Try me...!!!

Me Provo...! In Albanian means "try me", which is a way to sample watermelon before you buy it.  A common practice with all fresh summertime fruit in the open markets...

 ...but with Bees...???

Where are you from?

I recently traveled to Macedonia, to get some rest and spend some time in much cooler weather. (Tirana was averaging 96 degrees, 50% humidity, lows of 80 at night)

Whenever I travel, I am asked..."Where are you from?"
(Single, older women do not travel alone in this part of the world)

This trip made me laugh several times...

• One lady said I was "Italian" 
• I told her I was from Albania, she continued to speak Italian to me...? 
• The hotel owner where I was staying, said I was "German"
• Well....I do have some German heritage on my dad's side of the family.
• Here I am in Macedonia...and they speak German to me?
• One server asked me if I was from "Poland"... 
• The weather was cold, rainy, high of 60 and winds.
• I was in a light t-shirt, capri pants, and sandals
• Everyone else was in long pants, sweaters and coats!
• One man asked me if I was from "Australia"
• maybe because of the hat I was wearing?

~~~

I guess after 11 years of living in the Balkans, Kosova and Albania, I no longer look "American"...???  

But... when I tell people that I am "American"...they don't believe me. 

I am thankful that "hand gestures" and pointing work well for communication...! ;-)

Going how FAST...???

Last Wednesday, Edisa my physical therapy intern, and I were returning from our weekly trip to see the babies in Elbasan. I have driven that road many times in the last 6 years. There is a newly completed highway, really nice. I was near Tirana, just coming down from a rise in the highway.

Yes...I got waved over by a "camera/speed trap".  Really...???

Edisa was upset that I still had a piece of pizza in my hand and that I would get a ticket for driving while eating. ok...so we hid the pizza. 

When the officer came to the window, I said hello, said good day, and asked him how he was...in Albanian. (this is customary with everyone here, so I did it with the police officer) He asked me in Albanian if I knew how fast I was going?  The posted speed is 90kph (55mph). Then he asked me where I was from, Edisa and I both told him that I was American.  Then he started speaking "Italian" to me. In Italian he told me that I was going 125kph (77mph). "uno, due, cinque"

I said, "ok". I didn't argue...just said "Ok..." (what do you want to do?)

Then in Italian still, he told me to drive slower to be safe, and follow the posted signs. 

He did not ask me for any documents.

(later I discovered that my car insurance was expired by about a week...YIKES!, that would not have been good for him to see that)

Later I learned from a friend who just got her driver's license...any speed over 110kph, results in  automatically taking away the driving license. YIKES!  (I am leaving on Monday for a rest in Macedonia...driving)

I normally travel the speed limit. Often, Mercedes or BMW vehicles pass me like I am standing still. I drive a 15 year old Toyota Yaris...if I wasn't going down hill...could I get it going that fast...???

Grace...and Mercy...and favor because I am an American.  Thank you Lord...! 

Yes, I have renewed my car insurance.

Yes, it is illegal to eat while driving. 

Yes, I will be more aware of the posted speeds. The roads are normally so bad, who would want to go that fast...but this is a very nice, new highway.

There is much laughter from my Albanian friends when they hear this story...especially that the police officer started speaking Italian to me when he heard I was American. 

life in Albania...always an adventure! 😃