Well, here we are ending first week in Macedonia. My language lessons have consisted of learning the alphabet, telling someone who I am and where I am from, thank you and good by.All the important stuff.

We had our medical review today. There are two full-time doctors and an assistant available to us 24x7, they supply all and any medications. Had to get my Hep A and B again as mines were too old, plus, polio booster, tetanus and something else. From what the current volunteers say this is the best medical attention they have ever had...So for those of you worried I may get sick and become infirm, don't.

You will be pleased to know there are 16 volunteers over 50 and some older, yes older, than me. We had an "old-farts" meeting tonight to talk about challenges and opportunities for us older generation. Quite a crew, lots of great experience from corporate America to retired teachers (they are the challenge). Met another couple (married) from Eugene today, they have been here for a year, are around 24 yrs old and love it here. There host family can't understand why they are not having children and have done everything to help them along. Macedonian's don't understand unmarried people or couples without children, so they are always trying to fix the younger volunteers up and help the others have kids. Hope for me yet.

So, I just know you are all dying to know about the food. High in salt, starch and carbs.  For breakfast we have two types of dry cereal (with whole milk), bread or rolls, two or three types of cheese, cold cuts, hard boiled eggs, jam, butter, turkey and pig spread (YUK), coffee and tea.  For lunch we have soup, bread, some sort of pasta or meat on pasta, cucumbers or tomatoes sliced and a desert. Today we had cream puffs, yesterday it was watermelon. For dinner around 1900, we have a meat, starch (potato or pasta), shredded cabbage (not too bad, like slaw), bead and grapes for dessert. No beverage for either lunch or dinner.  So as you can plainly see weight loss is going to be almost impossible, which is a common complaint among all volunteers. The only saving grace is I have to climb four flights of stairs 5-6 times a day.

Jet lag is over, I still have a head cold as does most everyone else and my butt is sore from sitting from 0800 till 1700 each day. Lecture after lecture. We heard about rules and regulations today - no hitch hiking, MUST wear helmets when riding any type of bicycle and "tractor". No excessive drinking and NO sexual relations with volunteers and staff...plus about a thousand others. We are not allowed to leave the country without written permission from Country Director, must report in if we are away from our home overnight or traveling on a bus.  Safety is the primary concern and they want to know where we are at all times in the event of an emergency (earthquake or forest fire are common) or country evacuation.

OK, enough dribble tonight. Sorry no pictures, I will make some and post next time. Hope everyone is well. OH, to post a comment just click on the pencil at the end. I think you might ave to be a google person or belong to one of the other ones in the drop down.  Hey, it's free...