Morning everyone, how has your winter been? Novi Sad winter is a bust! Barely a dusting of snow and the local ski resorts are desperately trying to make snow. Strange that Virginia had a a real winter and the Balkans are in the teens (Celsius).
Many of you asked “what happened to the blog?” Simple answer “not much was going on” and what adventures we did have, like driving to Romania, I had already blogged. Also, Eunjae’s Asthma became an issue that required a lot of intervention and really didn’t want to risk her feeling worse. That being said, we do have some updates and news.
Updates
My mother and Bernard are coming in May and Eunjae and I are looking forward to hosting them. We will share the splendor of Novi Sad, take them to Belgrade and Slovenia and generally show them Serbian hospitality. The plan is to stuff them with Cevapi, Kaymak, Burek and Rakija until they plead for mercy; which of course means we give them seconds and thirds until they fall into a food coma or a drunken stupor.
Next, our friends Tim and Lopa are considering a visit in September / October to see Croatia and Serbia, but haven’t committed yet. COME ON SERBIANS… Show them some love in the comments section, to entice them! If they don’t visit then we will be forced to go to the Turkish side of the Mediterranean to sit on a beach; woe is us.
South East Asian Persuasion
This Saturday we are heading to South East Asia for vacation. We start in Vietnam and spend a couple of weeks touring. We exit Vietnam on the “THE JAHAN” by traveling 70 Kilometers up the Mekong Delta to Cambodia. We spend another two weeks visiting temples in Cambodia and Laos and finally make our way to Thailand. In Thailand we slow down, dip our toes into Chiang Rai’s sandy beaches and spend a little over a week there and in Bangkok. Eventually we will come home with suitcases stuffed with Asian delicacies; don’t tell Serbian customs!
Rest assured we will blog during the trip and share the photos and stories
Serbian medicine is strange and wonderful
Let me explain. Went to the Doctors due to a stomach bug that caused explosive diarrhea (you get the good with the bad in this blog). My normal MO is to rest, drink lots of fluids and take Imodium A-D like chiclets. By Day 4 was feeling better but headed Eunjae’s advice, men can listen, and went to the Doctor. She confirmed the diagnosis and said I was dehydrated and recommended an infusion. I am like “WTF???? why do I need to get an IV? I don’t feel that bad” but decided “What the heck” let me try it, so off we went. In the good ole USA, they would require either a separate hospital or outpatient clinic visit, but not here in Serbia. Whisked into another room a very pleasant nurse grabbed an Ice Cold IV, added a vitamin cocktail, I asked for some Rakija but she declined, and promptly stabbed a vein.
After an hour, I did feel better and overall kind of enjoyed the experience. Never in my life has a Doctor prescribed an infusion, except for surgery, and I wonder why not? Of course, the Doctor’s visit and infusion were almost less than the standard US Co-pay, and accomplished in single visit. Really hating that US Insurance Companies have forced Doctors into such time and financial constraints.
Final Thoughts
Apologies again for taking so long to update the blog. I do enjoy writing and was trying to make sure I had something interesting to share. Will do a better job during the trip. Before I go, last night we had a chance to revisit a delicious Istrian restaurant called Marinada Bar Istrian Design with friends. Food is always great and the owner bought us a round because we had left a positive Google review. That is hospitality!