I don’t
quite know exactly what just happened, but I went downstairs to pay my bill and
wound up getting all teary-eyed with the ladies that work here. I mean, really, with. As in, they got a little teary-eyed too! It started out innocently enough… all business,
discussing my bill, I paid for the spa, restaurant, and bar things with cash
and the rest of the stay with my credit card.
We discussed bills and vacations.
The two absolutely wonderful ladies I was talking to told me about their
upcoming vacations. One of them doesn’t
speak English, she was the one I mentioned before that always gives me the deer
in the headlights look. But the other
translated quite well for both of us. So
one is going on vacation in September, the other one just a little bit
sooner. Soon it turned into my desire to
come back to this hotel. I seriously
can’t say enough good things about the kindness of the staff, the
accommodations, the smiles, the way they made me actually feel like a treasured
guest! They were completely kind and
respectful and professional the whole way through. I wanted to make sure they billed me for all
of the drinks I had, to include the waters with dinner. Well there were a couple of glasses of wine
that didn’t make it onto their bill but they decided those were on the
house. So were the glasses of champagne
while using the pool & Jacuzzi. Ya
mean people can really treat other people this way? And it’s acceptable??? Well.
I started to tell them how it was going to be rough to have to say goodbye
to them all. I swear, this has been by
far the kindest hotel staff I have ever encountered. So the lady who I was paying said that it
always makes them happy to see guests leave with a smile. I told her I’d be all smiles and she then
told me that they all love my kindness and my smiles. She said that they all talk about the guests
(heh, truth moment, huh?) and that I’ve rated very high with all of them. Awwwww!!!!
She said that my personality has made them all so very happy. Oh. My. Gosh.
I have never heard such sweet comments coming out of someone who was so
recently a total stranger. From there,
we have determined that when I come back, if it is winter we will go skiing
together. If it’s not winter, they are
still going to be very happy to see me.
They’re going to be happy?
Huh. And, S, my dear honey, they
also wished you would have stayed longer.
Just for future reference…
I also had
another couple of interesting moments today.
One that just made me wonder where we Americans have gone so wrong. I went to buy a few souvenirs at a local
place on the main strip. I got some magnets, some shot glasses, and a
little pencil holder of the Bridge of Love.
Look it up. It’s cool. Anyway, the insanely adorable gal that worked
there, once again swore she spoke very little English but was a lot better than
she gave herself credit for. We chatted
for a bit, she helped me find what I was looking for, I paid, then she ran over
to find something that she wanted to give me, just from her. Once again I will quote myself:
“Awwwww!!!!!” People here are so
utterly kind!
Oh, also,
S, thank you so much for teaching me the importance of three cheek kisses. I just scored major points with that darling lady
downstairs because of that. She said I
was the first American she’s seen who knows that. Seriously, you have prepared me well for
this. Thank you! May I buy you lunch tomorrow to pay my gratitude? ;-)
So the
other funny moment today. I went to go
buy a palačinke (and Mom,
that’s what I was referring to yesterday) for my last lunch here and though
they spoke some English, I was still trying to find the word I was looking for
in Serbian. So a lady also ordering
lunch asked how she could help, in perfect English. And she spoke in perfect Serbian. No detectable accent on either side. She’s from Chicago. Born in Serbia but left at an early age. Husband is also Serbian. They are with
a pretty sizeable group of kids who are here doing some
performances. They belong to a cultural
group with San Simeon church in south Chicago and they’re here as a group doing
said performances. I guess they had one
last night at the hotel just across the way from me, and they have another
tonight, but I had to decline the invite because I’m going to bed so
early. 4am will come quickly & I
need my beauty sleep. So we had a great
chat. I told her I was wondering why so
many English speakers were wandering around.
She said there was a pretty good chance they were all with their
group. She told me a little about the
group and about herself and it was so refreshing to talk to someone so
unexpectedly. She was really a doll. I stopped on my way out to thank her for the
help and the chat and told her I will definitely be looking her up if I find
myself in Chicago. And as I walked away I
had to laugh because my being here is truly proof of the simple fact that one
never ever knows what will happen and when or why. Who would have thought that my going to
Afghanistan would land me in Serbia for vacations? Life is really funny that way. We might think we got it all figured out but
we’re usually wrong. Maybe we have more
to learn. Maybe we have things to
unlearn. Either way, it’s been so
refreshing for me these past two weeks to see how my perspective gets to change
all the time. I have surely learned a
different outlook in child rearing. I’ve
learned a different outlook on my smile.
I’ve learned that my American way isn’t always best. I’ve learned that what is normal and
comfortable to me might just be a major kick in the pants for someone who was
not raised like me. I’ve learned a lot,
and for that, I am so grateful. I love
these opportunities I’ve been given, even when they are not completely
comfortable. Sometimes being in a
country where you don’t speak the language well is intimidating. But the overwhelming Serbian kindness and
generosity has shown me that no matter what, I’ll be in good hands.
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