Observations of a peacekeeper in Kosovo - part 2

INTERESTING GOODIES PEACEFUL LIFE (continued, part 2) People are leaving the market with chickens, new shoes, watermelon and various other shopping. I'm interested in a couple of older men, who, bent over a little boy, pulling his cheeks. They spoke quickly, and frankly, I could not understand, they scold him or praise. I drew closer, to make more shots, and a few minutes old men spotted me and immediately switch on my person all your attention. The boy was now standing behind them, so that now there is nothing we do not share. They were very close, and all of their verbal energy was directed only at me. I tried to figure out whether they were angry at me or someone else. Old man and then I heard: "Mayor, and now a possible for me to be your translator?" Of course, next to me was the same boy, ready to help me out in such a difficult situation. I looked at him and nodded, he immediately began to speak at such speed that even dizzy. Old men waved their arms like a madman, totally involved in the communication process, slightly calmer because they at least someone is now understood. After lunch as my young friend started to tell me the general meaning of their message, I calmed down since realized that there was no hostility "elders" to me is not experienced. One of the elders continued to tell his story to my interpreter, he waved his arms as if flying on an airplane, and then pointed to my uniform and mumbled something at the end of his speech. The boy began to translate his words: "Long ago, flew more planes dropped bombs and liberated the people of this country. We were grateful to the Americans, and when they appeared on the streets, we welcomed them. Americans are well treated with us and they did nothing wrong to our families, so we felt safe. While they were here, we will be safe and happy. Good soldiers, among them even some women, help our happiness. " My young translator was smiling during the conversation, and every now and then touched it to my hand, then to the arm of one of the elders, as if trying to connect their history together. The old man said that his grandson will always know why their country are soldiers with guns. To benefit the people of Kosovo. At the restaurant I was glad that the boy was next to me and recited my speech the old man. Sometimes when I walk through the streets of these cities, I find it hard to find the reason for which our armed forces are still in Kosovo. At some point, everything fell into place. Memories of the old man's story that he told his grandchildren, were filled with gratitude and a remarkable tolerance to the presence of the armed forces of other countries, which seemed to him as something positive. Our conversation ended. We, representatives of two very different cultures, shook hands and went to live their very different lives, in which even the conception of the world were very different. For me, the raison d'etre was to return home to the States and live a free life for him - continue to live with a sense of newfound freedom that his generation might not even hoped to catch. Start material: Completion of material: