One month into their new lives in a country they couldn't even visualise before they came here, Waterford's Kosovar refugees are beginning to find their feet.
The children are going to school, English classes for the adults begin next week, the students are preparing for university, and many are looking for jobs.
It's an optimistic picture; but an element of frustration is creeping in, particularly on the jobs front.
The men and many of the women in the 184-strong group are keen to get back to work as soon as possible.
You have to read between the lines, however, to find this out. Members of the group who spoke to The Irish Times this week repeatedly stressed their gratitude for everything that had been done for them by various Government agencies since their arrival at the former Ursuline Convent on Ballytruckle Road.
"The staff at the centre here have shown great consideration for us, as have the people of Waterford," said Mr Bali Dervishi from Drenica, who is in Waterford with his wife and other family members.
It's a theme which is repeated throughout an interview with four of the group. It may be part diplomacy, but the group is realistic about how much can be done in a short time, and their gratitude is sincere. "We are getting there step by step," said Mr Fatmir Sherifi, who is here with his wife, Fahrje, and two young sons.
In the most significant development to date, the Department of Education has organised classes for 60 Kosovar children at a local primary school, Scoil Lorcain, to help prepare them for integration into the Irish education system from September.
The children have been divided into six classes, based on their standard of English rather than age, and the exercise has been a tremendous success.
Mr Sherifi's four-year-old son, Florant, is "very, very happy" at the school. "We can't keep him here at the centre. From first thing in the morning he just wants to go to school. He loves it."
Adult education classes begin on Monday, and the manager of the centre, Ms Maria Ahern, believes this is an important step before members of the group begin working.
"They are getting a little frustrated all right about the jobs situation, but we are anxious that the adult education programme, which will involve English classes for 2 1/2 hours in the morning, should start."
When classes get under way, jobs should not be long following. Local employers have already made inquiries about the group, which has a range of skills to offer, from various trades to professional expertise including teaching and engineering.
In the meantime, the refugees' individual social welfare entitlements are being assessed, and parents will receive their first children's allowance payments next month.
EACH family has its own bedroom at the centre, which offers a good deal more space and privacy than was possible in the Macedonian refugee camps which they left last month, but still a lot less than was the norm at home in Kosovo. Having many families share the same cooking facilities is particularly problematic at times.
Outings have been organised for the group, and Mr Sherifi says he would like to visit more sites of historical interest to learn about Irish history and culture. Leisure facilities are also available in the centre and its immediate environs, with football, basketball and snooker among the sports being played. The younger boys are being organised into a football team, and it is hoped that boots and other gear will be provided.
Whenever they venture into the city centre, the refugees are made to feel exceptionally welcome. However, they stress that anyone seen begging on the street is not one of their number. The Refugee Agency has also expressed concern that a small number of asylum-seekers from another jurisdiction are soliciting money from the public while claiming to be from Kosovo.
So has Ireland lived up to their expectations? "We had no idea what to expect," said Mr Sabedin Selmani from Gjilan in south-east Kosovo, who is also here with his wife and two children. "We were so occupied with our situation in the tents in Macedonia that we couldn't imagine what Ireland looked like. The thing we most noticed when we arrived was your hospitality."
However, with regard to when they would like to return home, views are mixed. For Mr Sherifi, who lived just over the border from Kosovo in Serbia proper, returning is not an option. "I think this is a much safer environment for my children," he said. Mr Selmani is sure that he would like to go home, but he has no idea when this will be feasible.
