I went to Immigration today, they had my coffee waiting for me just the way I like it. Okay, I don't go THAT often, but I think I can get a job there once I have my Visa because I'll know intimately how immigration works by then.
After having my translated documents translated again and notarized by a lawyer (so happy we know someone at the lawyer's office, I didn't have to pay!) Solidea and I returned to Immigration and sadly, got the same guy as last time. He was the only one there and we were the only one's waiting to see him. Go figure.
Right, all my documents are still old according to him. It is old after 3 months unless specifically written on the document that it is good for 1 year. Grrrr. By the way, mom, I will be calling you today - I need some more documents.
Solidea and I took the paperwork for the extension, ran over to the school where Sor Judith is (she is the head honcho for the Sister's in San Salvador), had her write the letter for our extension, ran over to our lawyer friend, got the notarization (yes, I know that's not the Legal way to do it, but so far, so good), ran back to immigration, made a dozen photocopies of everything, ran from window to window with papers flying behind us, stuffed money into hands (no, I didn't bribe people), handed over my passport, splashed a cup of water over my face from a water station, swam the fountain in the middle of the office, stopped to stretch out a cramp in my leg, hobbled up to the last window, and finally all the documents were submitted and I had paid for them along with paying for my illegal time in El Salvador.
Now, I should get the extension in my passport tomorrow, but this still means I have to get all new documents for the Visa. Yeah, the marathon I ran today was only for the extension. Hey, at least now I know exactly what I need to do, having already done everything one or five times.
Oh yeah, and the illegal time in El Salvador? 11 days = $114. Thanks to the sob story Solidea gave the lady about me being sick and having to go home because a relative was sick, the lady took pity on me and cut the price to $57. So, a positive point, that and we actually got all the immediately necessary paperwork in today, which is rather a miracle in itself. Thanks for the prayers everyone!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Good News/Bad News
The Bad news is that we have one confirmed case of the swine flu at our school. A 4th grader tested positive yesterday. I have absolutely no contact with the 4th graders, so I'm hoping the Sister's who have classes with them don't get sick. Until then, no one can touch me. :)
On the positive side, because there was a confirmed case at the school absolutely no meetings of any kind can be held. The students can not come in to pick up their homework, the teachers can not come in for our planning session, the parents can not come in for parent-teacher conferences this Saturday. So Solidea and I asked (I'm sure you can guess) to go to the beach starting Wednesday and through the weekend. Sor Marg. Guillen didn't even hesitate, she knew we would ask, and agreed right away!!!!!!!! I'm excited. Really though, there's nothing we can do here. I'm just going to call El Tunco my second home. There, I'll be staying in my second home until July 5th. I will celebrate the 4th of July there. I need to buy a flag so I can wave it on July 4th. This independence day I am going to stand up for Independence - I'm going to stand up while surfing!
On the positive side, because there was a confirmed case at the school absolutely no meetings of any kind can be held. The students can not come in to pick up their homework, the teachers can not come in for our planning session, the parents can not come in for parent-teacher conferences this Saturday. So Solidea and I asked (I'm sure you can guess) to go to the beach starting Wednesday and through the weekend. Sor Marg. Guillen didn't even hesitate, she knew we would ask, and agreed right away!!!!!!!! I'm excited. Really though, there's nothing we can do here. I'm just going to call El Tunco my second home. There, I'll be staying in my second home until July 5th. I will celebrate the 4th of July there. I need to buy a flag so I can wave it on July 4th. This independence day I am going to stand up for Independence - I'm going to stand up while surfing!
Ruta de las Flores
Solidea and I took a tour yesterday through Ruta de las Flores. It is a road that runs through the mountains in Western El Salvador and is quite breathtaking. We stopped at a restaurant for breakfast that had a walking path filled with flowers,
(yeah, I did take this picture of the flower, and no, I don't know why it turned out so incredibly cool! But I'm not arguing)
a small village with an impressive view,
hiked to a waterfall, 
and then stopped in Juayua for a festival going on at the time. This is the only picture I took at the festival - horses with diapers to keep their poo from littering the streets. :)
While I failed to take pictures at this point, we did meet a nice artisan named Erik. He told us about another festival in Santa Ana in July. Santa Ana is close to where Sydney - other American volunteer - is, so we might just head out that way.
(yeah, I did take this picture of the flower, and no, I don't know why it turned out so incredibly cool! But I'm not arguing)
a small village with an impressive view,
hiked to a waterfall, 
and then stopped in Juayua for a festival going on at the time. This is the only picture I took at the festival - horses with diapers to keep their poo from littering the streets. :)
While I failed to take pictures at this point, we did meet a nice artisan named Erik. He told us about another festival in Santa Ana in July. Santa Ana is close to where Sydney - other American volunteer - is, so we might just head out that way.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Dancing for a Dream
I'm sorry, but I have to comment on this television show here. Bailando por un sueno, it's like Dancing with the Stars with a famous person and a professional dancer. I mention it because I love to watch Dancing with the Stars and when I discovered this show (the Sister's like to watch it, as do the students) I got really excited!
However, I am very disappointed. wow. It's just, well, really bad. I expected better from Latin America. The Latin dances are not so bad, at least, not as bad as other forms such as Hip Hop (good heavens!) and Electric!
I don't completely blame the dancers since they don't choreograph their own dances, there is a choreographer for each dance partner. Really, some terrible choreography. I wish I had a video clip to show you but I can't find any on youtube specific to El Salvador. I don't mean to say all the dances are bad, I mean, I realize the Stars are learning to dance, which is the point, but there is a difference between someone learning with faulty footwork and just really bad choreography. Really bad. Wish I had that Hip Hop dance clip. So bad.
However, I am very disappointed. wow. It's just, well, really bad. I expected better from Latin America. The Latin dances are not so bad, at least, not as bad as other forms such as Hip Hop (good heavens!) and Electric!
I don't completely blame the dancers since they don't choreograph their own dances, there is a choreographer for each dance partner. Really, some terrible choreography. I wish I had a video clip to show you but I can't find any on youtube specific to El Salvador. I don't mean to say all the dances are bad, I mean, I realize the Stars are learning to dance, which is the point, but there is a difference between someone learning with faulty footwork and just really bad choreography. Really bad. Wish I had that Hip Hop dance clip. So bad.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Teacher's Meeting
Today we had a meeting of the teachers. This is the second I have attended (missed one because I was off getting tested for my amoeba:) and I found this one about as useful as the first. What does that mean? About 3 1/2 hours of useless meeting time. But, that could just be my North American perspective. Let me describe:
The meeting is automatically 4 hours long from 8am - 12pm. Right away, that's a bad sign, and that's just how the meetings are set up. You would think, since the school is shutting down for 2 weeks that we would need a meeting, and we did discuss the school shutdown for roughly 20 minutes. After that, everything had been decided, and we moved on to forming groups, reading chapters from a book, and answering questions about those chapters regarding the Salesian Family. Sound like a class? Yeah, felt like one too. Then at the end we share the answers to our questions so everyone knows what was discussed in the entire book, which, according to the questions, is the same thing in every chapter. None of which was tied into teaching. Seemed like a time filler to me.
And that was our meeting. Oh, and then we talked about problems with the girls wearing makeup. I was desperately hot at this point and didn't have any water so I left, lay down in my room for 20 minutes, drank some water, filled a water bottle, and returned to the meeting. Guess what they were talking about at this point? Girls wearing makeup. Right.
The meeting is automatically 4 hours long from 8am - 12pm. Right away, that's a bad sign, and that's just how the meetings are set up. You would think, since the school is shutting down for 2 weeks that we would need a meeting, and we did discuss the school shutdown for roughly 20 minutes. After that, everything had been decided, and we moved on to forming groups, reading chapters from a book, and answering questions about those chapters regarding the Salesian Family. Sound like a class? Yeah, felt like one too. Then at the end we share the answers to our questions so everyone knows what was discussed in the entire book, which, according to the questions, is the same thing in every chapter. None of which was tied into teaching. Seemed like a time filler to me.
And that was our meeting. Oh, and then we talked about problems with the girls wearing makeup. I was desperately hot at this point and didn't have any water so I left, lay down in my room for 20 minutes, drank some water, filled a water bottle, and returned to the meeting. Guess what they were talking about at this point? Girls wearing makeup. Right.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Swine Flu
Egads! The school is closing for 2 weeks to help prevent the spread of Swine Flu. Our school doesn't actually have any confirmed cases of the flu and everyone that has come down with a cold recently has been shipped off to the hospital to be tested. Nobody has had anything other than a common cold.
However, a couple of the richer schools had a few students contract the flu after they took vacations in Mexico. Darn rich kids! So, the Ministry of Education decided it would be best to shut down all the schools in San Salvador (not sure if this stretches outside the city) for 2 weeks. This would be great if Soli and I could leave the school for 2 weeks, but we can't. Not part of our contract. We'll have to talk to the Sister's and see what we can negotiate. If there's stuff to be done around the school, I'll be happy to help, but if it's just busy work, I won't be so happy.
To make up the time, school will probably run 2 weeks longer into November, but it beats having school on Saturday 10 times to make up for the missed days!
On a lighter note, one of the workers here caught a mouse in the house and of the two Sister's still in the kitchen after dinner one grabbed a plastic bag for her to put the mouse in. When she dropped the mouse in the bag the other Sister ran to the other side of the room and the one who had the bag quickly backed away squirming when the worker took the bag! It was too funny! Then good ol' Sister Doracilla came along and gave the mouse a few good whacks to kill it, since nobody else would. :) I call her the no nonsense nun, always good for a laugh, I just don't always understand.
However, a couple of the richer schools had a few students contract the flu after they took vacations in Mexico. Darn rich kids! So, the Ministry of Education decided it would be best to shut down all the schools in San Salvador (not sure if this stretches outside the city) for 2 weeks. This would be great if Soli and I could leave the school for 2 weeks, but we can't. Not part of our contract. We'll have to talk to the Sister's and see what we can negotiate. If there's stuff to be done around the school, I'll be happy to help, but if it's just busy work, I won't be so happy.
To make up the time, school will probably run 2 weeks longer into November, but it beats having school on Saturday 10 times to make up for the missed days!
On a lighter note, one of the workers here caught a mouse in the house and of the two Sister's still in the kitchen after dinner one grabbed a plastic bag for her to put the mouse in. When she dropped the mouse in the bag the other Sister ran to the other side of the room and the one who had the bag quickly backed away squirming when the worker took the bag! It was too funny! Then good ol' Sister Doracilla came along and gave the mouse a few good whacks to kill it, since nobody else would. :) I call her the no nonsense nun, always good for a laugh, I just don't always understand.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Immigration
Today I went to the Embassy and to Immigration. At the Embassy I met Lidia, who had translated a few documents for me. She is a great lady and I really like her, she even told she could get me a job at her school for next year if I wanted! Pondering... Yeah, we'll see how this year goes first.
We entered, had the four documents notarized, I paid her and I paid for the notarizations. Then off to Immigration. I'm feeling pretty good at this point. I have all my documents, I have everything translated, I have all the notarizations that I need - I'm set.
No. No, I was wrong.
Immigration is a very humbling place.
WELL... the documents I had translated were not translated and notarized by a lawyer. I fail to see why this is important, but as I was told several times, it's the law. I even know the number, law #24 from some book related to Immigration I'm sure. I guess that's pretty official.
Oh, and the letters I ran all over town to get when I first got here? They're old.
No, they are from this year.
Yes, but January and February.
Yes, of this year.
Well, you'll need new ones.
(restrained silence)
Anything else I should know?
That's everything.
Yes, that is almost everything. How about these photocopies? Are they clear enough? Maybe I should put a date on them and after 3 months I'll make new ones.
So, I'm going to return with Solidea and talk to someone else. I don't think they're going to let up on having a lawyer notarize the translations, but I can deal with that. Having to get another letter from the Bishop and having another health test at the hospital are not on my list of things to do again.
And the letters are not old. I haven't taken a break from applying for a Visa. These are the same letters from the same process. It's just that I keep finding out about new rules each time I go. I suggested they put this rule about the lawyer on their list of items needed - seeing as how it's so important.
We entered, had the four documents notarized, I paid her and I paid for the notarizations. Then off to Immigration. I'm feeling pretty good at this point. I have all my documents, I have everything translated, I have all the notarizations that I need - I'm set.
No. No, I was wrong.
Immigration is a very humbling place.
WELL... the documents I had translated were not translated and notarized by a lawyer. I fail to see why this is important, but as I was told several times, it's the law. I even know the number, law #24 from some book related to Immigration I'm sure. I guess that's pretty official.
Oh, and the letters I ran all over town to get when I first got here? They're old.
No, they are from this year.
Yes, but January and February.
Yes, of this year.
Well, you'll need new ones.
(restrained silence)
Anything else I should know?
That's everything.
Yes, that is almost everything. How about these photocopies? Are they clear enough? Maybe I should put a date on them and after 3 months I'll make new ones.
So, I'm going to return with Solidea and talk to someone else. I don't think they're going to let up on having a lawyer notarize the translations, but I can deal with that. Having to get another letter from the Bishop and having another health test at the hospital are not on my list of things to do again.
And the letters are not old. I haven't taken a break from applying for a Visa. These are the same letters from the same process. It's just that I keep finding out about new rules each time I go. I suggested they put this rule about the lawyer on their list of items needed - seeing as how it's so important.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Angels
Last night was a moving night for me. One of the girls of the Internado asked my advice about dating after she clarified that I am really religious and so I could give advice to help her with her situation. I asked another girl if she was sick because she had been unusually quiet that night. She confessed that she wasn't sick and was having family problems and asked if she could talk to me later. After dinner I found her sitting on a bench, so I joined her and she explained she had been told that afternoon that her parents are getting a divorce.
I feel so bad for her and the worst is that there is nothing I can do. She explained everything that had happened that day and began to cry, so I just hugged her as much as I could. I told her that whatever she feels, it isn't her fault. Today I gave her a little stone angel (thanks Deb and Jim!) with the words "I will never leave you." I told her I pray every day to God to send an angel to watch over and take care of her and this is her reminder that He is always with her. With a beautiful smile of appreciation she gave me a hug.
I love these girls!
I feel so bad for her and the worst is that there is nothing I can do. She explained everything that had happened that day and began to cry, so I just hugged her as much as I could. I told her that whatever she feels, it isn't her fault. Today I gave her a little stone angel (thanks Deb and Jim!) with the words "I will never leave you." I told her I pray every day to God to send an angel to watch over and take care of her and this is her reminder that He is always with her. With a beautiful smile of appreciation she gave me a hug.
I love these girls!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Bus Racing
We exited bus 44 once we got to San Salvador and headed over to the next bus stop a few blocks away. Getting to be around 5:30pm we knew it would start to get dangerous in that area soon so we jumped onto bus 41C to take us to the school. This 41C was a small bus, which means craziness, and this trip only helped reinforce that perception.
Our trip began smoothly, well, as smoothly as they can on the little buses, until our two lanes of traffic merged down to one. Not normally a big deal, but there happened to be another little bus next to us and neither wanted to give ground, so both sped up to pass the other before the second lane ran out. Thus the race began.
Our bus ended up slowing down as the other had the lead by a head, but shortly after the lanes merged down to one, they quickly multiplied to three. Our driver took his opportunity and sped around the competition. In an attempt to keep the lead, he only slowed down at the bus stops, didn't stop, and the two guys who hang out the doors to encourage people to get on the bus only gave half-hearted calls, then banged the side of the bus signaling to the bus driver to haul ass. Which he did.
Swerving around impeding vehicles, the two guys from the doorways shouted directions to the driver about open lanes or the location of other vehicles. Solidea and I were laughing, but it was a kind of "this would be really funny if we weren't in danger of dying" laugh. The driver did stop to let people off the bus, but the race continued until we ran into congestion on the road and were forced to slow down. Alleluia. BUT, we made really good time back to the school.
Our trip began smoothly, well, as smoothly as they can on the little buses, until our two lanes of traffic merged down to one. Not normally a big deal, but there happened to be another little bus next to us and neither wanted to give ground, so both sped up to pass the other before the second lane ran out. Thus the race began.
Our bus ended up slowing down as the other had the lead by a head, but shortly after the lanes merged down to one, they quickly multiplied to three. Our driver took his opportunity and sped around the competition. In an attempt to keep the lead, he only slowed down at the bus stops, didn't stop, and the two guys who hang out the doors to encourage people to get on the bus only gave half-hearted calls, then banged the side of the bus signaling to the bus driver to haul ass. Which he did.
Swerving around impeding vehicles, the two guys from the doorways shouted directions to the driver about open lanes or the location of other vehicles. Solidea and I were laughing, but it was a kind of "this would be really funny if we weren't in danger of dying" laugh. The driver did stop to let people off the bus, but the race continued until we ran into congestion on the road and were forced to slow down. Alleluia. BUT, we made really good time back to the school.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Refuerzo Part 2
Our first refuerzo English class with the 8th grade went great! This particular class has 53 students and if the students received an 8,9,or 10 on their last report card (grades are based on a scale of 1-10) they didn't have to come. Only 3 have these scores.
Nonetheless, because the class is after lunch, and all classes except for the high schoolers are done at lunch, half the class didn't bother to stay for the refuerzo. Hence the reason for the great class. We only had 25 students. You know, a normal class size.
Well, the class went well, but all the students are required to be there. We took role, we gave this to the principle, I'm sure some phone calls were made, and next Friday we should have a full class, which add that with their normal English classes through the week means 4 days in a row with 8th grade - yikes!
Nonetheless, because the class is after lunch, and all classes except for the high schoolers are done at lunch, half the class didn't bother to stay for the refuerzo. Hence the reason for the great class. We only had 25 students. You know, a normal class size.
Well, the class went well, but all the students are required to be there. We took role, we gave this to the principle, I'm sure some phone calls were made, and next Friday we should have a full class, which add that with their normal English classes through the week means 4 days in a row with 8th grade - yikes!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Refuerzo
During our time here teaching English Solidea and I have also been teaching an additional English class every Friday for the Juniors to help reinforce what was taught in English during the week. This is called the Refuerzo or Reinforcement class. Since we have been teaching this class from the beginning of the school year we were a bit surprised when we entered the class two weeks ago and another teacher had the class quietly working in groups.
Standing in a dazed and confused way some of the students took pity on our uninformed status (since the teacher wouldn't talk to us and seemed upset that we had even entered the classroom - FYI, this is not a full time teacher, I had never seen her before, so she is not a reflection of the other teachers who are quite nice) and told us they no longer have reinforcement English classes, now they have a different reinforcement subject every month.
Taking our cue, we left the class much bewildered and wondered, "what does this mean we have to do now?"
Turns out we have to start another reinforcement class with another grade we are teaching, the one doing the worst in English. Today we start our first reinforcement class with 8th grade.
Standing in a dazed and confused way some of the students took pity on our uninformed status (since the teacher wouldn't talk to us and seemed upset that we had even entered the classroom - FYI, this is not a full time teacher, I had never seen her before, so she is not a reflection of the other teachers who are quite nice) and told us they no longer have reinforcement English classes, now they have a different reinforcement subject every month.
Taking our cue, we left the class much bewildered and wondered, "what does this mean we have to do now?"
Turns out we have to start another reinforcement class with another grade we are teaching, the one doing the worst in English. Today we start our first reinforcement class with 8th grade.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
FYI
In case you don't know this, you can view larger versions of the pictures in the slideshow on the right of this blog by simply clicking on the picture (not the forward or backward controls). After clicking, a new window should pop up and this will be my Picassa web album. From there you can see bigger versions of the same pictures and can view all my albums I have loaded.
Let me know if there are any questions.
Let me know if there are any questions.
Back in El Salvador
After a surprisingly long car trip down to Chicago with Fr. Mike and Joe (14 hours) I found my plane back to El Salvador and arrived in half the time it took to reach Chicago. (the car trip was way more fun though!)
Something Fr. Mike said on the way down really stuck with me. He said when learning another language, you're a different person. It's true. I am not myself when I converse in Spanish, mainly because it is very difficult to be humorous when I don't know the words. I have learned to make various types of jokes and so still am able to laugh with people, but having lost something so basic to my identity really changes how people perceive me. I realized that I have no idea what everyone here thinks of me, hadn't considered that I come off differently than I normally would. I'm going to think about that more.
When I got to El Salvador yesterday I got my first surprise when I went through immigration. I am in the process of getting a residential visa and since it was taking a long time (more than the 3 month tourist visa I had) I got an extension to July 13th. I was hoping that by leaving the country I would be able to purchase another tourist visa for another 3 months.
Well, I did have to purchase another tourist visa. I thought I was getting another 3 months. No. Because I had left the country while still in the process of applying for a Visa the extension to July 13 was null and void. The lady in immigration had me buy another tourist visa and graciously gave me 10 days to complete my application for the Residency Visa. sigh. All right. I wonder what will happen if I don't have the visa after 10 days? Next week should be a stressful week. We'll see how it goes.
Something Fr. Mike said on the way down really stuck with me. He said when learning another language, you're a different person. It's true. I am not myself when I converse in Spanish, mainly because it is very difficult to be humorous when I don't know the words. I have learned to make various types of jokes and so still am able to laugh with people, but having lost something so basic to my identity really changes how people perceive me. I realized that I have no idea what everyone here thinks of me, hadn't considered that I come off differently than I normally would. I'm going to think about that more.
When I got to El Salvador yesterday I got my first surprise when I went through immigration. I am in the process of getting a residential visa and since it was taking a long time (more than the 3 month tourist visa I had) I got an extension to July 13th. I was hoping that by leaving the country I would be able to purchase another tourist visa for another 3 months.
Well, I did have to purchase another tourist visa. I thought I was getting another 3 months. No. Because I had left the country while still in the process of applying for a Visa the extension to July 13 was null and void. The lady in immigration had me buy another tourist visa and graciously gave me 10 days to complete my application for the Residency Visa. sigh. All right. I wonder what will happen if I don't have the visa after 10 days? Next week should be a stressful week. We'll see how it goes.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Note to Self
Remember to Appreciate:
1) Silence
2) Friends
3) Family
4) Cereal
5) Silence
6) Grass
7) My Car
8) English - the ease of conversing
9) Couches
10) Rainy, cool days
11) How safe my home is
12) Freedom from bugs
13) Wearing my hair down
14) Orderly traffic
15) Down time
1) Silence
2) Friends
3) Family
4) Cereal
5) Silence
6) Grass
7) My Car
8) English - the ease of conversing
9) Couches
10) Rainy, cool days
11) How safe my home is
12) Freedom from bugs
13) Wearing my hair down
14) Orderly traffic
15) Down time
News
Thanks to Erin for her help naming my amoeba. His name is Abe. Knowing his name made it easier to say goodbye when I killed him. Abe is gone now. Goodbye Abe. I hope his friends don't seek revenge on me. I'll just tell them Abe liked the USA so much he decided to stay.
Road trip to Chicago tomorrow with my NEWLY ORDAINED A PRIEST friend Mike. We will begin our journey at the very early hour of 6am. sigh. The good news is that this will allow me to start the day with a mass said by my very own friend! Such a new and exciting concept. From Chicago I catch my plane back to El Salvador.
I have really, really, really enjoyed my time home, but am happy it is only a week long trip. Now, it just feels like a regular quick vacation home before returning to work, except I have farther to travel to get back to work. Not only that, but my digestive track still hasn't completely adjusted to the food from home, so I hope it will be a quick adjustment back to the food from El Salvador.
Road trip to Chicago tomorrow with my NEWLY ORDAINED A PRIEST friend Mike. We will begin our journey at the very early hour of 6am. sigh. The good news is that this will allow me to start the day with a mass said by my very own friend! Such a new and exciting concept. From Chicago I catch my plane back to El Salvador.
I have really, really, really enjoyed my time home, but am happy it is only a week long trip. Now, it just feels like a regular quick vacation home before returning to work, except I have farther to travel to get back to work. Not only that, but my digestive track still hasn't completely adjusted to the food from home, so I hope it will be a quick adjustment back to the food from El Salvador.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Amoeba
I've got some time to kill before I leave for the airport for my trip home, so I'll use this time to fill you all in on what's been happening with me the last 2 weeks. I've been sick. Not stay in bed and drink only liquids sick, but mild diarrhea, pain, and fever sick. No big deal, initially. But when I still had the same symptoms, only worse, after 8,9,10 days, I knew I had to see a doctor since self medication wasn't working.
I talked to one of the doctors that comes to the school and he told me to have a couple tests run. So I did. I talked to the doctor at the lab where the tests were run and she told me I have an amoeba. She then went on to explain that EVERYTHING in El Salvador (food, water) is contaminated and she gets a ton of foreigners in her office with the same thing. On a side note, it's interesting how quickly people's voices rise when they get excited here. Is it like that at home too? Maybe it's more common here, but she started speaking in a very spirited manner about contamination and amoebas in El Salvador and her voice rose a good 2 octaves.
Then she told me that if I had my HepA vaccine I would be safe from contracting that from this Amoeba. Is that how you get HepA? How little I know. Of course, now having read a lot about Amoebic Dysentery, I kind of wish I didn't know so much. Let's just say I want all the amoebas to die. Quickly. Amoebas, you are not my friends!
Right. Then she wrote a prescription for me, I went to a pharmacy, and started taking the pills right away. Felt better a few hours later and by Sunday morning my fever was gone. Yea! Now I'm ready to go home. I continue to take the pills until Thursday. Then if the problem returns, the amoebas are of another strain that requires different medicine to be taken for 10 days. I hope they are not of that strain. Until I know, I won't be sharing any food or drink with friends. Well, some food, I'm sure individual french fries, pizza slices, vegetables, you know, items that can be easily stolen off another plate, aren't a problem. ;)
I talked to one of the doctors that comes to the school and he told me to have a couple tests run. So I did. I talked to the doctor at the lab where the tests were run and she told me I have an amoeba. She then went on to explain that EVERYTHING in El Salvador (food, water) is contaminated and she gets a ton of foreigners in her office with the same thing. On a side note, it's interesting how quickly people's voices rise when they get excited here. Is it like that at home too? Maybe it's more common here, but she started speaking in a very spirited manner about contamination and amoebas in El Salvador and her voice rose a good 2 octaves.
Then she told me that if I had my HepA vaccine I would be safe from contracting that from this Amoeba. Is that how you get HepA? How little I know. Of course, now having read a lot about Amoebic Dysentery, I kind of wish I didn't know so much. Let's just say I want all the amoebas to die. Quickly. Amoebas, you are not my friends!
Right. Then she wrote a prescription for me, I went to a pharmacy, and started taking the pills right away. Felt better a few hours later and by Sunday morning my fever was gone. Yea! Now I'm ready to go home. I continue to take the pills until Thursday. Then if the problem returns, the amoebas are of another strain that requires different medicine to be taken for 10 days. I hope they are not of that strain. Until I know, I won't be sharing any food or drink with friends. Well, some food, I'm sure individual french fries, pizza slices, vegetables, you know, items that can be easily stolen off another plate, aren't a problem. ;)
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