Beyond all my expectations

First, let me apologize for some of the spelling errors in our blog from last evening. Stephanie and I worked for an hour and a half trying to put all that info into bullets, and I gave her the incorrect spelling in some cases. I was sick for a day and a half, and my notetaking wasn't so great. Please accept our apologies. But, on a positive note, she got all those notes for her social studies teacher done, as well as most, if not all her math homework. Jordan and Katy worked as a team last night as well, and finished her Spanish homework. Now, the reason for my title.Yesterday in Sarajevo, we were taken to the state dept. building to meet the no. 2 guy at US AID, Gregg Wiitila. He was a former 4Her and he wanted to meet the kids who had come from the US to his neck of the woods. That was special enough - such a deal to get into see him at the US State Dept. building! But Kim Murphy, a State Dept. Cultural Affairs officer also showed us the room where the video conference takes place and then we met a group called CIVITAS. This group does phenomenal things with youth all across this country (and others)teaching them civics, democracy, and tolerance. When trying to figure out the logistics of getting all 7 of us to the US Consulate for our meeting with US Ambassador English, they decided that it would be best to send a driver in an embassy motor pool van to pick us up and deliver us to the Embassy door (due to parking.) How cool was that!! Ambassador English just presented his papers to the city officials yesterday and told his secretary to "make this meeting happen on Friday" - and she did! The man has only been in town for 3 days or so - much like us - and he wanted to meet with us AGAIN!! Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that this litle entourage would have become so imortant! Truly, way beyond my dreams. Tomorrow we're off to Belgrade, Serbia (crossing through Croatia one more time). Then, it's an early rise - 4:00AM in the lobby ready to go to the airport :( (too early, even for me!) Then home to family :) and our own beds, no suictase to lug and pick out of, and a very LOOOOONG, hot shower. This will probably be my last blog.I doubt we'll have time to blog tomorrow night so let me say now to all my friends here in BiH - VIDIMO SE! (See you again) Thank you for your wonderful hositality, warmth, and sharing the beauty of your country with us. Love to everyone here and at home.