Camacho Watcho

Despite what you might believe about my absence from writing for a few days, I did not fall off the face of the Uruguayan map. There are a few reasons I have not written lately: travel, work and illness. It is the last reason that I would like to write about now.

The weather…South America…Spring…Summer…I know what visions these words conjured for me before arriving here. I definitely believed it would be hot, sunny and perfect. But I was wrong. This year is apparently an odd year for Uruguayan and Argentinian weather. Everyone tells me that the winter was longer and colder than usual and it’s creating a longer and colder spring. But just wait….summer will be here soon and it will be perfect!

I’m still waiting.

Sure, we’ve had our days of hot, sunny weather, but we’ve also had our fair share of rain, clouds and down-right cold temperatures. Take today for example…the high is supposed to be 61 degrees here. Okay, fine. Then reference my mini-New York Times that I read each day and what is the high for Chicago? 59 degrees. There is something wrong with this picture. So, you’re probably asking yourself “What does a girl from the freezing weather in Minnesota and who walks to work in the snow 4 months out of the year care about a little 60 degree day?” Good question. Let me think….oh yes, illness.

I have been ill twice since being here, which is odd because I don’t get ill very often at home. It seems that every day there are at least 2 or 3 people (out of a 100 person company) who have the flu. And it just circulates around and around the office. The first time I was ill, it was a cold that lasted about a week and this last time was a 24 hour flu. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t experience a third.

Now, you may be asking yourself “Why do you not dress for the weather?” Another excellent question, my friend. My first excuse is that I did not pack a wardrobe to handle cold weather. It’s a poor excuse, I know, as I should just go buy a few sweaters to shield me from the temperatures, but it’s too hard to concentrate on winter clothes when the cute summer clothes are just one rack away, calling my name…”Katie! Katie! Buy me!” My second excuse is that the weather is so unpredictable. One day it is hot and sunny, a skirt and t-shirt will do, and the next is cold and rainy, requiring long pants, sweater, jacket and scarf. Everyone here seems to always know exactly how to dress for the day and I, invariably, am caught on a cold day in a dress. The weather just varies so much and it is because of this variation in weather, that I keep allowing myself to believe that summer is just a day away…let’s hope!

So, in closing, here is a wish for good weather – to have some fun in the sun before returning home to the freezing cold. Oh yes…and a wish for good health!

So apparently traveling to South America is not for the weak. The topic – IMMUNIZATIONS. If you’ve never traveled to an area that requires immunizations, here are my words of advice:

1. Make an appointment at a Travel Clinic at least a month in advance. In the Twin Cities area, there are several. I have been to two of them recently (read on for that account) and I recommend that HealthPartners Specialized Medicine (Travel Clinic) in St. Paul. Great facility.
2. Do your research. Browse the internet for what to expect. The Center for Disease Control is a good website to visit. But be prepared that the Travel Clinic will obviously have the best information and will advise you accordingly.
3. Take care of yourself! You cannot get vaccines if you are running a fever. And, learn from my mistake, do not get vaccinations when you are recovering from a cold.
4. Allow for plenty of rest after you receive these. At times you may have to receive several vaccines in one visit – you need to allow yourself to rest up after.

So, on with my story. Going to South America is not for the weak. The immunizations that I required were: Typhoid, Hepatits A, Tetanus, and Yellow Fever. Thankfully, I will not require malaria pills (although I will possibly be going to Igazu Falls, it is a tourist area and has been sprayed to prevent malaria mosquitoes). I received three vaccines on Friday (my first visit) – Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Tetanus. I then woke up Saturday morning and was completely sick…no energy and was borderline delirious (i.e. I did the laundry but forgot the laundry detergent and couldn’t remember starting the washer). All day I could barely get out of bed.

Monday, I returned to the clinic to find out that my left arm (tetanus shot) was infected and that’s what caused the reaction. Apparently they swab with alcohol for a reason. Still no fever, so I was allowed to get the Yellow Fever vaccine. This is an active vaccine and apparently can make you sick (flu-like symptoms) for 1-14 days after you receive it. So, that being said…we’ll see where that goes. That would take me up to my departure for Uruguay so I’m hoping to put up a fight!

I had gotten a request to include some additional information on my preparation for Uruguay….which is coming up very very quickly! So, here’s what’s been going on since then. I attended a two day training in New York this week, which includes some of the following topics: program overview, security update, logistics info (housing, transportation, etc), cultural training, project expectations, media awareness…great information, a lot of information, a little overwhelming.

In short, here are some things that I learned:
1. I now have my ticket booked to go down there and also my housing booked…that’s a big relief!
2. I met all my fellow “fellows” and they are great! Very excited about that!
3. Cultural awareness: time is a little slower and a lot more flexible in S. America…i.e. meetings don’t usually start on time (although as an outsider, I’m expected to be on time – they expect it of me) and meetings will also include a social component (I will definitely fit in!).
4. There are high expectations of us as fellows! Not that I didn’t anticipate this, but there’s a lot to prepare, a lot to do while down there and a lot of presentations!
5. There are some cool cool places to visit in S. America…I can’t wait!

3 weeks and counting…