Living in Albania--Richard L. Bowman

November 2, 2014 (finished on Nov. 8)

Our Week in Lezhë Was Interesting, Indeed!

As each week passes, I figure there will soon be a pattern so that each new week will turn out more or less the same as the one just past. But that has not happened in our three months here in Lezhë this year. So I should always have some new photots to show for each week.

This week started on Sunday, Occtober 26, with meeting a graduate of Lezha Academic Center from last year as we drank coffee at My Bar--Avi. He is now studying at the University of Tirana.

a graduate and Kllementina

Avi and Klementinna Shahini Talking over Coffee (26-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

After our coffee time, we met for worship at the Guri i Themelit church to praise God, listen to his Spirit and share together..

singing our praises to God

Worship Team Leads Congregation in Singing (26-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Justin Rittenhouse is intent on playing his violin

Justin Rittenhouse Concentrates on Playing His Violin (26-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Antonin shares his testimony from Bible school

Anton, on Fall Break from Bible School, Shares His Testimony (26-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

It was a very windy Sunday, and I tried to capture this in the swaying palm trees. But the photo below shows I do not yet know how to do that with still photography.

Sunday was very windy

Palm Branches Blow in Strong Winds (26-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

During this past week I continued to watch the new street going in past the mosque. Since it was blocked off, no cars could use the road with its gravel base. Instead used clothing vendors used it to display their wares.

the new street is full of used clothing vendors

Used Clothing Vendors Display Wares along Street under Construction (28-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

But on Friday they were rolling the gravel to compact it and get ready for a layer of asphalt.

a roller compacting the gravel for the base of the new asphalt

Gravel Base Being Compacted for Asphalt on New Street (31-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

As so often in the late afternoon walk to our apartment, we pass one tree where the birds are roosting for the evening and where they are making quite the ruckus. In the photo below I caught a few as they flew in and out of the tree.

late afternoon brings sparrows to roost in a tree

Sparrows Fly in ansd out of Tree as Evening Falls (28-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Dr. Robin Gingerich and Mr. Gytis Širvinskas were visiting LAC this past week as representatives from LCC International University. (I believe there are presently something like 16 graduates from LAC who are at LCC.) So on Wednesday Robin and Gytis joined Klementina, two parents, a graduate from LAC, a present LAC student, and myself were interviewed for a TV program that aired on Friday evening and Saturday noon. Here we are awaiting the beginning of the videotaping.

two parents, Klementina and a student at TV Lexzhe

Two Parents, Klementina, and Student President Ready for TV Interview (29-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

the TV host gets ready for the taping

Kledja (LAC Student), TV Show Host, and Dr. Robin Gingerich (LCC Professor) (29-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Robin (teacher at LCC) and Arrilda (student at LCC)

Robin and Arrilda (LAC Grad and LCC Freshman) Wait (29-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

On Wednesday as we walked home from school, I noticed this small old tractor in the parking lot next to the alley from the school to the main street. I am guessing it is from the communist era while the relations between China and Albania were good. The name was clearly in Chinese.

an old Chinese-made tractor and wagon

Old Chinese Tractor Still Runs (29-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

close up of the Chinese name of the tractor

Name of the Chinese Tractor (29-Oct-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

On Wednesday evening as I came back from putting our garbage in the large garbage bins which dot the sides of streets in Lezhë, I tried getting some natural light photos of spots near our apartment building.

night-time scene in the park outside of our apartment

night-time scene with cars on the sidewalk for the night

Then on Friday evening as a number of us who are American teachers at LAC were walked from our apartment to Marku's for pizza. We were celebrating Valentina's arrival for a visit in Lezhë. She was here as a teacher last year at LAC, but is now living in her home in Italy again.

I tried a few more natural light shots that evening, too. The one of the Catholic church and its bell tower came out nicely, but for some reason, most of the ones I took at the restaurant were not good. But I did capture Josh Kirkman looking like himself.

the catholic church at night

Josh at Marku's pizza

Then on Saturday evening, more of them came to meet us and to go out for chicken. The only problem was that the little chicken restaurant only had one half of a rotisserie chicken, but we enjoyed our fasule and pilaf (bean soup and rice) and other dishes along with lots of good conversation.

the group of teachers came to get us at our apartment to go for dinner

a new road sign pointing to some historical points of interest

the teachers pose outside of the chicken restaurant

It really was a very good week even if there were some busy times and some tough relational issues to pray about and work with. Thanks to the other American teachers for including us in the young adult fun times.

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