Running trails, bikes, and rails

I am sitting on a stoop writing this blog. It's been a day. A day I needed, a day I was partially dreading and a day of the truest emotions I've been able to comprehend for awhile.

My favorite place in the world. 

I woke up this morning after one too many beers and thought to myself: Hey this is life. You only have a few days left in this city so get up and just go. So I did.

Can you understand why...

I went to one of my favorite spots for breakfast and then headed to my old running trail for to meet up with my old running buddy and see what was new. So much had changed, and so much was the same. We reminisced about all our past memories and crazy experiences of the area as we caught up on where we both were now. I took pictures along the way to remind myself how incredible this city is. 

Little Bridges 

Then I headed to the university area and walked around Dinkytown noticing how the new parts of it reminded me so much of everything I hated in Indonesia.

35-W bridge

I rode my bike with the intention of just driving past my old place and continuing on, but something stopped me. There was so much more in this neighborhood than I ever knew. I started to remember things and I zigzaged up and down streets. I found myself becoming nostalgic about the bike path I took to work. 

Mill City 

The house where I had my first drink. The place where I almost broke up with my first boyfriend after too much whiskey. The place with the double kegger. The door he snuck out of. The alley I smiled too much in.  The house where I won flip cup. The place my friend did her first keg stand. The spot where I went on that random date. The places of first kisses. The house where I lost my glasses...and underwear. The coffeehouse I studied in. The dog that would run up to that fence to meet me on my afternoon runs. The spot where I realized my ankle was seriously hurt and I wouldn't be able to run the half marathon. The place where I did my processing. The place where I fell apart. The place where I knew I wanted to be whole again. The place I made dreams I will never fulfill. The place I made new dreams. The sidewalk where I told my mom I was moving abroad. The swing I fell in love with songs on. The place I cried when I didn't know if I could leave. 

Beautiful view of the city 

Life is made up of these moments. These little joys, pains, excitements, regrets, and lessons. And when you put them all together you create a life. It's cliché to say that college years are the best and most life changing ones of your life,but in a small way I think it is true. You grow, not always forward, but always toward the person you are meant to be. And it's cliche but true to say, that everything works out how it should. 

We absolutely tried to walk across...and then decided we needed a few whiskeys first

I owe all of you who joined me on this journey so much. Thank you for the memories, the smiles , the heartbreak, the runs, the campfires, drunken nights, and lessons. 

You ask me where I'm from well this is where I'm from...

What compels me to go from this place? Why must I leave? Life here is so much and so good and feels right. 

But I love my life abroad too, and I'm so excited to start a new chapter of myself.  Don't worry Minneapolis. You are my one true love and I will be back for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time biking around your bike highways

My First Week in Tivat

I can't believe I've already been here for a week, and at the same time I feel like I've already been here a month. Time for an update I guess.

No filter. I swear it!

I'll start by saying that I love it here! That's not to say it's not going to have it's challenges, or that I always will, but most of the expats I have talked to say the love for this place continues as long as you put in some effort.

5 minute walk from my apartment

My apartment is small, but in a cozy single girl way. It suits me well and reminds me of my place in Albania. The things I'm still looking for are drawers, and kitchen electronics such as a blender and food processor. I have seen these things, but not to the extent where I'm going to have lots of choices. At first I kept thinking I could just wait for larger stores. After going to the supermarket today I realize that there are not choices. I'll purchase these items as soon as I have an income and see them again. Also my landlord is amazing. He's teaching me little bits about the culture, and has already told me he often has friends over to play cards and drink in his "smoke room" (traditional thing I need to learn more about to explain.) He invited me to join in and promised to take me on his boat sometime!

Did I mention we have a huge garden? With 4 pet turtles!

waiting for you....

I also cannot for the life of me find good coffee. Honestly, I didn't realize how spoiled I was in Indonesia. All the coffee here is pre-ground, which is alright for me right now since I don't have my blender, but....it is so fine that it doesn't work very well in my coffee press, unless I wait a long time for it to sink to the bottom. I have actually been relying on instant coffee, which just is not going to cut it once I start work. Espresso is cheap at the cafes, but I don't really want to have to spend 20 minutes stopping to sip coffee on my way to work. Maybe I can work out a deal with the owner of a place to bring them little to-go cups and stop through on my way each morning?

1 Euro!

I'm finding that if you are a little bit warm towards the people they will be warm back. Today I went to the fruit/veg market (I finally found it after talking to fellow expats last night) and once I introduced myself as a teacher the girl at the stall said if I had any questions or needed help to ask her. I'm told it is important to learn a bit of the language just to by kind. So far I still only know thank you. I'm going to try to do 2-3 words a day from now on. I also noticed while the nice restaurants have menus translated in English, the cheaper ones do not. Additionally a lot of the packages at the markets are not translated. So I think learning the words for different foods will be my first task.

7 Euros worth of fresh produce!

Also, I'm going to miss international food. There are no Thai or Indian restaurants here. That being said, I'm looking very forward to getting experimental in cooking.

My school is a bit like the others I've taught it. New, small, and not very organized. I think i'll love it here as the staff seems to be a team who just pull together and make it all work for the best.

And the staff! I cannot get over how warm everyone is. They are so helpful and welcoming. I haven't even met half of them yet. Last night I went out for drinks with the MYP coordinator, and a high school teacher and his wife. We had a great chat and I've already been invited to watch Sunday football with the guys and join in running club. There is a 10K coming up in 3-4 weeks that I just may sign up for as a little motivator.

I thought I started work the first Monday of August, but as it turns out I started a week later, so I ended up taking a little trip to Podgorica, the capital. There wasn't much to do, and it was blazing hot, but it was nice to hang in the hostel and meet travelers who got me thinking about my potential winter break plans.

random bar in Podgorica

Evening stroll in Podgorica Old Town

It was so hot that all I did during my 2 days in Podgorica was drink beer and swim here. 

So far I am loving the people, the wine, and the ease with which moving has come. I'm looking forward to starting work on Monday after a lazy weekend of cleaning, cooking, and organizing.