MOUNTAIN 'RESEARCH' AND THIS WEEK!

23 MARCH 2010 MOUNTAIN 'RESEARCH' AND THIS WEEK!
On Saturday last we went on a little mountain 'research' trip. We were 500 metres higher than Korce. At 1,300 metres above sea-level we had brilliant sunshine and a fair amount of the fast-disappearing snow. I refer to the 'research' dimension of our journey - we wanted to see if this would suit for a "visitor's tour" .........!

This week is a little different as there is the Muslim welcoming of Spring. Monday was a Bank and School Holiday. We were unaware of this until it was too late to cancel our classes but we were happy to continue as usual. There were some festive fires at the weekend and also a traditional biscuit made and enjoyed mainly in the city of Elbason. We were invited to visit a Muslim family. We were welcomed by a grandmother, mother and daughter. Granny had come along specially to meet us. She spoke vividly of her difficult life during the Communist regime. She wept as she spoke - her memories are very fresh. We ate fruit and sipped a strange non-alcoholic concoction!

On my return, I opened the computer and a young teacher from Ballina, Co.Mayo had just been able to make SKYPE contact with me for the first time!. We had been on the Orientation for Mission Course together at Kimmage in Dublin. She is now in Brazil and we really enjoyed catching up with one another. She told me I am the only person from the course with whom she has contact. I began to realize the importance for us of Skype; though, in fact, we did not have it for the rest of the weekend! Even now and then it is a great means of communication.

May the blessing of Spring stay with us from now onwards!