Big Joy From a Big Box

If you know Jen very well, you know she is not short on creativity.  Where I see junk, trash, etc... Jen sees an amazing adventure, a cute little decoration, something practical for our home, or in this case a great play house for the kids.  Last week I came home from language class to find a giant box in our living room.  Now this was shocking on a number of levels.
1.  Finding any cardboard here is next to impossible, the Roma collect it all (even cereal boxes, and sell it to recyclers).
2.  You just don't see big things here whether its cars or boxes.  We live in the land of tiny.
3.  This thing is huge and how Jen got it up here was beyond me (she'll have to retell that little adventure)
5.  It has been raining for weeks, how did she find a dry box?
4.  And most importantly it was no longer a box, it had been transformed into a playhouse just the right size for three great kids (and some lalaloopsy dolls and it doubles as a garage for Wilson's cars). This was not just some box turned on its side or with a hole cut in it.  It has nice 4 pane windows, a solid wood door, two chimneys, a shaker shingle roof and a little garden out front.  Inside Miki had designed a flat screen tv mounted to the wall and Jen had added cheetah print curtains with pink trim.  As amazing as all that is, the best part has been the sounds coming from the house.  Sounds of creativity and imagination.  Sounds of laughter and delight.  For me that's what this box has become.  Jen gives our kids so much, but giving them the gift of creativity, the gift of imagination, its just amazing to me.  I don't know if she intends to or not but our kids are learning to think outside of the box (pun intended).  Jen, thank you for all you give to our kids and thanks for dragging that big box into our house. 

In case you are not familiar this is a Lalaloopsy

and so is this

The big box outside

Early constrution

after trim and finish work

Curtains and TV

Rekretivno

Kyleigh and her friends headed out for 7 nights of fun!

Kyleigh has left us for seven days and I thought I would take some space to let you know why.  The Serbian school system does some really great things.  First through fourth grade is in the same class with the same teacher (of course if you don't like your teacher that could be a bad good thing).  This has been great at the start of the school year and for transition for Kyleigh.  She knows what her teacher and class are going to be like.  It also builds lifelong friendships and I think has helped K make better friends here.  One of the great things the schools do here is Rekrativno....  This is a seven night trip away with your class.  I know in America 5th graders go to camp for two days, but this it totally different.  In Serbia these trips start in 1st or 2nd grade, they go for 7 nights, and they go far (Kyliegh is about 5 ours away by car).  Parents don't go, just the class teacher. To my knowledge all the kids make it back every year.  (I'm sure on or two have been lost over the years, but all things considered that's not bad).
So what do 30 10/11 year olds do for 7 days on the mountain (Kyleigh is on Zlatibor this week).  They go into nature (very important in Europe) and journal plants and animals they see.  They do some math.  They probably do some other school work, but we're not sure, Kyleigh just tells us about math.  In inclement weather they watch movies.  Every night their is a disco till 11 (except when they stop early so everyone can watch the Eurovision singing competition).  Kyleigh and her friend have been practicing a dance for weeks they were unveiling on Saturday night.  The kids share rooms and are responsible for their own grooming (scary I know, think about the boys, do you really think they are bathing). The most important thing they do though  is make memories.  We are so glad this has gotten to be a part of Kyleigh's life and Michaela is dying to go on her first rekrativno.

Politics as usual, Just a different place

I don't claim to be a political person and I certainly do not understand much of the politics in my new country, but this month has been election month in Serbia, and I thought I would give all my American readers a look into this process.  There are some similarities here between the U.S and Serbia when it comes to elections but it is very different here in many respects. In Serbia they decide they are going to have elections and one month later BAM, they happen.  No primaries, no long drawn out campaigns.  One month, a thousand billboards, a million flyers in your mailbox, a few rallies at the arena and the Serbs are electing a new government. Most of the campaigning is print, and a little radio, I did not notice many TV commercials etc.   Looking at it from the outside, most efficient thing in Serbia.   Serbia is like the Baskin Robbins of political choices, you can choose form 83 different political parties. ( a friend told me this info he also told me anyone could make a political party all you needed to do was file some paperwork and get 10,000 signatures.  After your party is approved you get money from the gvt.  The reuslt 83 political parties.)   Now only about 10 of them received enough votes to be represented in parliament, but your very specific voice can be heard.  Although it may be drowned out by all the other voices.  Because of the number of presidential candidates the top two are in a run off scheduled for Sunday.  Like in the U.S. the two candidates had a debate wed.  We watched a little of it, seemed pretty much like a debate anywhere (quick aside, here they call it a duel rather than a debate.  I think that is way cooler and seems to add a sense of danger/adventure/urgency to two guys in suits bashing each other with quickly spoken words).  My favorite part of this process has been the part when the party that did not get the most seats in parliament accused the party that did get the most seats of voter fraud.  Classic emerging democracy.  Just like in the good old USA the best campaign tactic here is to attack your opponent, forget the issues. Any way there you have it.... Politics as usual.