USA Pristine (United States of Albania hehe)

After sitting in cab, listening to some reconstitution of the now 7 years old tragedy I am now in the American University in Kosovo. I don't know if it is the dramatic voice, music and sound effects of the reconstitution or rather the sterile atmosphere of the cafeteria i am sitting in but i feel a slight uneasiness. Soapy folk music on the tv, new tables and plastic chairs, young rich students (immigrants or children of the elite i guess), all working on identical laptops, with identical bags, slight bitchy looks for th girls, polo or chemise for the boys... The toilets are just as sterile, white neons and antiseptic smell. I guess I d still have to prefer this to the usual Turkish toilets... Oh a big FAT FAT Cartman cat just walked by.
Since i arrived i have been in this sterile milieu all the time, it would probably have seemed normal coming straight from Switzerland but now, i got used to the Balkan way, especially after Albania. to places like the toilet/shower/washing room in the ¨camping¨ two days ago. But the clean, new, modern apartment somehow doesn't have such a positive effect as the guest house/hotel at Tuto’s in Gjirokaster where curtains separate rooms and where the family sleeps under a simple but comfortable shelter. More than 10 beds on mere 60 square meters...
Anyhow I feel all pumped up again, probably the electro music on the tv, the expresso and the frenzy of writing down 10 days of my life and some short articles staring at my mini screen and keyboard during 4 hours. But i lay back as Kreshnick comes back and we walk trough parks back into the center. Tonight is football time. Albania vs Malte. 3-0.

After some rest we go out to visit the city once more, photo exhibition, Maria Teresa street, Bill Clinton boulevard, an other Skanderberg statue, more friends, some strange omelet, internet session in the cooking sun on the balcony, washing clothes, drinking coffee, drinking beer, walking a lot, UN buildings, official buildings, many many official white 4 wheel drive cars on the streets etc... A couple normal days out in a city. Tonight ends with a long talk into the night with an other CS member.

The next day we were supposed to get to some waterfalls after Timi and his friend got their visa to Belgium for a year of exchange. but administration is giving them a hard time, it wont be anything today. This ain't to bad, i will have more time for those waterfall later, but the day ends and Timi did not get his visa. His flight is on Sunday, no visa, he will have to postpone it... An other very concrete example of the difficulty faced when wanting to get out of your country. Belgium granted rights, procedure got stuck on the Kosovo side... I hope he will get there soon! I go and meet Nicola for the next days and nights.