kāpēc. Tad viņam vēl deva dzert kaut kādu dzeltenu tableti, ko sauca par antibiotiku "brālēnu." Un ārsts vēl izrakstīja kaut kādu makteno pretsēnīšu zāli, no kuras instrukcijas pat vīramāte (savādāk zāles ļoti mīlošs radījums) nobijās un teica, lai nedzer. Es gan devu savu autorizāciju dzert, jo tai es vismaz redzēju jēgu - izskatījās, ka antibiotikas bija radījušas pateicīgu vidi sēnīšu izplatībai. Bet tāds nu man dīvains iespaids veidojas par šejienes sistēmu... Ārsti izraksta simts un vienu zāli "katram gadījumam," aptiekas ir ik pēc 20 soļiem (izskatās, ļoti labs bizness...), gandrīz katrs ir pašizglītots ārsts, kas vēl analizē ārsta izrakstīto un pats lemj, ko labāk nedzert un ko vēl varētu dzert. Pie tam izskatās, ka priekšroka vienmēr tiek dota "efektīgākajām" zālēm, tas ir jiftīgākajām. Man liekas smieklīgi milzīgie aizspriedumi pret "mākslīgajiem" vitamīniem, ja viņiem normāli liekas pie mazākajām iesnām pumpēt iekšā tādu ķīmiju. Cik man bija grūti atrast un pārliecināt vīru nopirkt fluora tabletes... hematogenus man tikko atveda draudzene no Latvijas, tāpat Citrosept. Tāda parasta un iedarbīga lieta kā kumelīšu tēja te nav īpašā cieņā. Visi pumpē tikai melno un slavē savas murabas - ļoti sacukurotus ievārījumus. Aveņu muraba pie melnās tējas ir ļoti laba saaukstēšanās zāle un vīģu muraba - pret klepu. Nu varbūt...

Droši vien es pati esmu tāds "pašizglītots" ārsts, kas googlē, kas lācītim vēderā. Pieļauju, ka ar manu vīru (beigās) viss tika izdarīts, kā vajag. Bet pēc vīra saslimu es un dakterīšu pieredze manā gadījumā nostiprināja manas šaubas par dakterīšu kompetenci un vajadzību vienmēr apšaubīt viņu lēmumus un ieteikumus.

Kas tieši bija pie vainas, nezinu. Nedomāju, ka vainīgs vīrs, ja nu vienīgi, kā pārstājām bučoties un tā rezultātā cieta mana imunitāte :) Nedomāju, ka tas arī bija kāds vīruss, kā te visi mīl uzreiz teikt, ja masveidā daudzi cilvēki saķer iesnas un sāpošu kaklu. Es minētu, ka tas ir vienkārši mainīgais marta laiks un vitamīnu trūkums, kāpēc tik daudzi vienlaicīgi saaukstējas. Zinu, ka mans kakls ir vājš un uzņēmīgs pret visādu zarazu. Jau ilgu laiku domāju un konsultējos ar pieredzējušajiem cilvēkiem par labumu no izņemtām mandelēm. Gandrīz visi, kam izrautas, man iesaka to nedarīt. Tā nu pagaidām atlieku un atlieku. Ļoti cerēju grūtniecības laiku izstaigāt bez slimošanas, it kā jau uzmanījos, bet nu pārlieku jau arī nespēju un negribu... Lai nu kā - viss sākās kā man jau pierasts: ar kakla sāpēm. Dzēru tējas ar medu, karstu pienu ar medu, sviestu un nedaudz sodas, sildīju kājas, skaloju kaklu ar sāli, sūkāju mentola končas un vienu dienu atpūtos mājās. Otrā dienā pārgāja nākamajā stadijā ar mazākām kakla sāpēm, nelielu klepu un parādījās puņķi. Temperatūru termometrs neuzrādīja, nejutu arī, ka ir pa dienu, bet pa nakti gan nedaudz pasvīdu. Nejutos tik slikti, lai skrietu pie ārstiem un to arī nedarītu, ja nebūtu stāvoklī. Cerēju, ka būs kā decembrī un pāries pēc vienas, maksimums divām dienām (manuprāt, grūtniecei ir spēcīgāka imunitāte un tās ir muļķības, ko viņi tagad stāsta par pavājinātu imunitāti). Tomēr, kad trešajā dienā nebija ievērojami labāk, izlēmu tomēr aiziet pie dakteriem pārbaudīties.

Vairāk biju uztraukusies par bēbi, jo pirms slimošanas spārdījās tā, ka brīžiem pat pamodināja no miega, bet pēdējās dienas bija ļoti mierīgs. Bet ginekoloģe mani pat nepieņēma un aizsūtīja uzreiz pie terapeites. Es arī baigi neuzprasījos, jo bēbis pie terapeites sēžot sāka ļoti spārdīt man pie ribām augšā. Tā nu izlēmu, ka viņš bija vienkārši pagriezies vertikāli, jo šķērsām sāka palikt mums abiem neērti. Terapeite mani riktīgi izmeklēja un viņai nepatika mans kakls un arī kaut kas tā kā varētu būt saklausāms plaušās (ļoti šaubos, ko viņa tur saklausīja...), uzzināja, ka man draudzene no ārzemēm ciemos atbraukusi, arī saaukstējusies, to iesauca iekšā un izjautāja. Lai arī temperatūras nebija, izlēma sūtīt taisīt H1N1 analīzes. Pie tam izrakstīja, kādas 10 dažādas zāles/procēdūras, ieskaitot kaut kādas antibiotikas, kas ir "nekaitīgas grūtniecēm." Tjipa, nekas īpašs man nav, bet ir risks, ka kaut kas varētu sākties, kas varētu radīt nopietnas komplikācijas. Tomēr arī izlēma mani aizsūtīt pie lora uz "konsultāciju." Lors nebija uz vietas un mēs devāmies meklēt, kur uztaisīt H1N1 analīzes. Es par to smējos ar vīru un terapeite ginekoloģei teica, ka mēs esam "ģetskij sad." Ginekoloģe gan centās mani aizstāvēt. Pārjautāja, vai esmu studējusi medicīnu. Pēc mana "nē" teica, ka tomēr esmu ļoti izglītota un saprātīga meitene.

Beigās atradām to infekciju centru, kur tā kā var taisīt H1N1 testu. Sākumā durvis atvērtas, bet neviena nav. Beigās vienā telpā Oto atrada divas sievietes, dzeram kafiju. Šis sāka par H1N1 testu, bet, kad dāmas uzzināja, ka mēs esam nosūtīti no Čačavas klīnikas, teica, lai ejam, no kurienes nākuši. Visu laiku no Čačavas viņiem sūtot pacientus uz H1N1 testu. Esot jau apnicis.

Atgriezāmies Čačavā pie lora. Konsultācija pie tā krutā lora maksāja 40 larus (tas ir ap 20 EUR vai 14 latiem). Ja Oto nebūtu aizskrējis tik ātri maksāt, es būtu atrunājusi. Tāpēc arī viņš tik ātri aizskrēja. Lors gados jauns vīrietis. Kabinets ar visādu krutu (dārgu) aprīkojumu. Paskatījās manas mandeles - jā, sastrutojušas. Strutainā angīna. Bez antibiotikām neobajķis... Es saku, ka tomēr esmu stāvoklī un negribu antibiotikas. Oto rāda to antibiotiku vārdu, ko terapeita izrakstījusi un kuras it kā ir derīgas arī grūtniecēm. Šis nokrata galvu, ka šitās nederēs, jo ir pavisam citas grupas antibiotikas un angīnas gadījumā vajag no penicilīna grupas. Pret tām otrām es tikai resistenci attīstītu. Jauki. Jebkurā gadījumā grūtniecības gadījumā pēdējais galavārds par antibiotikām ir ginekoloģei. Bez antibiotikām viņš uzraksta savu sarakstu ar 10 zālēm. Iesaka uzreiz pēc dzemdībām raut mandeles ārā. Grib man no ausīm ar savu kruto mašīnu sēra korķus tīrīt, bet es jūtu, ka man ausis arī nedaudz iekaisušas un negribu, lai viņš man tās aiztiek. Viegli izdodas atrunāt.

Nu tad ar terapeites un lora zāļu sarakstiem ejam pie ginekoloģes pēc viņas konsultācijas un jāvārda. Viņa kaut kur pie kāda steidzama pacienta un sanāk ilgi gaidīt. Gaidot man neiztur nervi. Esmu visu dienu smējusies, lai neraudātu. Nāk virsū izmisums, jo esmu sabaidīta ar tādu nopietnu strutaino angīnu, iespējamu cūku gripu un velns viņu zina, ko vēl. Pati gan tomēr jūtu, ka ar mani viss kārtībā. Bet kam lai tic? Ko lai es saku dakteriem, vīram un vīramātei, kāpēc domāju visus viņu zāļu sarakstus mest miskastē? Un priekš kam mēs esam iztērējuši gandrīz 50 latus? Un kā lai es uzņemos atbildību ne tikai par savu, bet arī par mazas dzīvības veselību (varbūt uz visu nākošo mūžu). Kā lai es cīnos pret visiem? Vai es tiešām esmu gudrāka par visiem šiem krutās klīnikas ārstiem? Labi tomēr, ka man ir tā paveicies ar vīru un viņš mani saprot un ir manā pusē. Pēc manām asaru straumēm atnāk beidzot arī ginekoloģe, kas neko gudru nepasaka. Tikai to, ka viņa jau apspriedusies ar terapeiti un lai mēs darot, kā viņa liekot. Liels paldies.

Tā nu mēs ņemam priekšā zāļu sarakstus un akceptējam no tiem C vitamīnu (gan ne špricēs, bet parasti dražejās un šķīstošajās tabletēs) un Trachisan kakla skalojamo šķidrumu. Es tam vēl pievienoju Septolete sūkājamās tabletes, no kurām centos izvairīties, bet zinu, ka man labi palīdz un nelielos daudzumos nevajadzētu bēbim vairāk kaitēt kā vēl ilgāka slimošana. Kur nu vēl antibiotikas.

Pēc visa šī trādirīža un nepārtrauktām "telefonkonferencēm" ar mammu, Oto ir viņu pārliecinājis, ka Čačava nerullē un ka visi tur vienkārši taisa biznesu uz mana rēķina. Tagad tiek meklēti jauni ārsti caur draugu un paziņu tīkliem.

Joprojām jūtos labi un gandrīz pilnīgi uz pekām. Gribu jau iet vingrot šodien, bet Oto vēl cenšas atrunāt.

Georgia on CNN

2010-03-02T19:08:00.002+04:00

I am sometimes watching CNN here. I think the Georgian ad is quite... hmmm... I have trouble finding an appropriate epithet. But if I was really Georgian, I would feel embarrassed. But maybe that's my Latvian humbleness talking.

Judge for yourselves

$$$$$

Megruli dedamtili, ra!

2010-03-01T19:09:00.003+04:00

Kad gribēju iegādāties garšvielas, Ota atteica, ka Lia (mana vīramāte = dedamtili) par to parūpēsies. Parūpējās ar. Šodien piešāvu divas tējkarotes sarkano piparu sautējumam un laikam būs viss lielais katls jāmet ārā. Nu nākamreiz zināšu, ka sarkano piparu pulvera vietā man škafčikā ir riktīgs mežonīgais čili :) vairāk par naža galu nekad nelikšu.

Lai paskaidrotu nezinātājiem - megruļi ir no Austrumgruzijas, kur ēdieni ir asi. Megruļiem ir savs dialekts un nacionālais raksturs, tā kā mēs tos jokojoties saucam par Gruzijas latgaļiem jeb čangaļiem. Čangali gan te nozīmē dakša... Un vispār svani no Svaneti varbūt lielāki latgaļi, jo svanu uzvārdi beidzas ar -ani. Tad nu varbūt es ar savu latgaļu uzvārdu "Šaltani" varēju te izlikties par svanieni. Tā (kā mums šodien stāstīja gruzīnu valodas skolotāja) dažreiz rīkojoties armēņi, jo viņiem gruzīniski uzvārdi beidzas ar -iani... un tas pirmais -i kļūdas pēc var vienkārši pazust. Bet svani man joprojām ar gulbjiem asociējas (angļu valoda dominē), kaut gan zviedriski svans ir aste :) Astainie gulbji no pasaku valstības ar augstiem akmens torņiem, zaļām ielejām un sniegotiem kalniem.

Jau pavasaris!

2010-02-28T12:55:00.001+04:00

Fashion blog

2010-02-25T15:38:00.003+04:00

Zviedrijā baigā modē ir fashion blogi, ar kuriem var (ja paveicas) nopelnīt diezgan labu naudu. Kaut kādu talantu šajā jomā jau arī vajag un šobrīd jau "tirgus penetrācijai" laiks ir nedaudz nokavēts - konkurence ir pārāk liela. Bet vispār Zviedrija ir ar modi apsēsta zeme, kurā tomēr retais izceļas ar oriģinalitāti. Tieši tāpēc jau tie blogi ir tik ļoti apmeklēti, jo svensoni smeļas iedvesmu, kurā veikalā, ko pirkt un ar ko to kombinēt. Beigās tie tūkstoši, kas tos populāros blogus izlasījuši, visi izskatās kā kloni. Nu nav jau tikai blogos vaina - protams, visi iepērkas H&M, Gina Tricot un New Yorkerī, kur tas piedāvājums viens no otra baigi neatšķiras... Es te varētu izplūst arī par Zviedru pilsētas modeli, kur Kungsgatan krustojas ar Drottninggatan un centrā ir Stora Torget ar Ahlens :)

No praktiskās puses, protams, vieglāk dzīvot. Ja atradīsi Kungsgatan, značit kaut kur uz priekšu ir Stora Torget un pilsētas centrs. Apmaldīties pagrūti. Arī mana iepriekšējā dienasgrāmatas ieraksta problēma atkrīt - topiņus visās krāsās un visām dzīves situācijām var atrast H&M, ilgi nav jāmeklē.

Te, Gruzijā, liekas vienkāršāk ir atrast kaut ko ekstraoriģinālu - skatīt zemāk kāzu kleitas, nekā pamata preces.

Vispār, jāsaka, man patīk kā gruzīnu sievietes ģērbjas. Ir jau protams paaudze, kuras garderobi joprojām diktē padomju un postpadomju stils... Nevar jau vienmēr par visiem 100% droši pateikt, bet krievietes pēc ģērbšanās stila atšķiras te līdzīgi kā Rīgā. Laikam jau mums ar gruzīnietēm gaumes līdzīgākas. Vienīgā atšķirība - gruzīnietes traki iemīļojušas melnos, tumšos un nedaudz arī spilgtos toņus. Latvijā pēdējā laikā bija manāma pāreja uz gaišākiem pasteļkrāsas toņiem. Bet vispār jau mēs pēc sejas krāsas esam pavisam cita palete :) Bezkrāsainie pasteļkrāsas letiņi. Par ko es te nedaudz vakar nošokējos - sievietes devītajā grūtniecības mēnesī uz 12 cm papēžiem... Te mums atkal priekšrocība pret gruzīnietēm, kurām pat ar tādu svaru jāklumburē uz milzīgiem papēžiem, lai izskatītos garākas :)

Man īpaši patīk gruzīnu emaljas rotaslietas (tiešām gruzīnu?), kas te ir piedāvājumā lielā vairumā. Nu vienkārši skaistas! Oriģinālu auskaru tīkotājas no Latvijas - brauciet ciemos! Ah, un laimīgās gruzīnietes ir tiešām apveltītas ar izciliem matiem. Mani jau arī labi, bet pat ar visu manu grūtniecības hormonu izraisīto matu biezumu un spīdumu gruzīnietes man ieliek.

Topiņi, mentola končas un hematogens

2010-02-23T20:59:00.003+04:00

Laimas konfektes var man nevest - te tās ir! Rebekas vafeles pat tuvējā veikalā, bet šokolādes jāmeklē citā. Vafeļu nišā laikam vieglāk ielauzties. Ir arī atrodami Laimas zefīri šokolādē un marmelādes. Ir nopērkama "lietuviešu maize" - diezgan sakarīga rupjmaize, ko gan cep šeit uz vietas nevis ved no Lietuvas. Varianti arī ir - Borodinas, ar ķimenēm un maize "Saule" ar saulespuķu sēklām. Biezpiens un krējums ir tādi paši kā mājās. Viens vietējā ražotāja "Eko Food" (a.k.a. Eko Pudi) jogurtiņš ir vairāk līdzīgs jogurta krēmam, kas man tā pietrūka Zviedrijā. Ir arī krievu "Čudo" jogurta krēms...mmm... un dažreiz mūsu veikalā parādās arī biezpiena sieriņi šokolādē. Nav jau Kārums, bet ir ok. Protams, visur ir latviešu šprotes. Bet mūsu veikalā ir arī Latvijā ražotas skumbrijas tomātu mērcē un mencu aknas. Protams, ir griķi! Vispār tās lietas, ko vedu uz Zviedriju, te ir! Pietrūkst citas lietas.

1. Mentola končas.
Man ik pa laikam piemetās krekšķis (šogad mazāk, bet vienu brīdi vilka uz to) - no aukstuma vai putekļainā gaisa, kas to lai zina. Kakls man vienkārši ir vājākais punkts. Parasti nekādus sīrupus nedzeru un aerosolus nepūšu, palīdz vienkārši atpūta un tēja. Un pasūkāt kādu mentola konču (tādu kā Lockets vai Halls, vai Vicks...), kad nu nāk virsū kaklkasīklis. Un, godīgi sakot, man vienkārši garšo un ceļojot patīk svaigumam. Varat iedomāties manu pārsteigumu, ka šeit šādu lietu veikalos nav. Ir tikai simts un viens Orbid augļu veids (granātu un melleņu, meloņu, arbūzu, arbūzu un meloņu balinošais, apelsīnu un dzērveņu, tropiskais...) un augļu īrisi, želejkončas un dražejas. Mentos oriģinālās piparmētru arī nav atrodamas, tikai augļu varianti. Mentolīgais un piparmētrīgais izskatās te nav modē.

2. Topiņi
Ok, ir ziema, bet ko gruzīnietes velk zem jakām? Šodien meklēju tirgū un dažos veikalos parastus topiņus un nav atrodami! Tikai topiņi un trikotāžas bītlenes ar garām rokām un vīriešu apakškrekli.

3. Hematogens
Es domāju, ka tas ir padomju produkts. Bet te aptiekās nav. Man teica, ka dažreiz veikalos vai tirgū esot, bet pagaidām neesmu vēl manījusi.

4. Zāļu tējas
Vispār supermārketos vismaz daži veidi ir, bet pazūd visu melno un zaļo tēju piedāvājumā. Ja Balkānos visi plaukti bija pilni ar zāļu tējām un tikai nedaudz "īstās" tējas, te ir otrādi. Pie tam tauta neatzīst kumelīšu vai mežrozīšu tēju par tēju. Vīramāte par kumelīšu tēju noteica, ka ir laba un veselīga, bet dzerot viebās. Tēja te ir tikai melnā tēja. Pārējās ir zālītes un loģiski lielākā piedāvājumā nopērkamas aptiekās. Tomēr zālītes ir savādākas kā pie mums un, kā dzirdēju, fenheļa tēja un aveņu lapu tēja (grūtnieču intereses) te nav atrodamas.

Mentola končas vienā lielākā ("ārzemnieku") supermārketā atradu, bet pārējos varat vest man ciemakukulī. Topiņus gribu bez rokām, ar likru vai elastānu un pagarus, lai sniedzas pāri puncim :)

Avatars

2010-02-23T13:57:00.002+04:00

Cepuri nost misteram Kameronam! Man patika. Vai tā nav pirmā filma, kur citplanētieši ir labie un uzvar ļaunos "debesu" cilvēkus?

Smilšu vētra un pārdomas par "mobilo pasauli"

2010-02-22T19:09:00.003+04:00

Es domāju, ka Rīga ir vējaina pilsēta. Vai Liepāja, kurā, kā dziesma skan, piedzimst vējš. Bet nu - Tbilisi? Tuvumā taču jūras nav un pašā kalna galā jau arī viņa neatrodas! Kas man izskaidros šo mistēriju?
Bet taisnība bija vīriņam, ka lieli vēji te ir bieži. Divu mēnešu laikā, kopš esmu šeit, esmu par to pārliecinājusies pati. Nesen dubļi ir izžuvuši un lido ar lielo vēju, radot īstu tuksneša vētru. Skārds grab un daži gabali lido. Nerunājot par plastmasas pudelēm un izžauto veļu. Kāpņu telpā arī gaudo un griež vannasistabas ventilatorus. Liku savam vīriņam atrast šajā dabas katastrofā sēnes un kādu stundu no viņa ne miņas. Es aizsūtīju īsziņu: vai tu joprojām tās soko meklē? Nav atbildes, zvanu, telefons izslēgts. Pirmā doma - baterija nomirusi (tā viņam parasti gadās...). Bet otrā doma - ja nu kas noticis, mašīnai koks uzgāzies? Un sākas panika, jo miera avots - mobilie sakari - ir jau izsmelts. Nu tiešām, ko senāk cilvēki darīja bez mobilajiem? Vai viņi uztraucās vairāk vai mazāk?
Paldies dievam, vīrs ir jau mājās. Bez sēnēm gan (jo nav sezonas, un ārvalstu šampinjoni nav baigā cieņā, kaut gan ir manīti). Koki tomēr bijuši uz mašīnām jau sagāzušies un izraisījuši satiksmes sastrēgumus.
Bet pa Radio SWH meitenes joprojām izsaka pateicības puišiem, kas viņām no rīta palīdzējušas mašīnas no sniega izrakt. Vispār nedaudz žēl, ka es laižu garām šo gadsimta ziemu. Tomēr man ir smilšu vētras.
Taisāmies šovakar braukt uz Avataru, bet bišku bail pa šito laiku.

Banana trees in Vake park

2010-02-20T22:51:00.001+04:00

Ar otro sudrabu!

2010-02-20T21:51:00.002+04:00

Sorit pirmais, ko piecelusies dariju (varbut pec Suzannas apmeklejuma), skreju ieslegt laptopu un interneta paskatities, ka braliem Dukuriem pa nakti veicies skeletona Vankuveras olimpiade. Bisku zel par abiem, jo 2. un 4. vietas ir tas skobigakas. Varbut vienigi pedeja vel vairak skrobiga. Bet vispar - malaci puisi! Kanadietim ta bija majas trase un, ja olimpiade notiktu Sigulda, variantu nebutu un Latvijai but abas augsejas vietas uz pjedestala.
Olimpiade Gruzija vispar ir diezgan nemanams pasakums. Nabagiem sakas ta ar tragediju - vinu kamaninbraucejs gaja boja treninbrauciena vel pirms olimpiades atklasanas.
Sports miletaja limeni seit ari ir gruti pieejams. Valentindienu pavadijam meklejot peldbaseinu. Bija svetdiena, un baseini vai nu nestradaja vai tikai lidz 15iem. Ir viens baseins tuvu centram Laguna, kas no arpuses izskatas diezgan nepievilcigi, ir atklats, bet ar siltu udeni. To tad mes ari tagad planojam izmeginat, ipasi, ja laiks pieturas tik silts ka sodien. Rit sola +15C, ta ka japiespiez virs turp aizbraukt lidz 15. Laguna maksa 10 larus, kas ir ap 3.5 Ls. Vel atradam baseinu tuvu majam, bet isti nesapratu, cik vins par reizi maksa. Sakuma teica 10, bet varbut tas bija tikai par sporta zali ar abonementu... Nu kaut kur robezas no 10 lidz 20 lariem. Udens izskatijas it ka ok, bet pati telpa prasijas pec remonta. Jauna sporta kluba baseinins 3x10 m maksa 25 larus par stundu. Tur gan isti nepapeldesi, jo svetdiena bija pilns lauzu, kas tur vienkarsi relaksejas. Tad labak tur udensaerobiku izmeginat, jo maksa tapat 25 larus. Viskrutakais jaunas 50 m baseins maksa 90-150 larus par reizi (bet vari peldet visu dienu), vajpratigus 30-50 latus!!!! Menesa abonementu viniem nav, ir gadam, bet tur no kada tukstosa latu ir jaskiras. Pec sis cenu aptaujas 80 lari menesi (12 reizes) par grutniecu sportu vairs nelikas dargi... Ja, sportam daudz lielaks piedavajums un letakas cenas ir Zviedrija.
Vakar biju uz pirmo grutniecu sportu. Biju es un vel divas meitenes lidzigos apmeros. Daktere uzlika DVD anglu valoda un mes pec ta DVD atkartojam. Pati dakterite man ka jauninajai pieversa pastiprinatu uzmanibu un visu laiku jautaja, vai es tos muskulus jutu (chuvstvuesh, chustvuesh?). Nu pec 2-3 reizem es drosi nevienu muskuli nejutu... Bet, ja es teicu, ka nejutu, si grozija galvu un turpinaja mani bakstit. Labi, ka atnaca otra daktere, kura domaja, ka izpildu vingrinajumus labi un pareizi un tad ta pirma lika mani miera. Bet vispar sodien gan es tos muskulus nedaudz jutu gan... Kops grutniecibas neko isti neesmu darijusi un sodien nosveros - esmu jau 76 kg, +10 kg!!! Kur vini ir, isti nejutu un neredzu, liekas tikai vedera un krutis, varbut nedaudz ari uz gurniem, bet sitada gara skiet, ka beigas mierigi pienemsos par vismaz 20 kg, jo vel tam vederam ir ko augt un augt.
Sodien diena bija vienkarsi fantastiska - tik daudz saules!!! Beidzot sajutos, ka tiesam esmu Kaukaza.
Izbraucam cauri automazgatuvei - bailigi un jautri.
Biju uz pirmo latviesu valodas stundu gruzinu berniem - tik daudz bernu un lielaka dala latviski neko nesaprot.
Pastaigajam pa Vake parku - liela statuja garu kapnu gara un muziga uguns, popkorns un karuseli.
Apciemojam Goodwill Vake veikalu un beidzot atradu mentola kompetes, nekad nebutu domajusi, ka ir te tuvuma kada vieta, kur katra veikala nevar atrast Lockets vai Halls, vismaz piparmetru ledenes, bet sitadu lietu Tbilisi reali nav!
Bijam ciemos pie italu-anglu gimenes - fenhelteja un maza bibliotekare.
Pa celam pie draugiem iebraucam veikala pec obligata ciemakukula un atradu tadu Laimas konfeksu, zefiru un marmelazu izlasi!!! Dienas prieks!

Tbilisi arhitektura...

2010-02-20T14:32:00.001+04:00

...no automazgatuves, kamer virs slauka un zave masinu.

Orsulad

2010-02-11T12:14:00.002+04:00

Man šorīt metro pirmo reizi pusmūža sieviete deva apsēsties. Dīvaina sajūta. Es vēl naivi domāju, ka mētelī tas vēl nav redzams... Un arī pagaidām vēl sanāk aizmirst, ka man ir vēders, jo no iekšienes tas tik ļoti sajūtams nav, tikai ārēji, piemēram, kad apkampjas :)

Ziemas bildes

2010-02-08T14:57:00.003+04:00

Brīži, kad pat traukus patīk mazgāt

2010-02-08T14:21:00.002+04:00

Šodien biju uz pirmo gruzīnu valodas nodarbību Latviešu biedrībā. Konstatēju, ka nezin' pa kuru laiku un kā esmu kļuvusu diezgan advancēta... Laikam tiešām var neiespringt, un tā valoda pati ar laiku atnāks. Bet perfektai fonētikai uzreiz ir jāatmet ar roku.
Meklējot otru (vispār jau trešo Tbilisi) Lieni draugos, atradu Agati. Sāku lasīt Agates blogu par EVS Gruzijā un no Agates bloga pārlīdu vēl pirmās (vai otrās) Lienes blogā. Tad vēl izlasīju Sintijas e-pasta "blogu" no Kirgizstānas un, labojot linkus sava bloga lapā, lai pievienotu Agati un Lieni (vēlākai palasīšanai), caur Māra blogu izgāju uz Sintijas blogu no Gruzijas laikiem, haha... Sanāk varenjautra tā tīmekļa ložņāšana! Un tā es kaut kā iedvesmojos uzrakstīt kaut ko latviski. Es jau zinu, kurš par to dusmosies.
(Hoi en hoe gaat het, David?)
Vispār man vajadzētu beidzot ķerties klāt kursadarba rakstīšanai - par Krievijas ārlietu ministrijas retoriku, kāpēc Kosovas albāņiem nepienākas neatkarība, bet abhāziem un dienvidosetāņiem - pienākas. Esmu salasījusies tik daudz Lavrova un viņa palīgu runu, ka jau pa ausīm lien ārā (bail uz ielas rādīties gandrīz, ja nu gruzīni redz!). Nē, nu skaidrs, ka pie visa ir vainīgs Mišiko! Viņš tagad izskatās tiešām traks. Nu kur viņš tādu stilistu rāvis, kas viņam liek runas teikt zaļās slēpošanas biksēs un sarkanbaltsarkanos strīpotos džemperos! Un Mišiko tagad nevienu runu nesaka, ja aizmugurē nav kartes un pašam rokās rādāmkoks. Viņam taču par ģeogrāfijas skolotāju vajadzēja kļūt! Pat Comedy Show pirms dažām dienām šito triku ar karti parodēja. Vismaz ir par ko pasmieties, ja nu gluži nav ko ēst. Opozīcija diemžēl arī vairāk smieklus nekā ēdienu piedāvā. Smiekli tomēr par velti un C vitamīns kā nekā.
Labi, neaizraušos - man par politiku jāraksta Word dokumentā ar 12 fontu, 1.5 speisingu un angļu valodā, nevis šeit Html un latviski. Bet sākumā nomazgāšu traukus un uztaisīšu kafiju.
Un tā man tās dienas paiet, jau mēnesi kavēju ar to kursa darbu. Pārbaudu zviedru pacietību, bet tā izskatās ir dzelžaina un neizsmeļama. Uz maniem kauna pilnajiem retajiem e-pastiem viņi atbild ar "have a great time in Georgia!"
P.S. Tbilisi arī kopš aizvakara ir iestājusies ziema! Būs jāmēģina ielikt kāda bilde no mana jaunā advancētā telefona... kaut gan šajā jomā man īsti nesanāk ar blogeri sadraudzēties.

Georgian pathology

2009-12-30T15:14:00.002+04:00

To continue my pathology theme a bit.

It's my fifth day in Tbilisi today. I have not been out walking on my own yet, but I have been sitting in a car driving around the city quite a lot. One thing I've noticed (leaving even stronger impression as the megalomania with New Year illumination in the city center) is the habit to drive between lanes. These people seem pathologically unable to stay in just one lane at a time because dies' nedod that other lane will suddenly start to move faster or somebody will overtake them.

And how will I ever get enough courage to drive in this city around the peak time?

Scandinavian pathology

2009-11-04T21:43:00.002+04:00

The inability of the Swedes (and as I have heard also Norwegians and Danes) to distinguish between the different Baltikum states really borders with a genetic pathology. That's what I have come to believe after spending some time here... Just 3 short examples

1) First time I was an exchange student in Kalmar, it was still before Schengen and I had to fill in a form and send it to Migrationsverket (Immigration Office) in Växjo and they had to send me back a plastic residence permit card. The system was very easy and fast, so a plus for that because in many other countries migration procedures can give you a hard time. However, I decided to fill in the form in English. I was hesitating for a while between writing "Latvia" or "Lettland" (in Swedish) in the field for the citizenship, but I chose to write it in English as I was filling in the form in English... that was my mistake. Because I got back my plastic residence permit card with "Litauen." I wrote a very angry complaint mail saying that people working in the Immigration Office at least should learn the difference. I did not get any reply to my email but in a week I got a new plastic card with "Lettland." So at the end I had two residence permit cards in my wallet. With "Litauen" for the times I do something wrong and for "Lettland" for all the other times. Unfortunately, I never needed to use them and my wallet got stolen shortly after returning to Latvia, so my best souvenir from Sweden got stolen with it. Uhh, what a pity.

2) Recently I started to work as studiehandledare (something like teaching assistant) for a little Latvian girl at a Swedish school. It is a preparatory class for children who have recently arrived in Sweden and are starting to go to school. On the wall of the classroom they have a beautiful map of the world with a lot of pictures of important objects and how people look like and live in different places... However, "Lettland" and "Litauen" appear to have exchanged their territories on this beautiful map. Lithuania is now north of Latvia. What can one expect from these kids when they grow up if they learn from wrong maps and nobody teaches them that there is a substantial difference in whether Latvia is north of Lithuania or Lithuania is north of Latvia.

3) Today I went to a bank to open an account. I started with asking whether we could speak in English because I had to explain a complicated history, which I thought I would have trouble with in Swedish. The lady said "of course we can talk little English," after which I saw that probably it will be still better if I try in Swedish as her English was of a similar level. However, when she saw my passport, she suddenly ran away with some good idea. I could see that she is talking to her colleague. Then she ran back saying that her colleague is also from Lettland. However, when this colleague herself came up to me, she blushed and apologized that she does not know Latvian as she comes from Estonia.

Tum-tu-tum tu-tum tu-tum tu-tu-u-um...

2009-09-19T23:05:00.004+04:00

And now my TOO MUCH (great) husband started to play Pink Panter on guitar and I should make some tea and dive into the Chinese economy...

spinning around

2009-09-19T22:48:00.002+04:00

Long time I have not opened you, my friend, and talked to you. I think it is about the time to get some clear ground below my feet. But it just does not happen... I don't know if I am really to blame or it is some higher providence.
So I went to Kosovo for 6 months, but at the end had to come back earlier. In a way it is great, I feel it, especially because I have the best husband and now I cannot imagine how I could be away from him for 3 months...
But...
It is a bit strange feeling when you make long term plans (6 months for me is long term), meet people whom you expect to meet for a longer time, make friends...and then suddenly need to leave. Now this summer for me seems like a dream, like it was not real. I am back where I started from 3 or a bit more months ago. And, in general, it is hard to imagine that such realities and Sweden and Kosovo coexist...
And yes, now I feel a bit guilty that I have left my friends in Kosovo and still, after almost 3 weeks, have not let them hear anything from me. So it will be some emailing time on Monday. Just I need to write it down in my agenda, otherwise, it is just too much to keep in my head right now.
Yes, and my life seems far from calm and stabilized right now. It is just waiting for the next curve...

"Emotional muscles"

2009-07-21T18:56:00.003+04:00

"Men need to learn how to be strong in a different way by developing "emotional muscles."
/Neil Blacklock/

I would not know how to say it better. And that's why I think women are the stronger gender, we have bigger "emotional muscles"

Men and showers

2009-07-14T10:43:00.003+04:00

This morning I went to the bathroom and was surprised there was so much water on the floor... And then I remembered that this night one girl had her boyfriend staying over. Of course, I do not have any evidence it was him, but no other morning did I observe such a phenomenon. And doing it statistically, I could say I am sure it was him over 95% level of confidence.
But what is it with men and showers? So hard to pull closed the bath curtain? Wider shoulders, negligence, or just too much pleasure from splashing water all around?

Child and animal abuse

2009-06-24T00:38:00.003+04:00

I hit one Albanian kid today and rather hard. I guess he was shocked and so was I. I don't believe I can change anything, I cannot save any dogs in this country and what will change if I save one... but I just can't - CAN'T - watch how a gang of kids is being so cruel to a poor little thing. Hitting it with a stick, pulling it by the rope it has around the neck, holding it by the skin on the neck and the rope and turning it around in the air...is simply NOT FUN. And the poor little thing looked so hopeless and apathetic, like nothing in the life can surprise it, though it was still a puppy. More philosophical intelligence in its eyes than in the eyes of any of those boys. I swear.

Yes, that's the thing I hate the most in this nation. And while coming home and still under the impression, I was thinking that the attitude to animals (and maybe the nature in a wider sense) is the real indicator of the development and civilization. This nation has a faar faaaar faaaaaaar way to go.

Yes, and I am in favor of hitting kids if all other methods of conveying the message have been exhausted. At the age of 10-13 they are rational beings and should take responsibility of their actions. Of course, their responsibility is often inseparable of their parents, but if the parents are not able or willing to teach them the norms and values, the teachers and the rest of society has the full right.

When I was hitting this "bravest" one, for the others it was an entertainment. Oh, they laughed their heads off. Yeah, maybe he will not have a great time after this, but honestly I don't give a shit. The dog was also not having a great time. And in these moments I am in the animals' side.

Let's vote for a UN convention on animal rights.

Nasing spešal

2009-06-11T17:41:00.004+04:00

I was told I must see Mimino because otherwise, if I go to Georgia, I will
not understand half of the jokes.

So, now if you come to Latvia you must watch this video - the famous
speech of our ex-minister of Finance for Bloomberg (in case if you have somehow managed to miss it):

It is very much quoted nowadays, especially the famous phrase that the
crisis in Latvia is "nothing special" (nasing spešal).

So now there is "nasing spešal spa edišn" - some owner of spa center
talking about spa possibilities in Riga in a level of
English that reminds of the first edition of "nasing spešal" by Mr Slakteris

So here goes the 2nd spa edišn on nasing spešal

check before use + HOME!

2009-06-07T22:00:00.003+04:00

I just wasted around 30 eur by buying a health insurance for the summer period because I did not check properly the date on my university health insurance card. I thought it is only from September, but it is from September LAST YEAR... well, mistakes cost. at least it was not so much this time (though each cent matters for me at the moment). Still it is good to triple- or quadruple-check.

For the rest - I am back home in Latvia. We (me and S.) went back by ferry and it was a whole project with all the bags we had. And S.'s bicycle. We were sitting in the front of the ferry, sipping our coffees (or S.'s coffee and my orange juice) and there was this strange cover of Queen's bicycle song, it was fitting the situation so perfectly that you start to feel like acting in a comedy film :-)

Oh, and I already miss my husband, Friskis och Svettis, great Turkish kebabs and falafels, Bologna park - the most beautiful park in the Northern Europe and other goodies of Sweden...

Scandinavian summer and latest updates

2009-06-01T00:52:00.002+04:00

Wow, today was awesome... I was looking around for the beach as Uppsala did feel like a beach city somewhere in DA SOUTH: great sun, a fresh breeze, lots of sun-tanned people in shorts and flip-flops. It feels that I have burnt my shoulders a bit. But it feels great!!!
The window is still open in my room, but it's OK!
Well, besides the fact that summer has come to the middle of Sweden, many other things have happened. Georgia and Gävle have appeared on my radar because of one (TOO MUCH) great guy and now I am leaving him and going back to the Balkans for 6 months. A career woman... what to say :)
And now I need to go to sleep because tomorrow early I go to a conference on Afghan women in Stockholm and in the evening running some 5 km women's race... sounds like a very Swedish kvinnodag tomorrow!

summertime

2009-04-09T17:51:00.002+04:00

I'm at the moment sunbathing on the balcony of Belvedere hotel in Ohrid. Just opened the swimming season this year. Lake Ohrid, quite chilly, but feels good :)

manic monday and tuesday, too

2009-03-24T16:37:00.002+04:00

It turned out to be a fantastic weekend. From the Balkans to the South Caucasus. But now need to forget about fun and get back to work. And the weather is shit at the moment. I should got to a lecture soon, on Armenian genocide but outside is a big wind and some hail..even... though there are brief moments of sun. It looks like the war between winter and spring is approaching it's culmination :P
Hmm.. I was thinking that writing reports could be fun, maybe. It's not that I hate it all the time. Sometimes I develop and interesting thought or find the right word to put in the right place and then I feel happy. But I like to do things fast and writing reports takes so long time. I cannot just sit and think for so long...so then I always start cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, making teas and coffees and maybe finding something else to clean. And I justify myself that I need some action to make my brain work and digest all the readings I have done. At the end I will still write it.

Hijazz - one more +

2009-03-21T16:34:00.002+04:00

Yesterday, I was to a Kvartet Traktör concert in Hijazz. It was my second time there and the first time was Balkan too - a band which was playing Macedonian music. Maybe the Balkan connection, maybe 8% Efes extra, but I really enjoyed myself both times. We had a preparty with a great thick home made pizza, french sausage and wine before, so in the beginning I could not really start to jump in the fast beats of Balkan gypsy music, they should have started with something slower. The guys were good, but still a real thing is a real thing. Sorry to say but I enjoyed the records after the live music more :) I really danced myself off... We also had taken some great drum bangers with us so at the end it resulted in an exceptionally great evening! Thank you guys!

It's another beautiful day here. It is so hard to stay inside and study. While making my Swedish coffee Balkan way and sipping it from my nationalistic Macedonian cups, I was looking down on the crocuses and just feeling very very happy! The spring is here! But it is a bit weird in these moments, when there is no snow and +5 so far to the north where I am now and only +1 and snow in Macedonia. I hope the spring wins there before I come.

Talking about Macedonia... the things seem to be getting worse and worse there with liberties and democracy. Students are organizing protests because they feel much more censorship in the universities and a stress on discipline. The student newspaper and radio is closed and saying something, which is outside the accepted lines, can mean different repressions - as failed exams and exclusion from the university...

Happy Spring! Happy Norouz!

2009-03-20T14:10:00.003+04:00

The spring will come in around an hour. The days start to get longer than the nights. The dark times are over. We had a couple of very nice sunny days this week when I was just walking around listening to my Balkan pop and catching some vitamin D. Now it got cold again and I heard that it is even snowing in Macedonia where the trees are in full bloom already. But the spring will win. Vinter, ge upp!

It is also the new year for the Kurds, Iranians, Tajiks, and Afgans as I found out. There is a lot of Kurds and Iranians in Sweden and it seems this weekend is full of parties. Straight from the St. Patrick's Weekend into Norouz weekend! La viva la internationalisme!

To be a man

2009-03-20T14:01:00.002+04:00

I don't understand if the Swedish feminists understand what they have done to their men. This is outrageous. This morning I was taking down the garbage (as I always do because the Swedish man I live with piles it till it all starts to fall over and maybe when it is hard to see where was the garbage bin, he takes it out... but probably lately he has started to believe that it takes out itself when it is full enough). Outside the door were 4 big Swedish men, looking a bit like construction workers, plumbers or like. They did not get the idea that they could let a single girl with 3 big bags first, instead they started to pour in while I was holding the door (and the 3 big bags). I really felt like kicking their balls, but then I thought maybe I should kick the Swedish feminists' balls, because they have already kicked the balls of their men and they don't have any left.

Linguistics and Politics - continued

2009-03-19T02:00:00.001+04:00

Look what I ran into today on the WWW:

Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia
Latgalian language can mean one of the following:

1. It was a language spoken by Latgalians in a great part of the area which is now Latvia. Latgalian was a member of the Baltic group of the Indo-European language family. Historically the Latvian language is derived from Latgalian (with additions from a few other languages, e.g. Old Curonian, Semigallian and Livonian).
2. Nowadays it normally refers to a language spoken in the eastern part of Latvia known as Latgale. Sometimes it is referred to as a distinct separate language, while others consider it to be a dialect of Latvian. This modern Latgalian developed as a result of two main factors: Latgalians having preserved more features of the archaic (tribal) Latgallian language than the other Latvians and Latgale being separated for several centuries from other parts of Latvia.

Трава из Узбекистана

2009-03-10T23:35:00.001+04:00

Утомленная шопингом

2009-03-10T23:02:00.005+04:00

Unfortunately I do get these days when I shop, shop, shop. Today was a great one, I cannot even count what I bought.
Most of them are of course useful things - I had to buy another blanket for guests and I ended up buying two because the second one appeared to be warmer (for my rather cold room) and a better value for money. I had already bought the first one.
Then I also wanted to buy a soft seat for my chair because I do spend a considerable time on this chair writing my reports and I love my buttocks (oh, I love this word and I remember how it sounded from the mouth of that sweet Australian-Dutch boy whose name I have forgotten).
Then if I am in IKEA anyways, I also had to buy some teklämmor (that's the Swedish word of today; it means those fancy tea clips), because the ex-inhabitant of this flat stole the one I bought. Probably he thought it was his. He also took away (indeed) his hanger with hooks for the door, but I could not find the same thing in IKEA...
But I bought a nice blue vase and an artificial flower. I could write a similar post as I did when I was in Macedonia. About the necessary things and the exclusive necessary things. I came here with very little luggage. But the longer you stay, you kind of start to accumulate things. It was good that I could use the ex-inhabitant's furniture and heminredningsaker for 5 and a half months, but now I REALLY start to accumulate stuff because it sort of sucks to live in an empty room for 1.5 years. And it seems I am staying here that long. So far. I guess I have made up my mind.
Ah, yes, I also wanted to find some stuff which could hold my books. And I found it and bought 2 of those.
I also found a funny toy for my friend's baby which is about to be born very soon. (Huh, I need to remember to give 20 kr to Katya for Khurshed's baby shower.)
And actually I was going to find the Red Cross second hand shop, but I did not found it just struggled with snowstorm. Probably one of the last snowy wintery days this year. It's on the border already, I would say in the middle: 50% per cent of the time I was enjoying and thinking: gosh, how beautiful snow and how cool to bike on it and have snowflakes dancing around you; and 50% of time I was struggling (motsatsen för trean på spinningen är inte lika svårt) in the wet porridge or brūnā debesmanna.
I did find ÖoB, though. That was the place I bought the second blanket, a really thick one for 49 kr. And a lot of cheap sweets. Now I need to discipline myself so I don't go to the shelf and grab them. Yes, and vitamins. Twice as cheap than in Apoteket.
Plus honey, deodorant, folder organizers, a ljusfat (saucer for candles?), 3 pairs of black leggings and 4 pairs of socks... I don't know if I forgot anything, but that does not really matter I think.

Result of lay-offs?

2009-02-18T22:55:00.002+04:00

Just now I started to lose trust and respect in International Herald Tribune/New York Times.

***
First this: (link)

Wednesday, February 25
The Associated Press
Published: February 18, 2009

Today is Wednesday, Feb. 25, the 56th day of 2009. There are 309 days left in the year.

***
And then also this: (link)

Key facts about Kosovo, which marks the first anniversary of its independence declaration on Tuesday:

LAND: Kosovo covers about 4,200 square miles (10,900 square kilometers) — roughly one-third the size of Belgium — and borders Albania and Macedonia. The central area around the capital, Pristina, is lowlands. There are mountains elsewhere.

How about Montenegro and Serbia? Or this data is still from the time when Kosovo was still a province of the country called "Yugoslavia" or later renamed "Serbia and Montenegro"?

private brand management

2009-02-18T01:24:00.003+04:00

Similarly as the Latvian state I have gone bankrupt. Even though I need to work on my project about the human security issues in the Republic of Kosovo/a one year after independence, I spent most of today looking for a job. And I encountered a problem. How to brand myself? How to get rid of certain brands?
When you have finished communication science, you kind of stuck in journalism or PR even if you feel it's not really your thing. Once you have finished economics... hmm... a bit difficult one, it's better if you have finished accounting or marketing - some more practical things usual people understand. When you start combining economics, capital markets, volunteer work, politics, Eurasia and the Balkans, people really start to get confused what to do with you :) I don't blame them as I have problems myself. But why do we need so much to stick some brand or label and to categorize? I think I have a record that I can do a job and do it well, and I learn things fast. Why can't an ex-banker work as a waiter if he or she wants? What's your problem people?
You know - I have never been much into brands

amazing world

2009-02-15T15:17:00.003+04:00

I am now sitting at home in Salaspils, Latvia. Yesterday night was flying from Skavsta to Riga, looking down at the vanishing lights of Nyköping and thinking how crazy it would seem just 20 years ago... well it is still crazy. I paid 2 SEK for my return plane ticket from Sweden to Latvia! You cannot buy anything for this money in Sweden. Not even Latvia anymore... maybe a box of matches still. Going home for a week costs the same as if I lived in Nyköping because I only paid for the train ticket. When I told this to a friend yesterday, he gave me 2 Swedish crowns - paid for my plane home, hehe :)

And another thing this morning - I open my Facebook account (that how we learn to know everything nowadays, all the newest gossips), there are some adds on the right side. And you know what they offer me? To subscribe for tampons! So I would never need to worry anymore if I have forgotten to buy them!

And the not so funny thing (though some of my friends find it funny), I will return to an empty room because the guy who lived in this room before finally removed his furniture. And I dont have any money now to buy furniture, even from IKEA. So, please, maybe you have something you dont need? Donate me some furniture!

Rocket Scientist ©

2009-02-12T23:41:00.000+04:00

I cannot choose a life, one single life.

Kā par vilku domā...

2009-02-12T13:39:00.003+04:00

Vakar biju uz pullsjumpu, bija daudz cilvēku... lēkāju, lēkāju un domāju savas domas, par savu zviedru valodas skolotāju, kam aizrakstīju meilu par saviem parādiem, vai ir jau atbildējusi... un man atkal nav īsti laika tos kopsavilkumus (šeit es izmantoju Tildes vāŗdnīcu, lai vārdu summary pārtulkotu uz latviešu valodu... diezgan traki) rakstītu. Un... tajā pašā brīdī skolotāja kristalizējas acu priekšā. Tā cilvēku var reāli pārbaidīt. Kā par vilku domā, ta vilks lēkā acu priekšā.

Braucu sestdien uz mājām. Rakstīšu savu individuālo pētījumu no turienes. Kāda gan šķirba. Ka tikai vēl zinātu, par ko rakstīt.

jOl reggelt

2009-02-01T14:11:00.003+04:00

I am now sitting in McDonalds in Mamut in Budapest, watching Grey's Anatomy. And seems there is an internet connection. Just the problem is that they really don't speak English here... I don't go often to McDonalds and I did not notice that it is so early (well, most of the things are closed on Sunday morning), so I asked for BigMac -
- No, Nem or just decisive shaking of the head, - REGGELI
- Ok, I will take that Reggeli whatever it is, looks good. Reggeli McDonalds?
And only then I got it that it is probably breakfast.

It was also fun in the Skopje airport. My flight was at 5:00 am and it was the first flight. Ok, I checked in and was reading my Security Studies waiting till the Security Check will open... till only 10 min is left and on the information board I see that it's "Last Call" for Budapest. But the entrance to the passport and Security check is still closed. I go to ask in the information. Hehe, I am sent to the Malev desk (by the way, interesting why?). The guy at the Malev says that if i check in I should be just waiting... Poleka, poleka
After a couple of minutes some guys started to appear from the gate area and soon also the door was opened. Maybe 4:55.

Bombardier Q400 planes do not have the oxygen masks and the saloon lights never go off...

And then I am in Budapest Ferihegy, reading my Security Studies and observing two guys in black with pistols and automatic guns on their bellies. Where the hell the world is going?

Pros of hitchhiking and poposljitsja

2009-01-30T22:10:00.004+04:00

Yesterday I was hitchhiking to Stip. Not only I saved money, but I also got presents: calendar, a set of coffee cups with Macedonian symbols, dzhevrek, and a business card.

Poposlitsja (for translation look here) is still one of my hobbies. In Stip I visited the honorary consul of LV in MK: a wealthy guy who owns a winery. So I got to try some nice wine with a nice dinner of pastrmajlija plus 2 bottles of wine to take with me.

Linguistics and Politics

2009-01-28T14:35:00.002+04:00

1. From a guide on Sofia:
"Bulgarian is a Slavic language most similar to Serbian and Russian. Macedonian is a Bulgarian dialect in fact."

2. From a conversation with a waiter this morning in a hotel in Skopje:
He: So Latvian and Lithuanian is the same?
Me: No, not really. They are quite different.
He: Like Macedonian and Serbian?
Me: No, the difference is bigger.
He: Like Macedonian and Bulgarian?

Tele2 sucks big time!

2009-01-15T19:15:00.004+04:00

Now I cannot send sms anymore at all... (before there were maybe some happy days once a week I could sms). So far for a company, which is run by sheep. ==> watch the commercial

I really liked the analogy - maybe let's try to establish a freight company that is very cheap, but does not deliver anything? (copyright belongs to a friend)

But while looking for an alternative (cheap) operator I found this beautiful card called Halebop and the best example of how sometimes websites in this so-called English speaking country work: click here. There is a tab called "Other languages". Very ambitious. When you click on it you get a site with a heading "Product information in other languages". Still very ambitious. However, the only information is a link to a file called "International pricelist (in Swedish)"... so far nothing more than ambitions.

And... my head is beating from conceptual stretching and pulling, conceptual beating-each-other, conceptual hitting-you-back. And I feel like replying to people: oh silly you, it's just a social construction... don't you see it?

Blues

2009-01-12T02:32:00.002+04:00

I am feelin blues for my dear laptop, I hope he is strong and will make it for another hundra ooor...

Can anyone explain me why there are so many people pulling smaller and bigger suitcases around Uppsala? It's is a question not only from now but since I arrived here

And after the jympa today, I witnessed how a poor granny rode into the barrier at train tracks. I don't know what went wrong but the barriers on the left side but they did not move up, just on the right side. And I guess that's was something that the poor granny did not expect. And it was already dark to see well... Kind of a sight you see on American Funniest Videos, but was not so funny because I was feeling sorry for her.

And damn I have a feeling that my throat is gonna go bad... damn damn damn

(but I enjoyed the party yesterday!)

tillbaka hemma

2009-01-06T18:59:00.002+04:00

Yes, it does feel a bit like coming home. One of my feet is now stably in Sweden: the country of guys in tight jeans and girls in sweatpants, the country of messy hair, the country of happy, there-is-never-a-problem-if-you-have-forgotten-your ticket train conductors.

While waiting for my train at the train station in Nyköping, I observed a curious phenomenon:
3 young Russians
1 could be Georgian or some other Caucasian who first at the bus stop addressed me in Swedish
1 could be Central Asian something young guy with a bit Asiatic features
1 middle aged Italian who was very talkative to the bus driver in English
all these people found a common language, i.e. Russian...
I was sitting there with my book, not really reading more than 2 sentences per 10 minutes, and following this theater scene of buying tickets, changing money, helping each other... the Georgian and the Italian appeared to be extremely willing to help. And the clients/actors entered and exited the stage/station one by one

Now at home, drinking the mint tea from my garden back home in LV. Going to finish the last pages of Ayn.

and so this is (not) xmas (anymore)

2009-01-05T23:46:00.002+04:00

I am starting to pack and taking the morning plane back to Sweden. This time I was here I started to appreciate Sweden, it's ain't such a bad country and it is still some way ahead Latvia. I don't know if it is really getting worse or it is just the problem of my changing perspectives, but hell what's the hell is going on in this country (Latvia)? Ok, politicians were thugs also before but they seem to be getting too rude and too sure they can get away with it. Not talking about this mystical social construction of "crisis". I don't say that there is no crisis, but you can definitely sense the social construction of the idea of crisis (read Hacking "Social Construction of What?"). The same as there was a social construction of "inflation" here which was much above what was realistic levels of it and getting into such ways, talks, interpretations etc. where it did not have to appear at all and being used as an excuse for everything (mostly increasing prices (heh :)). Now crisis is used for the same purpuse (hehe - increasing taxes, prices, firing people, reducing salaries, making people work more, hehehehe... oh so logical). And what can we do - we have a crisis!

Maybe my current mood also has something to do with Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" which I am currently dutifully finishing. I am still skeptical about this book, but I cannot fail to notice that it is influencing the way how I look at the things. When the plane from Dublin landed in Riga with one wheel (well, was not really one, in fact only one blew up while taking off), my mom was saying almost with tears in her eyes (I have a very sensitive sentimental mom, which ain't that bad but is a fact) that they were lucky. So I attacked the word "lucky", because the pilots simply did their job and did it well. But I have never been really into superstitions anyways, and in big lines her code of moral is my code of moral. And for me it is just so natural and childish almost like my ex-boyfriends principles. Well, Ayn does a good job putting them down onto a paper and filling with them more than 1000 pages... still I think I enjoyed "Sophie's World" more. And she really sounds a bit too much in some places...

Well, but just it is curious to read it exactly now, in the current "times of emergency" and see these stupid faces described by her so well among the Latvian top leaders.

Ah, I will discuss the bugs of holes in Ayn Rand when I meet Katya, maybe I need to make a list. For the beginning, the same science has proven that our 5 sences can easily mislead us (don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that), 2ndly - we cannot replace our morality with rationality. Killing can be rational sometimes and it is not rational at all to feed those alcoholics, which are not freezing on streets at minus 15 and sooner or later gonna freeze anyways. If we did not have these centuries-long built moral feelings, we would not feel bothered maybe. Then it would be totally rational to leave them to freeze to death. Now because we have this irrational morality, it is rational to do something about them because otherwise we will feel guilty. So there is some kind of contradiction and vicious-circle-egg-chicken thing... I am a simplifier, naturalist, rationalist, objectivist, but I am still aware that Dr. Stadler is also true: "what can you do when you need to deal with humans..."

Celine Dion - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

Sunny one so true, I love you.

2009-01-02T16:02:00.002+04:00

I just simply love sunny winter days.

Song: Boney M - Sunny

Sleeping beauty

2008-12-20T02:45:00.002+04:00

I got up before 5 am this morning. I have had problems falling asleep lately which has not happened for a long time with me... And this evening the cash girl in ICA for the first time in history did not ask me for legimitation when I was buying 2.25% pomegranate cider. Do I really look over 30 tonight?

I should go and get a good night's sleep.

De Roliga Hundarnas Dag

2008-12-09T21:20:00.003+04:00

Today I saw 2 funny dog pictures. I don't know if that is particular to me, but sometimes I see snapshots. Moving snapshots.

Number 1: Art gallery, town center, outside dark, inside light, I look through the window. Two guys in in suits in front, one guy back of the room. One guy in front is leaning to show a picture for another guy (seller and buyer). Very colorful pictures, but not the one he is showing. In the middle of all this art business, basically between the seller and the buyer there is a dog lying on the floor, looking pretty much dead and not moving. Through the gallery window I can see his asshole pink staring back at me.

Number 2: Back through one of the many town center's shopping galleries. There is a cafe. 2 friends and their families and 2 dogs. One looks almost like German shepherd and right besides him this funny kind of pocket size dog sitting in the same pose wit the same conceit. Mini-me sort of snapshot.

Besides that I bought too expensive candles (39.90) because the 3 was of course covered by another label. How smart!
Besides that I had my first proper exam in Uppsala.
Besides that it seems I will start arabiska next semester. If they don't let me study albanska, arabiska sounds almost the same. Is there any difference?

International Volunteer's Day

2008-12-03T02:25:00.004+04:00

Невладината организација „Волонтерски Центар Скопје” Ве поканува заедно да го прославиме МЕЃУНАРОДНИОТ ВОЛОНТЕРСКИ ДЕН на ден 05.12.2008 (петок), на плоштадот „Македонија“со почеток во 10.30 часот.

This message brought me back some nice memories from a very cold, windy day in Skopje, distributing balloons, which tried to run a way and made a mess with their ribbons; distributing brochures, Albert giving an interview to the radio, Carsten running around the Ploshtad Makedonija, I am dancing... ah, good old days... just a year ago but feels already long, long time ago. And then we had a drink at Segafredo coffee place... I am not sure, but I think I had a T'ga za jug... I miss those careless days, I miss Natasha and very rare, but great wine and coffee drinkings with her... miss all the crowd - Anja, Viki, Albert, Carsten, Karen... of course miss my Timi. But I know this time has passed and I cannot call it back or repeat. Nostalgi - det att längta till något som fanns förr.

Here is the video from the previous year HERE (fast forward to 1:24 min)
And the post from the last year HERE.

Spring comes before Winter

2008-11-28T00:51:00.002+04:00

allting har sina fördelar och nackdelar
när du jobbar, har du ingen tid, men du har pengar
när du pluggar, har du inga pengar, men du har tid

snackars mig - jag blev våt om fötterna
It got warmer today, but also much more wet... Trying to bike to Migrationsverket, I got my feet totally wet and then I had to sit there for more than an hour waiting... I just hope I wont get förkyld again. I should go and drink one extra C vitamin. But now I am finally residing permanently in Sweden, yuhuhuu

Iesniegam

2008-11-24T23:35:00.002+04:00

Det snöar och snöar och snöar och snöar...

******************************************************
******************************************************************
IDELIGEN, IIIIDELIIIGEN, IIIIIIIIIIDELIIIIIIIIIIIIGEN

egentligen och äntligen VINTER

2008-11-22T13:59:00.004+04:00

Yesterday I went to one of the massive Swedish jympa and then to Flogsta to help my coursemate with Statistics. 7th floor, highway, forest, night lights and snow... lots of black tea and pepperkakor.
Biking back carefully (försiktigt) because there is ice under the thin layer of snow and it is glashalt. This morning woke up in a beautiful sunny winter day with a decent layer of snow. Yaaayyyy! Jag älskar vinter! Edhe e dua shume shume shume BB Poqi, ka kenga shume te bukura :)

But todays Swedish words are egentligen & äntligen. I will try to remember the difference -
egentligen - really, actually
äntligen - finally

Qeshu!

2008-11-21T16:44:00.004+04:00

Qeshu, qeshu, qeshu se do t'jetë vonë... :)

Pasmaidi, pasmaidi, pasmaidi, savādāk būs par vēlu
Smile, smile, smile, otherwise it will be too late

Today I got up at 6:30 to go earlier to the department and print out my assignment for 8:15 o'clock seminar. Moreover, the seminar was in a very strange place, old house with many cats. When I found it, I realized that the seminar is only on Monday. But I petted 2 beautiful, sweet, fantastic, lovable, purrrrrable katter, which was really worth getting up so early for. And again, I love mornings, especially such empty ones, not stressful ones.

Stockholm igen

2008-11-21T00:23:00.005+04:00

Uppsala Association of International Affairs today organized a visit to the R. embassy in Stockholm which was attended by a dozen Swedes and 2 Latvians: me and S. Nobody really knew what to expect from that because there was no certain speaker, topic, reason or whatsoever for the visit. So today's word naturally came in Russian - попослиться. I am not sure that it can be found in dictionaries (quite sure about the opposite), it should not be pronounced in the presence of high officials and inside the institutions, but it more or less means visiting the institution, official or посл and being at their close proximity. The word owns its credit to a certain female Jewish friend of S.

The embassy in Stockholm is in a huge building near the waters (everything is near the waters in Stockholm) built in the typical socialist style of late 60ies or 70ies. The big banquet hall where we were seated has beautiful crystal lustres and a lot of light (the day was beautiful winterly sunny). We were surprised by the respect and importance attributed to us - simple students. Also about the informal atmosphere: tea, coffee and cookies were served and we were sitting with 7 officials around the table and asking questions.

After the visit I drank some tea and ate our home made sandwiches with S. and said good-bye to her and good luck to her when she boarded the bus to Arlanda. Then I met T., had some cappuchinos, a quick walk through a Vintage shop (second hand for X-mas) along the Drottniggatan and a nice talk in English+Macedonian+Swedish.

What could be my Swedish word for today... lat att tänka på... Jag är så lat. Lazy to think about it and lazy to study Swedish tonight.

Aah, now I remembered one new word from today - remsa or klipp? (equals strippenkaart in Dutch). That is the the strip ticket for many trips with many rows and the driver stamps 2 rows for 1 zone, 3 rows for 2 zones, 4 rows for 3 zones...

Klipp from where? Göra ett klipp = make a great deal. Maybe.

Blogging for language studies

2008-11-19T15:51:00.004+04:00

Yesterday I found a really nice blog (click HERE to view it) called How to learn Swedish in 1000 difficult lessons

I hope the guy does not mind if I steal his idea (as I make a reference) and start my list of Swedish words. The word of past 3 days was snorar (puņķoties...have a running nose). Today I feel much better. And today's word is lämplig - suitable. särskilt lämplig - particularly (nu veeery) suitable. Īpaši piemērots vai īpaši atbilstošs. I should not forget my mother tongue either.

Sverige, jag är på väg!

2008-08-27T11:00:00.002+04:00

One of my first posts in this blog was named "jag ska inte flytta till Stockholm", now one year has passed and I am still going to Sweden. Not exactly Stockholm, but neither far from there.
It is hard to tell what has changed during this year in my life, what new things I have learned during my EVS. Now I need to write a report, so I need to think about it. It is really hard to keep a track of ones progress, yes, I progressed in Macedonian and also Albanian, I learned more about the Youth in Action program and different other opportunities and organizations... but it is much harder to tell if I have progressed as a personality, am I really better dealing with different people, am I really more open-minded and tolerant or did I even acquire more prejudices and strengthened certain stereotypes? I am also aware that I have digressed in certain ways. I had too much freedom and too little feeling of responsibility. I am a bit afraid how I will deal with really serious assignments and, especially, managing my budget.

Support Georgia

2008-08-11T21:06:00.005+04:00

Sign the petition and read news in your language on Support-Georgia Dot Com

As we know a stupid, unfair etc. war has broken out in Georgia. Well, no war is smart or fair. ACTUALLY NO WAR MAKES ANY SENSE AT ALL. There is no right, no wrong, no winner, only losers. Break the weapons, talk to your neighbors, fuck the state, FUCK THE SYSTEM!!! Why once in time, Russia could not forget its ambitions about being a superpower, being the most feared, the strongest, the biggest, the greatest and start thinking of bringing peace, not despair and new scars. But I guess that's wished a bit too much.
We here in Latvia know how it is to live next to Russia. That's why I admit I am subjective and I try to listen more to different views. Last weekend I was near the lake, with my mom's ex-coursemates, geographers. And of course we started to talk about Georgia. They have all been there during the study times and some also later. They know the ethnic cocktail, tensions and hot blood there. One lady's husband is Russian and he started to give a complete different perspective on what is going on in Georgia right now. About the poor Osets, who are being discriminated and mistreated by Georgian state all the time.
And that brings us to the third - how much we are being manipulated by what wind blows in the international politics at the moment and where we live, what we listen to... Of course, nowadays with the high-tech and the Internet it is harder and harder to hide the truth. But we never know the real story and facts are being picked out of the context and fed with an appropriate sauce. That's the story about my mom's colleague's husband who is probably watching the Russian news and is being fed a completely different menu. The media is very powerful. And we know very well how Russia uses their controlled media in their dirty politics. But one must be stupid or insane to believe a wolf dressed up as a lamb. Russia as a peace-keeper...still bombing Georgian territory after it announced the one-sided truce.
And that brings me to the fourth point. How the society of Latvia is now being split up on this issue. Mostly Latvians support Georgia and Russians back Russia. There is a nasty war going on on the news websites and the special website: Latvia for Georgia It is rather worrying... Russians, please open your eyes! It's not about backing whatever the government does in Russia, you may be Russian and denounce their actions.
Your brother may be thief and alcoholic, it sucks but you cannot close your eyes on it. You don't need to be like him!

Latvia

2008-08-06T00:35:00.002+04:00

I am home again. It is a bit strange feeling... actually all kinds of feelings. And I am tired, so I should go to sleep soon and don't write too much of tiredness bullshit.
The travel went quite perfect. Yesterday morning I still woke up in the new apartment in Skopje, had my coffees with Aurelie and Rajah (uuh, miss you guys...). Took the 9 o'clock bus to Prishtina. Packed my bags, some nostalgic shivers on my lonely heart, could not find some bags but already had too much stuff...so who cares about the stuff. I went to pick up a taxi because I did not have any credits to call, but it was not a long walk. I left my luggage in the apartment and came back there with the taxi guy, loaded the trunk and the back seat and off I go... through Fushe Kosove, with Albanian music, a conversation in my clumsy Albanian, mountains in the distance...huh, Latvia is as flat as a pancake.
The flight went fine. In Istanbul I left my big suitcase in the Left Luggage and went to check out the Big Apple hostel in Sultanahmet. Unfortunately, it was full but I used their wireless Internet and saw that one girl had agreed to host me. We exchange some sms and was on my way... but I was late and tired of carrying 3 heavy bags so what's the hell, I took a taxi. I got in in a nasty mood, but the taxi driver was not giving up and in the middle of the ride managed to change my mood and make me laugh.
I had met the girl before, but when I met her I was not so sure I would have recognized her just on the street... Yes, hair changes girls. We took the train, which looked more Turkey than the modern Istanbul metro/tram. I had a delicious meal by her mom and some girls' talk in the new shiny apartment. And I slept like a baby.
In the morning had a long breakfast and her dad's work colleague took us to the airport. Somehow I did not pay for my overweight luggage though the lady first said I will have to pay. But I used the doggy eyes and 'I don't have money. I am a poor volunteer returning home after a year in Macedonia...Please' And she did not say anything more, just gave me the boarding pass. And this time surprisingly there were much less queue at the passport control, so I had a time to walk in the Duty Free and read my book.
It was a full plane but just a few Latvians on it, or people whose final destination is Riga. The small Riga airport is really pushing the number of transit passangers up. There was even one monk in orange.
And now I am at home. We had a nice meal of auksta zupa and torte with mom, brother and bro's girlfriend. And Made. And the granny somewhere around. And the mint tea from our garden...mmm. But there are some problems to be solved about the land around our house. And it sucks. I hope it is possible to solve them.
And here I am. Should go to bed. Feeling a bit like Rajah, desoriented after all this traveling, changing of places, waking up each day in a different country and visiting yet another country during the day... And my Northern nostalgia is back stronger than ever.

talking about the problems

2008-07-27T17:11:00.002+04:00

I am (sometimes) so good at complicated things. But I will listen to a friend who said that we live the life in stages and (hopefully) learn and evolute. I am not so sure about the learning part, I must have been learning too slowly.
still, I am faithful to my slogan: Whatever happens, happens to the best.

What you should never do...

2008-07-12T02:20:00.001+04:00

... in Eastern countries do not try to go to the Western places and don't try Western food
i have made this conclusion again and again and last time after the night-club in Diyarbakir. The bar was a bit better but that's not where the people go, and it in no way looks like in the West. But nargile and tavla places are nice...still it is not the culture to go out in the evenings. And not a culture to travel around stay at hostels/hotels. If they travel, they stay at their relatives.
I can advise the book by Tom Brosnahan 'Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea'
It filled in my siesta times and waiting times perfectly and blended with my own experiences in a new, better insight.
And I do miss the strong tea. Not that much the bright sun, maybe. And I miss our gang. Problems bring people closer together. It is true.

Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii - Part II

2008-07-11T00:46:00.007+04:00

I will start with correcting myself a bit. The guy who was saying he speaks both Kurdish and Zazakish is not from a mixed family, but 100% Zazakish and does indeed speak Zazakish (witnessed today) and has taught me correct basic Kurdish (kids understand me on streets). His name is Aziz by the way. And he is a terrible driver (good by Turkish standards). He almost killed us on the way from the airport when we arrived. And today in the evening because the bus did not come at all (not more or less), he came with his minivan again to take us to the dorms... in his minivan of capacity = 5, we fit 11 people: me and Vahab on the front seat, 4 girls on the back seat and 4 guys in the trunk.
Driving at the red light is tolerated here. If the road is free (possibility to squeeze in, cross fast...).
Yes, another correction. We were not asked to take a headscarf for visiting the mosque because they give them there, but of course we needed to wear one. That is not so liberal as in Prishtina. I put mine on already when we were climbing the wall because my head was burning. And all the Turkish guys really liked it. They said it looks good on me and Vahab write on his mobile phone that I will make a good muslim wife.
Before the mosque we walked in the old King's Palace, which was a prison till last year when they finally recognized the touristic value of the palace and started the renovation works.
It is very hard to obtain any information here about the places we visit because the Turkish guys cannot explain well in English and moreover, they don't seem to know much about their city. Which is a pity because it is visible that it could tell a lot.
The interesting thing Serdar told us today was that the Kurdish kingdom in the beginning of the time was ruled by a woman. Amida or Ameda was the first ruler and that is also the name of Diyarbakir in Kurdish. The Mesopotamian nations at that time were all matriarchates, it seems.
Here is the 2nd dose of pictures from today.

Google is switching to Turkish time after time :)

Iyi geceler / şew baş

Hello from Diyarbakir

2008-07-10T16:36:00.004+04:00

We are having a siesta again, so I took shower, changed my nail polish, epilated my legs and now I am at my computer again. I have been a lazy girl again with my blog, I know...
But after reading Laura's blog from ISUM (I have added it on the right side) I finally got the hmmm... courage, power, will to make an effort...don't know what you need to write your blog. But I got it.
So.... how is an AEGEE Summer University in Diyarbakir?
We were sitting on the concrete edge with some guys, after the swimming pool today and talking that we should change the name of this summer university from the current "The Guard Of The Dreams Diyarbakir Walls And The Others" (which I still fully don't understand, to confess you) to "Summer University - More or Less". We were told that the bus which was supposed to take us back to the dorms had already arrived. But it had just arrived "more or less", as well as any other part of the daily program here is always "more or less".
Mostly we eat and have siesta.
We were supposed to have a photography course but there is some problem with the teacher. He is just not. Or "more or less" not.
Yesterday, we had to go to the conference hall at the university to watch a movie about Diyarbakir and the great city walls, but we managed to see only the first 10 min because the battery of the laptop was low and the guy had forgotten the cable at the dorms.
But I had a great program for myself yesterday while the others were having the afternoon siesta. The first night my bags stayed in Istanbul because I was not informed that I need to take them out in Istanbul and check them in again. The girl in Prishtina checked them in for the whole way, but because there is no custom control here in the Diyarbakir airport, I had to check them in again in Istanbul... well, next time I will know if there is any next time. Of course.
The flights were perfect. I had almost 5 hours in Istanbul, but because of long queues at the passport control due to the many tourists, they were considerably shortened. Still I managed to go to the center and spent a lovely hour with Cherie. We were sitting in one of those fish restaurants under the bridge in Eminonu and I had a beer and cay. On the way back to the tram, a Gambian guy started to talk to me and I was in my happy-love-everybody-be-nice-to-everybody-be-tolerant-etc mood and we had a short nice talk. He was on vacation in Istanbul and was inviting me to visit Gambia because it is also very nice. Why not? I would love to visit Latvian ex-colonies, though I know it is bullshit...it was short and long time ago and we were rather under Germans. I gave him my msn address and my Turkish mobile number. But yesterday someone was buzzing me almost 30 times till I blocked the number and it was buzzing from a different number... ok, I don't mind to pick up, but I am not going to spend money on him. We can be friends and that's it. I made it clear and he seemed fine with it. Still he is not yet such a precious friend for me that I would call back and spend my money on him. There can't be anyone else to buzz me here in Turkey from a Turkish number...
Ok, about yesterday. After we picked up my luggage, which luckily was not lost and arrived in a good shape, we went to the driver's place because he wanted to change clothes. While he was changing clothes, we were sitting in the office of his dad's company, which sells all kind of IT accessories. The offices were a bit too big and fancy for a small shop, which sells comp-mice and USB sticks. But, as I saw some catalogs on the table, maybe they also accept orders for bigger (and more expensive) equipment. I really liked Serol's dad. He was totally cool and spoke a little bit of English. He did indeed look a bit Scottish with reddish hair and light skin with sunny-dots (I will look up the proper name later here...:P). Sooner or later of course we started to talk about the Kurdish question. And I liked their stance. He said if he could choose what to be born this time or next time, he would never choose to be Kurdish. They don't want independence, but they want just a peaceful, prosperous life were you can be what you are and talk what you think. After the movie at the university we were supposed to give a short introduction speech why we are here IN TURKEY and how do we like TURKEY. Please don't use the name KURDISTAN. And it was strange because we were just with the guys of AEGEE-Diyarbakir. But maybe the technician guy could overhear or there are bugs in the conference hall?
And we try to learn Turkish and we want Turkish music and we talk about Turkey. Of course. Because the Turkish guys are Turkish and they speak Turkish between themselves. Most of them cannot speak Kurdish or Zazakish. They called themselves "assimilated" the first night so much that I was even hearing it in my dreams I think. Which is kind of sad and I hope that terrorists (yesterday we read that 3 German tourists have been kidnapped on the Ararat mountain by the Kurdish terrorist group - the Workers' Party) are punished with justice, Turkey moves from a military-coup-formed country to a true democracy, and the kids of these "assimilated" turks will have the possibility to learn the language(s) of their ancestors. The Kurdistan (or we decided to replace it with piiiiiiiiiiii sound - so hereafter I am gonna do that) in the Norther Iraq gives these people a hope. One guy told me that his female friend is now studying in Arbil to become a primary and Kurdish teacher.
Zazakish - is a language related to Kurdish but they cannot understand each other. At least 3 of our Turkish guys are from mixed Kurdish-Zazakish families. In one case the guy speaks both languages and, of course, Turkish. At least that is what I understood from his poor English. Maybe he is just boasting about his knowledge of many languages. Because I can say that his English and Russian do not really count. And if his Kurdish and Zazakish are in a 1000% better level, they would still not really count. A more common case, represented by 2 out of our hmmm...7? guys is that parents speak Turkish between themselves and with the children. So they don't know the languages of their mothers and fathers. Maybe they also want to protect them and give them a better chance for a better life as truly "assimilated Turks".
We need to go soon to the city again. So I should stop writing about politics. The yesterday we were in the city for the first time because we live quite far outside in the dorms. The city is really special and beautiful. I have put some pictures on my webpicasa.
We visited some really old churches and maybe today we are going to a mosque. So I should redress and put long pants on, and some shirt which covers my shoulders and take a scarf with me, just in case. Though, I think it was not obligatory.
And, yes, the last comment about yesterday - we had a great improvised party here in the dorm with some crazy dancing. I twisted my shoulder again - though just for a second. But it hurts a bit today and I was more careful swimming.
Yes, and it is hot. But after Skopje and Prishtina I don't really feel the difference if it is hotter or not. The same about food. After Sheptim's mom's stuffed paprikas the food is very common and fine for me. The other girls are saying they are gonna lose some weight here.
As I am such a lazy writer, I won't promise a new post any time soon, but just some time "more or less"

Pregnancy

2008-06-25T02:03:00.004+04:00

There was one thing I wanted to blog about a while ago, but I forgot it. And could not remember till today because I was reminded of it by a friend. Pregnancy probability... it is kind of curious: at school we are taught that no day is safe. But then people get married, are trying and trying... and find out that there is only one short moment in a month, because the human ovum has a lifespan that is not more than 24 hours. Yes, but teachers have their point to scare us.
But when you want a baby, you feel a bit cheated. I guess...

in this country of shit...

2008-06-11T18:56:00.002+04:00

First, I don't want you to get pissed off with me for your love for Macedonia (FYROM...god I feel like swearing in this bad word) or think that I am totally pissed off myself because I am not actually. It is just a song by Eels called World of Shit which is being played and replayed in my head during this day in a bit modified version.
So, I have not written for a long time and many things have happened. I won't keep an account of them here. But my new flatmate has arrived. She is from France, but she is totally cool :) (joke)
She arrived with her golema machka (big cat) from Paris, with all the vaccination's and an EU pet passport. The cat was mewing during the night because it wanted to go out, it liked to play with my naked legs sticking out of the blanket so much that I was scared to move and for some moments even barricaded my door. Still... I love cats too much. I love even nasty ones and Rajah is actually very sweet and I have grown very affectionate towards him.
But he went out a few times (last time he jumped out of the window and even managed to find the right door of our apartment - so we were very proud of him!), maybe got into a small fight (because the legitimate owner cat of this flat - old Bono - has become very aggressive and insulted and is brutally pushing his way inside HIS APARTMENT...) but since more than a week he does not feel well: he has a fever, he got a wound on his ear and his lower lip, yesterday a new little spot or wound appeared on his nose and he started to limp on his front right leg, his fur is not looking healthy, he is losing a lot of hair and there was something like blood plus pus spots on my sheets this morning where he was sleeping...
Aurelie has been taking him to the veterinary hospital for 7 days each day and they have been measuring his temperature and giving him shots of antibiotics and vitamin C and maybe something else. He still eats and drinks a bit, and goes to the toilet.
Today after he started to limp badly we demanded for blood tests because Aurelie has agreed with her mother and the vet in Paris that she will send the results by mail. They took the blood but they told us to go to a laboratory on the other side of Skopje. We took a cab there but we were told that they are not doing tests anymore for pets because they had an inspection and it is forbidden and they are very strict about it.
We took a cab back to the veterinary hospital and told them that. They called to the lab and they were told the same. They called other laboratories (all human laboratories... strange there is no laboratory in the veterinary hospital or in the faculty and institute next to it) till one finally agreed. We had a bit of problems finding it, running with the blood around and asking people. But finally we succeeded. A few tests could not be done because the blood was carried around in the heat and sun for almost four hours, but let's hope that the other results are exact.

In this country of shit animals are totally worth a shit... and we are criminals if we want to help our poor Rajah...

Summer Universities in the Balkans

2008-05-26T01:08:00.001+04:00

The DEADLINE for INTERNATIONAL & SEE REGIONAL STUDENTS has been extended until 30 MAY 2008

Offered courses:

PRISHTINA:
1. Public International Law
2. Comparative Constitutional Law
3. Theories of International Relations
4. International Criminal Law and its Enforcement
5. The Politics of European Integration
6. Introduction to Journalism
7. Public Finance
8. International Marketing
9. European Company Law: Understanding the European right of establishment of Companies
10. Epigraphy Speaks
11. Issues in Cultural Heritage Management
12. European Models of Information-Society & Public Electronic Governance
13. Building and the cooling system
14. Introduction into the field of Plant Breeding and Crop Production
15. Beach Volleyball

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA
Course Nr.1: Relations between EU and Balkans,
Professor: Ekaterina Volkova
Course Nr.2: Nation and Nationalism in the Contemporary World: Theory and Cases,
Professor: Kenneth Kemp
Course Nr.3: European institutions, Identity and Cultural Heritage,
Professor: Sabine Stadler
Course Nr.4 The Role of Dialogue in Local Peace Building,
Professor: Monica Jakobsen
Course 5: Strategic Management,
Professor: Eric Dirksen
Course 6: Theory and practice of Negotiation in the general framework of Conflict prevention and resolution,
Professor: Emanuela C. Del Re

OHRID:
COURSE 1: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
COURSE 2: INTEGRATED MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS
COURSE 3: INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY
COURSE 4: PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW
COURSE 5: GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS
COURSE 6: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW
COURSE 7: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
COURSE 8: PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND EU PERSPECTIVES FOR MULTIETHNIC SOCEITIES
COURSE 9: HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
COURSE 10: EARLY CHILDHOOD IN LANGUAGE ARTS
COURSE 11: USING CREATIVE WRITING AND CHILDREN’S LITERATURE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN EFL
COURSE 12: TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH THE INTERNET

If you have any questions, write me!

Application and more information here

Easter-1stMay holiday in Albania and Montenegro

2008-05-06T15:19:00.007+04:00

April 27 leaving from Skopje, hitchhiking to Struga and sleeping there. Good-bye/Welcome party in the Red Cross Hotel

April 28 hitchhiking Struga-Durres, sleeping on the beach:) Train Durres-Tirana and sleeping in Tirana Backpackers Hostel. Dinner for students in a posh restaurant

April 29 minibuses and hitchhiking Tirana-Kruja-Shkodra, sleeping in a communist hotel Rozafa, dinner in a traditional fish restaurant

April 30 hitchhiking to Podgorica, Montenegro. Sleeping at a friend's place.

May 1 bus Podgorica-Perast. CS 3rd Balkan Mafia meeting. A beautiful house for 3 with a terrace with a beautiful view, a ride to Kotor by Italian bikers...and the surprise present:)

May 2 day on the boat, island near Perast, a fortress, Herceg Novi

May 3 hiking in Orahovec, ice-cream in Kotor

May 4 by car to Albania, visiting Shkodra again, sleeping in Tirana

May 5 by car Tirana - Skopje, stopping in Durres and Elbasan

Fishing and off-road driving weekend with a Fiat (summary in English)

2008-04-14T17:44:00.003+04:00

On Saturday, soon after I arrived in Prishtina, we set off with Shpetim and his friend Norik to buy a fishing stick for 10 euros and go fishing in a nearby lake. We got worms for free, quite a lot of them but did not catch any fish so worms were thrown in the lake for a big fish party.
But as we always say it: the process is more important than the result. First of all, we had a lot of fun with off-road driving in a Fiat because Norik said he knows a road to the other side of the lake which is closer to the city and more scenic/better for fishing. The road was one of the biggest challenges you could imagine, even for a 4x4 vehicle: big gorges in between, huge bumps, steep ups, downs and turns, sometimes sand, sometimes mud. While Norik was driving, we were mostly walking and running and Shpetim was giving advices how to pass this or the other spot. One time close to the lake the car went with the nose down and one rear wheel up but Shpetim hung himself in the rear doors and they managed to put the car down to all four.
I managed to sunbath a little and we played 2 games of cards before a big wind started to blow all the cards around. Then we had a similar exciting ride/run/walk back.
On Sunday the boys (Shpetim, Norik and another friend of theirs Besi) wanted to go to fish again, but to another place - Sheptim's childhood fishing place. The place and the river would be very nice if it was not used for garbage discharge. The first place we stopped was behind the slaughterhouse, there were many stray dogs around it because they get their deal of food. I was sitting there on a piece of cardboard box and contemplating that this is how I imagine neighborhoods in Africa...
We did not catch any fish, but some sweet-looking puppies yes. One was very active and walking up to all the people who were there. I even started considering my life with a dog and how I could make him EU documents and where to keep him...
We moved to another place and had to cross a real dump ground under the bridge. Then we had to walk along a little stinky river of wastewater. Two Prishtina boys were laughing about Shpetim and his "clean tasty village air compared to the smog in Prishtina". But further way it got more pleasant and we found a very nice fishing spot. To get there we had to pass a metal construction which is used as a bridge and Prishtina boys almost peed their pants and gave all the stuff for us with Shpetim to carry.
With the first or 2nd throw Shpetim caught the first fish! We put her (him) in the Fanta bottle and it traveled with us to Prishtina as a proof that we really caught something. When it was proved, we got a dilemma what to do with the fish because we had started to grow affectionate about it and there is no use to fry one small fish anyways.
It spent the night in a red plastic bowl in the bathroom and today was carried over the Kosovar-Macedonian border in a Coca-Cola bottle and released in the Vardar river. A very lively fish and I wish her/him a long life!

Fishing stories from Kosova in Latvian

2008-04-14T12:35:00.000+04:00

Si nedelas nogale izvertas piedzivojumiem bagata makskeresanas un bezcelu brauksanas (ar mazu Fiat) nedelas nogale.
Sestdien,
ap vieniem devamies par 10 eiro nopirkt makskerkatu, maisu pilnu ar tarpiem dabujam par brivu. braucam uz kaut kadu ezeru netalu no Pristinas. 30 min brauciens. Shpetima draugs Noriks saka, ka vins zina citu celu, ka piebraukt ezeram no otras puses, kur esot daudz labak. Ok, turpinot pa sasaurinosos asfalta celu garam n-tajam Latinamerikas serialus atgadinosajam privatajam amerikanu un 3.mileeniuma vidusskolam, atduramies strupcela un tur stavosie viriesi mums liek braukt atpakal un tad pa zemes celu nogriezties pa kreisi. Pirmais zemes cels ir tik stavs, ka nobistamies. Otrais, tresais, ceturtais izskatas, ka ved uz jaunuzceltajam privatmajam. Izvelamies piekto. Pec 50 metriem ir pirmais pagrieziens ar slipumu un augstu gropi pa vidu. Mes izkapjam lauka un ar komandas darbu pirmo miklu atminam bez paliksanas ar vienu riteni gaisa vai sasistu karteri. Bet tas ir tikai sakums... kadiem 5 kilometriem celam ar milzigam gropem un pusmetru vagu pa vidu, dubliem, smiltim. Mes ar Shpetimu parsvara skrienam pirms un pec masinas un labi ja 30 metrus pabraucam lidz nakamajiem lielajiem dubljiem vai cinjiem.
Netalu no ezera esam nedaudz atpalikusi un soferitis paliek ar purnu nobrauciena uz leju un pakalejo kreiso riteni gaisa. Shpetims iekrajas kreisajas pakalejas durvis un nobraucam leja pie ezera. Tur ir diezgan daudz makskernieku jau prieksha. Vel vairak ir plastmasas maisinu un citadu drazu. Ok, kaut ka mums si vieta neapmierina un nolemjam padoties vel nedaudz talak. Noriks vairak neriske masinu dzit augsa pa mazo stavo celu, tapec pie darba keras Shpetims. Es saku, kad jums puisi saks palikt garlaicigi, dodiet masinas atslegas man
Pec daziem metriem tur augsa izlemjam tomer masinu tur atstat un doties ar kajam talak, jo sakas megadublji, kuriem pat ar kajam sudigi tikt cauri. Atrodam diezgan skaistu vietinu. Masinu no turienes sen jau vairs neredzam, bet tapat no sejienes nekur ar vinu neaizskriesi. Ar kajam noteikti zaglus panaksim.
Tiek ieprovets jaunais spinings, bet musu pieredzejusakajam makskerniekam nav nekadas pieredzes ar tadam makskerkatiem ar tadam spolem un nav ari nekadas pieredzes ar makskeresanas ipatnibam ezeros. Zinam, ka jasviez maize, lai piesaistitu zivju uzmanibu. Tarpi ari negrib no sakuma list uz akjiem. Lidz pusei vinju uzdur, a shis, maita, shmok nost. Nekadu zivi mes todien nenokeram, bet es apdedzinaju plecus un izspelejam 2 karsu partijas, pirms sacelas liels vejs un saka visu nest pa gaisu.
Atpakalcela soferitis divreiz paskrapeja celu ar karteri, bet citadi bez ipasiem starpgadijumiem.
Svetdien,
Dodamies uz musu pieredzejusaka makskernieka Shpetima dzimtajiem makskeresanas laukiem - upiti pie bernibas ciema. Upite nav nekada mazaa, bet piedrazota nenormali...kadus 30 gadus visi atkritumi tiek sviesti tur pie tilta. Ari en-taas nenormali smirdoshas notekas no kanalizacijas tiek novaditas tur. Sakam makskeret aiz pilsetas slavenas lopkautuves, no kurienes nak Kosovas labaka gala visiem Pristinas restoraniem. Hmmm... ja jau es lidz shim esmu dziva, tad nevajadzetu but tik traki. Pie lopkautuves stav barins aitu. Gaida savu rindu. Skumjs skats. Ap lopkautuvi klist daudz ielas sunju, kuriem no tas atlec savs labumins. Pie uzberuma cela malas gul 3 smuki kuceni. Viens ir loti aktivs un nak ar visiem izrunaties un visiem izlugties, vai varbut vinu var adoptet. Tik smuks kucens, ka tiesam saku domat, varbut kaut ka varu vinu iekombinet sava dzive...izkartot Eiropas Savienibas papirus...eh, skumja, druma ta dzive te.
Ari te neesam vienigi makskernieki. Laikam jau kaut kadas zivis saja notekaa dziivo. Radioaktivas un trisgalvainas. Gribot negribot saja vieta sezot pie sis upes ar plastmasas maisinkokiem abos krastos, iidoso suni, svilstosas miesas, adas, matu smardu no lopkautuves negribot nakas domat par sis vietas tuvumu Afrikai attistibas zina.
Viens makskernieks ir loti izpalidzigs, nomaina mums aki uz mazaku (esot par lielu), iedod mums tarpus (vakardienas salaidam ezera - for the fish party, sniedz padomus... Sunjukam vins ari patik, shis paliek gulot pie vinja velosipeda - sak', izvelejos sev saimnieku. Driz noguris tur pavisam atluzt, ka tikai berni to mak.
Atkal nekas nekeras, un Shpetims nolemj pavirzities vel tuvak savai bernibas makskeresanas vietai. Atkal vins dzen masinu augsa uz uzberuma, jo Noriks atsakas. Un talak pa to celju (lasit, taku). Zem tilta sakas atkritumu kalni un izbraukt nav iespejams. Atstajam masinu tur, bet driz brauc traktors ar jauniem atkritumiem un masina ir janovirza mala. To darot, atkal paliekam ar vienu riteni gaisa, bet viens no traktoristiem soreiz uzkaras un atkal dabujam uz cetriem riteniem.
Solojam talak kajam, gar noteku ar smirdosu kanalizacijas udeni. Un Sheptima draugi (soreiz esam 4: Shpetims, es, Noriks, un Besi) vinu velk uz zoba par "labo vinja lauku gaisu, ko nevarot salidzinat ar Pristinas smogu". Otrpus kanalizacija un uzberumiem sak klut patikamam. Nejut vairs to smaku, neredz upi ar atkritumiem, tikai zaljus un brunus uzartus laukus, zilus kalnus un sarkanus dakstinu jumtus, un vienu baltu minaretu. Mums ir japarapjas pari saubigam tiltam, ja to ta var nosaukt. Viss ekipejums tiek atdots Shpetimam un man, jo "pilsetas puikas" Noriks un Besi rapjas tricosam kajam un rokam. Tilts ir diezga augstu un sastav no dazam sarusejusam, nestabilam margam, metala karkasa un briziem esosam briziem neesosam metala plaksnem uz ta. Otra puse tiesam ir ljoti jauka makskeresanas vieta ar ljoti minimaliem plastmasas drazas apjomiem. Otra puse ir aitas, dazas pavisam apaljas vel stavokli, citas ar jau palieliem jeriem. Uz pirmo vai otro metienu IR PIRMAA ZIVS! Maza, bet tomer zivs. Sakuma es vinu ielaizu atrasta plastmasas pudele, bet Noriks ar Besi piebeidz 2L Fantas pudeli, izskalo un es viniem par prieku zivi parcelu uz jaunajam majam. Tas ari todien bija viss musu loms, kaut gan redzejam dazas palielas zivis tur lekajam.
Atpakaljcelja ir isaks cela gabalins lidz lielajam celjam, izlemjam braukt pa to. Ir dublains, bet ir normalas cietas gropes abiem riteniem, ta ka vajadzetu but ok. Tomer Noriks nav tas labakais bezcelju rallists un vins nobrauc no gropem dubljos, iespole un apmeta visu masinu ar trekniem dubljiem. Labi, ka blakus ir benzintanks, kur pasi varam par 1 eiro izmantot sluteni, lai masinu atmazgatu, pirms ar to radities atpakal "pilsetaa".
Ta viena nabaga zivs netika ielaista atpakal dzimtaja upe, jo bija vajadzigs pieradijums, ka tiesam kaut ko nokeram. Tagad ta dzivs dzivo sarkana plastamas bljoda un Shetims apsver iespeju samaksat Norikam par benzinu, lai aizved uz nedaudz tuvaku upi un palaiz briviba. Jo vienu zivi nav verts cept. Un bezjedzigi nogalinat vins nespej. Bet radioaktiva, trisgalvaina zivs ir diezgan shprauna. Ik pa laikam tiek atvesinata ar jauna, vesa udens salti...bet ir pieteikusi badastreiku - negrib ne tarpus, ne salo cepumu drupacas.

ajde da uživam! (let's enjoy!)

2008-04-09T22:46:00.004+04:00

I did not go to the dance concert at the end... who knows if it was today and at what time.
I decided to go for a jog and I feel damn good now. I took a bath, still had some bath flakes from Fragonard, Eau du Bonheur. Verrrriiiii naiiiis :)
Now I will go to check if there are any pancakes left for me :)

I just remembered the owner of Le Petit Cafe today when we were sitting outside there with our coffees, actually Albert with his coke and me with my blueberry juice, with our long bored faces, looking kind of sad, silent, out of words, just waiting and waiting... He looked at Anja and she said she is leaving today and he replied in Macedonian: it seems nobody wants to leave Macedonia...pause...except Macedonians :)

The air outside is full of lilac aroma, I am totally enjoying it! And soon there will be time for chestnuts! And the evening outside feels like a normal summer evening in Latvia, you just need a little thin sweater nothing else...+18... and it smells like June in Latvia! It is so hard to believe that it is still snowing in Umeå, Sweden... am I crazy even considering going to study there???

Čekaj i uživaj!

2008-04-09T19:36:00.002+04:00

Anja had to leave by car to Ljubljana together with 4 Macedonian guys this morning at 10 o'clock. I told her that probably they would leave by midday because it is Macedonia, but she said that 3 of the guys are Struga guys and they are usually better with time than Skopje guys (just talking about the people from youth NGOs). Yes, the 3 guys were on time but because of the 1 Skopje guy, they left only in the afternoon. Some document was missing, some work was still unfinished... but if you know that, you can tell others so that they can sleep longer.

We got up at 8, I went to Anja's apartment at 9 for breakfast and coffee. Another coffee at 10, more burek, at 11 I went to buy some beer, at 13:00 we went for another coffee at the nearby cafe. Then we went to pizzeria and ordered one golema (=big) pizza (which was one of the smallest pizzas I have ever seen in Macedonia)...at 14:30 I just said bye and I hope you will leave today!

So kind of a screwed day...I feel screwed. Maybe I will go to a dance concert this evening, but it is impossible to find information online about Skopje Dance Fest 2008

And I found this funny add, it made me laugh a lot so I wanted to share it with whoever visits my blog. It is a property advertisement from Kosova and can be found here

FLAT IS IN THE STREET VELANIA IN PRISHTINA.FLAT HAVE 1 LIVING ROOM

3 BAD ROOMS 1 KITCHEN 1 BATHROOM 2 BALCONIES CABLE TV WITHINTERNET CENTRAL HEATING FOR CONTACT MOBILE NUMBER 044 249 379

April, April

2008-04-02T02:48:00.003+04:00

It was not an April joke and my flatmate Viki really left today. It feels kind of empty in the house, but I think I still have not understood that she's really gone home.
There is a girl sleeping in her bed, but she is not my new flatmate. My new flatmate had to arrive today but (according to Albert) her brother woke up from 2 weeks in coma. At least that is better than the previous information from Albert that he went to coma... Anyways I really hope everything is and will be fine for both of them and of course her cat. The girl who is sleeping now in Viki's bed is Katja from Poland, an ex-EVS volunteer who came to a Youth Exchange now. I know her from my first visit to Macedonia, more than a year ago. She still remembered me, which was wow for me. I guess I know more about her than she does about me because of Laura's stories, but I was impressed that she did remember the most important facts from my life 1 year ago (not much has changed actually...).
Welll...after the bye-bye in the airport, some mixed feelings, some tears I came home and cleaned up a bit after the improvised good-bye party with Macedonian souvenirs and Serbian champagne and dirty feet on our kitchen floor. Then I went to the language lesson. After that I went to a Macedonian music concert in the Skopje City Museum together with Urška. It was a crap-crap and we ran away during the break (Pauza). We went to Ramstore for ice-cream (mmm... consumer generation) and to Mala Stanica for a beer, but at the end we took tea and salep. There was crappy French music and good (but very short) puppet show. Other volunteers came (it is a real EVS gathering place, especially French EVS)... so we also got beer finally. Some girls were singing French songs, which was not bad at all except that they did not know how to sing with a microphone and the organizers did not know how to contact the microphone properly...
After Mala Stanica we had a very nice suvlaki on the way to Ploshtad were was a concert and the 1st of April Carnival. They really go crazy about carnivals here. I was thinking today that if I stayed in Macedonia, there would be a point to invest in a really nice costume because I would have many many chances to wear it. Maybe they are really too conservative and traditional, and not liberal in the everyday life that they need these carnivals to go wild. I noticed again that guys here really love to dress in female clothes, walk like females and rub against other guys. And another good thing about these carnivals - you have a chance to wear your wedding dress again! I saw quite many girls in wedding dresses today, some together with their grooms, some not.
***
Lilacs are already in full bloom!!!! I can't believe it is just April 1.

Da Name Issue

2008-03-28T11:43:00.005+04:00

It was bad all the time, but now it has reach the culmination because R.Makedonija is eager to join the NATO and other international organizations. Greece is going to veto them. Greece wants it to find another name... Macedonian politicians are working with sweaty foreheads and coming up with some options, which could satisfy both Greece and local inhabitants and would not lead to changing the constitution. There are some options on the right-hand side for your consideration and voting :)

[Republic of Skopje, Republic of Vardar, The Central Balkan Republic, Dardania (well, offered by Greeks, but I don't think it is considered at all because it is Albanian tribe and covers more the territory of Kosovo), Slav Macedonia, Vardar Macedonia, Upper Macedonia, New Macedonia, North Macedonia, Republic of High Macedonia (Gorna Makedonija), Republic of Macedonia (Skopje), Republic of Macedonia–Skopje, Democratic Republic of Macedonia, Independent Republic of Macedonia...]

My mom wrote me yesterday that she was flying from Skopje to Prague with some "činas" (VIP) because other passengers could enter the plane only through the second entrance, but on the first ramp there was the red carpet. Soldiers had to glue it to the asphalt for the wind not to lift up any corner. The guard of honor was in such interesting costumes that my mom thought they are going to dance folk dances. More guys in civil clothes were running around and talking on walkie-talkies. Inside the plane the Business class curtains were closed all the way and disembarkation of "normal" passengers was also delayed.
My mom was asking maybe I saw something in the news who were those VIPs, but actually I have no idea what is going on and who exactly is visiting Skopje these days. I just know that special unit ALFA or WOLVES guys in gray camouflage costumes with automatic weapons are standing each 500 meters on most roads. When I was coming back from the Skopje airport after saying byes to my mom, they were each 100 metres on both sides of the road and all the way till the city. When we were returning from Ohrid earlier, simple soulders in khaki uniforms were sweeping the asphalt near the Parliament building. There is police everywhere these days, with sirens and some VIP cars after them. Police is making a big mess in the traffic as well. They should not be allowed to regulate the traffic. They seem to be even worse that the unreliable Skopje traffic lights, which can just go off one moment, or green can appear simultaneously for everybody (cars and pedestrians for all directions), or it can skip green for one traffic lane at one time...
Yesterday, I finally finished my tooth. I have a metal-ceramic crown now. My first crown...it was a big psychological move. After it was done, to compensate for all my suffering, my sweet Macedonian dentist asked his son (who is also dentist, by the way) to make me some tea with rakija, whiskey or ouzo from "our Greek friends." Unfortunately I got just a simple chamomile tea without anything, though I cannot say that I was protesting much. It was all a joke and they did not have any ouzo or whiskey, just rakija. But it facilitated our talk about these last developments. I also started to read the daily newspaper which bore a review on the name issue on the front page (the same as all newspapers since more than a week ago...). So we had quite a nice talk in my broken Macedonian over politics with my dentist and his dentist son. I also had to introduce Latvian history and politics a little bit.
This is not going to be any official opinion, just my subjective one (with factual addition from both dentists). I have a feeling that what Greece is doing now with fighting for the copyright, patent or call it as you wish of the name "Makedonia", it is putting territorial claims on a much larger territory. Macedonia is a historic region, which covers parts of the current territory of Greece, FYROM, Bulgaria, little piece of Serbia and little piece of Albania. If you want to see the borders of Macedonia as they were in the reign of Macedonian Alexander, you can go even further... Although people here have tendency to megamania and love and sorrow for lost empires, lets stick to the more moderate borders of Macedonia.
As my dentist said, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of) borders with Macedonia on all sides. The biggest part of the region is indeed in Greece and is called Aegean Macedonia. The part now in Bulgaria is called Pirin Macedonia. And the part I am living in now is called Vardar Macedonia. When the pie was divided Aegean piece went to Greeks (though not without pain from the Bulgarian side, which were largely inhabiting the region and ruling it before and in between and always hoping to get back the exit to the Aegean sea...but always picking the wrong ally in the World Wars: Germany), the Vardar piece - to the Serbs, and the Pirin piece was left for Bulgarians.
There was a big difference between Athens and southern part of Greece and Salonika in Macedonia - the northern part of Greece. When Greeks kicked out all the Turks and Bulgarians from the northern part of Greece, i.e. Macedonia, they named it all Greece or Hellas (Hell Ass...). So maybe they want rename themselves to Macedonia now? No. Then why don't they want to let another country use this name? Why Bulgarians are not putting a claim too, because there is a big region of Macedonia in Bulgaria as well? Why it is so impossible to have the same name for a country and a bigger region? Macedonians living here in this name-less state do not have another identity. They don't feel neither as Greeks, nor Bulgarians, nor Serbs (ok, a big part do feel like Albanians :)).
I was surprised that Macedonian Greeks in their capital Tessaloniki do not really care about this issue that much as Macedonians here in FYROM. The volunteers living there had not heard much about the debate, and the newspapers bore different news on the front page and maybe just a small piece about their northern neighbors. There were no protests of people on the streets like here in Skopje. So what are Greek politicians so worried about and why do they need all this? Not that there is such a big passions from their nation. Or maybe there are, just they are too lazy... :)
It do look like stupid old-fashioned Byzantium ambitions. And in my opinion, the West should not support Greece so much. There is not much to love them for except the things the current Greek generations are not responsible for, such as Pantheon or Mount Olympe, or Olympic games...or the natural tourism attractions. And the European Union knows what kind of liars they are and have been acting too much as a kind mother to a beautiful, but spoilt child.

P.S... maybe I do have a subjective point of view because of my information space, but forgive me that

a letter from near the ocean

2008-03-24T23:10:00.005+04:00

Hi! My mom landed successfully from her Amazing Race through European airports and testing different airlines (she preferred Croatia Airlines). First day we spent at the Children Village. She could not resist helping us with teaching methodology and joined the English language Beginners' course for the Village's moms and aunts.
Later that day we took the bus to Prishtina and went for a dinner together with my ljochka Shpetimi. On Saturday we made an excursion to Prizren where we very unexpectedly met Antoine and Carsten from Skopje, Antoine's brother and Amelie, a volunteer from Krusevac. Later the same day we went out in Prishtina, in Pejton where I met with Lena, a German girl from Prishtina Summer University 2007. The day of meetings. We had some beer and rakia, and then went to 212 Club. DJ Bambooka sucked (he is an OK drummer, though), there was too much smoke and I was falling asleep standing.
On Sunday we came back to Skopje, quickly changed clothes and continued to Ohrid where I sit now. Kosta who owns Villa Kosta is a very nice guy, he explained me perfectly how to get to Sv. Naum today and was just extra sweet. I will spread a good word about his apartments. So today everything went smooth except the weather. It was a real storm today. First was just windy, but sunny. Then big dark clouds started to come from the mountains. And later was also raining. And big wind again. But luckily we managed to escape the rainy moments and find a sanctuary in the many cafes and restaurants. I do love the restaurant Belvedere. Since my first time in Ohrid, I go to eat dinner only there. The waiters there are gold and I just want to leave a tip even if it is not the rule in Macedonia.
Lake Ohrid looks like a real ocean today with green blue water, big waves with white hats, and invisible opposite coast. Colors are amazing. I think I will have very beautiful photos from today, with a better camera they would be like from National Geographic. While walking today, we went into one ph9to gallery. A short trip around Macedonia in pictures. It was perfect and the photos were great for decorating a stylish apartment. Nobody could guess where the photos are from. Certainly not Europe.
My photos will come later...keep posted.
Dace

this one is just for fun

2008-03-20T11:15:00.002+04:00

...that is how they are solving road problems in Latvia. In one Latvian town, Alūksne, the streets are with big holes. They did not fix the streets but just put a road sign when entering the city that the bumpy road is in the whole territory of the town.

Murphy again

2008-03-20T11:11:00.004+04:00

My mom had such a bad luck with her trip to visit me here. First, the weather just got cold, cloudy, rainy and yesterday, at least, there was a lot of wet snow. When I looked at the weather forecast yesterday, it was said that the whole next week is gonna be like this.
And this morning I get an sms from here that they took off, flew a round and returned to Riga Airport because of some technical problems. So, I think she is losing the spirit... Now all the passengers are still waiting outside the office of Czech Airlines and trying to change and return tickets, and get more information.
Poor mom, I send all my good thoughts, wishes and energies for here in my mind and in the World Wide Web.

Ba-ba-baaaaaaaaaah

2008-03-19T12:39:00.002+04:00

Albert came yesterday out of the blue. Missing me probably, I have not been in their flat lately when he is at home. And he got straight down to the business - went to buy a new light bulb for our bathroom, got a chair, we discussed which way the light is off and made a logical decision...and BA-BA-BAAAAAAAAAAH FIREWORKS AND SMASHED GLASS ALL OVER THE BATHTUB. IT EXPLODED! Albert is really lucky that no small piece of glass flew in his eye. But he was under shock long time after. And went home. He promised to return this morning and disconnect the electricity in the whole flat. The metal part of the light bulb stayed inside of course, it has grown inside with all the rust... He still has not turned up. Maybe changed his mind after all :)
I sticked a big note ATTENTION! EXPLOSION! on the bathroom door last night so that my flatmate who was out did not think of taking the bath when she comes back during the night. And this morning I was trying to pick out all the small pieces from the bath (mostly) and floor. I tried to rinse away the rest, but the shower is still not working properly. Strangely yesterday when I tried to show it to Albert, it worked quite fine...Damn Murphy
***
I was talking about this guy already earlier yesterday because I could not get chamomile tea anywhere yesterday. The tea which is the most common over here and is always in stock, yesterday was almost impossible to get. And I need to drink a lot of it for my tooth and gums to heal faster. Well, it is just an extra reason, because I do like it. And when I like something and I am told it is good for me, I want it double as much.

Milda sessions in Tessaloniki

2008-03-17T23:51:00.003+04:00

Last weekend I went to Tessaloniki finally to meet a Latvian EVS from my pre-departure seminar. She is leaving tomorrow early early morning at 5 something... Was her last weekend in Tessaloniki and my last chance to meet her there because there is not a big chance she will ever come back there, so happy to leave she was! And she is not the only having this mood, which made me think why EVSes want to shorten their projects and are happy to leave from Greece but in here in Macedonia the general mood is completely different: most of current EVSes want to extent their projects and stay in Macedonia. Because in general lines the EVS problems are the same here and there... Maybe too much capitalism in Greece kills the only beautiful sentiment and innocence and hospitality and country-sidedness of people here in the Balkans and leaves only the ugly side of the same things. But maybe it is just the subjective reasons of the individuals involved in this enigma. Because we met a real Latvian-Greek, who stayed in Tessaloniki after his EVS and loves it.
I did like Tessaloniki and I cannot say that all Greek people are rude. The officers are. But ice-cream sellers are not.
We went to some documentary photography excibitions in the Museum of Photography. The one from Afganistan had too much Canadian Piii-aaaaR. But the other one was great with pictures from all current hot spots in the world. Great shots and great summaries.
After that had my chicken suvlaki and Greek coffee (hahaha...Greek, Turkish, Albanian, Bosnian, Serbian...coffee) at the blue-eyed table of the Milda nation talking the Milda language and staring at aging Greek cleavages.

Sunday evening I was back home and got to know shocking news that the owner of our flat died. He was a very nice, cheerful, energetic guy...he seemed. But had a weak heart and got a lethal heart-attack on Thursday. I felt out of place and my knees felt week when I was going to register in the police again. Death is still impossible for a human mind to comprehend.

Today we played games with children and started to teach English to their mothers and aunts. ABC. I met Maria - the new German volunteer with 2 kids, all of them "gypsy-style". From the little communication I had, she really seems a nice girl and kids are simply heart-killers.

After that I had to run to my Macedonian dentist because I finally made up my mind to make my first crown. It was a lot of zzzzzzzzzrrrrrrrrrzzzzzzzz drilling because most of the tooth is the plomb. Now I have a temporary crown and in a week or so will get real procelain.

In the evening dancing again. And after that eating eating eating...starving. But cannot chew much so mostly bananas and yoghurt, some cheese toasts and a little chocolate. I watched Dr. House with one eye but mostly chatted with my ljochka and now there is a stupid discussion about Macedonian name and identity on TV. AGAIN. I MUST GO TO TURN IT OFF!!!

Strumica: final part

2008-03-13T01:16:00.004+04:00

Yes, the party was great at the end. We stayed at that loud bar next to my internet cafe. We did not go inside because there was a nice wooden floor outside (which we broke later in the night...) and the music was loud even outside. We seemed a bit attraction because many people came to sit around us and watch and only a couple of Turkish guys joined in dancing. But better few good Turkish dancers than 300 Macedonian cigarette-dancers. I did have a loooooooooooot of fun dancing with one guy, completely sweaty and cheeks aching from laughing. Some of the weirdest kind of aerobics Strumica has ever experienced :)
After that we went for a big fast food meal and back to the crazy students busses. At 6 something I was at home and before 7 I was in my soft bed.
Put my alarm at 10:30 because we had to go to the Children Village. After some fresh air yesterday before and after the little bit of rain, today was fking damn hot. I was sunbathing in short-sleeve t-shirt while kids where pressing potatoe "stamps" on a piece of cloth. While sunbathing I made some stamps from potatoes: star, boy, house (even 2), heart, and a chicken foot.
Did my accounting for January and February finally. And then went for a jog in the football warm-up field. Then I had a beautiful aromatic bath in our short bathtub which required some deal of flexibility. And my bath was especially romantic because we still don't have any light in the bathroom and have to use a candle.
Had a talk with my mom about her trip to Macedonia (very very soon...next week) and a cup of hot cocoa. And now it is really time to go to bed again!

night in Strumica

2008-03-12T01:43:00.002+04:00

I am now sitting in an internet cafe Dakar in Strumica. There is a load music from a bar next to it. It is a nice cafe but full with these teenage boys even in the biggest night of Strumica Festival (carnival). I did not plan to come here at all. But then I went to Kiril&Metodij university today, to the AEGEE-Skopje office at the Law Faculty and the student union next to it had a poster offering a ride to Strumica at 16h and back at 4am for 349 MKD. I thought a bit and why not. I have not seen any of these crazy carnivals here in Macedonia. And Strumica is one of the most famous ones. Almost each town has it and nobody really knows what is the meaning of them and how this tradition started. They try to imitate the Brazilian carnival and it is somewhat connected to pagan traditions, fasting, spring etc. All I know. But it is fun, some groups have really worked on masks, decorated trucks and choreography, but some guys just walk alone. One old lady had made a bit cross with something like butterfly wings and had real trouble carrying the construction...:) Anyways, it is very democratic and that's why it takes so long time. Half of Strumica participates plus guests from Macedonia and all the Balkans.
Well...so I took the student bus. There was a bit of chaos. Again some traffic problems, all traffic lights were off and policemen were organizing the traffic. Big traffic jams and 2 busses were lost somewhere. As I was alone I just joined one bus and sat on the seat next to the driver. Really nice seat actually with a nice view :) There was lots of singing and parodies of Tose Proeski songs. Mojot zhivot became Mojot index (there are texts about unwritten and torn pages etc. :))
The shitty thing was that all the smokers came to smoke in front, sitting on the stairs on the floor. And mostly girls, some 3 girls came 2 times. And they were asking for Pauza since we just moved. All the way :P The driver said that we are going to make 8 hours long Pauza in Strumica :)
I cannot sms Inese or Viki because it seems that the network is down. Too many people here. I think I am going for a drink now, really thirsty...and I dont know what I am doing for 5 hours...
Ok, managed to reach Inese thanks to Skype. She said they are coming here in 30 min. Maybe we have a nice party at the end. Just the stupid thing is that I went into a supermarket and fell in love with a set of 4 mugs. So I have to carry some (modern) Chinese porcelain with me into a nightclub :P

springy rain feeling high

2008-03-11T17:34:00.004+04:00

Still sticking to my busy schedule, smelling the seducing aroma of spring rain, enjoying blossoms blossoms blossoms, feeling sorry for poor gypsy horses, enjoying the snow in the mountains, visiting very-beton university of Kiril and Metodij, nice AEGEE-Skopje people, observing the local business meeting style...magic eyes of a pretty grey cat on a balcony, one bottle of Laško Temno and I need to run to catch a student bus to Strumica Festival. I did not plan to go there but don't want to miss all weird Macedonian festivals :)

long way to snowy Sarajevo and some big thoughts

2008-03-10T17:58:00.003+04:00

I am just back from midterm training in Sarajevo and full of energy to do something. Today I am trying to think of a youth exchange bringing together young creative people from different countries with a common wish to change things, create their own way and throw away the take-job mentality. In one word: young entrepreneurs.
But regarding Sarajevo. It was cool in all possible senses. We had a problem with cloth and shoes choice because we did not expect it is going to snow (and snow so much!). The snow was melting and my fabric sneakers were getting wet in the exact second I stepped out of hotel. Now I am back in sunny, dry, 20 degrees warm Skopje and Sarajevo looks like a distant dream.
The training was nice, was so nice to see almost all the familiar faces from my on-arrival training and some new faces as well. It felt so cozy to share our similar experiences and feel understood. And yes, as I said at the end: I was amazed how smart and talented we all are! The future of Europe is in good hands:)
The first night was great irrespective of the rude service at the Brewery. But I really enjoyed Akademski Kulturni Centar, the live music, no oxygen, almost naked guys, singing along, heat... the atmosphere was magic. And the next nite we organized our own magic party at Hotel Grand. First bringing alcohol with big bags on a muddy trail over the rails and an empty train station, second dancing at something like Bregovič, second drinking a lot and lot of Herzegovin red wine, having very deep nonsense conversations and still being drunk in the morning. I think I missed it and it was the right time and the right place, and the right company.
It was sad that the training was only 2 days. I had the feeling that it finished just after it began. And I am starting to get the same feeling about my EVS. My best mates here Viki and Anja are leaving in less than 1 month and I have less than 4 left for myself. Where are all the things we planned to do together? A bit depressing... and a bit stressing. Now I want to run and grab everything, take it to the maximum. Enough of opušteno!
Yesterday we went for a nice dinner with Viki. There was a wedding in the restaurant but we could get a chicken steak from the grill and Šopska salad. And we had a long talk at my glass of wine and Viki's glass of Gorska Voda. About the pros and cons of the life in the Balkans.
Yeah, maybe I am really undergoing that 2nd BIG CRISIS...

t'qifsha gripin e nones*

2008-03-01T20:22:00.004+04:00

I went for one weekend only to Kosova, for the independence celebration. But the end I stayed there almost 2 weeks and I arrived in Skopje only 2 days ago - on Thursday afternoon.
First, as I wrote, my boyfriend could not be in Prishtina for the independence declaration on Feb 17. He returned to Pr only on Feb 18 and I wanted to spend some time with him. Ok, a little bit unstable situation, a very extraordinary event - everybody will forgive me if I stay a couple days more. When I was already packed and ready to go "home", I found out that all kids are sick with flue at SOS Children Village and that we don't need to go to "work". Ok, it was Thursday then....on Friday there is no work. I can stay for another weekend, why not?
I met 2 Latvian KFOR soldiers and their interpreters. We met in the National Park, had a coffee and then we all joined my boyfriend, his friend and some other guys for a basketball game. One of the soldiers went to play while I was talking to the other one. I was a bit nervous because of their strict rules, and what to ask and what topics I should avoid... plus I don't usually like to be considered crazy because I do not feel I am crazy myself. Still, it takes time to change this predisposition. I also know with what kind of katunars (peasants) they need to work with and there are many of them (katunars, I mean)... Anyways, the bottom line is that I was a bit stressed and negligent towards my boyfriend. Plus a few more misunderstandings, and we got into a silly fight. I did want to leave the next day but he did not want to let me go before we reconcile completely. And I did not feel like going either.
And then we got the damned FLUE. Maybe the fight killed our immunities, so it hit us especially badly. But it sounds that this year it is especially nasty. The nasty year. It is characterized by high fever (38-39C), terrible deep cough, pain all over the body (especially back...dunno why), stuffed nose - of course.
But now I feel much better and soon going to Sarajevo! MIDTERM TRAINING!

*untranslatable swearing in Albanian

...and the party, what else :)

2008-02-18T02:32:00.000+04:00

Someting from Pristhina center today

2008-02-17T23:36:00.001+04:00

Independence Day

2008-02-17T23:12:00.003+04:00

Today, of course, it was even greater. The city center was closed for the traffic. The freshly-made-boulevard was full of people, with flags, with drums, with smiley faces. Many wore the traditional hat - plis or gheg - and flags around their necks to protect them from the strong and cold wind. Picture making, singing, dancing, drinking free drinks (Peja for free!!!) and eating free sandwiches (me too - Peja and meat sandwich). The 30 metres long cake from Ben-af was excellent. I don't know what is left from it now but it will stay in many pictures and in people's memory.
The only pity was that it was so cold. It had been snowing in the night and it was all white, sunny, bright and clean - just like a fresh start should be. But the wind was so crazily cold that I had to search for a sanctuary time after time inside. As today Mother Theresa was closed drivers with flags had to take other roads. Agim Ramadani was the best showing-off place, and Bill Clinton, of course. Today people seemed even braver (or better trained) than yesterday. Sitting or even standing on the car roof was nothing special anymore. Driving next to each other and fighting with big Albanian flags like knights with spears in Medieval days was another popular entertainment today.
The Declaration of Independence was a truly moving moment and I think many and many had tears in their eyes. It took place some minutes after 3 pm local time and was accompanied by loud drums and songs outside my windows. I was at that time inside reading and watching news.
Now it is just shootings and explosions of, I hope, some of those 3000 tons of fireworks that were traded on streets. If yesterday streets looked like a big flag market, then today it looked more like a real weapons and ammunition fair.
So, I am doubting whether I should go out tonight. People are drunk, ecstatic and armed.

Flag parade near Grand Hotel

2008-02-17T04:53:00.003+04:00

February 16, 2008

Urime Pavarsia!!!

2008-02-16T23:19:00.006+04:00

Welll...sorry, I have been very lazy lately. With blogging it is similar as with jogging for me, when I let myself be lazy for a day, I am lazy for at least a month :)
I was home in Latvia for 2 weeks from Jan 19 till Feb 2. Visited (almost) all my friends, whom I see maybe once in a year when I am living in Latvia. So the plan for year 2008 was done in 2 intensive weeks. And I spent too much money on unnecessary things in Latvia because I had so much time to walk in shops while killing time waiting the next date/appointment.
I also spent 4.5 amazing days in Istanbul. Which also cost some money because it is not a cheap city (anymore). But definitely worth a visit.
So now I am back in Balkans, back to Prishtina at its decisive moment. Unluckily because of family reasons, my boyfriend had to go home for the Independence celebration. So, here is a report from a lonely Latvian girl from the soon-to-be-youngest-world-country Kosova. It is full of journalists, the approximation goes to 2000 accreditations. The latest information I heard was that the independence will be proclaimed on Sunday, February 17 at 11 till 15 o'clock. Don't ask me why it takes so long time. But people are celebrating it already tonight. I think I have never seen so many flags on one day. I would call it not "Independence Day" but "Flag Day" or "Flag Parade" or even better "Flag Carnival". Carnival because there is no flag of Kosova. Kosova is dressing itself in all possible flags except it owns. It is going to be one of the big problems to solve after the independence...
Now the dominant flag is still the Albanian one: red with the double-headed eagle. Number 2 is the USA flag. Number 3 is the UK. Number 4 is Germany. Number 5 is the European Union. Number 6 is Italy. Number 7 is Turkey. I also saw the flags of England, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Switzerland, United Nations (less than the EU, so to say: Bye, bye UNMIK! You have been here long enough! We are sick of your flags! Welcome, EU!)
Flags are everywhere: in shop windows, hanging from balconies, hanging from construction cranes, on cars, on people's backs, hanging out of bus windows, on car fronts, and backs, on sticks in people's hands. There is a big flag trade going on. The best I saw was the Albanian one, but under the eagle it was written "Kosovo Rep..." I really liked those 3 dots :) But the guy wanted 20 euros for the flag (if I understood right, because I can ask for the price in Albanian, but then the guys reply so fast, that I don't manage to grasp it and understand it:P But I could not resist to buy a T-shirt for 5 euros: with a shape of Kosovo on front and a text "Now I have a STATE" and in Albanian: "Tash edhe une kam SHTET". The Albanian version has one word more, which is "Now ALSO I have a STATE".
On the back it says: "Republika e Kosoves eshte shtet i pavarur, sovran dhe demokratik" - The Republic of Kosova is an independent, sovereign and democratic state; and more of text in similar fashion that I don't understand. Probably the main piece of the Declaration of Independence or maybe the new Constitution???
Ok, enough about my new cool shirt.
Fireworks are already being shot and blown outside. People are pulling wires and cables in all possible directions to play very loud traditional music and put more lights. Everybody who has a car is on the streets. They drive with people hanging out of each window and some even sitting on the roof, with a flag in one hand and a beer bottle in the other one. They beep and shout: Prishtina! Prishtina! Prishtina! or Kosova! Kosova! Kosova! or UCK! Kosova! Prishtina! All of them stop near Grand Hotel to wave to the cameras creating quite a big traffic jam and even more beeping. Tonight and tomorrow papers, internet, and TV will be full of drunk, red faces with shiny eyes (from independence and beer).
The faces are red because of the wind. It is terrible and it is very, very, very cold. The day was sunny but now it started to snow a bit again. A few white, almost-independent Kosovar snowflakes. Despite the cold, the party has just started and probably will go on till Republic of Kosova exists de jure.

Help Riga Dot LV

2008-01-28T12:02:00.000+04:00

Hi! Monopoly is launching a new Here & Now World Edition and is inviting everyone around the world to vote for the greatest cities around the globe. The 22 cities with the highest worldwide votes will make it onto one global Monopoly board. Please vote for Riga! (but actually any of your favorites)
From one IP you can vote once a day for up to 10 cities. Click here and register!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T14:14:00.000+04:00

I am now eating some chocolate santa claus to kill the spiciness of ginger I was eating before. I mixed it with honey but anyways it was crazy spicy. So, I met the new year 2008 while being ill. According to superstitions it must be a shitty year, but luckily i am not very superstitious. and also the new years party is not a big deal for me.
I met Zhivka last wednesday night and we talked the whole night. She planned to go home to Gevgelija on Thursday, but at the end we went there together only on Saturday night. I spent nice evening, Sunday and Monday there with her mom's grand cooking and the girl's love stories. I probably met half of Gevgelija and visited all the places to be. It is a nice little town. Still I decided to go back to Skopje for the New Year's Eve. And as soon I got on the train, one of my nostrils was stuck and started to feel itchy. mooizo...
I planned to have a lazy, cozy party with my volunteer friends, but when we arrived to the apartment in KV, it was full of French people, some of which I strongly dislike. So we spent the evening bitching with our Avtokomanda people. I was the biggest complainer because thanks to my dizzy head, no appetite (food sucked anyways), stuffed nose and nose and throat really sensitive to tobacco smoke, I was in a terrible mood and did not give a sh about being polite. I still agreed to wait till midnight with other Avtokomanda people and then take a taxi back to our apartment. New Year kind of came, though watches were different and there was a bit of fighting about when exactly we should start shouting and kissing. Kissing people I really don't know and care about did not make sense to me, but I was such a bitch that I was glad to share my bacillus. When people were a bit lazy to move out and take a taxi, I just felt like I have had enough and sleepiness and hurting eyes were killing me. It does feel like flue but how often can I have flue here?
Now will drink some ginger, lemon, honey tea again and eat more chocolate later to get rid of spiciness of it... :P
HAPPY NEW YEAR, I HOPE YOU ARE IN A SOMEWHAT BETTER MOOD ;)

necessary and beautiful things

2007-12-21T23:09:00.000+04:00

I know that I don't need much things. Basically, nothing except air, food, water, some heating or warm clothes. But there are things that make me feel good. Today I finally gave up and bought a normal pan and also an iron. If I can afford it and it makes my life easier and more pleasant, maybe it is necessary... You can have an ugly, old sweater and it satisfies the basic need, but it makes you feel uncomfortable and stress. Then I guess it is necessary to get a sweater which you feel comfortable in. Luxurious necessities, I guess that's the name.
Actually I went to the big Bit Pazar market to buy some more of the dark blue knitting thread. It was not a very smart idea because today is the day after the small Bajram (Muslim Christmas) and most of the shops in the market were closed. I did find the same knitting thread, but not in the color I need. I found also a shop in the center, which sells knitting threads, but again not my color. Clearly not my day.
But in the meantime, I visited the fortress finally. From Charshija it is not a big climb. I was walking and suddenly I was already there... There were some couples, it was sunny and really beautiful :) Some pics for you too, but as you know photography never shows the truth. Ugly things always look beautiful, but beautiful things don't look even close to how beautiful they are in reality. Sorry for nonsense text maybe because there are people around and we are talking all the time and I cannot concentrate on my sentence :P

50 cent for 5 euro

2007-12-19T02:12:00.001+04:00

Tikai tagad nesmejieties - es vakar biju uz 50 cent koncertu Prištinā. Tas ir tāds diezgan populārs melnais reperis no ASV...hands up, shake that ass, pull those pants up and down a little bit (tiem, kam nav ne jausmas, par ko es te runāju).
Jā, un viņa tūres ietvaros, dīvainā kārtā vienīgais koncerts vispār tuvākajā apkārtnē ir tieši Prištinas pussabrukušajā stadionā. Uz biļetēm, plakātiem un ekrāniem fifticents ir saķēris savu melno galvu un rūpēs saraucis pieri. Vietējie jokoja: kur es esmu nokļuvis, kāpēc es piekritu, kāpēc es nepieprasīju vairāk naudas, vairāk litru viskija un vairāk skaistāko meiteņu (par atlīdzību tika baumots sākot no 300 tūkstošiem līdz 1,5 miljoniem dolāru, raiderī it kā esot 200 litri viskija un 200 litri šampanieša, un katrā tūres pilsētā viņam vajag arī skaistākās meitenes...skaitu gan īsti neatceros).
Izskaidrojams šim neizskaidrojamajam faktam ir diezgan vienkāršs - nenormālie slovēņi un viņu mārketinga metodes. IPKO šādā veidā penetrē tirgu. Līdz šim Vala 900 bija vienīgais mobilo sakaru operators Kosovā (piedāvājot numurus ar Monako starptautisko kodu). Tagad slovēņu uzņēmums IPKO, kas līdz šim piedāvāja interneta sakarus, ieiet tirgū ar nedaudz lētākiem mobilo sakaru pakalpojumiem un SIM kartēm ar Slovēnijas starptautisko kodu. Biļetes uz koncertu varēja iegādāties vienīgi, iegādājoties SIM karti. Par 1 SIM karti par 5 eiro varēja dabūt 1 biļeti. Par 5 SIM karšu paku (numuri pēc kārtas un lētākas sarunas starp šiem numuriem) par 20 eiro varēja dabūt 3 biļetes. Kopumā ļoti ātri šādā veidā tika izpārdotas 20 000 biļetes Kosovā un 15 000 ārpus Kosovas, kur dzīvo albāņi. Tātad vismaz 35 000 SIM karšu.
Par pašu koncertu. Ir bijušas lielas zvaigznes, kā Džeimss Blānts un Meraija Kerija, Kosovā, bet viņas pārsvarā uzstājās amerikāņu vai angļu bāzēs, nevis vietējai publikai. Tā nu šis bija pirmais lielais koncerts ar starptautiska mēroga zvaigzni un, protams, visi, kam nebija slinkums izstāvēt kvartāla apkārtmēra rindu, bija tur. Bija gan bērni, gan lieli mužiki spīdīgos kažokos, gan laucinieki, gan ar kruķiem... Iekšā spiešanās bija biedējošākā manā mužā, burzmā nebija saredzama metāla reliņu štanga un vienā brīdī mani uz to vienkārši uznesa un bija kaut kā jārāpjas pāri. Labi, ka zābaki man tādi lēti, jo bija nomīdīti it kā būtu nez kādus dubļus bridusi. Sargu un biļešu pārbaudītāju acīs bija skaidra panika. Stumšanās un grūstīšanās gāja vaļā arī koncerta laikā un tā gaitā nejauši nonācām gandrīz vai pašā priekšā.
Iesildītāji bija kaut kāds sviests. Vietējie reperi, kuru dažas dziesmas pat tā kā zinu, bet dzīvajā kaut kā pavisam neskanēja. Varbūt arī tāpēc, ka tikai neilgi pirms 50 centiem, vienam tehniķim izdevās piekonektēt tumbas. Ārā bija ap mīnus 10, balts sniegs (perfekta, skaista ziema, par kuru Jūs Latvijā tikai sapņojat). Seksīgā dziedātāja Nora Istrefi tik un tā demonstrēja savas silikona krūtis un krūštura aizdari uz kailās, brūnās muguras. Protams, vairāk kā 2 dziesmas viņa nevarēja izturēt. Arī citiem reperiem laikam sala un maksimāli pēc 2-3 dziesmām viņi aiztinās, pirms tam nokaitinājuši pūli, samainot dziesmu tekstus un ieliekot beibju un zaķu vietā māti, kas visiem albāņiem ir svētā cieņā. Tā vismaz viņiem izdevās pacelt gaisā pūļa rokas (tikai tagad ar zināmu pirkstu kombināciju), jo uz Hands Up neviens neatsaucās. Viena grupa tika pavadīta ar šķiltavu sniegavētru.
Beigās palika tikai viens džekiņš, kas bija uz skatuves visu izpildītāju uzstāšanās laikā, un dīdžejs. Dīdžejs lika populārus klubu hitus un džekiņš vēl mēģināja saukt Hands Up, bet pūlis palika neiekustināms.
Tomēr drīz pēc tam, kad tobrīd jau cietajam pūlim cauri izspraucās amerikāņu karavīri ar automātiskajiem ierociem un pavisam neiederīgiem tuksneša krāsu aizsargtērpiem (aizgulējās vai?), uz skatuves uznāca 50 cent un sniedza diezgan pieklājīgas kvalitātes un kvantitātes koncertu. Pūlis arī iesila vienā sekundē un, jāsaka, diezgan labi pārzināja repertuāru. Pēc koncerta puiši man blakus gan jokoja, ka izskatījās, ka 50 cents ne vella nesaprata, kur viņš nokļuvis, jo Prištinas vai Kosovas vārds ne reizi ne tika pieminēts. Varbūt viņam neteica, kur viņu ved, bet varbūt vienkārši aizmirsa. Kāda gan tur starpība, ja var iztikt ar Here, In This Place un galu galā Hands Up!
Koncerts beidzās ar tiešām kolosālu uguņošanu! Varbūt vienīgi Rīgas 800 gadi var ar to sacensties manā atmiņu bagāžā. Tā bija arī ne tikai skaista, bet arī iespaidīgi gara. Puiši man blakus atkal jokoja, ka tā tiek noturēts pūlis, kamēr pa klusu aiztransportē 50 centu drošākā vietā. Pēc uguņošanas pagaidījām, kamēr pūlis aizplūst. Līdz ar aizplūšanu atklājās diezgan iespaidīga nozaudēto vai norauto mantu kolekcija. Es arī izvēlējos vienu šalli par piemiņu no šī pasākuma.

salsa nights in skopje

2007-12-13T12:47:00.000+04:00

Yesterday was my 2nd time in Van Gogh on salsa Wednesdays. In the beginning I could not get the salsa mood and salsa steps, it is really a dance to feel in your hips, in your body. If i just repeat the steps, it feels and looks stupid (actually it is true for all the dances, but salsa and other sexy Latino dances is the most stupid). People came late last night, only half past 10 it was getting full. And it is closing at 12 as all normal bars in Skopje. So for 1 hour it was hot in there and I was really getting the salsa moves! It was actually nice :)
I was talking to one guy (Macedonian by origin, but Swedish by... everything else). He is 1 month here only. He was saying that his friends were surprised that there are salsa parties in Skopje and not just turbofolk. And we agreed that salsa is not really our thing, but we have ended up here already not the 1st time. And we have not been to any real Yugoslav party and also we need to find some rock cafes.
One guy stuck to me in the toilet of Van Gogh and was telling many times how beautiful I am and asking how he can meet me again. I clearly sent him to hell, but he was not giving up and actually with a sense of humor. I liked his friend more, who was not so clearly asking for sex but had an intelligent look of neurosurgeon (what he actually is). VCS (Volunterski Centar Skopje) people were in Sektor last night, there were some alternative short movie shows and one guy of VCS had also his movie(s) shown there. Sticky guy and neurosurgeon offered to take us there by car, which was actually good because we would have never found this place ourselves (or it would have taken a considerable amount of time). Sticky guy had a really nice car with intelligence system (hello, doors are open! bye...lala) and light leather seats. They paid us the entrance to the place and I got one more beer for free. I had quite an interesting talk with both guys... Gosh, what happens with these intelligent, good looking males after 40? It is actually sad. But I am never fucking out of sympathy. And I am taken, almost married. Zafatena. Točka

gloves

2007-12-12T16:34:00.000+04:00

My new gloves - a result of a bit calmer weekend :)
COLD, YOU CAN COME NOW!

TAKSIRAT WAS THE BEST!

2007-12-09T18:19:00.000+04:00

I think I really needed a change of music. It was GREAT, COOL, AMAZING, MAGNIFICENT, FANTASTIC, AWESOME, SIMPLY THE BEST!
Count another fan of Dubioza and Laibach! And I want to see those guys from Kumanovo again.

last week (busy as always)

2007-12-08T15:13:00.000+04:00

Monday,
I took the bus at 11:30 from Prishtina. At 15:00 in the children village. Viki had planned to make the Activity game (guessing words by showing them or drawing them), but was not working out very well with the small kids. They wanted to draw. There were some guys from a marketing agency who were making Christmas cards with kids before. Kids are really kept busy these last weeks before Xmas because there are many businesses who want to promote themselves in this way...

In the evening was dancing again. We were learning Ciganchica. Maybe people were tired, maybe the dance was really harder than the previous ones, maybe the teacher is not really good at teaching...probably it all together, but it was not going very well this time. The guy is definately better at making steps simple and explaining them so that people understand. This girl is just showing and want us to repeat.
After the dance, we went to Alberts flat for a meeting about the International Volunteer's Day on Wednesday. It was Dominique's birthday, so most of the time we were talking nonsense and eating a cake. I would have boycotted this late meeting, but I had to wait for Ljubo to come with me to the police and register me. We went to police almost at 1 am and then I could finally go to bed..

Tuesday,
Business Incubator in the morning. At 15 I was meeting Natasha from Slovenia whom I met first in Prishtina the previous weekend. We walked a bit around Charshija, went to the old train station and then I showed her the way to the bus station and went to the language class.

Wednesday,
The International Volunteer's day. There was even a short story in the newspaper next to a story about Brad Pitt. First we went to the Kisela Voda office, folded some flyers. Then went to the square, next to the European Information Centre. It was a very windy day and nothing wanted to stand on the table, so laptop was mainly used to hold the flyers. We got some red and yellow balloons

and went on distributing flyers. I met Jeremy from CS. After the work we went to Sagafredo Zanetti cafe again to have some drinks. Here is my roommate with Nicolas having some fun:

The new local volunteers for Voices seem really nice. Jeremy was mostly talking to Dominique. Then I took him home, made some dinner and had to go to the center again to meet Natasha because she agreed to take me to the dentist. The dentist was a really cool, old guy who has fixed teeth of many NATO guys of different nationalities. I was his first Latvian, though. His clinic was in a private appartment, interior was quite retro, but anestesia was available and plombs were modern. Alex and Natasha took me home by car and inspected my appartment:)
In the evening we went to Kisela Voda again, had a nice party with candles, bambus and sweppes&white wine drink with fruit pieces, and version of the mafia game with werewolves.

Thursday,
In the morning we went to Bit Pazar to buy materials for the jewelry and christmas decorations workshop in Detsko Selo on Friday. I bought new very pink bedsheets because I wanted to change the finally and wash them. I bought them from a very nice muslim girl. It is not an uncommon sight to see these girls with headscarfs working. Especially in Bit Pazar or center of Struga. And they do look very nice.
After shopping I went for a bit to the YES BI. And then was the time go to the test in Macedonian language. It was not hard, but it was my mess day: misswrote things, skipped some letters, confused latin and cyrilic letters. So we have finished the first level and we will get a certificate.
In the evening we went to Albert's flat again for a St. Nikola celebration. They have made a lot of food but we had just eaten. At midnight I went to the center to meet 2 guys and go to Terry Francis night in Colosseum nightclub. I was doubting it while sitting in the flat because I was falling asleep and nobody wanted to join me. But I still wanted to see what a real house electronic party looks like in Skopje. Though, it is not my stuff at all, it was nice. It was strange that many girls and also guys looked more like coming to opera or theatre... but people were dancing and appearantly having fun. I also went to the weird VIP balcony this time, though as always it took some negotiation. And they don't sell any Skopsko on the VIP balcony, only Heineken because of some special agreement. Skopsko costs 100 in Colosseum, Heineken is 140. So, I took Gin&Tonic because it was just 10 denars more - 150. And it was good, finally not too much alcohol. Too much alcohol is a very comon problem for cocktails in Skopje. Generous bartenders. Yuck!

Went to sleep at 3 am because the guys had to get up early as well.

Friday,
I got up at 6 to say good-bye to Jeremy and went back to bed. At 10 in Detsko Selo. Inese and Nicolas also came as journalists. Kids enjoyed making jewelry, I and Anja were enjoying making Christmas tree decorations. Everybody made a big mess with fliters. The problem was that kids kept all the things and only my christmas tree decorations went for the Christmas market.
After Detsko Selo we went with Anja to Albert's appartment to finish yesterday's food. Viki went to the center first to meet some Hungarian woman. I with Anja were coming to Ramstore at 15, but we got so carried away in converstations that came more than half an hour late. We walked to the German embassy which is quite far away, hidden against the slope of Vodno. There was a German Weinnachtsmarkt.

We drank some Gluhwein with a good addition of rum. Carsten came later and boughth some really tasty cookies. It was packed with internationals and little kids. So naturally all our talks were about pregnancy and giving birth. We left Carsten and went to hunt for a taxi. It was not so easy but finally we got into the warmth of Ramstore supermarket, bought tickets for Taksirat festival (which is tonight) and went for a coffee at Doctor's.
Back in Avtokomanda, I still went to Anja to finish the leftovers and then almost straight to bed.

Today,
Slept nicely till half past nine. I hate the heating here! I thing that is the thing that does not make me recover completely and after each night I feel my throat again. In the evening it is warm, then somewhere at the night they turn off the heating at all to turn it back at morning around 7... do they think I will not notice that? The windows are not isolated well and I feel every change.
Anyways, I won't give up and went to run finally again. Drank my tea but my throat is still feeling weird. Here I am longing for a calm day at home with a book, tea, knitting maybe. But tonight need to go out again...Sigh

Moments of Magic

2007-12-01T00:57:00.000+04:00

Life is ART. Sometimes I look at something and it goes straight to me, hits me actually. And the time stops.
I just crossed the border of Kosovo. It is raining. It is dark. There was a huge white dog on the border. It was running away, actually limping: jumping hard on his front legs and kind of pulling himself out from the roofed customs into the rain and darkness. A bright spotlight was shining onto him. He was some fifty meters away from me, but I could clearly see the rain drops on his fur and his heavy, steamy breath. Like it was amplified. A moment of Art. A moment of Magic

a good day

2007-11-30T18:45:00.000+04:00

I am still wearing the red ribbon of the International AIDS day. Kids liked to make them and they look really nice. HIV/AIDS workshop went better than we expected. Marian was the greatest, smartest and he was helping with translation in Macedonian. Naum and Gjoko were making the biggest mess and noise, but they were in minority. Marija and Nikolja were also behaving nice and grown up (I am just writing it for myself to remember their names and what they were like).
In the beginning we made a name game and added their age, so to find out how old they actually are because Anja was scared that they are such kids when we entered the hall. However, they were all 12-13. Though Angela, Ana and Naum look for me like 7-8...
Then we showed the posters we accidentally got yesterday in ГТЦ while walking back from the language class. I told what is the difference between HIV and AIDS, how one can get HIV and how not. Sex is still a tabu topic here it seems. When I asked how you can get HIV, Marian said by blood. Yes, it is true. That is the most straightest way. But many people have it without mixing their blood. I noticed it also yesterday on Wikipedia in the Macedonian language - they mentioned only blood transfusion... Anyways they know about sex, too. Or know now.
The game with YES and NO on both sides of the room was working quite nice. Anja had translated the sentences from English in Macedonian and kids enjoyed walking and running from YES to NO and back.
In last 3 min we made the red ribbons and they left with the ribbons to school. Probably took them off before entering but that does not really matter.
The small kids were huggish and crazy as always. I got sick and sweaty running after them and twisting them around me while only holding their hands, and also pulling them by hands on the floor - cleaning it :)
They were drawing cards for Дедо Мраз/Dedo Mraz (Santa Claus, Saint Nicolas...Salatēvs, Дед Мороз) and writing what they would like from him (basketball ball, make-up, tetris...). When we were leaving (Anja took all their wishes and chards with her), one boy seriously asked what we are going to do with them and if we are going to give them to Dedo Mraz and if he will bring them these presents they wished for... They really do believe in this guy...
One of the small girls, she is a bit older really wanted me to explain what are those ribbons for (we made them also for the small kids because they also wanted such nice red ribbons). I told her that Anja can explain it better in Macedonian, but she did not want to hear it form Anja, but from me. So as good as I could I tried to explain that it is a disease many people have in the world and you can die from it, and you can get it from blood to blood or while having sex. I am not sure she got the sex part, but anyways... just raising awareness. First question when she saw the poster and us with the ribbons, and I told it is a disease, she asked if we have this disease.
Ok, must finish now and pack my back. I am taking the 17:00 bus to Prishtina.

International AIDS Day

2007-11-29T12:55:00.001+04:00

December 1 is the international AIDS Day. I decided to talk to the older kids at Detsko Selo about HIV and AIDS tomorrow, during our Health Workshop: what it is, how to prevent, how it is not possible to get infected. But I am a bit scared how much they actually now about sex and such things...anyways I think it is worth risking