Summary Type Thing

For those of you who haven't heard from me since I left, here's the brief version of what's happened so far:
First off, the plane ride went smoothly and though Gene's luggage got inspected, we had no other problems getting through customs. That was definitely a blessing! Customs in Albania was a bit nervewracking because of the large police presence, but not too bad. The police presence here is a bit like it was in China, but Christianity isn't illegal here, I just need to get my papers sometime soon to stay longer. That, we'll do when David comes back with Gene.

Getting adjusted to life here was a bit odd at first, but it is seeming more and more normal. I'm unpacked now, though I need to do some organizing and decide if I'm sending much of anything home. Mostly, I have needed everything I've brought. There have been a few things that I don't necessarily need, but that have been nice to have. I've been glad for the recommendations of those who had been to Albania because there are things that are very difficult to find here, if not impossible.

People have been great here. Valbona has taken me in and is making sure that I have company (but not too much company--i.e. if I don't want the kids in the apartment, she takes them off of my hands) and that I have food. I've been glad for her and that we've been getting along well. The other workers have also been embracing, helping me with translations and sometimes asking for me to help them. So, I suppose I feel like I do have some friends here, even if they're not particularly close yet.

I've been playing my flute in the Sunday services, and though I cannot understand much of the music there are some that have been translated so I know the English words. Plus, untranslated music is great listening practice. I'm getting lots of practice listening to others and figuring out the sound of the language. It's different, but not impossible--there are not many words that I have thought "How on earth do I say that?" about as there were with Chinese. The structure of the language is interesting and between that and the vocabulary I have plenty to do.

School has started also, and Christopher is doing well. Just for us however, since the rest of Albania does not start school until the end of August. I think that we will be able to get first grade done by January, and if I come back after that, we can probably start second grade also--especially in math. Sometimes, the books are too easy for him, and other times, they are right about his level. Reading is a bit difficult, since he tends to flip words backwards, which if he had been reading for a long time would be disconcerting, but this is only the second day we've actually read things, so no problem.

It's fun though, seeing all of the quirks of a new country and understanding how things work. Strange thing for the day: if you turn the key in the lock twice, then you have to unlock it twice also, three times, you have to unlock it three times. Not sure exactly how the lock mechanism works, but it's kind of strange.

More later, but for now I'm off to work on planning!