As the vote goes forward, let’s look at a joke

The mid-term American elections are all over the news here in Kosovo. It’s hard to gauge the exact nature of the Kosovar sentiments since the region as a whole is so inveterately pro-American. But remember: Pristina is the city that features a three-story-tall photo of Bill Clinton fronting one of its main streets – which is called Bil Klinton Bulevardi.

So I guess that is one indicator.

Meanwhile, heard another Albanian joke tonight, which was told by my Kosovar friend Jetish Jashari. An Albanian minister meets an Italian minister at a conference in Italy. Afterward, the Albanian joins the Italian at his house for dinner and is astounded at how big and beautiful the house is.

“Wow,” the Albanian says. “How did you afford such a house on a minister’s salary?”

The Italian points out his window at a distant river.

“See the bridge that crosses the river?” he asks.

“Yes,” says the Albanian.

“Notice the part that bends just a bit?”

“Yeah,” says the Albanian. “Not a lot, but I do see it.”

“Well,” says the Italian. “There was supposed to be another girder there. I eliminated the girder, pocketed the money and that’s how I got this house.”

The Albanian nodded admiringly.

The next year, a conference is held in Albania, and the two ministers meet again. Afterward, the Italian joins the Albanian at his house and is astounded to see that it’s twice as big as his own.

“How did you afford to build such a house on a minister’s salary?” the Italian asks.

The Albanian points out the window. “See that river over there?” he asks.

“Yeah,” the Italian answers.

“See the bridge that crosses it?”

“No,” says the Italian. “I don’t see any bridge.”

“Exactly,” the Albanian answers.