A Taste of Puerto Rico

5/31/2015
A Taste of Puerto Rico
Last night I was invited to a dinner party. Of the attendants, I knew only my husband and one of his coworkers well.  I had met one of the hosts only once before at a pool party. His wife is from Puerto Rico. When we arrived my husband and his coworker promptly went outside by the grill.  I found myself in the kitchen with half a dozen Puerto Ricans.  They were making tostones and beans and rice. I was promptly welcomed as they transitioned from their quick spanish to english to accommodate me. Apparently, tostones are served with everything in Puerto Rico, even spaghetti.  Picking out green plantains is important to keep them saltily instead of the yellow that bring with their color a sweetness. They taught me how to fry the slices briefly to soften the plantains, then smash them with the tostonera (http://www.budgetearth.com/imusa-bamboo-tostonera-review/) before frying them again. When golden fried they were sprinkled with what was explained to me as the hispanic version of an all purpose seasoning. While I was busy learning to make tostones another member of the party was mixing together what they called mayo-ketchup, which was just about what it sounds to be, a mix of mayonnaise, ketchup, fresh garlic and the same all purpose spice. The frying, smashing and re-frying was time consuming. We all stood around talking, me learning all about how they all went to the same engineering college in Puerto Rico. Apparently, companies in the United States recruit about fifty percent of the university's graduates. As the basket slowly filled with tostones, one of the party guests took a tostone and covered it with the sauce.  She was given a hard time in spanish, presumably for taking the first tostone. She laughed and said "It's not for me, its for her!" as she handed me the morsel. It was delicious! In our time together in the kitchen the conversation never lulled. They transitioned seamlessly from spanish to english and back again.  The very sweet host often took time to stop and translate for me. I felt like I had been transported, if only for a short time, to another country. Everyone there was so warm and welcoming. It made me hope and fear for my time in Cambodia. I hoped to meet such kind and warm people and longed for the feeling of being welcomed into a world that is not my own. I worried about being an inconvenience and having to always be translated for. I feared of taking away from their own experience since they were constantly having to concentrate on speaking english or translating for others. I don't want to be a hinderance on my hosts.  Will my contribution be worth their effort?

Fun on a Tuesday

5/28/2015

Fun on a Tuesday

Just over a year ago I was asked by a group of teacher friends to attend the “FUN” concert. I was all about spending the weekend three hours away in Charleston. Then I found out the concert was on a TUESDAY! Over the years I have turned into an old lady. I blame it on starting my teaching career early.  I started teaching at age twenty-two; many students in my class were just three years younger. I felt I needed to be mature to get respect from them.  I worried about being seen out in public with even a glass of wine. I said no to invitations from friends that would mean I would risk being in the vicinity of my teenage students. When my students asked my age I jokingly told them I was forty. Ten years later I’m starting to realize that my definition of “mature” may have been closer to the definition for BORING.  The ladies that asked me to go to see FUN on a Tuesday night are all older than me. They are mature, respectable women and they were more than ready to drive three hours each way to go to a concert on a Tuesday. Why wasn’t I? If you would have invited me in college or high school I wouldn’t have hesitated. What has changed? I had so much FUN on that Tuesday. Why must we reserve having a good time for a Friday or Saturday night? After all “we are young so lets set this world on fire.” Since this blog is about me living a truer more full life, I named it in honor of that night.

Vaccinations

5/18/2015

Vaccinations

I received a preparation booklet from Ubelong.  In it, they included a list of vaccinations that they suggested. 

‐Routine immunizations for polio, measles/mumps/rubella, etc.

‐Hepatitis A

‐Hepatitis B

‐Rabies

‐Tetanus

‐Typhoid

‐Yellow fever

‐Japanese encephalitis

I’ve spent hours surfing the Internet and making phone calls to health clinics, drug stores and my insurance company in the past month.  The following is a summary of my research and experience. This is true information as far as I know it.  Your insurance may be different than mine. All of the costs listed are for Passport Health Clinic. PHC, and many other agencies like them, will not file with insurance so I got all of the vaccinations somewhere else.  Sadly, many doctor’s offices do not provide some of the more obscure vaccinations.

Routine Immunizations for polio, measles, mumps, rubella- These vaccinations are 100% covered by my insurance. Although I have already had them

Hepatitis A- $105 (PHC) I have already had it.

Hepatitis B- This vaccine is a series of three shots. It is 100% covered by my insurance. However, I have already had it.

Rabies- $325 (PHC) per shot in a 3 shot series.  I am going to forgo this one since I am not working directly with animals.  I plan on getting travel insurance, so if an emergency arises I can easily get to Bankbook within 24 hrs to be cared for.

Tetanus- $75(PHC)

Typhoid- $100-103(PHC) I opted for the pill version.  There are four pills that you take every other day. The pill is a live vaccine that requires a booster after five years.  The shot is a killed vaccine that requires a booster after two years. I found this instructional graphic helpful. http://www.passporthealthusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Oral-Typhoid-Vaccine-Instructions.pdf?139caa

Yellow fever- $172(PH) If you are entering Cambodia from a country that suffers from yellow fever you have to present a yellow card when entering the country to show you have been vaccinated.  Since I am coming from the US I don’t need this one

Malaria- priced per pills- These pills are taken daily starting before you leave and continue during the trip and after you return. Given the many side effects of antimalarials, I have decided to forgo them. Here is a table comparing the antimalarial options. http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html

Japanese encephalitis- $304 (PHC) per shot in a two shot series – Shots should be given 28 days apart and the last shot should be given at least 10 days before leaving the country.  I found this vaccination to be the most difficult to find.  There is one Walgreens in the area that will order and administer the vaccination if you have a prescription from a doctor.

I went to see a general practitioner on April 15, 2015. There I received a Tetanus shot and a prescription for the Japanese Encephalitis vaccination, Typhoid pills and Malaria pills. After insurance I was charged $218.61 for the visit. When I went for my first Japanese Encephalitis vaccination I was elated when they charged me $0!!! The Typhoid vaccination was also covered by my insurance. The malaria pills were very expensive, just under $300 for a month supply. I opted not to get the malaria pills after speaking with family and friends who had very serious reactions (hallucinations, night terrors etc.) to this medication. I got the last of my Japanese Encephalitis series today! I proudly declare; I am fully vaccinated!

Total-$2694.51

My Travel Necklace

5/10/2015

My Travel Necklace 

I love the work of a local artist/jeweler Lily Wikoff. Many of my go to pieces are from her shop. I have had my eye on a necklace of hers for months. I gave in and got it, justifying it as a travel expense. I am excited to wear it in Cambodia and stash my vitamins and prescription meds in it each day.


Update:  I loved this necklace.  It worked well when I didn't have pockets or a bag to carry things.  Wearing it reminded me to take my meds.  Sadly, I lost it on the last day to the river at Amphawa Floating Market : (