Souvenir Shop

While walking in town the other day, I found the cutest little souvenir shop. This one sells handpainted and handcrafted things...not the usual T-shirts. Shown are some painted bottles.
It's called the "Prestige Suveniri Juvelir" (Souvenir and Jeweler) in the town centre area. The owner was friendly and proud to show me around the shop.

Cheese and cheesiness

On the bright side, I found some cheese that is close enough to Cheddar that I think I will be able to use it as a substitute in cheese enchiladas and macaroni and cheese. It is called "Trappist" cheese. We went to visit our neighbors on Friday and had a wonderful, cheesy lunch with them. The wife made what was basically macaroni and cheese with little chunks of chicken and just a touch of beef. It was delicious and soul-satisfying. It was made with this cheese, which is available in all of the shops I have been to. It's mild and light yellow. I don't think it is expensive...wait, what am I saying? To most people here, it's ALL expensive.

Speaking of markets and shops here that sell food. As I have mentioned before people here don't make a lot of money. A $400-500 a month paycheck is pretty good. So....

1. Why do they sell shrimp and other expensive seafood with all of the stuff you can't eat? Like the heads, eyes, antennas, etc? And yes, I know people here eat the fish heads...I am talking about the things no one eats.

2. Why, when you go to the local Police Station to get your license plate, drivers license, visa, passport, etc. do they CHARGE you for the form that you must have? I can see charging for the service, but for the frickin' form????

3. Why don't they either clean up the water so that people are comfortable drinking it (and then don't have to buy water at 70-80 dinars for 5 liters - about $35 a month, just for WATER) or if it is clean and safe, spend a little money on a campaign to inform the public?

4. Vojvodina is the bread basket of Serbia. So, why don't these good people get a break on prices of fruits, vegetables and meat? They raise and farm the stuff, but they pay the same as the rest of the country.

That's my rant. I don't want to be political. I don't begin to understand the politics here. I have no right to tell anyone else how to live, but I see these things and they seem so unfair. The people that I have met here will give you the shirt off of their backs...what little they have, they will share with you. I just wish they could get a few breaks, y'know?

Homesick and more

Homesickness is rearing it's very ugly head right now. I miss my Mom and Dad. I miss my kids, even though I know if I was at home, they still wouldn't speak to me. I miss America and everyday life there. By early next year, I will be back, but for now....

The heat is not helping. It's been over 100F everyday for so long that it is hard to remember that week of cool temps and afternoon showers not so long ago. Evidently though, this is unusually hot for this time of year and this place. I don't know why that makes me feel a little better. It doesn't bring the temperature down any.

I am lonely. My love works, which is of course necessary and understandable. But, when he comes home I WANT TO TALK....about anything and nothing. But, this communication problem is always there. I am not a patient person. I get frustrated. His English speaking is ok, but his comprehension when I am talking to him is not so good. SO, he either nods and smiles (first clue that he doesn't understand) or he starts talking about something else before I have finished my thought and so the sirens and bells start going off in my head.

That's one thing I have noticed with a lot of people here. They talk over each other and don't seem to listen too well when others are talking. A culture thing, I guess.

And people here LOVE their TV. When we go and visit friends, the damn thing is usually on. When my love is at home, the TV is on. Needless to say, any talking is done during commercials - reklam.

When I was in America, I didn't care for the TV shows. I watched Netflix films mostly if the TV was on. But, it didn't get turned on until after supper and then was only on until the movie was over.

I am afraid, unsure and hoping this weather breaks soon for my mental health and well being.

It's Hot!

This week has been very hot. Today it is 41C/105F...holy crap, is that right???? Yeah, the temperature converter doesn't lie.

The television reporters are doing stories about the heat. Showing people drinking water, buying water, pouring water over their heads. Just like in America, they warn of the impending doom of mankind.

I can relate.

I am an "air-conditioned baby". In Louisiana, we have weather just like this...same heat, same humidity. But, everything is air conditioned. When you are outside, it is usually for a short period of time, or you are at the pool.

We have a small rotating fan in the apartment. We live on the top floor of our building. Heat rises.

It is 36C/97F in here right now. OMG. Solution? There is none. I just wear the minimum of clothing and shower about every hour. Stay still, very still. And drink lots of water...

Most evenings we go fishing on the Danube and stay there for a couple of hours. That helps. On the weekend, we often go visit family on the Danube in Čelarevo. But during the heat of the day, here in town, the last place to be is outside.

We expect about 6 more weeks of heat. There will be days when the highs will only be 34C/93F. I look forward to the beautiful, cool fall days of October that I remember from last year.

Mexican Feast

Last night I cooked Mexican food for our neighbors. I couldn't believe how well it turned out, considering I can't find cheddar cheese here. Back home, I wouldn't even attempt Mexican food without it. But, I had a major craving for Mexican and our neighbor had asked me what to do with the tortillas he had seen at the market.

This was the menu:
Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream Sauce
Refried Beans
Mexican Rice

Every bit of it was homemade...nothing from a can. Wow. And it was fun. Cooking in our tiny kitchen was a bit of a challenge, though. I had 3 of 4 burners going at one time.

It was interesting the substitutions I made. (I had brought a large container of chili powder with me when I came here...don't really know why, but at the time it seemed like a good idea.) The tortillas were flour, I prefer corn, but they only had the flour kind. Couldn't find Monterrey Jack, so I used a little "Pizza Sir"...mozzarella cheese...it's fairly bland and melted beautifully. I just wanted a little cheese to hold the chicken and other stuff together in the enchilada and a little to put on top. I used the beans they have here and refried them with a little oil and onion and garlic and chili powder. I don't know exactly what kind of bean they are. Pretty much like pinto beans. I can't find green bell pepper here to put in the enchiladas and rice, so I used some mild paprikas instead since green bell peppers are mild...worked out fine.

I made a homemade salsa from tomatoes, onions, garlic, hot paprika (peppers), a little oregano, crushed coriander, salt, pepper and a little oil. I made it the day before and it was great as a garnish on the enchiladas with the sour cream on top. If I could have found some tortilla chips, I would have made more for a dip. The fresh tomatoes and other vegetables here are unbelievably delicious!

The funniest part of all was when I finished everything, I thought "uh oh, it doesn't look right, I don't think it will be good." But, I was committed, we had nothing else prepared and our neighbors were at the door.

It turned out well. They LOVED it. You can tell someone here likes it when they really eat. The wife had 2 helpings and her husband had 3! My love had 2 helpings also, although he is so sweet that he will eat anything I cook.

I made chicken and sausage jambalaya when I first came here for some friends and take my word for it...they DIDN'T like it. They ate only one tiny helping to be polite. We had to eat that stuff for days because you just don't throw food away here. And that's ok.

Now my love has two dishes he loves and wants me to cook for everyone...my "American" pizza with mushrooms and sausage and now my Mexican feast. We went for a drink with other friends afterwards (these late nights are killing me) and he was telling them about it and inviting them over for dinner soon to try it!

Wait A Minute

I've been here for a while and now things are beginning to get a little clearer. One thing that has been brought home to me lately is that some people here think I am a RICH American. Omigod...funny.

For some reason (I don't know...maybe TV, movies???) some people think I had a big home back in Louisiana (try about 1600 sq. ft. asbestos shingled 3 bdr. 1 bath), big fancy car (2001 Toyota), and lots of money (family business, kid in college, lots of debt).

What I did own is now food for lawyers in my divorce and will likely be sold to pay towards my share of child support. My clothes have been given to Goodwill. My personal books, music, pictures...the things that I took for granted are gone. My Mom was able to grab a few bags of my best clothes for me but shipping them here from Texas would cost more than they are worth.

I know that these things are more than most average Serbians can claim. I'm not going to apologize for that. But, rich? Hardly. I was middle class in America. That means I had stuff, courtesy of credit cards and debt. I worked hard to get the things I had. My EX and I had 20+ yr. old furniture and our house needed lots of "fixing up".

The reason I bring this up is because of this wrong impression, these people seem to think that I should be able to buy whatever they are selling. We should be able to lend money to them...whatever. We live on my fiance's salary which is basically the same small salary that everyone else gets. How do I know this? Because, EVERYONE I have met here who works has told me what his/her salary is in our first conversation.

I came here with a few hundred dollars. That's all I have to my name. I don't have a job. All I own now came with me in 2 suitcases and one carry on bag.

I try not to lump all Serbians into one stereotype - I know they are individuals. I wish people here would do the same for Americans.

Foods I Miss

Today is the 4th of July. The first one I have ever spent away from the US, and I miss the celebrations, the food and of course, my family.

However, I can't really dwell on that.

Instead, I am thinking of some of the foods that I miss from "back home". While I love the food here in Novi Sad - sarma, fish stew, goulash, etc., I am craving the following dishes (in no particular order):

1. A big thick Whataburger hamburger and fries. Hell, I'd even go the "whole hog" and get it with cheese. Yes, I know there is a McDonald's here in Novi Sad, but I hated that crap in the US and I still don't want it.

2. Micheal Angelo's frozen vegetable lasagne. This is so good. You put a little extra mozzarella on the top and "zap" it in the microwave.

3. A big box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Wow, I really am pitiful. Not exactly gourmet stuff.

4. I am from Louisiana, so of course boiled crawfish must be included in this wish list. With new potatoes and corn on the cob cooked in with the crawdaddies.

5. Some California Rose wine. I really love this, but rose here is expensive and rare. Plenty of good and cheap whites and reds, but not much in blush or rose.

6. Some Bar-B-Q ... anything. Pork ribs, chicken leg quarters, sausage...I'm not picky.

Well, I think that is plenty for now. I really need to stop thinking about it and just go enjoy my day.

Happy 4th to anyone who is American and might be reading this blog today.