Traveling Truly

The world’s best macchiato is to be found, much to everyone’s surprise, in the tiny country of Kosovo in the heart of the Balkans. These fifty-cent gems are one of the highlights of living in this country, and I believe that I will never grow tired of them. In fact, my heart is racing a bit now while I sip my latest cup of coffee. This weekend has definitely consisted of much more caffeine than nutrition. I know; it’s bad. I promise I’m not always like this.

Before moving to Kosovo, I remember dreaming about all the lovely things that I discovered during my very short trip here in 2017. The towering mountains, the friendly strangers, the delicious food, and of course the endless macchiatos- each of these have remained some of my favorite aspects of my new home. But after six months of life in this country, I think it’s safe to say that reality is beginning to kick in.

Enter Monday mornings. Since I began teaching at a school again, I have been reminded of the monotonous routine of waking up on Monday morning, hitting snooze too many times, and barely making it to work on time. (I, uh, don’t always have the best morning habits.) The mid-winter weather is gross, I’m tired, and my classroom management skills can sometimes appear nonexistent.

On top of the dreary winter feels, I travel back and forth to Peja, the town I’m… I guess you would say based in(?) every weekend. I take care of my responsibilities there, get some quality time with my friends and then head back to Prishtina on Sunday afternoon and start my week over the next morning. I value my time in Peja very highly and look forward to it every week, but it can be tiring.

Life has settled into a routine, with highs and lows and many of the same daily struggles I have always had (as well as some new ones). Getting up in time to read my Bible, making healthy choices with food, not spending too much money, etc. These are all challenges that have not diminished in a country halfway around the world.

Even so, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. The daily monotony has yet to put a damper on the aspects of life here that I absolutely adore. The mountains are just as majestic, the people just as friendly, the food just as tasty, and the macchiatos, well… they’ve only gotten better.

I am so grateful that I have been in this country long enough to be establishing routine, making my own decisions and discoveries, getting to know the people in my community, and overall feeling at home

J.R.R. Tolkien told us in The Fellowship of the Ring that “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life“. Even on what people may think is some grand adventure five and a half thousand miles from my home, that is exactly what I am doing. Celebrating a simple life with my new friends, encouraging one another, and drinking macchiatos to our heart’s content. Praise God for the simple, beautiful everyday.