Something new

Hey All,
don't get used to this two days in a row blog. i am in Elbasan and in a new internet cafe by the college. it is much faster and only the shift key messes up...don't blame me. it also seems to upload pictures but smart me i did not bring my flashdrive with me.
Today we took the history tour of elbasan. There is no formal guided tour done by the city or anyone else so we asked for one. They did a great job. When we brought it to their attention of starting one as a business, a new look came across their face...instead of the confident teacher look, the "why, nothing changes here in Albania so why try", look came over them...
Albanian Window moment : This why try attitude is why we are stationed here in Albania. For 2 months we have been told that the laws, the infrastructure and system is prime for change, but implementation is almost non-existent. Corruption as i mentioned before is at every level of government and in most areas of business. ie...taxes..only businesses pay city taxes for roads and garbage...but many businesses don't pay taxes because it is cheaper to pay the guy that collects them. He then says you paid, all is forgiven until next year.I did a five page paper on a business out here..the owner knows the mayor...pay taxes??? Bus drivers. This has happened a couple times and i have actually seen it..Cop pulls over a bus to check papers..in the paper folder is ????...hand goes into pocket of cop, and driver drives away...some buses only have registration stickers up to 2006. Doctors are "free'....but my host dad will not go because it cost too much...Lastly, we are holding a bake sale at our volleyball game to raise money for the kids to buy new balls...we have been told to give receipts for goods purchased..about 12 cents per purchase because the folks will think we are going to keep the money..humm...
The department i will be working for has their hands full...if there is any sort of organization started, the Albanians resent it because it is similar to the communist taking over and, nobody trusts one another...Even brothers will not work as team, to increase efficiency, buy at discounts or anything else.....The department seems to be breaking down barriers, but when/if the new administration gets elected and it is a new party, (republican, social..etc....there are 55 parties)...then many people who have just got into full stride will get lose their jobs. The new administration will hire friends, and family and similar party people.
Since knowledge is power...all work..everything will be deleted from the computers and paperwork tossed by the old employees. The new employees start from the beginning with new programs new contacts, new new new..talk about reinventing the wheel...Now your asking how does that affect Peter...if there is an election while i am working for the department and a new party takes over, they may not want or trust me and bang...on the streets...a regular occurrence. Pretty Wild. All for now.