Health and Medicine

I think the third time of succombing to some kind of illness in one lone month is just three times to many. I really wasn't prepared for having stomach problems on this trip, but low and behold, I apparently have the second weakest stomach after David, who has spent more than two weeks in the hospital to this point with amoebas, infections, and more than likely parasites to boot. So what was it that got me sick? I couldn't even tell you. I didn't have food from street vendors or anything! Wednesday I spent my lunch in Parque Calderon, a little curveball for my stomach which seeks its daily supply of food in the noon hours. I made David, Katie, and I some fantastically thin peanut butter sandwiches, because we all know that peanut butter in the country where they harvest peanuts is outrageously expensive. So after two paper-thin sandwiches and two fruits, I was still a little hungry. I took out my hunger on the winnings from the day in my Spanish class. A huge amount of chocolate. I had far far too much. I think that's what did me in. I had such great plans for the night, too. What a shame, what a shame. I was planning on watching the Cuenca soccer team continue its loss-less season followed by a night of salsa dancing. My night was cut short with an episode of what everyone knows to be signs of not being on the tip-top shape. The rest of the night was spent dizzly trying to sleep. I spent over fifteen hours in bed and the morning I convinced myself I had to be well enough to go to school. I haven't had fifteen hours of sleep since my concussion, which was never. But sure enough, with a bowl of cereal and a lousy bus ride (they all are pretty lousy) I got to feeling naseous again. I took a trip to the Ecuadorian clinic for a little $25 check up and had proscribed to me another $25 in medicine. I did however avoid a blood sample being taken, thank God. Narcisa, our trip coordinator caught my slip up when I mistakenly agreed that I was peeing abnormally. So I spent another night in bed. This time with little hope of falling asleep. I was in no mood to sleep. The following morning I felt chipper. Free of my exhaustion and queeziness. It's a good thing too. I am going to the Amazon jungle for a week starting tomorrow at the bright and early time of seven. I'm expecting unforgettable experiences to report about next week.

Well, I think I have parasites or amoeba in my intestines. It isn't a pleasant experience. I don't really know what to fault for it as I have had far too many new foods and drinks in the past weeks to really claim that any one thing caused it. The pain started about three days ago and hasn't really let up. It hits me strong when I have any type of sugary delicacy. How unfortunate, as it was the birthday for one of my classmates only yesterday and there has been interesting foods at every destination. Outside of what is festering inside me, life hasn't changed much as expected while in school. I am beginning to enjoy my conservation biology course a lot more now that we are starting into the curriculum. It has pretty much defined what I have studied in the past year or so, from biological environmentalism to even ecological economics. My anthropology class is quite interesting. We are learning about some of the pre-Incan history of our area. The reading is dense but quite rewarding, as is the case with most historically based classes I feel. Tomorrow is a festival of food... hurray... Everyone in the group is making one to two Ecuadorian dishes with their family for a big feast during our morning and lunch tomorrow. I would be more ecstatic if I were feeling better. I only hope that it is a parasite so that I can get some antibiotics that are more readily available to deal with the situation. Dealing with amoeba is a different method all together. It's fortunate that so many people here have traveled and know how to deal with parasites and amoeba, as they have had them before. I hope by next time, I will be up and healthy, readying myself for the unique experiences that await in Esmeraldas.