Lying in Wait on the Sick Bed, August 7, 2006

Last night, my miraculous avoidance of sickness while here in Russia faded as a tickle in my throat evolved into a bothersome scratch. I was amazed I had lasted this long with the local water requiring boiling and/or filtering and the city air leaving my handkerchief speckled with black.

I took most of today off from the orphanage, though I did report on time wanting to work with the Director on their website. After I realized I could barely produce “stratsvuitiya” (hello) from my scratchy vocal cords and Brad confirmed my sickness upon seeing my long face and glassy eyes, I knew this was not a day for wrestling with the little ones. So after almost an hour of trying to decipher what the Director was telling me to do and receiving two website addresses from her, I talked to Brad who was still stripping stubborn wallpaper upstairs. I decided to go home. I described my plight to the Director—saying I needed to use the Internet at home and that I thought I was getting very sick and should go home to rest. She repeatedly asked if I needed to see a doctor and I replied that I just needed more sleep.

Thus, I ended my workday prematurely and grabbed Bus 16 back to Kochetova 37. My host mother was doing laundry when I walked into the door. As I explained to her why I was home at such an uncustomary hour, I saw pants and shirts swimming in the bathtub full of water. I wanted sleep badly, but first took some tea and honey, recommended to me by Vanya last night—hot milk and honey was also an option but my instincts regarding phlegm thought better of it.

Perhaps I should have taken his suggestion last night, considering how I rolled around in bed—not not sleeping but certainly not sleeping soundly. And failing to get ample sleep is at the top of my list of culprits contributing to the recent deterioration of my health:

1. Lack of Quality Sleep
2. Brad having these Similar Symptoms last week
3. Inadequate Amount of Water consumed daily
4. FSB Conspiracy to convince Americans with expiring visas to leave the country

Culprit #3 has been growing on me all day as I suck down tea at a rate capable of disrupting the commodity’s global demand. Now I don’t want to be crude but the effects of this hydration have been nothing short of revolutionary for my gastro-intestinal system—perhaps my body has just suffered too many dehydrating nights on the dance floor and needs a good liquid cleansing… we shall see.

And we shall see how I feel tomorrow after a, hopefully more restful, session of bed time. I am supposed to meet a girl that knows both computers AND English tomorrow morning at the orphanage. Ideally, my body and mind will be awake and ready for work. At least today gave me some down time—I want to be healthy for my second sojourn with Brad to Saint Petersburg this weekend. And the last thing I want to do is let the kids down at the orphanage, or worse get any of them sick too.