Snow!

No school tomorrow, please, please, please!

Biking in Bosnia

After a long saga involving James's new bike, it finally arrived in Sarajevo yesterday via our friend, Corey, from Holland. Our inaugural ride was on the coldest day we've had so far. Bitterly cold, with snow just a few days ago, we bundled up and hauled ourselves out in hopes that the normally chaotic roads might be a bit quieter on this drizzly Sunday. This was my first ride with my clip pedals---I took one good fall, straight over on my side, and it never happened again. I can't say that riding here is blissful or, at best, enjoyable, but at least we got out and challenged the elements. We rode up the Mijlacka River to the goat bridge, then headed back into town to meet Corey for a celebratory cevapi.

I felt decently happy about my first bike adventure until the ride home. Turning up the hill to my house, I witnessed a man get hit by a car, do a back flip and lay unconscious in the middle of the road. The screams of another witness and the realization that I can't even communicate in this country enough to make an emergency phone call are haunting. I feel like being on the roads here is a constant battle and requires your utmost attention--there are few enforced driving rules and drivers are just too aggressive and fast. For me, it's one of the toughest aspects of living here.

Marshmallow Puff Anyone?

No weekend is complete without a chocolate covered marshmallow puff with a crunchy graham cracker bottom. Also available in Mini-Dickmann size.

Walking in Ilidza (E-lee-ja)

Just a little fixer-upper in Ilidza. On a walk with James and his niece, Sara.

Soooo cold in Sarajevo these days.

Buba ran out of gas on the main Sarajevo thoroughfare...thankfully Sara found a puddle to keep her well entertained.

School Video

Our school just put together a new video to sell itself. James and I are in here....about minute 5 and on. You can see a little bit about what we do here.

http://www.cspeaking.com/sarajevo

Fall Hiking

My uncle Mark came to visit this weekend after he spent a week hiking in Slovenia. It's always good to have visitors because it forces you to seek out new places and to see your home in a different light. We had warm, sunny weather for exploring and hiking in the hills around Sarajevo. It takes a little faith in the people and the mine clearing agencies for one to step off pavement around here, especially since the areas we hiked saw heavy fighting during the war. It takes no time to become conditioned to staying on clearly marked and traveled paths--the feeling of grass under your feet feels like you could be skirting death. But, there were plenty of hikers on the trail and gorgeous views of the mountains and valleys to be had, mines or not. The leaves are just beginning to turn, the air was crisp and you can't help but think of Oregon when out in these mountains. Until you see the shell of a bombed out hotel on the side of the ski mountain (the 84 Winter Olympics luge went through here) and a clear spring dumping into a bathtub.

Friday Nights in Sarajevo

A view of our Ciglane neighborhood and James climbing around in the park by our house. Who woulda thought? Pringles, my uncle Mark and the Oregon Ducks game in Bosnia!

Apple Picking

We took our 6 year old classes to our principal's house for an apple picking field trip last week. The kids had a blast, but really wanted to run in the field next door...until they learned what it was. The pictures show the area where they train the mine detection dogs.