We're Here!!

We have made it safe and sound!  The trip was really not too bad, 7 1/2 hours direct from Orlando to London, a 2 hour layover, then 2 1/2 hour flight to Sarajevo.   We all received our 1st stamp in our passports!!  It was exciting!   Jen and Freddy were at the airport to meet us, along with a friend of hers to help transport all our luggage (all 7 suit cases plus carry ons and our pillows!)  

The drive from the airport (Butmir)  was our 1st glimpse of the city and how interesting it was!!  The roads and drivers are, well, different than home!!  There don't seem to be too many traffic laws, or at least ones to which people pay attention.  And to add to the chaos, people often walk in the road, as sidewalks are far and few between.  Once we got closer to Jen and Heath's neighborhood, it is quite hilly and the roads are literally, 2 car widths wide and people always park on at least one of the sides and the roads are NOT one way, plus the people are walking and it's icy!!  So it's quite an adventure!

The building where they live is so neat, very unassuming from the outside, but it has 4 apartments and you get to each by climbing this marble, circular staircase.  The veiw from their patio is really cool, too.  There is plenty of room for all of us, so hopefully 2+ weeks won't feel like 6!!  We had a GREAT dinner of take out from a restaurant that they often visit.  It was yummy chicken and steak dishes, a great salad, amazing potatoes, and tons of bread!  We all enjoyed the meal immensely!  The Heath and Arthur went "out on the town" to a party hosted by a Bosian colleague of Heath's celebrating the birth of his new baby!  So many people smoke here, everywhere, I mean everywhere, so Heath and Arthur smelled like a Lucky Strike when they came in - it was hilarious!

The girls are loving playing with their cousin, Freddy - 2 3/4 years old. He is an absolute doll, very sweet natured and gentle, and what a little ham for the girls!! All three of them slept together last night like little angels!

Today, after Emma and I finally woke up, we went out for another adventure - we ate lunch out.  I tried to use Bosian for "hello, may I please have" and the requiste point at the menu, then I tried to end with a "thank you" in Bosian.  I was feeling like a self-conscience American, but she was certainly friendly enough, and Jen knew enough to get us by.

Then we went to one of the big grocery stores - so you can relate, it was sort of like a Super Walmart - inside of a small mall with some upscale clothing and ski shops.  It was incredibly crowded, as it is the night before Bajram (pronounced bye-rum) - it is another word for Ramadan, the major Muslim holiday.  So... it was like being at SuperWalmart on Christmas Eve at home!!  It was a little crazy - in a good way!

We have been invited to a Bajram celebration at the home of some friends of Jen and Heath tomorrow night, it should be pretty fun.  I'm really looking forward to it!

I'll try to post more tomorrow, and maybe try to get Ott to post some of our photos so far!

peace,

monique et. al.