Toto!!

With each passing day, many aspects of life in Albania feel more and more normal, and many of the things that used to shock me, don't even make me turn my head anymore. But today was NOT one of those days. Everything seemed strange, foreign, and I'm sorry to say, poorer. I felt very far from home.

Today, I was on hospital duty, taking care of Raj. The medical system here is just so different and so foreign to me. I have been spoiled with American health care, with large hospital rooms, privacy, and constant attention from nurses and doctors. So, as I sat by Raj's bedside on a small wooden stool, I was overwhelmed.

There were three children patients in the room, with no dividing curtains. Your business is everybody's business. At one point, I counted about 20 people in the small room! But with no chairs to sit on, other children's visitors were using Raj's bed for their personal seating! She wasn't bothered in the slightest, but I was!

I was confused when the lady came around selling spinach soup. I was appalled when I watched the doctor carelessly throw the burn-victim's dressings in the toilet and bathroom waste bin, and I was offended when I saw the state of the dirty bathroom (shutter). How on earth are people supposed to get well in a place like this? I'll be honest, I was thrilled when my shift was over, and I can't wait for Raj to get out of there!

No Toto, I'm not in America anymore!

Who wants nightmares?!

As promised in "Gezuar 1 Maj to Me," here are the creepy kid mannequins from a children's clothing store in Ohrid, Macedonia. Steve and I have always marveled at how awful they are, and I'm so happy to introduce them to you too!

Antela

Have you ever been in the midst of suffering? Not, I'm dying for chocolate and why isn't there anything good on TV, but real, somebody's in pain, suffering?? I don't know that I really have (thank the Lord)....I have served in extreme poverty...but I don't think the two really compare...although they might go hand in hand.

Anyways, today when I was at the hospital visiting Raj, I asked about the sweet little blondie in the bed adjacent to hers. I was told that she was a burn patient. This poor 2 1/2 year old girl, had fallen backwards into a tub of boiling water (women here will boil water on the fire-stove top in a large metal tub, and then use this water for the housework...I'm assuming that this was the case).

I made my way over to her to get a closer look at the wounds (to satisfy my curiosity, shame on me!), and my heart broke on the spot for my new little friend Antela. Her entire back side was severely burned and infected. Although she had been in the hospital for a day, she had received no treatment, no painkillers, no salves, and no dressings. All she had was in IV for hydration. And to make her wounds worse, she had been wrapped in gauze, which was clinging to her broken flesh, and the dressings were soiled. She just laid on her stomach, most likely still in shock, barely able to hold on to the doll that was dangling off the side of her bed. Surely, suffering looks something like this.

This poor girl has left a deep impression on my heart, one I am sure will stay with my memories for a very long time. I'm really looking forward to going back tomorrow to visit both her and Raj, and I'm going to try my hardest to get a smile on that sweet little face!

Gezuar 1 Maj to Me!

Today was just one of those perfect kind of days (with the exception of Steve having the flu, but for bragging purposes, let's just pretend that he felt grrrreat!), that I have to brag about publicly. As part of our "Bucket List" (goals of what we want to do before leaving Albania) we wanted to spend some quality time with our friends Paul and Albana and their son Hani by showing them around Ohrid, Macedonia.

Ohrid has long been our favorite place of retreat while we have been in the Balkans. It's close to Korce, relatively inexpensive, rich with history, has decent shopping, incredible scenery and most importantly, GREAT food...wait, hold that...no, MOST importantly goes to delicious ice cream!!

Here are some of my favorite pics from today...



The above pictures are where we pulled over on the side of the road after Hani blew chunks. Normally, the smell of wretched sour milk should have ruined our high spirits, but with scenery like this, it was easily forgotten!

When we finally got to Ohrid, it dawned on us that it was a holiday in the Balkans, Labor Day!! There were thousands of people out celebrating, streamers lining the walkway, music blaring from the docks, and a contagious air of festivities. It felt like Ohrid had invited us to a surprise party!



For lunch, we ate at a BEAUTIFUL restaurant on the water, and I sorely regret not getting pictures of our delectable spread, which included a Macedonian salad of baked peppers and tomatoes, a shopska salad, six traditional and flavorful dips for our homemade bread, lots of fries, and yummy sausages. We all agreed, lunch was a huge highlight of the day...which says a lot, because the rest of the day looked like this...



Views from the city fortress



Shame that we're blocking the historic St. John's church behind us...sorry!



Hani's first time playing in a lake...he couldn't get enough of throwing rocks in the chilly water!



Whereas I was totally enthralled by the blossoms on these trees...Cotton-candy anyone?





To top the day off, the five of us had dinner (1 pizza, 1 salad, 2 uber-delicious sandwhiches, 4 drinks) for 10 Euro!

Finally, on our way back to the car, with that wonderful "I'm exhausted and way-too-sun-kissed" feeling...the sound of live music drew us into a cafe, where we sat under the stars, sipped cappuccinos, and let the band serenade us.

On no! I promised myself I'd finish this by 2:00 am, and I just saw that it's 2:13. I'll have to save the bonus pictures of the creepy kid mannequins for the next blog!

Dag-nabbit...I can't resist sharing one more thing! Steve, surprised me by treating me to a sweet little ring, with an Ohrid pearl...as a memento of our wonderful times together there...and it made me blush. =)

Gezuar 1 Maj! Happy Labor Day!