So how is the political climate in town these days? We got a satellite dish
and all the free channels are news channels of course, Soooo guess what we
mainly watch?! Cool, we get radio too & we are getting NPR 24hrs a day
(if we want it that often ;-)). So, back to the news... WOW, the whole world
is watching this one. So many Canadians and other internationals wanting to
vote in US elections-what a trip! The thousands (or maybe we are millions?)
of "US
citizens working abroad" who are taxing the county voting systems by
trying to get our ballots in time. Believe it or not, I got mine and Jim
didn't get his!? go figure... Anyway, it is likely
his will still come, but will it get back in time, we don't know? So we voted
on my ballot-together (Ah, love?!)! I guess one vote is better than none.
Some interesting Oregon initiatives too...
So what's up with us? Every week there seems to be a little news, a little
more learning, a little more settling in." Overall, we are doing just
fine! But, I am home with the change of weather-crud ;-( It hit me 2 weeks
ago but not too bad. I thought that would do it; but NOT! relapse!
I have been off from work for 2 full days! Fever, congestion, etc... So,
Jim is off to Diber Madhe (Debar) Macedonia
to buy the wood stove we picked out. It is stormy and nasty out. I am bummed
I couldn't go; but there is no way if I want to get well. So, I am catching
up on some emails, drinking tea and staying warm. Good thing it’s not really
cold yet--since we have no heat! We have all our wood (well, we aren't sure
if it’s enough, but everyone keeps telling us it is. I guess we'll find out.)
And Jim and the neighbor kids split it all and it's
stacked in our garage. Way cool! Only need the wood stove now ;-)
Jim writes:
As to our happenings, Fuji is very
busy with SNV and the Albanian way of planning is starting to get to her.
But she does like what she is doing with local governments. This week she
has tax consultants here trying to figure how the municipality can get more
revenue or figure out where it all goes. A taxation package needs to be to
the city council by mid November. No one started in the municipality working
on this till mid-September. Last year's has never been approved (nor a budget
for that matter?!) And of course there is no good data and even if there
was, no one would know how to massage it. But people are learning and progress
is being made!
I thought I had a gig with a University in Tirana teaching one day a week
and consulting another half a day. Talked with all the people and thought
we had agreed to a price. In fact the contract I got that day had the correct
price ($30 hr). But since the consulting (developing a Career and Counseling Center) wasn't included, we agreed that they would add it and email
me a new contract. Well lo and behold the new contract came and it had an
hourly rate of only $25 and the consulting had been cut out entirely. Enrollment
was down and they couldn't afford to develop the Career/Counseling Center.
So I said "no thanks," as I just didn't like the way it was handled.
If they had called or emailed, we could have discussed things; but, I think
this is an indication of how they do business and I don't want to be part
of it. So here I am looking for the next adventure!
We are off to Tirana next week for 9 days. Fuji has a training that she is going to at a resort outside of town
and I'll gypsy my way around town staying with new friends. I had a network
of places set up for the university gig so I'll put them to good use! We had
some money transferred from the states and we plan to buy a vehicle. That
will be one of my focuses of this trip-to get one. The market in Peshkopi
isn't great though I looked at one today and will test drive it on Friday.
Our international driver's licenses arrived last week so now we are hot to
trot and to tear up the Albania roads! Only problem is they are torn up
already and will destroy a car if you drive to fast.
Two weeks ago or maybe 3, Fuji went to an all staff
SNV annual planning session in Korca (near Greece) Wednesday-Friday and I went to Tirana
to settle the negotiations on the University job mentioned above and to make
more contacts. That weekend all the employees of SNV and their families' went
to Macedonia
for the weekend. (team building exercise?) What a
blast! Can you see a US
organization taking employees and their families to a nice resort for the
weekend and paying for everything-even the booze? It worked well as there
are 4 SNV offices in country and we really didn't know everyone and this was
a great mixing opportunity. And the internationals and Albanians didn't stay
in their own cultural groups! We got out and did things together. Needless
to say we are liking SNV. I think a lot has to do with the management
differences between European and US groups. Granted not everything is as we
would like it to be or are used to but some of the things they do differently
they do very well.
Enough of this run on letter. Fuji just yelled upstairs and let me know food
is close to ready. We're having left over lasagna that we made this weekend.
Had the 3 Peace Corp volunteers over and fed them a home made meal!
Love and Peace,
Jim & Fuji
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