If someone had told me all the unexpected things I would trip into here I would have laughed in their face. Greece is the most unique country I have ever been in and had the joy of living in. This past Saturday Perrotis College students, Klearchos and I went south to a ski resort located somewhere near Mount Olympous. I've only been on snow a few times and have never skied. Just thinking about flying down ice on boards strapped to my feet scared the junk out of me. But then as I began to see all that snow and these glistening mountains I thought what the heck!?!? So I did it!
This is Martin. He's from Tanzania (Africa) and like me he's never gone skiing before. Both of us got some snow yesterday and had a blast! He was more cautious than me...
The first half of my first time ever skiing I got really good at falling and getting back up all by myself. So by the end of my first time down i was alright at going back and forth and back and forth left to right on my skis! The second time down I somehow managed to fall (completely without grace) and lose a ski AND the boot with it. I think the boots I was wearing were bad. As I layed on the snow with one ski and boot on and my other foot up in the air with only a wool sock on I started saying "voithia! voithia!" meaning "help! help!"
One very nice rather ennoyed Greek man stopped about 10 meters past me and side walked his way up to hand me my ski. He was asking through a thick Greek accent "How did you do that? I've never ever heard of anyone losing their boot with their ski!" After I got my boot on and said "Ephxaristo PARA polee... thank you VERY much" I got back up on my ski's and took off again. A little shooken from that experience of laying on ice with a nearly exposed foot I wanted to go up on the lift one more time. So my Greek friend Giannis and I jumped on the lift once again.
With Yannis behind me watching to ensure I would not lose another ski + boot I was nearing the second half of hte run. I was going left to right across the higher side of the course and tried to stop because of the speed I was gaining. When trying to stop when skiing you put the front of your skis together- like a v. My right knee didn't agree with this decision and popped to the right. As this happened I fell forward and landed in snow... again without any grace. After a really nice ski medic guy (speaking only Greek & German) packed ice on my knee. I had a quick visit to the hospital in Veria (closest city) where they took xrays and wrapped up my leg. I just remember telling them that it hurts so much and pointing and singing "Moro mou sagapow- nai nai nai" to distract from all the pain.
This is in the bus on the way from the mountain (where they put me in a air cast) to the actual hospital.
Students were so great... trying to make me laugh and just being sweet.
Now I have a lovely full right leg bandage/cast. Its fine as long as nothing moves above my ankle. I am lucky enough to have so many wonderful people bringing me food from the dining hall, refilling my water bottle and just taking care of me.... especially being so far from home. Our cleaning lady, Ms. Sofia, only speaks greek and yesterday came by at 9 am and knocked on my door. I got up and hobbled over to the door with my crutches. I opened the door saying "yasas= hello" and hobbled back to bed. I remember her saying something like "oh my goodness your leg!" because it is completely covered in white bandages. I immediately fell asleep while she cleaned. When I woke up my room smelled fresh and she had taken some of my towels to be cleaned AND she left traditional Greek treats from a patisserie!
It has been so incredibly hard doing all of this so far from home but I can't imagine a better place to get stuck like this. Here I have a family and it's nothing like at home but still it's my Greek/Balkan family.
The hardest thing to deal with is the pain. Here they do not take medicine like we do at home so 1 Ibuprofin takes away all pain.... but I'm American and this is not the case at all for me!
Anyway- on Friday I get to see a doctor who will figure out exactly what is wrong with my knee. I know that it is not broken. But I know that the ligaments are messed up. I'll keep y'all posted!
