Cultural Connections

Our time together here passes slowly, much like the culture and way of the people. It is a refreshing change for those of us who usually have packed schedules and too much to do. Not that there aren't things to do here, but down time is available and today's walk around the island and wonderful gourmet lunch was incredible!!! For those of you expecting images of our meal, sorry, I didn't take my camera. Yes, you heard right, I didn't take my camera!

One of the things that has been impressed upon my heart is my need to 'let go' of some of the things which tend to clutter up my experience here. There is a time for capturing in more permanent ways trinkets to jog the memory and times to take and carry only the memories. What I found interesting is the whole time we were there, the experience was so rich, that I really wanted images and only images could do our experience justice. Yet I was relegated to watch others capture the time with their cameras. An interesting juxtaposition for me. In many ways, though, I was unable to 'hide' behind my camera and engaged in deeper conversation without the peppering distraction of 'photographic' moments.

What has been good for us is having the time to 'drink' in the culture, and build stronger cultural connections. It is amazing how, in such a short time, we have moved from wading in the pool, to swimming in the deep end. We are buying some of our food and cooking some in our rooms here, and that interaction has pushed us into the community, going through some of the same experiences Kent and Cheri went through when they were first here. Everywhere we go, we catch the gaze of the people around us as obviously we look like tourists. The good weather for the past few days have the people out and about with us in their midst.

Last night Lauri, and Jeanelle and Eileen worked with Cheri and three students in the school of English. Tonight, Brian, Eileen and Bob will work with Cheri and a few students. Stuart, Jen and Lauren will work in a later class with Hervoje. We are learning and doing, coming along side with them. Julie and Stuart are also meeting with Hrvoje to plan for working with college students in his English class.
He is excited to have native speakers working with him.

Tomorrow, some of us will be traveling to Bosnia where there will be snow and much colder conditins. We will be visiting with Trent and Niki exploring their work reaching out to the people with education in health and welfare. Stuart, Lauren and Bob will be leaving early to come home and help Dennis with a gathering of college students. He wants us to add our music talents with him, and have Bob share his testimony with them.

We are thrilled to be working together, meeting people and discovering more about their lives here, walking the street and eating in restaurants making wonderful cultural connections.