Amman

Mike was able to make a quick trip to Amman last week. Apparently, he visited an amphitheater and got his picture taken there.



Settling in

We are all settling quite nicely here in Skopje. The children are doing well at school, and have made friends. The boys started after school activities last week - soccer, science club, and arts and crafts. I was given a "calling" in our church group as Mutual and YW lesson coordinator. Aubree is the pianist. Mike is staying very busy at work. We still don't have our car, but are trying to explore as much as we can by taxi. Our first order of business with the car will be a trip to IKEA. Keeping our fingers crossed that it gets here quickly. I've joined an International Women's Association, and am excited to get to know more women and also help local charities. My participation in the PTO is limited to chairing events this year. We'll see how things go for next year. We still love being here, and wish that all of you could come visit us and experience the wonderful people and culture of Macedonia!  (We do have a spare bedroom and a full basement!)

First Day of School!!!

My babies are all grown up!  Nick was so excited to get to school today, he was up way before the alarm.  We took a taxi into school, and got there early.  The boys stayed in the Music Room for coloring and stuff, but Aubree was able to go to the "hang out" place for the upper grades.  Chris's teacher was one on duty this morning, so I didn't take him into class, but was able to get a picture of Chris and Mrs. Teeter before too many kids got there.  Nick thought that I would be satisfied with a quick hug at the bottom of the stairs and a "See you, Mom!"  Yeah, I wasn't.  Off he went up the stairs with me trailing behind.  I was able to get a picture of him with his teacher Miss Q before he got started on the Legos.  (As of yesterday he was the only boy in his class.)  I refrained from getting a picture of Aubree with Mr. Pilton.  He wasn't in the classroom when we got there, and there were some other girls already there, so I didn't even wait.  It's the first year I don't have a picture of her with her teacher.  I did get pictures before we left the house, though, so you can see how cute she looks on her first day of school.

Look what I bought today!!!

Ever since Mike started learning Macedonian, we heard how the produce is better in Macedonia.  The tomatoes are better, the fruit is fruitier, etc.  I have to tell you - I was skeptical, especially seeing the produce selection in the grocery store.  Plus, I'm not a tomato eater.  I have never liked the acidity, and usually end up with canker sores from them.  Well, we're in a new place, and we're trying new things, so I tried a tomato in a restaurant.  Oh. My. Goodness!!!  They were SO good!!!  I went to the green market today with a friend, and wished I had taken my camera.  You should see the size and beautiful color on the tomatoes here!  All the produce that is in season right now is big, and gorgeous, and fragrant, and smells SO good - and that's before we even tasted it!  The prices were incredible, and all marked, and if we didn't know the final price, the vendor would dig out his money and show us how much we owed.  Everyone was very friendly and patient with us, and more that willing to let us sample their wares.  There were things that I wanted to buy, but knowing I would be the only one to eat it, passed.  Melanie got a bunch of peppers for free, and I might try to steal one from her.  I came home and we had fresh fruit with our lunch.  The peaches are perfect and juicy.  The carrots are sweet and crunchy.  Melanie told me the melon is kind of like a honeydew, but with extra honey.  I can hardly wait to try it!  This is definitely going to be a weekly excursion!

Fruit and Veggies for this week

We're home!!!

We are finally into our home, and we have internet!!!  Thanks to a lot of work by several different people, we also have hot water!  We got out here from our temporary house yesterday afternoon and started getting settled.  This included rearranging furniture in 3 bedrooms, unpacking and putting away the contents of 15 suitcases and bags, and trying to cool the house off after the hottest day of the year.  It was up over 100.  I'm still trying to get used to air conditioning units in only bedrooms and the dining room.  None in the kitchen or bathrooms or basement.  We realized at about 8:30 that there was no water in the upstairs, and only trickles from the faucets downstairs.  A repairman came and managed to get us a trickle upstairs, but that trickle didn't include hot.  So, after cold showers this morning for me and Mike, another repairman came and determined it was the water pump and the landlord's responsibility.  The landlord showed up to look at things, then his son came so we could communicate.  Later on an electrician came and made a temporary fix, but it's enough that we actually have water pressure that includes both hot and cold!  The permanent fix will be done tomorrow.  We all really like the house, and the kids like their bedrooms.  Hopefully we can get some a/c in the basement to make it livable.  I love not living out of suitcases any more!!!  Granted, we don't have our hangers yet, but clothes are on shelves or in drawers.  It's nice.  I'm already picturing in my mind how we'll hang pictures, and incorporate our stuff that is on it's way.  And I'm hoping that all my kitchen stuff will fit in my kitchen.  It might be a tight fit, but I have lots of storage downstairs if nothing else.
We have started exploring, but that's a whole other post.  Overall, I still really like being here.  I will be very happy once I get my own car, but it's nice to be able to get the lay of the land with someone else driving.  The taxi drivers are all very nice, and Mike's Macedonian is improving as he speaks with them.  When Mike isn't with us, Nick keeps the driver entertained as he talks incessantly in the backseat.  It's funny watching their reactions to him.  So far, they've all been amused.