Today we spent most of the day at Gjushja's house. We went there mid morning & hung out for a while, then we went & played pool for a bit, then we returned & ate lunch at her house. Even though we were just warming up leftovers, the food prep seemed very time consuming. Everything requires multiple steps, including time spent looking for things like the 1 knife - half a knife really, since it's only the blade, it's handle has been missing for years (we bought her a nice knife a few years ago, but I think she made us take it home with us on one of the trips, since we had bought it), and plugging in the mini-stove (she unplugs it after every use), and finding a towel to pick up hot things with, etc. There are so many things that could be made easier with a few purchases, but I know she would just make us take things with us, or pack them up & hide them when we leave, so why bother.
After lunch, Genci had some major yardwork to do (tree pruning) & the kids were restless, so I took them to the center to ride 4-wheelers, then on to a place where we know some Americans (the Stephen Center). While I checked if they were there (they weren't), we sat outside & ate ice cream. On the way home, the kids rode the 4-wheelers again, then we went back to Gjushja's house. I ran out & got some food for dinner, then we headed off for our last visit (Uncle Sari, & his family). We had a very nice visit. The kids played with their cousins (Deborah, 13 & Jamie, 12) who have been studying English. We got to talk peacefully, and we weren't forced to eat anything; we did get to have some raki (Albanian fire water, is how I like to refer to it). Sari's wife, Lindita, thinks that my Albanian was better the last time I was here (could be). We did have a good conversation, though, about Albanians getting into other people's business (I really do think it's a cultural thing - & so does she), and about getting along with mother-in-laws (Apparently she had some issues with the woman who seems to me to be the sweetest old lady I've ever met, so you just never know.) Anyways, Lindita seems very straightforward & real - it was good to hang out with her.
We were there til 9pm. As we were leaving, Genci's mother called. She was annoyed that we were still there & not back with her yet. She said we'd hardly spent any time with her at all today. As I see it, we were there for most of the day. Even while the kids & I were out, Genci was there with her. Ay. You can't fill a bottomless pit. I can't complain. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes. She knows we're leaving soon & Genci told her we'll be taking a little trip tomorrow, so the end is in sight.
We went to her house after our visit & fed the kids again. She wanted us to come upstairs & hang out with her, which we did for a while, but the kids were exhausted. Nathan looked like he was asleep while he was awake. I had to get them to bed, so I left with the kids. Nathan & Luke were asleep within 10 minutes of getting to the hostel. I had to brush Nathan's teeth while he was asleep (he sort of woke up & cooperated).
So. Where do we stand now. We're supposed to take a trip tomorrow, but we're not really sure where we're going and we feel bad for Genci's mother. As for Genci's mother, I don't know what to do. We could try for just 1 overnight, but the interesting places are a little further, and traveling too much in one day is tough on the kids, so we want 2-3 overnights. Not going anywhere would just make me regretful & resentful later, and we still wouldn't have done enough for her. As for where to go... the people who run the hostel had given us an idea for a place to go, but at tonight's visit, we were told that that place is like nothing in the middle of nowhere (& why would we want to go there), and were given a few other ideas. So now we're kind of confused, and we're supposed to leave early tomorrow morning, and we haven't packed at all, because it's very late & we're exhausted. Genci got home about 15 minutes after I did, and immediately went to bed. I think I'd better do some research before I go to sleep. (It's 12:30am now.)
I don't think I took any photos today. I always have kids with me, holding my hands. Besides, almost everything I see that I think - oo, if I had my camera out, I would take a photo of that -- I've shot before. I've seen it all before. Perhaps when I get home I will take the time to go through all my Albania photos & see if there are any I have overlooked or any that tell the stories that this trip reminds me of.
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