My blog has been a little deprived of entertaining stories, ya know, the colorful stuff apart from the official business of training and swearing-in. So, without further ado, here’s a little anecdote from my site visit- this occurred about 2 weeks ago, when I came to meet my family and socias in Monsefú and stay with them for one week before swearing-in.
It was about three days into site visit- so I was just starting to feel at home, my parents and host brother were super nice, and the food was great. We also celebrated my brother’s 23rd birthday, and did so with some of his favorite dishes- ceviche and arroz con cabrito (rice with baby goat). The next day, due to some construction on roads in town, we were without water all day. Everyone is used to saving water, since we usually only have it for 12 hours a day, but by about 6pm, our reserves had run out. Even though we had two reserve tanks, everything went dry because of the construction of my room, which involved water for the cement. So, right around this time, I felt the unmistakable “stab of doom” in my stomach… that ominous deep, sharp, block of pain that can only mean I am going to have a miserable night, suffering from “Peace Corps South America” syndrome. Keep in mind the water situation that day… yeah. I’ll let you use your imagination. So, after some miserable hours of wishing I could vomit, it finally happened. This was my third time being ill in Peru, and the first time I was able to vomit. So it felt great and awful at the same time, but mostly great. Afterwards, feeling quite accomplished, I was able to drink a whole glass of lukewarm water (many Peruvians, including my family, won’t let you drink anything cold when you’re sick). Thought it was over, but then I vomited up the water. I went to bed, feeling pretty dehydrated and awful. A few hours later, I got up to go to the bathroom again. The one I chose is located just outside of the main door of the house. As I left the bathroom, I suddenly felt like I was going to faint. I told myself that I just had to make it to the main door, to open it and warn my family that I was about to faint… and the last thing I remember is reaching for the door and thinking “Damnit, I don’t know the verb ‘to faint!’”
Apparently I didn’t fall, but I came to gripping a ledge on the wall, in a very awkward squatting position, with my whole body convulsing and I was breathing really weird. I came to as either my mother or brother grabbed me, and moved me over to the couch. I recovered pretty quickly, and in true Peruvian custom, they then covered me in approximately 6 blankets, to keep me from losing body heat (even though I was sweating like crazy). My adorable host mother then slept on the couch chair all night, to watch over me.
Great first impression I made, eh? Anyway, haven’t gotten sick since arriving back at site, which is amazing considering the number of raw vegetables I’ve eaten (although they have been washed with a bit of Clorox, as recommended).
The verb “to faint” is desmayarse, by the way.
ok, i shouldn't laugh but this is kind of hilarious and well written, plus you're fine now :P hope you're doing great, kim! good luck with everything!
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