Tea with Luli
Every few days I get together with a friend of mine from Kosovo for tea…technically I usually order some sort of juice product and he orders a caffeinated beverage, but when we do our inviting, it’s always, “do you want to grab some tea?” Don’t get me wrong, I will occasionally order tea, but when you are offered 3-10 miniature glasses of tea a day, juice sounds pretty good.
Yesterday, Luli and I went out for tea (I had blueberry juice), and as usual we had a great conversation. While talking, a guy walked by who I knew from previous trips to Kosovo…we’ll call him Trutchka….we said our hellos, and then he mentioned having seen a short clip about Kosovo I had posted online last year. Let’s just say Trutchka was not exactly happy with the content of my short clip…he became noticeably enraged as we were talking…I went into, “how can I get out of here alive” mode…I tried to calm him down and explain the video clip, but my diplomacy was sub par. I then asked if he had time to sit down and talk with Luli and me…he thought about it – you could tell he didn’t want to – but then said yes.
Long story short, we ended up having a very positive conversation with Trutchka, and it was yet another amazing example to me of how sensitive everyone here is…to being misrepresented…hypersensitive to a biased media who have painted a picture of Kosovar Albanians as being extreme fundamentalists. This turned into a very profitable tea time – I was again reminded of all that these people have been through and how careful I must be to tell their story with extreme sensitivity. So what is that story? This question still remains, however I think I’m on the right track. I pitched my latest idea to Luli yesterday and he seemed to be on the same page…I think we may be onto something…I hope!
Here’s some random shots in Mitrovica…just down the street from our house. They don't have anything to do with chi or Trutchka, but hopefully they'll inspire you to have some tea with an old friend...or at least some milk out of the carton...
Local Couch Dealer - Everyday he takes his homemade couches to various markets.
Another couch salesman...
Text messaging Florita...
Mobile auto part sales...
9 Comments:
(sob) Okay, maybe I should just take a break from checking your blog - speaking of extreme sensitivity - the picture of the couch salesman is beautiful. You have such a great eye. (It's unfortunate that you lost the other eye in that knitting accident.)
P.S. - I know how hard it is to be there alone, but I think it is encouraging that in this, you will be learning so much more from Kosovars themselves. Not that I don't wish I were there to help, but if you had arrived with a team, we may have begun too soon, without really listening to what the locals wanted to say. This time of preparation and waiting is in my prayers.
Very interesting. Blueberry juice sounds good. Was it good? It sounds like you have to be very, very tuned in, in order to pick up on everything that could trigger sensitivity. Hmmmmmmm. Nice pictures.
Very interesting. Blueberry juice sounds good. Was it good? It sounds like you have to be very, very tuned in, in order to pick up on everything that could trigger sensitivity. Hmmmmmmm. Nice pictures.
I am re-reading Madeleine L'Engle's Walking on Water before loaning it to my brother. This passage reminded me of what you're doing right now as you are obediently seeking what this work needs to be:
"Obedience is an unpopular word nowadays, but the artist must be obedient to the work, whether it be a symphony, a painting, [a documentary about Kosovo] or a story for a small child. ... the artist, too, must be obedient to the command of the work, knowing that this involves long hours of research, of throwing out a month's work, or going back to the beginning ... But when the words mean even more than the writer knew they meant, then the writer has been listening. And sometimes when we listen, we are led into places we do not expect, into adventures we do not always understand. ... Instead of understanding...there is a feeling of rightness, of knowing, knowing things which we are not yet able to understand. ... But to serve any discipline of art ... is to affirm meaning, despite all the ambiguities and tragedies and misunderstanding which surround us."
I was racing your Saab and the clutch went out, sorry!
Great photos - I am really getting a feel for Kosovo through your pics and your words...keep it coming!
I send you an email just now asking some tech questions.
I saw Jeff racing your Saab - bummer dude.
Hey Isaac, I wish I could be there with you, sounds a lot more interesting than chemistry... which I have been doing the last 3 hours. Although, I wouldn't ever have the guts to go to another country, or even another state, by myself. Well... I really love your butt shot and the other photos are great, and I will be praying for you.
-Hilliary
you sure could have plenty of interviews about the peoples frustration with the media, etc. maybe that is worth mentioning in the story?
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