So I'm in Tirana, Albania. It's a capital with about 650,000 people, who you see over and over again, because everyone hangs out at the same cafes. I'm working on starting up a volunteer program that would encourage Albanians living in other countries who vacation here or visit family to donate some time and skills to businesses, environmental projects, book drives, whatever, we're still working on exactly what. However, this last weekend, a remarkable thing happened. Bush.
Because it was the first visit from a standing US president, the city went crazy. The city government, I should say, because most people seemed pretty nonplussed (but I must include the fact that there were a few people who sported T-shirts given out saying "Proud to be Partners: Albania and America" and silly Uncle Sam stovepipe cardboard hats). But the municipality saw fit to name a street after him. Yes. So now the street formerly called "Workers of the Renaissance" is now called George W. Bush Street. Not only that, the security was ridiculous. Albania as a nation gave up its sovereignty for the 7 hours that W. was here, and America colonized the city and a surrounding village where Bush went to shake hands, since apparently it wasn't safe to do so here. Streets were blocked off, policemen standing at intervals of 15 feet to make sure no one ran onto the main street that we were allowed to walk on, hours before or after it was traversed by the motorcade. Seven hours.
So while I'm not working in the bush, I still got to see one, unfortunately.
Great to hear about other people's funny stories here though- it's nice to keep up with people's adventures!
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