Walking through a protest -- just to get home

So, last night I found myself unwittingly in the midst of a protest... Not only did I find myself in the midst of it, but had to ask a riot policeman to please let me through just so I could get home!

Boy was my heart pounding! You see, there was a lot of banging and crashing going on in addition to the yelling, whislting, chanting, etc. The banging/crashing was from kids who'd decided to vandalize a couple of vehicles (including a police car) as well as to tear down a construction site fence. Anyways, I did make it home safely. :)

At issue was the continuing name dispute over the constitutional name of Republic of Macedonia and Greece blocking it for various reasons... forcing the country to be called by the temporary name of "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" aka FYROM. Officials have been meeting in Athens in negotiations over this, thus the protest demonstration in Skopje and the riot police and soldiers just in case things got out of hand.

Here's a video clip that I took so that you can experience this with me.

Also, here's a link to a website that has an article that explains this whole name-dispute far better than I can:

http://www.mia.com.mk/portal/page?_pageid=113,166290&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&VestID=36272717&prikaz=3

Kosovo Declares Independence

As I type this, the PM of Kosovo just finished reading the official "Declaration of Independence" for Kosovo. The CNN live news-feed is now showing the streets of Prishtina packed with people, waving flags, dancing, setting off firecrackers, whistling and cheering their Independence Day, February 17, 2008.

The excitement of this day has many celebrating... it even has my heart pounding. Earlier I was on the phone to a colleage in another town of Kosovo and I could barely hear her over the noise outside her apartment on the streets. The loud honking of car horns were ringing out over the cheers of the thousands of people crowding the streets, waving flags (including American flags) as they celebrated the day they've been waiting for for a long time.

She also described the new flag to me that was being placed all over town. It's navy blue with the shape of Kosovo in yellow in the middle with 6 white stars on top. Hopefully this new flag and it's departure from all previous colors associated with Kosovo will be a symbol of a breaking free of past tensions and perhaps the start of healing between the difference ethnicities. A new beginning.

It's now 3:53 and they've begun the official signing the Declaration of Independence. A historic moment in the history. The birth of a nation is not something you see every day! (Actually I'm a bit envious of my colleagues who are living there and get to celebrate with their friends.)

Ironically, just as I typed that I received an email from the US Consulate warning US citizens to avoid such gatherings:

"Following Kosovo’s February 17 declaration of independence, the U.S. Office in Prishtina reiterates its longstanding guidance to American Citizens to avoid large crowds or demonstrations. Local celebrations, both official and unofficial, are expected to be large, and could pose security risks for on-lookers and participants."

Oh the joys of living in the Balkans....

On another note, to be honest, this day, while totally exciting for many, carries mixed feelings for me. I am personally aquainted with several people in one of the Serbian enclaves, especially with one dear family that I spend a lot of time with. I remember the mom sharing with me her concern in tears about her family and fear about the future. I imagine today is not a happy day for her or her family. I imagine that the mood, in contract to the jubulence in Prishtina, is markedly somber and perhaps a bit apprehensive in those Serbian enclaves today.

The PM expressed quite elloquently, though, that independent Kosovo will be multi-ethnic with equal rights for all groups. Perhaps that this sentiment will make it past the leaders and on to the streets, among the locals. May all parties now be able to move beyond the tragedy and bitterness of the past, to bring healing and reconciliation to an area of the world that has seen so much hurt over generations--on all sides. Some may call me naive, but that is my desire for the people of Kosova, the country. My personal prayer for them, though, goes quite a bit deeper: that they come to know the One who can make them truly free and be reconciled to Him.

In the meantime: Congratulations - Gëzuar pavarësia.

Super (Bowl) Tuesday!

Growing up just a few miles from the 49er training camp in Rocklin, CA, it should be no surprise that my Dad was a fan. When the Niners finally made it to the Super Bowl (XVI), my Dad excitedly told me that we'd have a father-daughter party and watch together.

He made his famous chili the day before so that all the flavors would be at perfect potency for Sunday. My job was to prepare the hotdogs, pour the Dorittos into a bowl and chill the pop.

That first game was so much fun and a great experience... Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig... and so many others. A dream team. Of course my Dad had to explain everything to me along the way! As this became a yearly tradition for us, though, I learned to cheer Joe on and thrill each time the "Come-back-kid" pulled off another amazing drive or a "Hail Mary" pass into the end-zone. [Yes, I've now just exhausted my football vocabulary. lol.]

Looking back, those Super Bowl Sundays with my Dad are cherished memories, especially now that he's been gone for 15 years. It was our special family tradition. That family tradition is also one that is distinctly American--"like baseball and apple pie" to use a cliche. As I've learned and adapted more to the Balkan culture, I'm finding that there are still things from my home culture that I cling to, perhaps in a way to keep connection with home: Thanksgiving, 4th of July, the Super Bowl, etc.

Now a breif confession before I continue: Unlike my rabid-Pitsburg-Steelers-fan friends (said with complete love! lol) I really don't care about football. (Come on, don't be shocked!) Though I do enjoy a great game, no matter who's playing. My favorites are those that keep you guessing until the last moment. I remember watching a couple of those with my Dad. We were on pins and needles, heart beating in sheer excitment and fueled by adreneline. If the game's not a true contest, I'm not interested. One year at college the game was so boring we hit the mute button and played cards until the commercials*...

This year some were saying it was a foregone conclusion that the Patriots would win. Some wanted to see a team have the perfect 19-game season. Others wanted to see the Giants trounce the Patriots (something about knowing coaches calls in the begining of the season or something and not deserving a 19-0 record... I dunno). Regardless of all that, it was expected to be a great game and I wanted to watch.

Typically the Super Bowl has been broadcast here live (aka. 12-4AM). So this year I'd planned to stay up and watch at least part of it before recording the rest to watch later when I was awake and coherent. NO SUCH LUCK!! After hoplessly flipping through channels for 20 minutes I had to call my Pittsburg-Steelers-rabid-football-fan-friend to find out that it wasn't even on this year!!!

As it turns out they're broadcasting the game late this afternoon, Tuesday. Too bad I already know who won.... thanks to CNN and my rabid-Pitsburg-Steelers-fan-friend who managed to watch it live (thanks to AFN)... So the Giants won... in the last seconds... well, at least I know it'll be a good game. :) So this is Super Tuesday is also a Super "Bowl" Tuesday for me and you can bet that I'll be watching it. And in a nod to memories with Dad, I even made some chili for the event. :)

Go Niners! ;)

*[Note: my all-time favorite commercial was right after Y2K, for Apple/Mac (shhh, David), and was just a big red light on the screen. The 2001 Space-Odessey-computer-style voice began with,"Hello, Dave...," and then went on to talk about the scare of Y2K and if he'd had a Mac he wouldn't have had that problem... Again, shush, David. ;)]