Picture This: Work Life

Photo Credit: Robert Stojanovski
Helicopter loading up to take food/supplies to villages in our Municipality
cut-off by snow.

Photo Credit: Robert Stojanovski
Plowing road to the nearest villages in Novaci.

Here is the map of our Municipality (aka County).  The Red line is the border with Greece.  Where I'm pointing is the Village of Novaci, where I live and work.

Standing in front of the Municipality's office where I work.  

It is under construction, and these are the new front doors.

Inside the Municipality.  1st floor.

Igorche and I share an office in the Municipality's boardroom.

Here you can see the Municipality of Novaci's crest and the Macedonian flag.

Sporting our new work uniform: custom-made suits.

Photo Credit: Televiziya Orbis Bitola
Dinner party at Restaurant Kapri with the Mayor, co-workers, and friends.

Photo Credit: Televiziya Orbis Bitola
The Mayor of Novaci received the award for "Most Popular Municipality 2011"

The Mayor and his wife.

All meals begin with a mixed salad and Rakia (Whiskey)

Shredded beats, carrots, cabbage.  Cucumber, Tomatoes and Sheep Cheese.

Dinner party with new friends and fellow co-workers.

Vesna, Miriana, and Elena.

Dancing at the dinner party.

Dancing the "Oro" at a wedding.

Photo Credit:  albamedsociety.org

Work trip to ALBANIA!

Welcome to ALBANIA.
Day trip-to the Village of Pustec on Lake Prespa.

Meeting with the Mayor of Pustec in Albania.

Igor, Me, Mayor, Nikolina, and Jani.

Pustec, Albania.

Making friends.

Restaurant in Pustec, Albania.

EPIPHANY CELEBRATION: January 18th

Orthodox Church down the street from my house.

Priest blessing the water.

Polar bear plunge by the local men to find the blessed cross that the Priest threw into the water. 

The man who finds the cross will have a year of good luck ... and a new TV from the Mayor. 

EPIPHANY CELEBRATION

In the village of Makovo.

Priest blessing the river where the men will plunge for the cross.

They never did find the cross that day.  Water was too cold and too cloudy.

New friends.

Everyone brings icons of Saints to be blessed by the Priest on this day.

Post-polar bear plunge feast.  The family of these lovely ladies were hosting.