A bus load of students came in and we got them registered and the party started. We hired a DJ who played records (I guess they are cds these days) for several hours with the music blaring. After a few hours the music ended and we had wonderful peace. The fellows have dispersed to go to clubs, to bed, and to other nooks and crannies to talk and do who knows what.
We are waiting for the last bus load of students to come in and they all should be here. Tomorrow we are starting the day out by going to the Rila Monastery for the morning and then when we return will start the program.
It is going to be a wonderful but fast week. All the screams and yells we heard today will turn into sobs and sobs and sobs. It has been great getting to know these young people from the
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Sunday in Athens was wonderful but very hot -- temperature of 104. To visit the Acropols you have to walk up a steep hill and once there there is very little shade. We met up with one of our fellows/mentors, Lendyll and he joined us on our journey. It is an amazing site. Thousands of years old and still standing. We were smart and hired a guide to explain to us what we were seeing. By the time we got back to the hotel it was late afternoon and we all took a nap. Had a great dinner sitting outside across the street from ruins. Everywhere you look in Athens there are ancient ruins.
Went to bed about 2am and at 2:45 am the phone rang it was Beth from the office telling me to get to Allan to see how he was because a great friend of his, Ross Smith, debate coach at Wake, died that evening. Beth had called Allan and wanted me to make sure he was ok. Needless to say neither of us got any sleep that evening. It was horrible news and we are still trying to absorb it and deal with it.
We had to leave for the airport at 6:30am so there were no sleeping that evening. Got to the airport, got checked in for our flight to Sofia on Bulgaria Air. 5 minues after the flight closed they came and told us Mia's ticket had been cancelled. So we spent 20 minutes running around the airport getting a new ticket for her, which we did and made the flight. Finally got to Sophia and was met by Iva. Thank god for her as few in the airport and almost no one in the bus station spoke English. Got the bus to the University and it was a 90 minute plus ride.
Once here we met up with Nadia, the summer coordinator and we had dinner with her. Then tried to collapse and sleep. But the phone rang at 2:30, people seem to forget that there is a 7 hour time difference between Bulgaria and North Carolina. Met with Nadia Wednesday morning and took a tour of the facilities. We will be holding our meetings in the Library and it is a great facility that is airconditioned. The dorm is not. When I first moved into the room and saw a wool blanket I was surprised. But during the night I woke up freezing and was glad for the blanket. It is not humid here but hot and the nights are wonderful.
Our biggest frustration on Tuesday was that we could not get the internet working, either in the labs or using wireless. As a result we were up working until about 2:15 trying to get things done. Again the phone rang in the middle of the night and woke me up just as I had gotten to sleep.
More later a bus full of students have just arrived.
Went to bed about 2am and at 2:45 am the phone rang it was Beth from the office telling me to get to Allan to see how he was because a great friend of his, Ross Smith, debate coach at Wake, died that evening. Beth had called Allan and wanted me to make sure he was ok. Needless to say neither of us got any sleep that evening. It was horrible news and we are still trying to absorb it and deal with it.
We had to leave for the airport at 6:30am so there were no sleeping that evening. Got to the airport, got checked in for our flight to Sofia on Bulgaria Air. 5 minues after the flight closed they came and told us Mia's ticket had been cancelled. So we spent 20 minutes running around the airport getting a new ticket for her, which we did and made the flight. Finally got to Sophia and was met by Iva. Thank god for her as few in the airport and almost no one in the bus station spoke English. Got the bus to the University and it was a 90 minute plus ride.
Once here we met up with Nadia, the summer coordinator and we had dinner with her. Then tried to collapse and sleep. But the phone rang at 2:30, people seem to forget that there is a 7 hour time difference between Bulgaria and North Carolina. Met with Nadia Wednesday morning and took a tour of the facilities. We will be holding our meetings in the Library and it is a great facility that is airconditioned. The dorm is not. When I first moved into the room and saw a wool blanket I was surprised. But during the night I woke up freezing and was glad for the blanket. It is not humid here but hot and the nights are wonderful.
Our biggest frustration on Tuesday was that we could not get the internet working, either in the labs or using wireless. As a result we were up working until about 2:15 trying to get things done. Again the phone rang in the middle of the night and woke me up just as I had gotten to sleep.
More later a bus full of students have just arrived.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Day 3 and 4
I was so tired by the time I got back to the hotel last night that I did not have the energy to do anything but go to bed. We got up early yesterday morning and saw a little more of Tirane before heading out to the airport to fly to Athens. It was a short flight on Olympic Airlines but we crossed another time zone. So now we are 7 hours ahead of home.
Our hotel here in Athens is lovely. It is on a side street right off of Ermou St. which is the main shopping area. We got in about 6pm, got to the hotel, took a short nap and then headed out to get oriented. We looked up at one point and here was the Acropolis all lit up. It is magnificent. We found a small restaurant and ate good Greek food and had a wonderful evening. We walked around the Plaka district for a time and then headed back to the hotel.
This morning we got up early and met up with Lendyll, one of the BFTFers. The four of us headed up to the Acropolis. We started out walking but decided to take one of the small buses that run up there and I am glad that we did. We walked all over the grounds in 104 degree weather. Very little shade up there --- and it is up there!! We did do one very smart thing and that was to hire a guide who gave us a wonder historical tour. By the time we got down from that hill we went to the New Museum, had a bite to eat and then went back to the hotel in the late afternoon after doing some shopping. Just got up from a short nap and we all we meet up again at 8:30 to go for dinner.
Observations: I really like Albania, the people and the area. It is amazing how far that county has come in the last 18 years given where they were at when communism ended. They are just about equal to the other EE countries. We met up with a friend who has been an activist and who has recently formed a political party and stood for election. It was quite revealing to listen to him talk about the politics of the country. This is a country that I would like to go back to again.
The Greeks are very friendly and nice folks. And I must say it sure is nice to be in a place where the people pronounce my name correctly!!!! One day I would like to come back and explore the outer islands.
Tomorrow we head out early in the morning to fly to Bulgaria. We are going to have to go to work to finish all the last minute details on the conference before the BFTFers arrive on Wednesday. I will post more pictures later.
Our hotel here in Athens is lovely. It is on a side street right off of Ermou St. which is the main shopping area. We got in about 6pm, got to the hotel, took a short nap and then headed out to get oriented. We looked up at one point and here was the Acropolis all lit up. It is magnificent. We found a small restaurant and ate good Greek food and had a wonderful evening. We walked around the Plaka district for a time and then headed back to the hotel.
This morning we got up early and met up with Lendyll, one of the BFTFers. The four of us headed up to the Acropolis. We started out walking but decided to take one of the small buses that run up there and I am glad that we did. We walked all over the grounds in 104 degree weather. Very little shade up there --- and it is up there!! We did do one very smart thing and that was to hire a guide who gave us a wonder historical tour. By the time we got down from that hill we went to the New Museum, had a bite to eat and then went back to the hotel in the late afternoon after doing some shopping. Just got up from a short nap and we all we meet up again at 8:30 to go for dinner.
Observations: I really like Albania, the people and the area. It is amazing how far that county has come in the last 18 years given where they were at when communism ended. They are just about equal to the other EE countries. We met up with a friend who has been an activist and who has recently formed a political party and stood for election. It was quite revealing to listen to him talk about the politics of the country. This is a country that I would like to go back to again.
The Greeks are very friendly and nice folks. And I must say it sure is nice to be in a place where the people pronounce my name correctly!!!! One day I would like to come back and explore the outer islands.
Tomorrow we head out early in the morning to fly to Bulgaria. We are going to have to go to work to finish all the last minute details on the conference before the BFTFers arrive on Wednesday. I will post more pictures later.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Second day of the trip
Our friend Arbi sent a driver to pick us up this morning and take us to meet up with him near the Adriatic Sea. He and his very pregnant wife have rented a place by the sea. It was great to see them both and to spent time by the sea. We then went to a small village near by where we had lunch at a fantastic restaurant by the name of Fiore. Arbi said the village was not known for anything but the restaurant and watermelons!!! We started the meal off with pasta and seafood and then we had a huge platter of shells -- mussels, shrimp, calamari and other delights from the see. That was followed by fish. We ate for what seemed like hours and hours. After that we went to Durrees which is a small port nearby. It used to be a center of trade and has a Roman amphitheater that was built over 2000 years ago. We walked through the tunnels and up and down the stairs. It is in remarkably good condition considering its age. It was discovered in the 50s when an earthquake hit the area and it war revealed. We then headed back to Tirana where we met up with Gentiana and Eddie again and we went to dinner. The place they selected was up on a room of a building and it was lovely. The Albanians live outdoors during the summer months and there a large number of places that are set up on roofs and sidewalks. We had a sampling of Albanian cuisine and it was excellent. Lamb and vegetables. We walked around for a while and then headed back to the hotel about 2am.
Albania was not what I expected it to be - it is full of life, very colorful, and the people have a great sense of optimism. They are growing and are about equal now in GDP as the other Eastern European states. Which is an amazing fact since they started so far behind those countries 18 years ago when communism fell.
We are off to Athens tomorrow where the weather forecast calls for a high of 99. What fun that will be. But I am excited to see Athens but sad to leave my friends here in Albania.
If I can find where I packed my card reader I will post pictures.
Albania was not what I expected it to be - it is full of life, very colorful, and the people have a great sense of optimism. They are growing and are about equal now in GDP as the other Eastern European states. Which is an amazing fact since they started so far behind those countries 18 years ago when communism fell.
We are off to Athens tomorrow where the weather forecast calls for a high of 99. What fun that will be. But I am excited to see Athens but sad to leave my friends here in Albania.
If I can find where I packed my card reader I will post pictures.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
DAY ONE
What a long day this has been. We left Winston Salem about 2pm on Wed. to fly to Atlanta where we caught a flight to London. We arrived in London at 7am and took the train into town. We walked around Buckingham Palace and Parliament. Saw the changing of the horse guards, took the tube and train back to Gatwick. We then flew to Tirana, Albania, Flight was great. I was, for some unknown random reason, bumped up to first class on this British Air flight and I must say the Brits know how to treat folks in 1st class. Food was great and so was the adult beverages. We were met at the airport by a SEELYI leader, Gentina and her husband Edmund. The drove us around and to the hotel. We had a few drinks and called it a night. The hotel is nice, but it is not in town or close to town and there is a birthday party going on right underneath us and the music keeps getting louder. But that is ok as I am so tired I can sleep through anything. It was a long long day getting here. Tomorrow we are going to look around Tirana and have dinner with Gentiana and Edmund and others we know from here.
First impression of Tirana -- beautiful mountains, city full of life with crowds of young people walking around, loads of resturants and bars, and eveything open. One can still see scars from the communist period but they are fading. A lot of new construction.
First impression of Tirana -- beautiful mountains, city full of life with crowds of young people walking around, loads of resturants and bars, and eveything open. One can still see scars from the communist period but they are fading. A lot of new construction.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Adventure in Europe
I am leaving the country on Wednesday heading first for Tirana, Albania. We will be spending several days there and I am most interested in seeing this country. It was completely isolated during the cold war and politically they tended to align themselves with China until the death of Mao. At that point, they basically closed the borders and did not allow anyone in.
Then I am heading to Athens, Greece. I could not be in that part of the world and not go to Athens. Unfortunately I will not have time to go to the out islands but look forward to seeing Athens. Plus some good authentic Greek food. My father in law was born in Greece and came to America (legally through Ellis Island) in the early 1900s. He fought in WWI and became a citizen. He went to law school and came to Winston Salem to work for the VA as an adjudicator. I never met him but he seemed to be quite the guy. Learned English and was very well spoken. So by marriage, Greece is my home country.
Then we are on to Sofia, Bulgaria and up to American University of Bulgaria in Blageovard for a conference/reunion of the BFTF fellows. We have almost 180 folks coming for this four day event. Loads of panels and loads of visiting. Afterwards, we are going to stay for a day and see Sofia. I was there once and was impressed but only had about 3 hours to see the sights. This time I will have a day and half.
Then home and as hard as it is to believe, it will be August and time to start preparing for the school year.
I did purchase a new cell -- a Blackberry Storm which is a global phone. So once I figure out how to use the global apps I will be in good shape.
I hope to keep this blog up once I get on the road. In a sense it will be my diary -- I have learned if you don't write down something every day you tend to forget what all you saw and did.
Then I am heading to Athens, Greece. I could not be in that part of the world and not go to Athens. Unfortunately I will not have time to go to the out islands but look forward to seeing Athens. Plus some good authentic Greek food. My father in law was born in Greece and came to America (legally through Ellis Island) in the early 1900s. He fought in WWI and became a citizen. He went to law school and came to Winston Salem to work for the VA as an adjudicator. I never met him but he seemed to be quite the guy. Learned English and was very well spoken. So by marriage, Greece is my home country.
Then we are on to Sofia, Bulgaria and up to American University of Bulgaria in Blageovard for a conference/reunion of the BFTF fellows. We have almost 180 folks coming for this four day event. Loads of panels and loads of visiting. Afterwards, we are going to stay for a day and see Sofia. I was there once and was impressed but only had about 3 hours to see the sights. This time I will have a day and half.
Then home and as hard as it is to believe, it will be August and time to start preparing for the school year.
I did purchase a new cell -- a Blackberry Storm which is a global phone. So once I figure out how to use the global apps I will be in good shape.
I hope to keep this blog up once I get on the road. In a sense it will be my diary -- I have learned if you don't write down something every day you tend to forget what all you saw and did.
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