A Few Words on Pneumonia and Egg Smashing
Now that my Armenian pneumonic plague is wearing off, I can manage to write a few words on this blog.
Turns out the severe shortness of breath and fever I was experiencing were prime signs of pneumonia. So I was laid up in bed for 10 days coughing my lungs out and sweating the fever out of my body. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for three days, and that was definitely beneficial. I finally managed to come into work on Monday, albeit for half the day, and am breathing easier, although I'm not out of the woods yet. If I am not careful there may be a chance of the pneumonia coming back, according to information that I read online. So regrettably, no beer or wine for me just yet.
Easter is upon us, and in a couple of days Armenians round the world will be busy smashing hard-boiled eggs dyed crimson red with the juice of boiled onion skins in the competition to be Easter Bunny King--or maybe I have that last part wrong. I honestly don't know where the tradition of egg fighting came from, or whether if it is practiced only by Armenians. Some people like to cheat--a guy at work already has a pastel-painted egg made from plaster ready that he will give his nephew so he can reign as champion. I have fond memories of my grandmother always making plenty of Easter choreg, the tradidional Armenian sweet bread topped with sesame seeds, which unfortuately is not popular in Armenia and can't be store bought. Some people I know--namely Anush's family members and friends--have been fasting for lent, an common practice here. On Easter the meal of choice is fish, so I'm guessing my mother-in-law will be making plenty of it on Sunday since she hasn't eaten meat in 40 days.
In any case, if I don't manage to write again before the holiday, have a Happy Easter.
Turns out the severe shortness of breath and fever I was experiencing were prime signs of pneumonia. So I was laid up in bed for 10 days coughing my lungs out and sweating the fever out of my body. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for three days, and that was definitely beneficial. I finally managed to come into work on Monday, albeit for half the day, and am breathing easier, although I'm not out of the woods yet. If I am not careful there may be a chance of the pneumonia coming back, according to information that I read online. So regrettably, no beer or wine for me just yet.
Easter is upon us, and in a couple of days Armenians round the world will be busy smashing hard-boiled eggs dyed crimson red with the juice of boiled onion skins in the competition to be Easter Bunny King--or maybe I have that last part wrong. I honestly don't know where the tradition of egg fighting came from, or whether if it is practiced only by Armenians. Some people like to cheat--a guy at work already has a pastel-painted egg made from plaster ready that he will give his nephew so he can reign as champion. I have fond memories of my grandmother always making plenty of Easter choreg, the tradidional Armenian sweet bread topped with sesame seeds, which unfortuately is not popular in Armenia and can't be store bought. Some people I know--namely Anush's family members and friends--have been fasting for lent, an common practice here. On Easter the meal of choice is fish, so I'm guessing my mother-in-law will be making plenty of it on Sunday since she hasn't eaten meat in 40 days.
In any case, if I don't manage to write again before the holiday, have a Happy Easter.
Comments
Fasting for religious and not health reasons? How ridiculous! The mankind is happily moving into the Dark Ages...
In Armenia, however, the education is simply not there. Seventy years of communism erased any allegiance to Christianity in most people. In some Soviet-era Armenian films the church is even parodied. Ejmiadzin is simply not living up to its essential purpose--to educate the new generations about religion. Sending "Christ is risen from the dead" text messages on Easter is not enough.
i have just fould your blog and i am having a great time reading your posts.I am romanian living in Japan rightnow.In the near future i hope to visit Armenia.By the way,i celebrate Easter the way armenians do(by birth),even though i havent found my religion yet.GOOD LUCK!
Thanks for visiting!