Day 2

Sunny and warm, it must be in the 70's, I bet you all wish it were like that back home. Today is a better day, I feel better, but am still tired. There are a lot of dogs that bark all night long which has kept me from sleeping, tonight maybe a sleeping pill.

Went to see Will first thing this morning, he seemed glad to see me. I'm trying to post a couple of pictures, so you should be able to see some too. Brought a couple of books to read to him, but I'm not so sure he was interested in them, and one was even about race cars (don't tell Dad). I think he can hear, but maybe not well? Or is he just ignoring since he can't understand me? He doesn't talk at all, makes sounds and laughs and such, but no words. Although, how would I know for that matter? His eyes will for sure need to be looked at -they move around a lot and you can tell he cannot really focus, which I'm sure has got to be about the most aggravating feeling.

I am trying to walk fast on my back and forths twice daily as I want to lose at least a pant size! I'd like to lose maybe like 12 pants sizes! Once Tad gets here I'm sure we won't walk fast, he is more of a strolling walker. They did show me how to take the bus, but I'm not sure I want to do that yet. One, the exercise is good for me, and two, I'm still working on my please, thank you, good morning, good bye, etc. I might wait awhile to graduate to "can you please let me off at the stop for the orphanage." A word about the Albanian language -it is like nothing I've ever spoken, which is really hard -and you can't really guess at it. A lot of Spanish, French, Italian, etc. can be figured out just by seeing the word, not so Albanian. And, for added fun, the way it is written is often nowhere near how it is pronounced. The good thing is that everyone so far has been nice and always helpful. I think the hotel people are watching out for me, although I can't say for sure. They kind of hover near whenever they see me, mabye as 99% of the time I must look a little lost so they kind of direct me when I get turned around. I had dinner in the hotel restaurant last night which was good -spaghetti noodles in garlic & olive oil. Right up my alley, and if I eat like that everyday, I better add a third or fourth roundtrip on foot to the orphanage or I will go UP a pants size.

Today they were going to have the banana thing again for the kids' lunch, I could see it coming and I bolted -my stomach can't handle that right now. I have a hard time with bananas under the best of circumstances. I will go back this afternoon and hopefully be able to feed him dinner - it gets dark very early though. I don't want to walk back and forth by myself after dark alone. There are mostly men that you see out and about -did I already say that? They are the ones you see in the bars, cafes, walking along the street, etc. Except right around the university.

I have my computer set up in the internet cafe that is pretty much right by the hotel. There is one right across the street to, but this one is non-smoking so that's better. The other one is more of a dark, smoky bar -this one feels better. The man who works during the day speaks a little English so he helped me get my computer hooked up to the internet. And I got to finally call Tad today, so that was good.

I wonder if there is a toy store around here, I think books are maybe not such good things as Will can't see well. Maybe balls or something. They let me take him to a separate room to play, but one little girl, Alma, keeps coming to find us too. He was wearing those little yellow pants today. As soon as I figure out how to say "slippers" I'm going to ask to see those cute little ones he was wearing. The ladies there are all very nice -I've met Antonetta, Nicoletta, Tatiana so far. And Olta, the director, who looks like she's in her late 20's or early 30's. Big job for someone young.

Here's what I'm having the most trouble with: 1. my room doesn't have a bathtub -I'm wanting to upgrade to a suite for that reason alone, 2. I'm fighting with my hair, 3. my granola bars that I brought have coconut in them, 4. my dictionary/phrasebook is missing some crucial phrases