Belgrade 7 - Eng

Dear friends

This time it is me, Stephan writing to you. We have not written for a while, but maybe it is because there did not happen as many interesting things recently. We are still in Belgrade, stay in the same house and wear the same clothes. While you in S.A. are freezing, we are sweating. It only cools down when it rains - lekker thunder storms.

At work things now changed so that we will come back to S.A. God willing only in January. The users of the system that we are busy configuring cannot spend enough time on the project and it is affecting our progress, but I believe that we will get there eventually. We are still waiting for the Croatian visas to come through. We have never experienced as much red tape - not even when we had to get Anandi out of India after being born there. After struggling for a month there were still a 7-step list of consecutive things that had to happen before we can have it.

At least we went to Novi Sad with the train one Saturday. It is much smaller than Belgrade, but beautiful and with lots of character. Have a look at the photo-album for Novi Sad. First we went to the Petrovaradin fort which has a great view of the Danobe river. Irene used the day to work on her hobby of collecting, drying and identifying field flowers. There are several imposing churches and other buildings on the city square as well as lots of flowers. And as it should be with any proper plain there is the scattering of doves and statues and stalls. Tied to every lamppost is a pot of flowers. And of course there is a McDonalds... After the meal we went walking the little streets and came to a beautiful park. Another one of those fairytale experiences that seem to cross our path every now and then.

We received in a roundabout way a parcel containing the childrens' roller-blades. (Thanks to Nicolai and Sarah) So we see more of the river nowerdays. It is fun to go for a stroll and roll next to the river in the evenings. Many a head turn to look in amazement at Anandi's comparative skill for her size on the roller-blades. And sometimes we stop for an ice-cream or to take photo's. Look at our album
of the Danube river for a few nice sunsets.

Seeing that we are going to stay longer, I thought it a good idea to spend more time on language-learning. The language they speak here and in Croatia is almost the same. So we got some software that teach and drill us and then I practise every afternoon with the taxi driver. Mostly this is a stranger whom I have to first inform of my endeavour to learn the language. I think they actually enjoy to teach me. Most of them cannot speak English so it is interesting. But it is not easy. As our friend, Andre, says it is a language with a cronical vowel-shortage with words like Cetvrtak (Thursday) and srtsa (heart). Then they have an affinity for 6-syllable words which I cannot remember. But the worst is the grammar. It is worse than Hindi or German and all words bend any which way or so it feels.

Sunday will be the Comrades marathon and I feel a bit nostalgic thinking about it. I am still running, but have scaled down a lot. Sadly so because the opportunity to jog is excellent here with the river and Kale Megdan so close. I think it is because there are so few people running here and almost no races.

Ministry is slow now. Please pray for an internet friend in India who became a seeker this week.

Anyway we will keep you informed about our comings and goings.

Your longing friends

Stephan, Irene, Nadia and Anandi