First day of school

Today was the first day of school all across Bulgaria.Wow! What a ceremony.

We don't actually teach today, but there is a grand ceremony, and the students bring the teachers flowers. There are enough flowers here to sink a ship right now. I didn't get any though because the students didn't know I existed till today. That's alright. I don't really care about that stuff. (Sniff sniff)

I woke up not feeling too great today, so when I got to work I described my ailment to Petya, my favorite co-worker and she quickly produced pills. I being desperate for relief took 2. During the ceremony, while standing outside, I felt as though I was going to drop. I was dizzy, lightheaded and quite nauseous. I asked the school doctor if there was a place I could lie down, and she took me to the doctors office and took my blood pressure. 90 over 60! MY GOD! I am ssurprised I was still standing! She gave me a few drops in a cup and I lay there feeling totally miserable. She checked back a few minutes later, and gave me something else to drink (I have so many drugs in me right now, its like a Molotov cocktail I'm sure) and a few minutes later I could stand.

What struck me most was the attention I got from just this little episode. In Korea people go to work when they are at deaths' door. No one cares if someone is sick. You're contagious? You wear a mask. You feel like a lump of turd, you grin and bear it. Here, everyone came and and asked how I was, held my hand, brought me something to drink. This is a good country to be sick in (not that I plan to spend my time feeling ill)!!!

So they are sympathetic people and they know the best medicine is love and care. I like it here more every day, and I am happy to have chosen this place for a third of the pay of Korea (which wasn't high to begin with).

Just t get off topic here, once I get the necessities for my apartment, I know I can get by here with 50 Leva a week, and live quite well on that actually. So saving money here for a trip to Egypt shouldn't be that hard. Yes you read correctly. I am headed there in February if I can do it. We'll see.

Hmmm, I feel OK. I wonder if I can make it down the hill to get a bite? Everyone left for lunch. Its Albena's birthday today, but I couldn't move at the time they all went out. So I sat here and blogged instead! Maybe I'll text message someone to bring me something to eat. Hmmm, laziness is good. Did I mention the school was at the top of a hill. I will photograph the steps and post it here. I am going to get really strong muscular legs after a year here. I have already stopped huffing and puffing coming up the steps and its only been a week.