Switching topics...

Back in the internet cafe...SP has arrived (!) and is emailing her family to let them know she's here!

Our research ended yesterday, though we will be visiting a rehab hospital in the countryside next week.

This morning we got to visit a "Traumatology" department. In Hungary, there is no ER department, per se, and many of the departments are completely divided into different hospitals. So if the ambulance is called and the patient is having a heart attack, they are taken to the cardiology department, if they have pneumonia, they go to the pneumatology department. If they are in a car accident or stabbed with a knife, they go to Traumatology. Therefore, traumatology here is the ER, but very ortho heavy. The doctor we talked to (along with three other trauma surgeons) performs 10 sugeries per 24 shift that the hospital is on acute call (3 days a week) when they receive all the trauma patients from their region. Many of these are hip fractures, broken bones, etc.

We had a chance to meet one of the patients today: an American from Florida who broke her hip while starting a cruise on the Danube river. She was in her 80s, had been in the Navy, and led a very interesting life...and continued to do so by traveling when she got chance. She sad that she had been slightly down after waking up after her hip surgery, but was cheered up when the nursing staff brought her a bag of oranges to encourage her to eat. She was remarkably pleasant and unbeat, and we all talked for nearly an hour. She will hopefully get to go home soon, but at least she is maintaining great spirits here (and representing our country wonderfully!)

Last thing: today, as we waiting for SP to come, we heard drums under our window (another protest? on a friday?). Turns out President Karzai from Afghanistan was stopping by Hungary today (they have 250 troops as part of the Nato force in his country) to strengthen Hungarian-Afghani relations. We watched as he came to Hosok Ter (the Hero's Square by our hotel), part of a long motorcade of cars and security guards, and marched to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to place a wreath. Symbolic diplomacy showing respect for the many Hungarian soldiers that have died in previous wars and the ones that risk their lives in Afghanistan today. HOpefully it will work.

This weekend, we will hopefully get a chance to show SP some of Budapest. She did arrive after all.