Some small moments for sharing

Yesterday I was walking downtown and discovered that back-to-school is here in full force. Why is that? Because all along Kosvoska street (behind the parliament building incidentally) there are used textbook sellers. They stand by cars stuffed with the slim volumes covering all realms of learning and call "knige, knige" (books, books) at passersby. One car had the backseat folded down (or taken out, couldn't really tell) and books filling the entire body, trunk, and passenger seat. Just totally packed in.

I went to the market the other morning and ended up with three kinds of cheese. A little grandmother type had me try hers and then, in that time-honored tradition, instead of walking away with 200 grams I left with over a half kilo since she "couldn't" make it even. I look at it as Serbian practice, so first time is ok. But don't have the funds for that kinda thing to repeat too much. Cheese is good but think I'm going to have to make pita (pie) or something with it before it sours too much.

Saturday I ended up having coffee at Elma's (a colleague who's one of the most positive people I've met here) in the afternoon. We had a lovely chat and then her roommate came home, it was his birthday. They asked if I wanted just one beer- alright. And I ended up staying through the impromptu party that followed, going later with everyone to this kafana covered in Communist memorabilia. There were no free tables but two guys let us sit with them, one had played football in Orlando and Michigan tried to draft him but he came home because of his mother's health. Eventually we got our own place and I left a little after, not up for the after-party and supposed to meet other friends. But I love how people just welcome me into their lives - and most of the evening was spent in Serbian, I'm getting more comfortable speaking although still get hung up on little words. Still, I can't make this stuff up. It was a great reminder of why I like my life here and how important it is to be flexible.

Last note - paid my last August bill yesterday, electricity. Apparently it's different from the rest though since you're supposed to write down how much you're paying yourself. The lady behind the counter kept asking how much I was paying. "Sve," (all) I said - I was a bit confused. Then had the brainwave to say "Ovo je moj privi put" (This is my first time) and her face cleared, she filled it out for me and all was fine. So now to decipher the Cyrillic handwriting so I know what to write next time.

There's always something new to learn.