This has been a hard week for me. My knee swelled for no apparent reason to the point I could not walk. Our PC doctor finally approved for me to take a taxi to PC office in Baku because getting to the train or bus station was not an option. The ride took over 5 hours because he took a route through the mountains (where trains and buses do not go because the roads are narrow and steep), oh joy, plus the fog was so bad you could not see 10 feet in front of you. I was a little nervous to say the least, but the driver is a good friend with my friends from the wedding palace, so he was a little cautious. He even asked me if smoke bother me and when I told him yes, he did not smoke in the car. By the time I got to Baku it was too late to see the specialist at the hospital so arrangements were made for the next day. When I went in, he immediately drained the knee, he was not sure what cause the swelling but because I had surgery in that knee, he believes that arthritis settled in and this is a flare up. They sent some of the fluid to the lab to make sure there was no infection, then gave me a shot of steroid in my knee and sent me back to the hotel to ice and elevate it for a few days. A possible reason I was told that why this may have happened is the weather here in Zaqatala because it is humid, damp and extremely cold and that could cause the joints to flare up. I tell ya, this country is killing me!!! After a few days, my knee was doing much better, still a little stiff but I was release to go home. I decided to take an early bus, so I left the hotel around 7:30 am and hop on a bus that said 20th of January (near the bus station), okay then, I will just get off there and take another bus into the station - easy???? - NO, I found that what is posted on the bus is not necessary their route. Darn, I spoke with the driver with my limited language skills, and he told me to cross the street take #65 bus. Okay, good, maybe this one will go to the bus station. Jump on that bus (okay I didn't jump) and thought this looks right and of course as soon as I said that, this bus makes a u-turn and heads back into town. Darn again, got off that bus and cross the street and finally see a bus that has"avtovazal" aka bus station. Yea, check with the driver to be sure and I was finally on my way. Once at the station, I found the marsh for Zaqatala and got on. Waited about 20 minutes and then the driver came and told me that there wasn't enough people going to Zaqatala so he wasn't going today. Double Darn, I walked over to the buses and found a Balaken bus (which is the next town pass Zaqatala) leaving in 45 mins with lots of room. Whew, the only problem with the big buses, is they take about 2 hours longer than marshuka and make many more stops. But at this point, I was just glad to be headed back. It took almost 10 hours to get back and by then my leg was pretty cramped. Now I have to go back to Baku next week so the doctor can check my knee and there is also a counterpart TEFL conference. I will take an over night train to Baku at least I can stretch out and sleep a little and not waste a whole day traveling.
I received a call yesterday from our security in Baku, we are testing our EAP (Emergency Action Plan)... I am the warden which means in an emergency my cluster (or group) comes to my house. Since I knew a test was coming, I had asked most of the new volunteers beforehand to come over to my apartment so they knew where I lived. The only exception was the Qax group as they are about two hours from me. Okay, now I asked security, yes now said security. Take this down, you have 15 minutes to let everyone know and they must come to your apt. immediately. Okay, I remembered I only had about 1.20 mante on my phone, I was going to buy minutes today....what to do (it was take me 10 mins to get to the store and back and I need to call everyone NOW). Okay, decision made, just keep calling everyone until the minutes run out. I called Kaylee, listen to me I said and don't talk, I read her what I was told and then told her to get here ASAP, I had only 15 minutes to call everyone I couldn't talk. I did that to each volunteer and I reached all but one (called her twice and texts her to call me). Whew did this with a couple of minutes to spare and enough money (had .42 kopeck left) on my phone. Next, I waited for everyone (they had to come to my apt., sign in and note the time they came), I made peanut butter and honey sandwiches and star buck's coffee for everyone. By 2 PM everyone had shown up and signed in. I would say that this was a successful test!!
Updates: Weather still has been cooperating, very cold at times, but no snow in the city. I can handle that!! Thank you God.
My homeless animal project is going very slow, have to get approval from the organization headquarters in Baku, so I am working on a business plan.
Life Challenges: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.... Helen Keller
No comments:
Post a Comment