Last night in Tuzla

Let me tell you, this cyrillic keyboard is truly difficult!Nothing is as it seems so my spelling and punctuation are going to be terrible! yesterday we left Banya Luka after visiting a primary school, eating a pizza – different but delicious- visiting Natasa+s class and then the town castle and economics high school. They said it would take 3 hours to get to Tuzla, but they were speaking of those people who can read cyrillic road signs, know their way around Bosnia i Hercegovina, and know how to drive like a maniac on mountain roads while people are taking a nighttime stroll without sidewwalks!!!! It only took us 4 hours and then we met with our host students and teacher and went for dinner in a traditional restaurant in town. Again delicious food! From there we went back to host family homes and Arijana had cheese,meats,nuts and fresh breads for us to munch on with wine. I seem to talk a lot about foods! Today we visited a catholic high school, their library with an American Corner – where american authors and books, culture, workshops and language lessons are taught- and Arijana-s primary school. Primary school here is grades 1-9. High school is 10-13. At Arijana.s school we had several sweets and meat pies to hold us over until later. After that we went to the Red Cross in town and the kids dropped off the clothing donations their group had collected. They do this on a monthly basis as part of their projects. From there we went to a castle built before 1333! Way cool.! It was overcast and foggy as well as a little chilly. It made me think what it must have been like to live there so many hundred years ago before heating and AC. Back in the car again to go to Tuzla to eat dinner at a buffet – 12 very hungry people and it only cost about $117!!! And that,s with 17% tax!!! Less than $7 a person and we were stuffed! But not to worry – we then walked for about 1 hour through town and saw many more interesting sites. The youth have gone out for pancakes (crepes) and then to caffe; we adults needed to come home and rest. Arijana, always the hostess, provided us with pancakes (Almir her husband cooked them for us), jellies, chocolate spread, cheese, and meat -and of course wine. Finally, Katy and I are blogging and trying to read email before collapsing into bed. By the way, it-s only 10:10! The students are really having a great time – have plans to return this summer! Making lots of friends, lots of comparisons between DE school, food, and customs and here, and not really missing home at all. Sorry, moms and dads  But they are doing a great job of representing DE 4H. We are proud of them. Even with technical difficulties today, they went on like troopers. Well that-s enough gab for now-Ciao! PS I wasn/t able to read my email today, it won/t come up. I/ll try tomorrow. Let me clarify what I just wrote - of course our kids miss everybody back home, but they.re having a lot of fun here and it just doesn.t show.