Kosovo #4: after a long day...

Kosovo #3: "we're with Ray"

Ray has invited me to Kosovo multiple times.

I have tried to come many times too. It's just not worked out. 

Right now I'm lying on a bed in house in Gjakova. I would never be here being welcomed in this home. With these lovely people who give their beds up for Caleb and I. 

Aferdita cooked a meal. Suzanna, the mother, baked the bread. Ramadan, Aferdita's older brother, his wife Miki and their son Heckuran played. Luan, Aferdita's fiancé, drove us from the airport to here. And Albina, one of Aferdita's younger sisters, said to me we all know Ray. He has known me since I was 13. He is known by many people around here and is their friend. 

She ended saying: "Ray is a really good man"

Kosovo #2: at the airport

Early start. Continual checking of documents. Missed breakfasts. Traffic. Farewells. Must be the day of departure.

Kosovo #1: The day before

In 1998, I was a year out of graduating.

I had just secured my first 'real' job as a fundraiser in a small to medium charity that worked in Eastern Europe and China. I was recruited to phone up companies and ask for surplus stock to include in shipments heading out to around 7 countries on the other side of Europe that the charity supported.

Just a few months in. We had news of the mass exodus from Kosovo into the neighbouring countries. The scenes in TV were of bombing, buildings on fire and lines & lines of people walking.

The small charity that I was working for was quick to respond. Particularly in what were termed as "unstructured" settlements.

I recall calling many groups for help and receiving a lot of support from pharmaceuticals, clothing companies and food.

The numbers of people being displaced were estimated well over a million at 1.5m into surrounding countries.

I watched the figures rise on the UNHCR website daily. I desperately made calls and sent faxes every day during this time. Some calls were more fruitful than others.

Tomorrow, eighteen years later, I'm travelling to country that I followed so closely for the first time. I'm meeting people who were attacked, lost family, friends and their homes... and were then ignored. I'm told that we will meet people with disabilities, those in Roma settlements and others on the wrong side of the 25% that do have jobs.

A lot has happened in eighteen years. The region is now a country. People are trying to pick up the pieces. As for me: had several more jobs, got married, had children.

A lot has changed.

Tomorrow I travel there, 18 years later, and I travel with my son, Caleb. Updates to come.

Ezra at the pub =)

And then carriages home

My friend Matt Gow shares about his itchiness

I worked with Matt for over a decade.

Quite closely on many projects too. He's an extraordinary visionary. And very humble.

Here he is speaking from the heart at TEDxHongKong. Go Matt!

There's a Triceratops in Tunbridge Wells

Not a usual sight. A prehistoric dinosaur drives past our office.

Oldest and youngest

So these two are now sharing a room... And Caleb hasn't once heard Ezra at night time.

:) :)

Superheroes

Just found this photo. Made me smile :)