GOOD BYE, SARAJEVO

Well, well, well.....Just as I was getting used to this lifestyle it comes to an end. Mark and I thought we would be staying another 2 years. We thought that he would win the new project, TARA. But it looks like AID had an agenda that was a little different than what the Request for Proposal said.....I guess we were suppose to come home.

Prior to my leaving Sarajevo, I was walking to bridge knowing that it was my last time. I felt sad to leave. I met some lovely people and made some good friends. I was suprised that I felt so sad to leave because I didn't want to go to Bosnia in the first place! I started thinking about the day I left Virginia to go to Sarajevo. Melissa, Megan and Cara took us to the airport and I cried from the time they left us till we were half way over the Atlantic Ocean. I had felt like someone ripped out my heart. It was very difficult leaving Virginia and my daughters, and although it wouldn't be that difficult, it still hurt to leave Sarajevo and the people we came to know. I will miss the people, the friends, playing bridge, being alone with my husband, playing housewife and not earning a living. I won't miss the grey skies!!

TAMP

I know Mark will be so sad to leave this great group of people too! He was the Chief of Party for the Tax Modernization Project (TAMP). This is the door to their office at the Ministry of Finance in Sarajevo.....


Mark, Pero and Dzelila are peeking out from the door at my request. Initially, Mark was giving Pero bunny ears!! You'd never know he was a PhD economist running an important project!! Unfortunately, Ana was out sick this day.





These are some of the people Mark worked with at the Ministry.
Mark, Dzelila, Pero, Hajrudin, Jasmina, Natasha, Nermana.

There were many others on his project, but I thought about taking pictures too late and didn't get everyone together. So, if any of you read this, please forgive me.

My Bridge Group

In September 2005 I met Cathy and her husband Rudy at a restaurant called Fellini's. I told her I hadn't met any women yet and I had been in the country for 2 months! She suggested that I go on Wednesday to the Villa Orient and learn to play bridge. I was getting so lonely and desperate to meet other women, that I got up the courage and went. Well, these ladies could not have been more welcoming. They were all experienced bridge players and I had never played before. They told me I could watch, but what happened was Ina took me aside and started teaching me right then and there. She is a great teacher and I learned everything I know about bridge from her. I met Jane there and there was an instant connection between us and we became fast friends. She was a saving grace for me. I will treasure my time with her.

Well, I learned to play bridge and EVERYONE, I mean EVERYONE, was so patient with me and my bidding and playing the game. If it was a cut throat group I still wouldn't know how to play!!

Since I found out I was leaving for good only a week before my already scheduled plane flight, they gave me a little farewell luncheon at Slick's.

Playing bridge was something I looked forward to every week. There was never an excuse not to play. Sometimes some of us would get together on other days and play. I will miss these ladies and all the fun we had.

Pat, from Ireland; Kazuko from Japan

Anna Metta, from Norway; Sophia, from Cyprus
Jane, from West Virginia; Cathy, from New York

Ina, from Ukraine; Maja, from Germany.

I thank God that I had the opportunity to know these women with this wonderful mixture of nationalities

This is one of the last pictures I got in Sarajevo. It was early morning, May 11, 2006. It was cool and overcast when Cola picked us up to take us to the airport. I won't miss the grey overcast skies or the rain, but I will miss the people. The Bosnian people are just the warmest most welcoming people I have met in a long time. My bridge group ladies will always remain special to me and my good friend Jane, who I hope will visit this summer.

Gorazde

On Saturday, April 29th, Edin, "The Hero of Gorazde,"
one of our IT guys,
had his annual Lamb Roast in Gorazde.





Yep!! A whole lamb is skewered and cooked over an open pit. It's really interesting and very unusual for Americans.


Menso and Adis





Many of Mark's co-workers were there. The weather was, of course, cold and rainy...bone chilling cold and rainy!! I was the DD (designated driver) so I didn't have anything to drink. Everyone else was drinking and warm....uh duh!! The company and food were great.


Nihad







Cola and his son, Harun



Sam and Dzelila (Jelly)

Gorazde is about 1.5hrs from Sarajevo, unless of course, you take the Gallagher short cut, in which case it takes a good 2 hours. We followed the map and the signs that led to Gorazde and it took us through some very lonely and isolated places. There was a tunnel that we got to that had a stop light. A sign said in local language that the light would change every 5 min. It was a one lane tunnel. Looking at the tunnel, which cuts into the side of a mountain, one feels like at the edge of an abyss. You go in and never come out!! The light changed and we started going through. The tunnel was long and dark and a little scary. All I could think about was "I hope we don't get a flat!". Once we passed through, the landscape was really verdant and magnificent. We were in the Republic of Serpska, in an area not touched by the war. There were no bombed out buildings, no bullet holes, no evidence of war. It was nice....looked a little like other areas of Europe.Orthodox Church - the bricks were so unique for this area as well as the colors, just had to get this shot!





Then we followed the sign to Gorazde. We were on a small, narrow dirt road that indicated it was 35km to Gorazde. Mmmmm - hairpin curves up the mountain...the views were exquisite. There were a couple of cars behind us, but none coming in the other direction, and none ahead of us. We were a little curious, is this the road to nowhere? Is this "the long road, maybe the wrong road, the road to God knows where?"

We did stop at one point to get some nice photos. God, if the weather had been nice, the scenery would have been perfect. But as you can tell, the sky was grey and cloudy.

Going back home, I drove and Mark and Sam slept. We took the main road back. It's longer, but it only took 1.5hrs to get back home. Thank Goodness!!



This young man was the star of the day. Harun is Cola's son and is about a year and a half. He is a happy, beautiful little boy who obviously brings great joy to his parents as well as all those around him.


Sam got a great shot of Mark and me. We don't get many of those.

St. Patrick's Day

March 17th, 2006 - St. Patrick's Day

We Gallagher's are known to have a party to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. This year, while in Sarajevo, it was no different.

Because I was in NY just the week before for Uncle Bennies funneral, I was able to go shopping for "green" things. (There isn't a hint of St. Patrick's Day here!!) I found green forks and spoons, St. Patty's Day paper plates, napkins and decorations. The apartment certainly had the flavor of Ireland in it. The weather in Sarajevo was snow, snow and snow.......didn't think it would ever stop!! However, this doens't stop anyone in Sarajevo from going out. I had been cooking and preparing food since the beginning of the week. I even made Mark go out and buy me a new refrigerator! (The refrigerators here are VERY small and to have a party for 20+ people, I needed more refrigeration, even if it was snowing outside!)

The menu included pulled beef (Jane's terrific recipie), eggplant, tortellini salad, shrimp with holiday green sauce, hummus, guacamole, shamrock cookies, blarney stone cookies and Irish Soda Bread. There is no corned beef here.



Here Dzelila and Ana are tasting some of the goodies.







Cola, Pero and Tamara are fixing plates of food.






Pero and Cola giving me the smiles they are known for that they didn't give me in this other picture!
Jane flirting with Sam. Thank heavens Tom was there to keep an eye on her!!

Majda and Amina laughing while Ana lectures Fikret on God knows what!!






Irish music has always been a big part of this family's life. Irish music can be thought provoking or insightful. There is one philisophical song that explains why there are no unicorns. And cleverly enough, it's called, "The Unicorn".

A long time ago when the earth was green,
There were more kinds of animals than you've ever seen,
They'd run around free while the earth was being born,
But the loveliest of them all was the Unicorn.

There were green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn.

Now God seen some sinning and it gave Him pain,
And He said "Stand back, I'm going to make it rain."
He said "Hey brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do,
Build me a floating zoo. And take some of them...

Green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,
Don't you forget My Unicorn."
Ole Noah was there to answer the call,
And he finished making the ark just as the rain started to fallin.
He marched in the animals two by two,
And he called out as they went through, "Hey Lord, I got your..."

Green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord I'm so forlorn,
I just can't see no Unicorn."

Then Noah looked out through the driving rain,
Them Unicorns were hiding, playing silly games.
Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring down,
Oh them silly Unicorns.

There were green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Noah cried "Close the door, cause the rain is pouring,
And we just can't wait for no Unicorn."

The ark started movin, it drifted with the tide.
Them Unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried,
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away,
And that's why you'll never seen a Unicorn... to this very day.

You'll see green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born,
You're never gonna see no Unicorn.

When you sing the part about the green alligators and long necked geese, some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees, some cats and rats and elephants, and unicorns, you have to do the arm movements that go along with these words. So we had to teach our new friends how to do this and these are the photos of them singing and doing the arm movements.

Tom is doing the unicorn while Sam is....well...I think Sam is telling a fish story!



Eddie laughing while imitating the Chimpanzee










Ana and Emily are doing the long necked geese or the elephant......I think Mark made the movements the same.




Rudy doesn't know what's going on, but he's having fun anyway. Tim is intently reading the words and Harris, well, Harris doesn't even know where he is!!!




Jane is doing the elephant and Sigrid is doing the alligator.....What song are we singing?????


Bernt, a very classy German gentleman, is caught with his hands in his armpits acting like a chimp!!










Tom is still sure he's suppose to be doing the unicorn, Sam looks like he's doing the peacock!!





Pero is doing the unicorn, Tamara reading the words and too timid to get the actions down just yet.


Jane's not timid, she thinks she's in the shower!! Oh, no, it's the humpy back camel. Sigrid doing the elephant?? In the backround, I think Cola fell asleep!!










Rudy's got it now!! Doing the elephant or long necked geese. Tim keeping his hands in his pockets and eye's on the paper









Pero, Tamara and Cola laughing it up acting like chimps!








Here are some rats! Tamara is not timid anymore!! Looks like everyone is on the same animal.

Looks like everyone is enjoying themselves.













Tim took his hands out of his pockets. Yup, I think everyone had a good time. I know I sure did. If we're here next year, we'll have to do this again!!


Erin go Bragh!!

Biagio Vampatella

Mom, Victoria and Uncle Bennie

More sad news. On February 21st, 2006, my Uncle Bennie died. Another one of God's greatest treasures taken from us. Uncle Bennie was 80 years old and still working as a mason. As a matter of fact, he was on his way to work when he had a massive heart attack. He was resuscitated, and maintained on a respirator until they discovered he was brain dead a week later. He died quietly and peacefully with his children and brother at his side.

I flew to NY the day after I found out about this tragedy. Mark was stuck in Brcko with work. Megan and Cara left school early and picked me up at JFK and took me to my mother's house. Melissa arrived the next day. It was important for me to be with my mom. This was her big brother whom she loved dearly.

Everyone came from all over to pay their respects to Uncle Bennie. He was waked on Saturday and Sunday. My cousin John Vampatella did the service at the funeral home. Uncle Phil spoke about his brother. He did such a wonderful job summing up Uncle Bennie's life. Uncle Phil described him as his brother, his hero, and his pal. He told everyone how Uncle Bennie built the funeral home we were in. How he fought in WWII in 4 major battles - Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Normandy and someplace else. Uncle Phil reminded everyone what a happy person Uncle Bennie was....not a negative bone in his body. He loved life. He loved music and had a great bass voice. And in the last 2 years of his life, he found Jesus.

My cousin Bennie spoke also and explained that he felt Uncle Bennie had been searching his whole life for something and finally fell in love with the Lord. As Bennie said, "Who woulda thunk it!"


John explained metaphorically that Uncle Bennie had a pocket full of pennies and throughout his life he would pull out a different penny but they were always dull. One day 2 years ago, he finally pulled out a shiny penny and with this he found what he'd been searching for his whole life. Peace. People who saw Uncle Bennie would tell you that he truly glowed with joy these last 2 years. This from a man who was always happy to begin with.

Everyone loved Uncle Bennie. He was just a great guy. He will be sorely missed.


This family has had a lot of loss in the last 6-7 years. Fortunately/unfortunately - it brings people together. We have a pretty terrific family so it's nice to see everyone. This is Aunt Minnie - Uncle Bennie's first wife and the mother of Bennie and Jimmy. We hadn't seen her in many many years.







John and Uncle Phil share in conversation at Auntie Irene's house. The usual gathering point for family occasions.










Jimmy greeting Annette with hugs. I hadn't seen my cousin Jimmy in so long, that I didn't recognize him until he took his sunglasses off and I saw those blue eyes.

There are 15 Vampatella grandchildren. Here are Annette, Cathy, Mary, Bennie, Jimmy, Jean, Robbie, Judy, Jen, John, Michelle. Squatting Marie, Joan.
Missing: Charlie and Frankie

Judy and Mom














Mom and Matthew








Female cousins:
Marie, Jean, Judy, Jennifer, Mary
Annette, Michelle, Joan, Cathy











Jennifer and Joan











Melissa and Me

Winter in Bosnia

For those of you that have heard me complain about the weather in Bosnia, I need to share this with you. Generally speaking, Sarajevo is a very grey place to live. However, for the past several days, we have experienced....yes...it's true.....some BLUE SKIES!! Mark has even called me up from work to tell me he has spotted blue skies in Sarajevo and I should make sure I look! It remains cold, but there hasn't been any precipitation. Remember, Sarajevo is in a valley. We are surrounded by mountains. So, on Sunday Mark and I decided to go to a ski slope called Bjelasnica (this was the sight of men's downhill skiing during the winter olympics in 1984). On Monday, MLK Day, we went to Jahorina (the sight of women's downhill skiing) with the people from Mark's office. We just wanted to see what was going on and since there were some blue skies in Sarajevo, we figured the skies would be even bluer in the mountains.....and we were right. I couldn't go without my new camera that my darling husband got me for Christmas and these are some of the shots we got. I knew there would be snow on the mountains, I just didn't realize how much and how beautiful it would be.





This is what they were trying to describe in the song, "Winter Wonderland". It was truly magical.

Sure glad that's not MY car!!







Mark and Pero decided to take me on a little "hike". Walking uphill (mountain) in freezing weather, with a load of clothing on, in the snow is their idea of fun. For me....well lets say I think drinking hot cocoa and watching others hike is a lot of fun!







This is Mark in Bjelasnica. I thought he looked so handsome I had to get his picture.









It was Sunday when we went to Bjelasnica. We thought we would see people at a ski resort. What we never expected to see was a winter carnival.....well, sort of. There were what appeared to be, thousands of people- especially families here enjoying the blue skies and snow. This area the people were sitting, eating and of course, smoking.


This guy was selling cotton candy.












This guy was giving pony rides! Who would have thought!!!









This guy is cooking local food and hamburgers.













And what could be more fun that a moon bounce right between two ski slopes!!





The weathermen are calling for snow again. I'm not suprised. According to everyone that was here last year, the snow that we are seeing in these pictures is nothing compared to what they had last year. Mark said the snow was well over his head. They are not calling for that kind of winter this year. I think I'm happy about that. I hope that I will be able to go skiing here at some point in time. It looks like so much fun!