"DON'T WORRY MOM, SOON WE'LL HAVE SHELTER"

Snow Globe

"But Jia and I just voted, and we've voted you out".

All I wanted was some mayonnaise, or Basil, or pepper, or really any one item that could flavor

some type of dinner from the meager selection of ingredients left in the refigerator. There

is a foot of snow on the ground and the city has shut down. I headed to the Mercator, and to photograph the dragons in the snow, and Zue and Hollin (I have faithfully promised them to use their Slovenian names in this blog, as well as with each new personal introduction--doug thinks this is over the top and has told them that the US Embassy knows there real names and will give them trouble if they try and assume a "false identity") decided to stay behind and build an igloo. I returned empty-handed except for three Bitter lemons adn a few buns, because all three Mercators within walking distance were closed. As we headed into the apt building door, we realized it was locked, and of course, having never been out alone, I hadn't thought of bringing any keys. Being in the land of no cellphones, I was pretty much at a loss for what to do. But luckily there was a place to buzz for entrance, so we were relieved. But then it became clear that we had no idea of the apt. owner's name. And unfortunately for us, there were no numbers, and I couldn't just start calling each one in English.

So, next, we decided to throw snowballs at our third floor window, hoping Doug or Hippolyta would hear. Hollin hurled one, and MISSED, slamming it into the 2nd floor window. The woman came to the window speaking in

Slovene, just as Hollin dove behind his igloo. So there I was alone, with no idea how to explain our predicament.

But then two young couples came to the doorway and called up to an apt for entry.

I casually strode in behind them, but then one couple started speaking really fast to me in Slovene, and I was convinced that he was noting that I couldn't gain entry without my own key

(you know that stranger in a strange land nuttiness one gets in a foreign country--SINSLN as we call it). In fact he wanted to know if he could borrow the snow shovel inside the door. I was so relieved that his rambling was not about my entry, that I gladly handed him the shovel, but then I thought perhaps I would be responsible for losing the only shovel that belonged to our building (SINSLN), so

I followed him out to say that maybe he could just leave it right outside the door when he was done, and CLICK. There went the door. Locked once again.

And hence the title of this post, and Hollin's subsequent proclamation, "and we've voted you out."

It was starting to get dark now, and

I just couldn't for the life of me figure out what to do. I headed towards the bakery where the only person I know in

Slovenia lives -- a young boy with an interest in the U.S. who gives me free Kofis-- thinking maybe he could call Doug for me, but then realized that I didn't know the apt. phone number. In fact, the apt. doesn't even have a phone. Hum.

So we waited, and waited. It was dark now. I took photos. I broke out the Bitter Lemon. I talked with passerbys. I was really cold. I knew Doug would not come looking for me for a long time, because he is used to me staying gone for hours in order to have some "alone time". I reached several times in the bag for my cellphone. It was clear there was no solution other than to wait. Everyone had clearly settled in for the snowy night, but surely someone would come along sometime. Hollin and Zue were convinced they could sleep in their igloo for the night, and it would be "fun".

One HOUR later.

This woman comes out. Hollin yells "MOM, QUICK TURN AROUND!", I lunge toward her, she jumps, and screams, I begin babbling about "sorry, sorry, thank you, thank you, i'm so glad you are here".

Hollin was really embarrassed, but I was just really happy.
We opened our bag for dinner, and all realized that I had apparently gotten the Slovenian words for 1 and 5 mixed up. There was only one roll in the bag.