Our day began with an invitation to view a dress rehearsal of the internationally acclaimed LADO ensemble. A national company comprised of 35 dancing and singing Croats, LADO preserves Croatian culture and heritage by incorporating historic dress, song and dance into all of their performances. The photo posted above will give you an idea of the intricate detail in each of the costumes. Established in 1949, the company performs worldwide, but calls the Zagreb Theatre its home. Dr. Reap told us that this is only the second time in eight years that the company has been in Zagreb, so it was a big honor that we were extended such an invitation. The hour-long rehearsal was prefaced with a guided tour of the building where offices, practice spaces and LADO memorabilia are kept. It was truly incredible to see photographs of all of the people LADO has performed for in the last six decades.
After we grabbed lunch around the corner from the theatre and main campus, we took a quick detour to the Zagreb Botanical Gardens. This conserved and luscious landscape in the heart of Zagreb is a testament to the city’s commitment to providing green space for citizens.
From the park everyone jumped on a tram (talk about hectic), and we headed to the University Department of Ophthalmology for a presentation by Dr. Ante Barišić. As the cataract and glaucoma guru, Dr. Barišić was the perfect instructor. The presentation chronicled the growth of the eye clinic “Svjetlost” since it was established in 1997, its expansion into neighboring countries, including Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro, and its strong business philosophy, which focuses on investment in young doctors and partnerships between colleagues and other practices. Yet, perhaps the most relevant topic of conversation, and the undercurrent for the entire visit, was the fact that Svjetlost is a privately owned and operated hospital. Free from any type of contract from the state, Svjetlost offers corrective and medical surgeries for those who want to bypass the possible waiting lists associated with state hospitals and are able to pay out of pocket. While we were being given a tour of the clinic, it was interesting to learn that the cost of Lasik eye surgery for both eyes at Svjetlost was just over $2,000. Andie said she paid $4,000 in Atlanta just two years ago. This was something that really stuck with me all day! How insane. You could literally buy a plane ticket to Zagreb, get Lasik and have a European vacation for the same price as receiving the same operation in the U.S!
It was also shocking to see the lack of privacy in the clinic. Where we would cry HIPAA, our guide literally opened a door (without knocking), and showed us an exam room: with a five year-old child sitting in the examination chair clearly sedated from surgery. A few people on the tour said that they were incredibly uncomfortable as that scene played out multiple times. To see the stark contrast between societal standards and expectations was especially eye opening (pun intended). It is easily observed in the picture above that the quality of equipment, materials and rooms would rival any American clinic, yet this slight difference in ethical code was what stood out to many. At the end of the tour, a group of us looked around in the eye glasses showroom and modeled some of their most stylish options, as you can see in the photo above.
Since classes were able to meet at odd times throughout the week (in the morning before breakfast or on one of the many bus rides), lectures were cancelled for the afternoon and we were able to walk around the city for a few hours! It was a beautiful day in Zagreb and it was wonderful to be able to experience the people, the shops, various museums, and the food one last time. Tomorrow we are off to Istria and you can feel the anticipation. It’s as if we can’t get enough of this incredible country. Until next time!
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