May 4, 2014

Food for a Saturday

I have been wanting to try paçe koke for some time. It is a stew made from the meat left on a cow's head after butchering. So yesterday noon seemed like a good time to try it.

On Friday evening Elsie and I had eaten a the little restaurant lovingly referred to by the young teachers at LAC ast the "chicken place." It is the only place we know of to get rotisserie chicken here in Lezhë. And it is very tasty. As we talked with one of the daughters of the family who runs the restaurant (she is in her first year at the University of Tirana as a pre-med student), I finally understood that paçe koke is available over lunch time.

paçe koke, an Albanian stew

Gaçe Koke for My Lunch (3-May-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Elsie was not really interested in trying the stew, but with my Pennsylvania German background I like scrapple and pork pudding, so I went alone to try the paçe koke.

me eating my paçe koke

Ready to Eat My Paçe Koke (3-May-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

On the way back to the apartment, I took the photo below of our favorite green grocer just a couple building away from our apartment. I like all of the colors and attractive displays, as apparently does at least one of our grandchildren. "Isn't that right, Naomi?"

colorful green grocer shop dispaly

The Green Grocer Shop Nearest to Our Apartment (3-May-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

And seeing children at play near our building was sure to catch my attention.

children at play in an alley to an apartment building

Children at Play in an Alley to an Apartment Building (3-May-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Now another Sunday has begun. I thank God for his love, grace and peace.

May 3, 2014

Earth Day 2014, Lezhë, Albania

Due to the seniors having an off-campus trip and some other school activities, I did not have to be in class on Tuesday, April 22. So when Mrs. Klementina Shahini, director of Lezha Academic Center, called me on Monday evening to see if I wanted to join her at a city activity to which she had a special invitation, I accepted. It turned out to be a celebration of Earth Day and included an American vice ambassador. This seemed particularly fitting since I had participated in the first Earth Day (April 22, 1970) when I was a senior at Eastern Mennonite College (now University), Harrisonburg, VA, USA.

The 2014 event in Lezhë featured some traditional local city and village costumes and dances and some current crafts and small industries. We began by drinking some coffee with Gjergj Elezi who had taught chemistry at Lezha Academic Center until a few weeks ago when he received a political appointment in the city government. It was good to talk with him again after our time as colleagues at LAC.

Gjergj Elezi, former LAC chemistry teacher

Gjergj Elezi in Conversatin (22-Apr-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

coffee bar with seating out over the Drini River

Persons Enjoying Coffee over the Drini River (22-Apr-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

As the celebration waited for the bike team from the US Embassy to arrive in town (coming from Shkrodra), we were treated to traditional music, dancing and costumes. Instruments featured were the çifteli (in two versions) and a horn like what may have been used by shepherds.

one man playing the çifteli

One Man Playing a Cifteli (22-Apr-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

another man playing a Cifteli

Another Man Playing a Cifteli (22-Apr-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a man playing a small horn

A Man Playing a Small Horn (22-Apr-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

The dancing and costumes I was told came from villages near Lezhë.

one set of colorful outfits for boys and girls from one village

One Set of Traditional Costumes from One Village (22-Apr-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Some informal dancing among the costumed players helped fill in the time of waiting for the bike team.

some traditional dancing

Such times of celebration also gave opportunities for friends to reconnect. I enjoyed watching Klementina visit with friends to whom I was then introduced.

Klementina and a friend connect over the Lezhe castle

Klementina and another friend compare family photos

As we waited for the bike team, Ms. Englantina Gjermeni (Minister of Urban Development and Tourism for Albania) and Mr. Viktor Tusha (Mayor of Lezhë) and several other dignitaries entered the celebration area.

It was good to see that the US Embassy was represented at the activities in Lezhë by a top diplomat. Mr. Henry V. Jardine, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Tirana, headed the team of bikers. He spoke first in good Albanian before switching to English and using an interpreter. He was an excellent, culturally sensitive, representative of the USA.

US Embassy rep spoike to the crowd

And the media was definitely at the event. Below is a videographer from the local TV station, Media Plus Television. If you want to hear and see their report (in Albanian!), check out the video on their Facebook page.

Earth day 2014 was a fun and informative event to attend, even if I did burn my bald head!

Response Form