So yeah, I should probably talk about my hospital visit.
Monday night, I felt a pain in my stomach around 6:00 pm. I've had stomach pains before, so I figured I might as well put up with it. By 9:00 it had progressed to a consistent pain unlike any I've ever experienced. I threw up, no matter what position I was in, it wouldn't go away. It felt like something was burning through my digestive system.
Come 2 A.M. I literally couldn't take it anymore. I had never been in that much pain in my entire life. I hobbled out to where the guards were, and tried to get them to call a taxi. Everything was closed, they called an ambulance, but it never showed. Luckily Jason woke up, and had a number to a different taxi service. They picked me up about 30 minutes later, and Jason was nice enough to come with me to translate.
We got to the hospital emergency room, of course it was locked. We rang the bell for about 5 minutes before someone decided to hobble over slowly to open it. Instead of doing any tests or anything important, they decided to give me a shot in my behind, and put my on an IV. The place was freezing, and it the people working were some of the most incompetent I've ever seen. Something they put in the IV helped me with the pain, and they sent me off. That's it, no help, no nothing. I am glad it is gone now though, because had it been life threatening, I would not be alive.
Jason got some pictures with his blackberry, so if he sends them to me I will have to post them up. I really appreciate the fact that he would come up on a school night at 2 a.m. to go with me to the hospital. And the next day he made me soup and picked me up some groceries, don't know what I would have done without him.
Anyways, I still have this throat problem, and I know it will never be fixed here, so...I guess I'm just screwed.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
10/26/2009
I've been keeping a secret from all of you since I was about 12, or whenever Liar Liar came out. My future wife goes by the name of Maura Tierney, and is only about 21 years old than me. If Kandice can do it, so can I.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
10//25/2009
I come to find out the reason why I haven't been stalked by the iguanas lately. One of the local maintenance workers has been eating them! The failure of Venezuela never ceases to amaze me.
The internet still isn't working in my house, so I'm here at school on Sunday.
I watched a part of an old skate video, Micah Wood from TTT2 to be precise, it made me miss the good old times of skateboarding. I skated hardcore flatground today, and tried to make a makeshift rail that failed out of junk lying around. It's been a long time since I've skated because I've been sick for so long. Oh yeah, and the prices of stuff are insane here.
Anyways, much love, hopefully I get some pictures and stuff to make updates soon.
The internet still isn't working in my house, so I'm here at school on Sunday.
I watched a part of an old skate video, Micah Wood from TTT2 to be precise, it made me miss the good old times of skateboarding. I skated hardcore flatground today, and tried to make a makeshift rail that failed out of junk lying around. It's been a long time since I've skated because I've been sick for so long. Oh yeah, and the prices of stuff are insane here.
Anyways, much love, hopefully I get some pictures and stuff to make updates soon.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Mama you've been on my mind
Listened to these lyrics, they were relevant at one point. Maybe I'm wallowing in my own self pity? Maybe they're still relevant. Who knows...
"Perhaps it's the color of the sun cut flat
An' cov'rin' the crossroads I'm standing at,
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that,
But mama, you been on my mind.
I don't mean trouble, please don't put me down or get upset,
I am not pleadin' or sayin', "I can't forget."
I do not walk the floor bowed down an' bent, but yet,
Mama, you been on my mind.
Even though my mind is hazy an' my thoughts they might be narrow,
Where you been don't bother me nor bring me down in sorrow.
It don't even matter to me where you're wakin' up tomorrow,
But mama, you're just on my mind.
I am not askin' you to say words like "yes" or "no,"
Please understand me, I got no place for you t' go.
I'm just breathin' to myself, pretendin' not that I don't know,
Mama, you been on my mind.
When you wake up in the mornin', baby, look inside your mirror.
You know I won't be next to you, you know I won't be near.
I'd just be curious to know if you can see yourself as clear
As someone who has had you on his mind."
"Perhaps it's the color of the sun cut flat
An' cov'rin' the crossroads I'm standing at,
Or maybe it's the weather or something like that,
But mama, you been on my mind.
I don't mean trouble, please don't put me down or get upset,
I am not pleadin' or sayin', "I can't forget."
I do not walk the floor bowed down an' bent, but yet,
Mama, you been on my mind.
Even though my mind is hazy an' my thoughts they might be narrow,
Where you been don't bother me nor bring me down in sorrow.
It don't even matter to me where you're wakin' up tomorrow,
But mama, you're just on my mind.
I am not askin' you to say words like "yes" or "no,"
Please understand me, I got no place for you t' go.
I'm just breathin' to myself, pretendin' not that I don't know,
Mama, you been on my mind.
When you wake up in the mornin', baby, look inside your mirror.
You know I won't be next to you, you know I won't be near.
I'd just be curious to know if you can see yourself as clear
As someone who has had you on his mind."
10/21/2009
I just finished report cards, and I'm currently on my lunch break. I feel that I need to continually update this as I've been slacking of late.
Where to begin, I got either strep throat or tonsillitis, went to a doctor in the big city on Saturday, refused to take a test because "it's common" and prescribed me more antibiotics. I'm feeling better from that, but I still have this cough and itch deep in my lungs, and a constant sore throat. I am tired of self-diagnosis and I want some piece of mind. My other theory is that my air conditioner is killing me slowly.
I also found a bug bite on my back that's painful, and not healing, hopefully that wont get worse either. There are alot of stressful things ahappenin' right now, it's been this way for awhile, I guess I just want a safety net or some comfort/security.
Between the lack of health care, getting stopped by the border patrol, and the declining dollar, I've had a real headache of late.
I'm still trying to figure out what to do over Christmas, and maybe I should get more money out, because I do NOT have enough to buy a ticket by any means. Also I get a 4 day weekend in November, of for which I have to save as well. Love the 4 day weekend option, hate the money I'm going to have to spend.
Please send me e-mails if you're bored, I love them. ssmelonakos@hotmail.com
-Timothy
Where to begin, I got either strep throat or tonsillitis, went to a doctor in the big city on Saturday, refused to take a test because "it's common" and prescribed me more antibiotics. I'm feeling better from that, but I still have this cough and itch deep in my lungs, and a constant sore throat. I am tired of self-diagnosis and I want some piece of mind. My other theory is that my air conditioner is killing me slowly.
I also found a bug bite on my back that's painful, and not healing, hopefully that wont get worse either. There are alot of stressful things ahappenin' right now, it's been this way for awhile, I guess I just want a safety net or some comfort/security.
Between the lack of health care, getting stopped by the border patrol, and the declining dollar, I've had a real headache of late.
I'm still trying to figure out what to do over Christmas, and maybe I should get more money out, because I do NOT have enough to buy a ticket by any means. Also I get a 4 day weekend in November, of for which I have to save as well. Love the 4 day weekend option, hate the money I'm going to have to spend.
Please send me e-mails if you're bored, I love them. ssmelonakos@hotmail.com
-Timothy
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
10/14/2009
My long weekend.
Quite alot happened this weekend, 4 days off, left Friday night, and spent less than $400.
We began with a rainy Friday day, Marshall and I left to the terminal to find a "Por Puesto," a shared taxi that everyone piles in, to Puerto Ordaz. On the way we had some trouble, because the road was flooded. We figured since the city was on the Orinoco river, that we could just find a hotel and get a tour in the morning.
That night we wandered to look for food, here is a perfect example of the service in Venezuela.
We tried to find something to do after, so we flagged down a cab and went to this little bar/restaurant place outside. Of course they were playing music that was too loud, but some of the songs were American pop songs from the 90s! Much better than reggae-tone. We met a couple of girls right as we were leaving, ones who seemed half intelligent anyways, exchanged numbers and we were on our way back to the hotel.
Woke up in the morning too tired, our plan was to find a tour on the Orinoco, and get a hotel for the night. What we didn't take into consideration that there was a soccer game between Venezuela and Paraguay that day, and literally EVERY hotel in the entire city was full. Roads were closed to the other places we wanted to go, so in the end we just decided to go to a new city. We decided on Ciudad Bolivar. We went to the terminal, hopped on some makeshift seats on the front of the bus, the drivers pocketed the extra money, and we were on our way.
We made it to the city while there was still some light, and found a tour right off the bus. It was 900Bs for 3 days, and we would be getting back Tuesday, right before we worked, but we decided on it anyways. Got a nice hotel for the night, and we were on our way the following morning.
We set out and waited to pick up some Russians who were also coming on the tour. It was a couple, and the man had an awful stench. I believe he is what the natives of the south probably mistook for the "skunk-ape."
Everything seemed to be going well until we reached the checkpoint right outside of Tucupita. The police saw that there were tourists in the car(I blame it on the white Russians) and pulled us aside. Since Marshall and I didn't have our official passports, they started babbling at us and pulled us in to a little office. It was a great scheme they had, the biggest joke of it all was when they were quoting Venezuelan law. After wasting an hour, and endless "I need to call my superior's" they just wanted a bribe. Typical, imagine if the police here weren't corrupt!
We reached our destination and hopped on a boat. Accompanying us were 4 more Polish travelers, all of whom spoke good English. Anna, Rafael, Camila, and I forgot the other's name. After traveling down the river for about an hour, we stopped at this little shack to look at some tarantulas. I got the biggest kick out of the direct tv satellite.
Aways down the river, our guide talked about eating worms. He must have felt I was kidding when he threatened me to try it raw. I never back down from an eating challenge, so I met his match. It tasted about as good as a raw oyster heated in a soup of sticky goo.
We made camp later in the day, not before I spotted some more Chavez love.
Marshall stepped to the home plate by eating a fried gusano, and swimming in the Orinoco with the pirahnas, good job my friend.
Needfully to say, the rest of the trip was a complete fail. They promised to do this and that, and nothing happened. Pirahna fishing was a fail, and the only reason I wanted to go, we never made it to the Orinoco river delta, nobody saw the caymans they promised, the locals drank all our booze, and we got back the day before school late at night.
Do I regret it? Not for a minute, but it doesn't compare to the trip I had in the Amazon. I got to see more of Venezuela this weekend than I had the entire time I'd been here, met some great people(now may be looking into teaching in Poland next year), and may have a new connection in Puerto La Cruz(if she ever texts me back)!
Oh yeah, right before the weekend, el jefe called us in and told us we don't have funding for next year. Cheers for looking for a new job! Hopefully I can make the best of this one, and find something else in Venezuela for the following year. If not, maybe somewhere else in South America. Wish me luck in finding a job, and working with people who aren't a bunch of weirdos.
PIECE
-Tim
Quite alot happened this weekend, 4 days off, left Friday night, and spent less than $400.
We began with a rainy Friday day, Marshall and I left to the terminal to find a "Por Puesto," a shared taxi that everyone piles in, to Puerto Ordaz. On the way we had some trouble, because the road was flooded. We figured since the city was on the Orinoco river, that we could just find a hotel and get a tour in the morning.
That night we wandered to look for food, here is a perfect example of the service in Venezuela.
We tried to find something to do after, so we flagged down a cab and went to this little bar/restaurant place outside. Of course they were playing music that was too loud, but some of the songs were American pop songs from the 90s! Much better than reggae-tone. We met a couple of girls right as we were leaving, ones who seemed half intelligent anyways, exchanged numbers and we were on our way back to the hotel.
Woke up in the morning too tired, our plan was to find a tour on the Orinoco, and get a hotel for the night. What we didn't take into consideration that there was a soccer game between Venezuela and Paraguay that day, and literally EVERY hotel in the entire city was full. Roads were closed to the other places we wanted to go, so in the end we just decided to go to a new city. We decided on Ciudad Bolivar. We went to the terminal, hopped on some makeshift seats on the front of the bus, the drivers pocketed the extra money, and we were on our way.
We made it to the city while there was still some light, and found a tour right off the bus. It was 900Bs for 3 days, and we would be getting back Tuesday, right before we worked, but we decided on it anyways. Got a nice hotel for the night, and we were on our way the following morning.
We set out and waited to pick up some Russians who were also coming on the tour. It was a couple, and the man had an awful stench. I believe he is what the natives of the south probably mistook for the "skunk-ape."
Everything seemed to be going well until we reached the checkpoint right outside of Tucupita. The police saw that there were tourists in the car(I blame it on the white Russians) and pulled us aside. Since Marshall and I didn't have our official passports, they started babbling at us and pulled us in to a little office. It was a great scheme they had, the biggest joke of it all was when they were quoting Venezuelan law. After wasting an hour, and endless "I need to call my superior's" they just wanted a bribe. Typical, imagine if the police here weren't corrupt!
We reached our destination and hopped on a boat. Accompanying us were 4 more Polish travelers, all of whom spoke good English. Anna, Rafael, Camila, and I forgot the other's name. After traveling down the river for about an hour, we stopped at this little shack to look at some tarantulas. I got the biggest kick out of the direct tv satellite.
Aways down the river, our guide talked about eating worms. He must have felt I was kidding when he threatened me to try it raw. I never back down from an eating challenge, so I met his match. It tasted about as good as a raw oyster heated in a soup of sticky goo.
We made camp later in the day, not before I spotted some more Chavez love.
Marshall stepped to the home plate by eating a fried gusano, and swimming in the Orinoco with the pirahnas, good job my friend.
Needfully to say, the rest of the trip was a complete fail. They promised to do this and that, and nothing happened. Pirahna fishing was a fail, and the only reason I wanted to go, we never made it to the Orinoco river delta, nobody saw the caymans they promised, the locals drank all our booze, and we got back the day before school late at night.
Do I regret it? Not for a minute, but it doesn't compare to the trip I had in the Amazon. I got to see more of Venezuela this weekend than I had the entire time I'd been here, met some great people(now may be looking into teaching in Poland next year), and may have a new connection in Puerto La Cruz(if she ever texts me back)!
Oh yeah, right before the weekend, el jefe called us in and told us we don't have funding for next year. Cheers for looking for a new job! Hopefully I can make the best of this one, and find something else in Venezuela for the following year. If not, maybe somewhere else in South America. Wish me luck in finding a job, and working with people who aren't a bunch of weirdos.
PIECE
-Tim
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
10/06/2009
My water line exploded in my bathroom and covered me in toilet water Sunday night. I should've taken pictures to show the entirety of the pure destruction that filthy water left upon me.
I have been sick for about two weeks, and I'm not sure what is going on. Apparently some lady got a lung infection last year, and my self-medicating paranoia is telling me I'm getting the same thing. Since I can't see an actual doctor here, I just have to wait until it gets worse. And it has gotten worse since it started two weeks ago. This is exactly what I can use right now. We had a talk this weekend about the horrors of our own self medication, every week it's some new worry, and no way to get to the bottom of it...well, waiting it out.
I have been sick for about two weeks, and I'm not sure what is going on. Apparently some lady got a lung infection last year, and my self-medicating paranoia is telling me I'm getting the same thing. Since I can't see an actual doctor here, I just have to wait until it gets worse. And it has gotten worse since it started two weeks ago. This is exactly what I can use right now. We had a talk this weekend about the horrors of our own self medication, every week it's some new worry, and no way to get to the bottom of it...well, waiting it out.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
10/04/2009
I just got back from Puerto La Cruz a couple of hours ago. The power in my house seems to be grounded, but the internet still doesn't work there. I've been having a hard time finding free time lately to do this.
In school there will be observations this week, so wish me luck anyone who is reading this. I had a great weekend, and I feel like my Spanish is getting slightly better. I guess studying nonstop has helped a little.
We met some Chinese immigrants who run a shop at the end of Paseo Colon, one spoke English and they were very friendly. There is also a little place that makes food there, and having legitimate Chinese food was quite stupendous. If I make it back to Puert soon, I will be going back for my Chinese fix.
I only was able to put away $300 in the bank this month, and it still doesn't look like I have enough money to buy a ticket this Christmas. I will know exactly what I'm doing by the beginning of next week, where I'm going down on a river trip with Marshall on the Orinoco.
I've been spending way too much money, but the only way to keep my sanity is leave on the weekends, I gotta figure out a new plan.
Much love to all, I am so happy I'm able to do this, even with all the avoidable drama and frustrations.
In school there will be observations this week, so wish me luck anyone who is reading this. I had a great weekend, and I feel like my Spanish is getting slightly better. I guess studying nonstop has helped a little.
We met some Chinese immigrants who run a shop at the end of Paseo Colon, one spoke English and they were very friendly. There is also a little place that makes food there, and having legitimate Chinese food was quite stupendous. If I make it back to Puert soon, I will be going back for my Chinese fix.
I only was able to put away $300 in the bank this month, and it still doesn't look like I have enough money to buy a ticket this Christmas. I will know exactly what I'm doing by the beginning of next week, where I'm going down on a river trip with Marshall on the Orinoco.
I've been spending way too much money, but the only way to keep my sanity is leave on the weekends, I gotta figure out a new plan.
Much love to all, I am so happy I'm able to do this, even with all the avoidable drama and frustrations.
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