We had hoped to avoid the heat in Macedonia by going early in the summer, but for me 90s/27c is as bad as 100s/30c+, I just lose all motivation or worse. I do best in summer rains, light storms, or a steady winter.
I, think on this, my fourth (fifth?) trip to Macedonia the older family members must have believed I was going to learn the language all along, because they just kept speaking to me in Macedonian as if they could will me to understand.
Younger members have gotten older, and they will sometimes be near and speak English with me. There is a strangeness to liking people, being connected to them and knowing that actually neither of you are quite 'known' to one another.
I also feel very naive when I am there- people known a lot about so many countries, in part because of history, in part due to the admissions process of becoming part of the EU. I do not remember many Americans knowing so much about the other states they are connected too. My naivety shows when I say/think how much better life would be if Sweden could get produce from Macedonia, a country closer than say...Brazil. Then someone explains to me the standardization laws that come with being part of the EU, and all the things I have read about 'ugly food' movements starts to become clear. Of course, the problem is more complicated than what the store near you wants to stock.
I managed to really hurt the back of my foot on our stairs the week we were going to Macedonia, so I had the added trouble of not being able to walk well or far. After these past few years though, I can really recognize unique qualities in the country- I am happy to have seen so much of it. I ate my weight in vegetables and fruits. There is a new cultural center up above Skopje that I loved and am trying to talk my way into staying there on our next trip.
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