I was sick today... bad stomach.
I guess people automatically assume that moving to the various places of the world in which Montezuma plotted his revenge would confer an eventual immunity to whatever is in the water. Since most people of normal mindset don't go on the internet and write of their stercoral adventures in detail, I can only speak for myself: Nope. Not so.
On average, about twice a week, the local microflora of The Philippines wakes me up in the middle of the night, and I fire a shot out of my aft torpedo launcher. Usually repeated every 20 or 30 minutes until out of ammunition.
Fortunately though (again, speaking only for myself) on such occasions, by sunrise the battle is pretty much over and my day begins and proceeds without further ado.
Not so today. Today found me with a grinding, twisting, and at times jaw-clenching gut that continuously wrung itself out like a wet towel. I eventually gave up on work and went back to bed. I don't know why, but lying prone and keeping still made the waves of pain go away. Standing up... sitting up... rolling over... and the pain came back again.
Oh well. I had a bit of ice cream, some antacids, iced tea, and watched Star Trek on the laptop in bed for the rest of the day.
Yes... yes, I know. Who the hell wants to read about Jil's culo? Sorry. Just skip that stuff you just read if you don't want to read it.
In other news, Chef Ednel has moved out of the house. I got her an apprenticeship kind of job at Kingston Lodge, the local expatriate hangout in Cagayan De Oro. She started today. She'll be learning all of the kitchen, all of the service, plus hopefully books and cashiering as well. Owner Danny has given Ednel a room on the property (with the other employees), an employee meal, and a small daily allowance. I'm quite appreciative of this and the opportunity it gives Ednel. Danny knows his way around commercial cooking, and I'm sure that Ednel can learn quite a bit from him and his operation there. Plus I'm sure that a recommendation from Danny at some point down the road will be great for her resume.
Did you really drink the water in the third world?if so,WHY?you cant even put tap water ice cubes in your drinks in the third world.nice one,mate!lol!
ReplyDeleteWell I don't actually drink the water here. I just referred to immunity to "whatever is in the water" as a way of saying immunity to everything, everywhere in this country.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it should be known that Jasaan is special in the fact that its water comes from the town's natural springs, is very fresh, and perfectly safe to drink. (I just don't trust the water pipes in my house to not add bacteria to the water.)
Well,Jil is telling the truth, The water DOES come from the top of the mountain and I drink it everyday,I have never gotten sick from it. Oh yeah,it is probably some of the purest water you can find.
ReplyDeleteSo Anonymous,,,,,,,what chemicals are in YOUR water?
Well, there isn't much in the way of chemicals in most American water systems... except flouride.
ReplyDeleteBut in truth, throughout Asia, and especially in small towns in The Philippines, the water is damn unsafe and even if you don't drink the water, biannual O&P checks by a doctor aren't a bad idea.
Even in Jasaan, like I said, I don't drink the water here... not because I don't trust the water itself (if I'm at Faustina Resort — the source of the spring — by all means, get me a glass), but because I don't trust the zero-pressure water pipes not to have cracks or be infiltrated by ground water or rain water along the way.
In fact, given that the water pipes in Jasaan stand empty part of every day due to low supply, it is almost a certainty that at low pressure times like that, soil and water is leeching into the system.
I'm not sure how clean any water is that comes from deep wells really, but I can't imagine it is too terribly dangerous. I think that it is the poor water storage (open and semi-stagnant reservoirs), poor distribution systems (zero-pressure pipes), and zero water treatment before distribution that makes it most dangerous.
Not to mention, the sewer systems and the proximity to the possibly exposed pipeing. Yukkk lol
ReplyDelete