Hit me again

Watch out, Sarajevo...I'm BACK!

Post sunset is now happy hour at the bakery--cranking out the hot rolls faster than you can say "Ramadan"

"Frizer" means "male hair stylist"--this is where I'll be going fortnightly (or so) since my hair has recently become much higher maintenance

Mosque near my apartment: if you notice the lights on the lower left hand side of the building, there is a fast food restaurant, a salon, and a mini market added on: Mosque/strip mall, convenience and worship--quite American!

My favorite convenience store. Most beloved items: eggs and bake rolls (bagel chips)

Sunday morning at Evandeoska Crkva: true worship

Symbol of hope and God's promise for Sarajevo

Engrish.com

Milan is.....uuugh!

Back to Sarajevo today via Milan. My last international flight connected in Milan, and I found it to be (in contrast to my experiences with the efficient, almost disturbingly adept Vienna, Munich, and Frankfurt Airport personnel) dirty, disorganized, and filled with morons.

I think the moron part of it had something to do with the inevitable traveler's exhaustion and disorientation, but I truly have never seen a more inept bunch of people than were the Milanese airport staff. So, there it is. I'll report on my second encounter with Milan and let you know if it was just me.

College Outreach

Beautiful Ball Circle, where Intervarsity & other Christian Organizations do campus outreaches at Mary Washington

Last night I played cello at an outreach with Intervarsity's student ministry at Mary Washington College. What a tough crowd. American college students, I think, are the worst, most cynical bunch to play to.

I realize what iron stuff these American campus evangelists are made of. I prefer doing outreaches in downtown Sarajevo, where everyone but me is a Muslim, and no one but me speaks a lick of English. Being stared down by a 19 year old atheist from Fredericksburg is much more terrifying!

Christmas in Eastern Europe

Since I'm not returning to the States for Christmas I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to fit stuff like canned pumpkin and evaporated milk and seasoning and spices and Christmas lights in my luggage. I'm going to attempt to cook dinner on Christmas day and keep up some semblance of tradition in my little apartment. I take for granted that I can't just run to the store and grab a frozen turkey or a can of yams. Inconveniences aside, though, I'm excited about celebrating Christmas in a Muslim country.

The contrast between the United States--despite it's ever-increasing commercialism--that predominantly celebrates Christmas in some form, and Bosnia, a country that pays no homage whatsoever, is going to be an eye opener for me. Curious that I'll be living in a culture where December 25 is just another work day. But I think the fact that so few Bosnians celebrate Christmas is going to make the celebration that much more precious to me.

I'll be sad and lonely, thinking about family and friends so far away, and about not hearing the carols and hymns or seeing the advent candle lit; but in a different light, this experience is a task I've been assigned to. As an ambassador of Christ, I am salt and light in this world, and our meager Sarajevo celebration will be a pinprick of the light and truth of Christ in the darkness. It's an amazing opportunity!

On a more practical level, let's just trust that my cans of pumpkin and evaporated milk will go through airport security. And that I don't burn dinner...Well, first I hope my oven works--I've not even tried it yet. If everything turns out as planned I shall be quite pleased.

Cell phones replacing landlines?

What do you think will have become obsolete in the next decade? My vote is supermarket cashiers.

Well, hi. I am getting antsy about getting back to Sarajevo. I'm glad I feel this way. If I was dreading it I knew it wouldn't be right to be going back. But now I'm counting down the days and am becoming increasingly excited.

I've never lived in Europe in the fall and I admit I am slightly biased towards Virginia--but I'll be glad to have a more informed opinion.

I confess I am very, very sad about the Croc Hunter.