Filling My Cup In Albania

I turned the ignition for the third time. Nothing. The host from the guesthouse saw me pacing by the car as she tended the garden. The Albanian Alps loomed over the valley, appearing as sheer rock walls. I tilted back, catching glimpses of clouds dancing across frosted mountain caps. I let out a sigh.

The November wind offered winter warnings. The host walked over. Moments later, people emerged from their houses. A handful of Theth's 370 inhabitants soon surrounded the car. One neighbor brought an old power supply box, and another came with extension cords. Soon, electricity was dripping into the car.

A few new Albanian friends, born out of a four-hour game of Monopoly the night before, played translator. Even in Albania, the game never ends.

It would take a few hours to revive the battery. I told a neighbor my plans to hike to the famous Blue Eye natural pool. He offered to give me a ride to the trailhead. Moments later, we were off.

And so it was in Albania — one act of kindness after another, strung together like a squirming coil of extension cords.

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On Any Given Spanish Saturday

On Saturday, I accidentally joined a running group and had dinner with five strangers. On my morning run, I asked a group of runners if they had any trail recommendations. After about 20 minutes of conversation, they invited me to join their running group and gave me a seat at their lunch table.

Later that day, I went to a sports bar with my Irish friend to watch the Spain v Croatia game. A few strangers invited us to grab dinner afterward. The restaurant was in a square. Nearby, there were endless rows of long tables lined up, leading to a stage. There was a community celebration with fireworks, dancing, and a live rendition of the Valencian regional anthem. I saw an older man swinging his granddaughter. I saw teenagers playing with toddlers. There were no class divides or social boundary lines. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and connecting.

While most European cities are designed to encourage connection, nobody does community quite like Spain. I'm reminded of a line I heard recently:

Que tengas una buena semana. Have a good week.