What is it about Tirana? I step out of the Stefan Center and there is an excitement, an energy - perhaps it's an anticipation. The traffic seems a little better in control today, the people are just as busy going to and fro, and the snippets of language are so enticing. Gosh, I wish I could speak Schip.
The trip was really long. I think that Turkish Air might be able to charge less because they shave a little of the leg room off each row. I couldn't get out to take a brief walk without making my row-mates get up and out... there was literally not room to place my feet if they remained seated. The seating configuration is 3-3-3... the "usual" is 2-5-2. So, one advantage to being in the center of the center section (not where I was) is that you only have to crawl over one person, not two.
Other than the lack of personal space, Turkish Air was quite nice. My UAL flight arrived on time to LA (the one after mine was delayed - go figure!), the trek from the farthest arrival gate at United to the Bradley International Concourse was uneventful, except, of course, for all the people who didn't know that they were getting in my way and delaying my progress! Really! The audacity!
After going through security again, I searched for the gate... it was the absolute farthest one, off by itself beyond the other gates. As I began to approach, the languages began to change, the lines became less organized, and the dress less Western... my first hint I would be entering a different world. My row-mates were from Turkey and Iran - neither spoke English, and you must know that my Persian and Turkish are a little rusty. The announcements, even before boarding, were in Turkish, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do, but I was encouraged by others to just push ahead in line and not to worry - and I did so (I didn't have any other option, it turns out, since there were so many behind me I was moved forward without choosing to do so). At any rate, no questions were asked of me and so I was one of the first on the plane. I folded by frame into the space allotted and took out my phone (because my son called). This apparently was upsetting to the stewardess, so that conversation was short-lived. Then, I began to knit - a seemingly universal invitation to converse with other women the world over (or at least as "all over the world" as I've been!). So, everyone admired my simple project, we discovered that we could converse by pointing and smiling, and so began a somewhat solitary flight.... 13 hours!!!
The up side to the long flight is that I think that it afforded me more time to sleep. So, I arrived more rested than I have in the past. The food was good, the service was efficient and polite, it was fun to try to silently converse with my row-mates, and I slept (as did they, I think). I lost my ear buds early in the confusion, so I didn't have the unparalleled opportunity of listening to Turkish Rock. There was no space to bead, work on my computer or even write. So, sleep was a very good alternative.
Arriving in Istanbul was different than I anticipated. It is a quite modern airport - complete with traffic, crowds, and hijabs. There were gentlemen in Saudi dress - you know the white gowns, women in Saris, and plenty of women with head coverings. Seeing a woman all in black with only a slit for the eyes elicits a strong feeling in me - it's as if they didn't really exist, they are an illusion, a negative image, a vapor. Praise our wonderful Abba that they are not a vapor to Him - that He loves them and wishes them to come to know Him. So, I prayed for them.
I endured my third security checkpoint of the trip (why did I even get dressed? I always worry I'll forget something as I replace my shoes and gather my ticket and jacket), bought water, and madly tried to find my gate. The time stamped on my ticket was boarding time - no wonder I couldn't find my flight on the departure board which listed departure times! But, it created a little adrenalin rush - no, a BIG adrenalin rush - as I imagined the flight leaving without me. We took a bus to the airplane - far out on the tarmac without a convenient causeway as you see in the picture. Why is it that flights to Albania always take off from the farthest corner of the airport? And, they are all boarded up one of those portable stairways? I'm waiting for the "big leagues" with causeways to amble down. It's always such a hassle to lift everything (especially yourself after 20 hours or so) onto the bus, hold on to the pole so as not to fall over, then slowly carry yourself and all your belongings up the stairway. It would be so much easier to just roll that little carry-on along one of those lovely tunnels - I'd feel so much more put together!
Leaving Istanbul by air (my only glimpse of the city) revealed a modern looking city complete with traffic jams (it was 5 pm when we left). There were lines of huge cargo ships lined up along the Mediterranean to get into the port, very tall apartment buildings, parks, freeways, soccer fields. Except for the minarets scattered about every 1-2 blocks, it could have been anywhere. The Mediterranean was beautiful, and it looked like the beaches were beautiful as well.
Finally to my destination... Tirana. The sky was overcast when I landed, as it was when I left SLO, so I missed the beautiful hills at both places. I tried to take a picture of the sheep grazing along the runway, but I'm not sure you'll be able to see them. I was the last through customs - I'm short, and was not really up to the hassle of getting to the front of the line - and watched those entering before me. Interesting, I saw groups of bearded men - probably on the same quest as I am but for a different abba.
A funny thing happened at Customs - I usually am the recipient of a great deal of suspicion since I bring the Action Packers which look very official! This time, however, the customs agents asked where I was traveling from and when I said the US, they waved me through - Action Packers and all. Behind the sliding door were the wonderful faces of my good friends - Dori and Sindi, with Ruben, Daniel and Alban waiting outside where young boys are unhindered. It was good to be home! Then to the Stefan Center (a picture of which will not download, along with some others), a night in the "overflow" next door, and up and at 'em yesterday and today.
Well, my antics of yesterday have to wait until later. Hope this reaches you all in good health - that you will pray for the projects I will present today, and that God will use me and my friends here for His greater glory! That others would come to be in His family with us! Mirupashen.
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