Live Broadcast on National TV

Well, living in Kosovo certainly affords opportunities that would never happen if I were living and working in the states. For example my professorship at the leading international University. Or attending receptions and cocktail functions with the Prime Minister and American Ambassador. Or being interviewed live on national TV for a half-hour to discuss the details of a Packaging Design Competition that I created with a local consulting firm. Aside from my typical fast speaking stumping the translator a bit, I was told it went off quite well. Pranvera was receiving a stream of text messages from friends and family saying I was on TV and she replied she was behind the camera's. Her nieces loved seeing their new brother in-law live:-)

Since one of my responsibilities is to try and improve the marketing capacity and professionalism here in Kosovo, I came up with the idea to have a contest that would encourage local companies to improve their packaging by having the leading advertising agencies compete against one another for a grand prize of being paid to produce the winning label for the company. With no budget and nothing like this ever being done here before, I was able to clarify the concept, sell it into my boss and project, USAID, 3 Advertising Agencies, a local consulting company to provide me manpower assistance to run it and produce it in the future, and finally a national TV station to provided the necessary media coverage and exposure to encourage everyone to participate in the event.

Well, it worked. We are now waiting for the international packaging design expert panel of 5 judges I recruited from around the word to issue their scores on a total of 30 labels created by 6 design firms for 5 local products. So the station agreed to host 3 different live interview sessions promoting the activity and the final Award Ceremony where we will announce the winners during an 'Oscar' type show. This too will be televised! One of the judges is even flying in to deliver the awards and consult with the winning agencies (for free). It has been a great challenge but very rewarding to see it all coming together so the local businesses will hopefully be the ultimate winners and improve their branding and packaging to increase the sales of their products.

Post Wedding Adventures

Unlike most couples, Pranvera and I decided to stick around town for a bit before eventually taking our honeymoon in Thailand (30 days and counting). Not only did we have out of town guests to show around Kosovo but I complete my assignment mid-June and can't afford to take much time off before then to really enjoy ourselves. Although as we have returned to our newly married 'routine' since then, we have come to a more complete understanding as to why people actually do honeymoons after the wedding. Because you really need to take a break, get away with your new partner and appreciate the heck out of this new life-long commitment that we both made.

But until then, we began our first day as a married couple by sleeping in till 9:30 (which is a record for Pranvera) and we packed up our stuff from the hotel and grabbed a famous Kosovo Machiatto across the street from the hotel. They we waltzed our way down the relatively empty street of Payton place (normally packed with cafe goers) and arrived at the newest culinary enterprise in Pristina, an Israeli owned Bistro, that apparently has a wonderful brunch (just not on the day we went). None the less they have fantastic coffee drinks and a nice breakfast menu for my sister Stacey, and our guests from London, John and Tanja who were with us for the weekend.

And then we were off in a project vehicle to drive the log, scenic route from Brezervice all the way to Prizren. We all the flowers blooming and the mountainsides rich with green, it was perfect day to show the best of Kosovo. Although the sun was out it was still a bit chilly over the mountain pass but the fresh air did us all some good as we got out and about. We had the perfect relaxing lunch on the side of a river to enjoy their river trout with some local cheese and pepper dishes. A nice authentic introduction to Kosovo.

After a long winding drive we eventually arrived in the old Turkish town of Prizren to enjoy a museum, the winding river and the old castle atop the town affording fantastic sun-setting views. It was apparently prom weekend so it was just packed with kids of all shapes and sizes roaming about. After the mandatory Machiatto stop we packed up the car to head back to Pristina before it got too late. But just early enough to get some light snacks at my apartment for us to all sit around drinking wine and having a slumber party of all 5 in my apartment. What fun!!!

The next day was rainy so we moved slowly around the city affording my guest a kick-glimpse of the city before we spent several hours at Pranvera's house being entertained by her family for a traditional full-sized afternoon meal lasting several hours with great talks, laughs and me enjoying bringing my words together. After John and Tanja headed to the airport we enjoyed opening our wedding gifts with my sister and heading back to the apartment to review all the photos and just catch-up.

For the next two days my sister and I had quality family time as Pranvera returned to work. We spent a day out in the Ragova gorge showing her some of Kosovo's raw beauty and enjoying the countryside landscape as well. The weather fortunately held and I think she had a good sample of Kosovo light. The wedding was certainly a highlight according to her but now she can relate to the other half of our new family and had a chance to meet everyone. It is so great that I can actually use their names and she will know the faces. In time, I hope other family members to meet as transatlantic trips will bring our families closer together, one day.

The Wedding Party (part 3 of 3)

After several hours of running around making all the last minute preparations for the party, everything appeared set. Finally, this was it. Pranvera and I had reservations at the nicest hotel in Pristina (certainly not five star) for our rendezvous pre and post party. It felt so good walking there after I had made a final last minute inspection of the bar/lounge. Pristina felt and looked different. I realized that for better or for worse, this place was always going to be one of my homes. I will continue to always return and see Kosovo to hopefully develop to a place only now we can dream about.

Our 'suite' was ready at the hotel (the same room Nicole Kidman stayed in during here recent UNHCR visit) with rose pedals scattered across the floor and bed, a beautiful bouquet of roses on the bed and our terry cloth robes stacked in the corner. The benefit was only truly realized after the wedding when we had a place with both water and power to shower off the day's festivities before falling into bed. A nice sofa and seating area with a table upon which I placed the champagne my sister had brought and a gift box of Truffles from England. Almost perfect. Just missing my bride until there was a knock on the door. Someone was standing there but for the second time that day, a woman of beauty I almost did not recognize. Wow. Here she was with her hair completely up in a beautiful swirl weave and a professional make over by the women who does all the local models. Complemented by her t-shirt and tennis shoes she was ready to go;-)

We enjoyed an hour of alone down time before getting dressed and heading casually late to our own party (supposed to make an entrance). It was so nice to sit arm in arm enjoying the champagne and chocolate while sharing laughs and stories from the ceremony, lunch and other various preparation snafus. It was here in our final pre-party preparations that we romantically exchanged our wedding rings in the bathroom so we could each read the others engraving. At the time it just seemed a lot more practical than carrying and worrying about 2 big ring boxes at the party. So off we went, arriving just before the sun set and the relatively chilly night embraced Pristina. It was great seeing her little nephew in the garden in his tux sprint back inside when he noticed our arrival. As we slowly walked down the entryway we could see all our guests inside through the floor to ceiling glass. Her sister-in-law signaled for us to wait a moment as all the cameras came out and our arrival was announced.

Entering to the sound of all our family and friends clapping and cheering and to the shower of flower pedals was truly an out of body experience. Immediately we were being grabbed and greeted by all her family and we then paired off to make our way through the entire crowd greeting each one of our guests. Many were her relatives I had yet to meet so all I could say was hello, welcome and thank youin Albanian! Everyone seemed so happy for us and I was smiling so big (and at that point so long) the back of my head started to hurt and felt bruised even the next day. The place also looked fantastic. All the final food had arrived and was all over with the drinks flowing and the music pumping. I advanced the ipod set we had prepared and the party really began. For about the first hour it was mostly upbeat talking music allowing us to chat with our guests and for everyone to consume the food. As soon as we made the announcement the grill was outside and for everyone to eat, the food must have been cleared in 15 minutes. As we suspected, we forgot to eat. We always had our full glass of wine and I did grab a fresh kebab just to 'test' the meat. Wonderful.

It wasn't too long before the Albanian traditional wedding and dance music kicked in and everyone was on their feet in the traditional circle dance. Of course Pranvera leading the way (she does this even when it isn't her wedding) we knew there was no stopping her now. The circle made its way through the entire place collecting all our friends and relatives at various times. Pranvera's nieces even dragged my sister into the circle to celebrate Albanian style. I remember at one point Pranvera and I being in the center doing some swirling dancing exchange with all her extended family cheering me on as I 'embraced' them and their culture. It was just perfect!

Finally needing to take a break and realizing if we didn't do our announcement and vows soon we might be too drunk to do so or some of our guests would have already left. So I grabbed the microphone and made sure the staff started pouring and rushing a glass of champagne to each guest. With everyone's attention I thanked all the guests for coming, especially my sister and friends from London and then proceeded to read my vows to my lovely wife Pranvera (see the video on the earlier blog). I was able to make it through without breaking down or getting caught up in the moment. Wow. This was really me. This is really happening. Oh my God, I'm getting married to the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Ok, bringing myself back it was her turn to translate for me which she summarized as "He loves me very very much":-) Then it was her turn but since some of the music was still playing I was trying to get them to turn it off as she cracked as joke saying, "We've been married less than a day and you are already ignoring me". Ah yes, we are perfect for each other.

Pranvera's words were also from the heart and made me realize once again that a power much greater than our own brought us together and has now ensured that we will forever stay that way. As we embraced each other and then toasted our glasses to everyone, all was complete. We then cut the cake, ate our piece, and then hit the dance floor the rest of the night. Time seemed to stand still at moments as it was just us. Otherstimes we were bouncing around with all our friends telling the stories, sharing in their gifts and just loving life. The music kept people up and I had time to share with her family, mine until it was finally time to leave our party before no one was left. Still it was close to two and the bar tab had just run out so we bid our remaining guests a farewell and raced outside in the pure darkness of a powerless Pristina to take a cab back to our generator operated hotel and unfortunatley bring an end to the happiest day in both our lives.