James Blunt!

I was VIP at the James Blunt concert this weekend. Well, of course I wasnt really important but I knew some people that were. I love that I have connections here. Anyways the concert was awesome! James Blunt was fantastic live. He had lots of energy and was really fun to watch. Its near impossible to take a decent picture at a concert since its so dark, but I thought this one turned out cool even though you can't tell who the band is. The second picture is of Azra, Emira and me right after the concert. They are both way sweet and fun girls that will be teaching with me at the school. I really dont have much to add, things here are the same as last week...work work and more work.

Working Overtime!

This week has been so busy! Florencia and I have been working from sun up til sun down...seriously 14 hour days easily. But the great news is, we are enjoying it. We spend the mornings preparing for the teacher training course, the afternoon training and the evenings working on other projects in preperation for the school opening. The first day of training was difficult because of the language barrier. Some of the teachers struggle to understand English, but mostly they aren't confident in speaking it. We pushed them really hard all week and it was amazing to see the improvement by Friday. In just five days they needed practically no translations. All of the teachers seem very dedicated and are putting in lots of effort. They appear to be excited about Montessori and about learning more of her philiosophy and method. I don't mind that I have been working so much because I am so happy to be teaching and learning at the same time. There is so much that I don't know and this week has been completely fascinating to me as I have learned a lot about pre-natal and the first three years of life. I have been teaching a workshop on communication with children and as I have prepared for it, I have learned so much about language and its affects on our emotions. Be very careful what you say! The more I learn about Montessori the more I love it. Everyday this past week was like a confirmation to me that the path I am on right now is the right one. I am so eager for next week to start...I love sharing my knowledge with others! It is rewarding to see the eyes of these teachers light up as they begin to understand and appreciate the Montessori way.

Misleading Information!

I was completely led astray by the world wide web, and by Hollywood! Don't ask me why I am at all surprised.
First, when I was researching Bosnia online I read that the warmest it get here is like around 80 degrees which I was so looking forward too. Well, its a lie! It is way hot here! It can get passed 100 degrees...and not to sound high maintence but I am dying because there is no air conditioning here. This summer is predicted to be the hotest summer in like 70 years or something Crazy. I am going to be miserable.
Second, in the movies when you are a foreigner in a country and something goes wrong all you have to do is run up to the embassy and yell "I'm an American!" and the gates open right up and all your problems are solved. Well, this is ceratinly not the case. I went to the American Embassy today because my passport and liscense were stolen (long story that's not important). Well since I didnt have identification of anykind and couldn't prove I was American they didnt even want to let me in. Thankfully Maelys' husband is a celebrity here and she was able to "gaurentee" me, whatever that means. Finally after they looked through my bag, took away my cell phone and scanned me with a metal detector, I was able to get in. Everything worked out fine in the end and I should have a new passport in 3-5 days. But, the point is, dont believe everything you read on the internet or see in the movies...duh!

Beautiful Bosnia!

This week I have had an opportunity to see more of Bosnia's countryside. On Monday Florencia, our friend Goran and I went to this huge park/picnic area up in the hills. The pictures really do it no justice at all, it was really incredible. We walked along little paths and over wooden bridges. I learned that Bosnia is full of natural springs. This particular park had several water sources...like miniature waterfalls. At one point I looked over and saw a couple sitting together on a bench and just behind them on the water where two swans and their babies...it was so picturesque.
Today I went to the mountains with Florencia, Goran, Maelys and the four children. The drive was gorgeous! It reminded me so much of being in Manton on my Grandparent's land. We were completely surrounded by green. I love it when there are those random trees whose leaves are much lighter than the rest...its like they glow because the contrast from the pine trees is so dramatic. Anyways it was so nice to be in nature and have cool fresh air. It was very peaceful. We drove as high as possible and then got out of the car and walked a bit. The view from so far up was breath taking. This week I have been in total awe at the beauty and magnificence of the earth.

My new roommate!

Florencia arrived from Argentina on Thursday night. I went to the airport with Maelys to pick her up. She is so cute and I love her English because she has a British accent. She lived in Ireland and London for many years while studying Montessori pedagogy and working in a few schools. We get along great! Yesterday we walked around the city and explored for several hours. Every time I go out I fall more in love with this city. I love that no matter where I am, I am completely surrounded by mountains. Its brilliant as Florencia would say. I have been slacking a bit on taking pictures, but I took two yesterday. One is of the old Ottoman part of Sarajevo with all the little shops with gorgeous hand crafted things and the other is of one of the many Muslim Mosques here in Sarajevo. In Islam you are obliged to pray 5 times per day. During the prayer hour a man goes to the very top on the steeple and sings...he is calling the people to come pray. There are megaphones or something that makes it possible for the sound to be heard all around. Its very beautiful and reminds me of a Gregorian chant of something. Every mosque also has a Pekara or a bakery attached to it. The bread is fantastic! I am really enjoying myself as I learn more and more about Sarajevo and the people here.

My Park!

My Apartment!