The first group email

Hi everyone,

We are finally starting to settle in. The first couple of days have been harder then expected because our boxes did not arrive. However, they came in yesterday (Wednesday) and we dashed out to the airport to get them. It was like Christmas and life has gotten much better. Our backpacks did make it so we had enough to get by on for the short term.

When we arrived it was clear and quite warm. We could see large amounts of flooding in the farmlands from the plane when we came in as it had been quite warm. In fact if we had come several days earlier that airport was underwater and we would not have been able to land. We would have ended up in Macedonia and would have been bused up to Pristina-luckily that did not happen.

The next day, Saturday, it snowed like the dickens and we ended up with 8 to 10 in. of snow. The city became a winter wonderland and the city appeared to be unprepared. It was also very cold and not much heat--about 10-15 degrees Fahrenheit. Over the past two days (Wed & Thurs) it has warmed up and the snow has become slush with puddles everywhere. Without our boxes and winter gear it became a soggy foot expedition but our wool socks came with the backpacks so we survived with warm feet. With the boxes arriving yesterday we now have boots and full winter gear so going outside today has become much more enjoyable. In fact with all my walking about it became downright warm and I had to take my coat off in order to wonder about comfortably.

We've already been able to open a bank account (though it will take four weeks for our check to clear); checked-in with the US consulate and as I was wandering-about embassy Hill, I ran across the ABA CEELI office (American Bar Assoc. Central & Eastern Europe Law Inst.) where I was able to meet with a friend, Greg who runs the office, who we had met through some of our Idaho lawyer connections via E-mail. He was very generous with his time and gave me a ton of information. He also gave us a euro plug, which has allowed us to get our laptops up and running. In our boxes was the only converter we had that enables us to convert from our American plugs to the European plug set. We had exhausted our battery power by the beginning of the week. Now that we have the plug and our converter the laptops are finally up and running and you all are finally hearing from us. Although some of you did hear from us via the cyber-cafes as we let you know we had arrived and were in search of our luggage.

We also have Internet connections now. The office where Fuji works has an Internet service provider and Gjylieta (pronounced: Julieta), our host, has graciously allowed us to use her account so we can dial up from home (though I had problems with that last night). In fact we even have a phone and the number is 381. 38. 552. 901. You'll have to figure out the country code if you want call us. To call from the US one will have to put a 00 in front of our number. More details as I figure things out. We do have an address which I will send in another E-mail once we figure out how the Postal Service works.

Our apartment is OK and the people that own it know Gjylieta and Greg at CEELI. It is in a large complex of apartments off of Bill Clinton Boulevard (can you believe it). It is only 10-minute walk for Fuji to work and about a 20-minute walk from downtown where the UN headquarters are and assorted other aid agencies. There are literally hundreds of UN, KFOR and other NGO vehicles everywhere. They say the drivers around here are nuts but seem to be rather cautious in the snow-we'll see.

Power goes out several times a day and we're getting the hang to the pattern. The key is not to start to take a shower or cooking at the top of the hour as that is when the power goes out. They seem to be working a constant rolling black out. In talking with our friend Greg it seems they target the areas that are most behind in paying their bills but all areas are affected-but some more so than others. Our flashlights are coming in very handy!

Since I've started this Fuji has come home from work and her sister from Zagreb, Croatia has called so it is time for dinner. More as time allows.

Well the call ended and power dropped out and we've had dinner. They fooled us in that power dropped at the half hour. The first time that happened. Go figure.

We'll be sending separate emails to some of you as time permits but wanted all to know as best as possible our happenings.

Till next time ...

Fuji & jim