So I am deep in culture shock, but a couple well-timed calls to Leah and Toshi made it better. The language barrier definately exists and is not a misnomer... but I am doing my best to communicate, not embarrass myself and not offend anyone. It is going OK. People here seem friendly enough, but I can't say I have immediate friends like in Amsterdam. This is going to be a stretch of my comfort zone, but why are we here on this planet if not to develop beyond our limited experiences and share with each other this amazing world. The hostel where I am staying is right in the center of Zagreb (the capital city) and there is this fantastic main square practically within spitting distance from the hostel.
This afternoon and evening, they were having some kind of really interesting festival with live music and wheelchair sports (basketball, hockey I saw... but some of the players had those super-cool souped up wheelchairs for rugby! but I didn't get to see any rugby...). Just as I was starting to feel lost in a sea of Slavic sounds and sights and smells and everything, the band started playing Paul Simon's "If you'll be my bodyguard"........ you know.... "I can call you Betty, Betty when you call me, you can call me Al".... that made me feel more at home.
I ate Gnocchi ("Njoki" in Croatian--see I am learning) outside this incredible Cathedral of the assumption of the virgin mary (or something like that). Croatia is a bigtime Catholic country. One of my culture shocks in the number of seriously nun-looking nuns walking around everywhere.
One unfortunate thing seems to be the same in cities everywhere I have been: If I order only apps and salad, the people serving do not like that. and I feel bad, but what am I supposed to do... spend way too much for food I won't be able to finish anyway? They should have an international "I'm just not all that hungry" menu for tiny people like me... anyway enough ranting about that.......
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