Yellow Fever + Brazilian Bus Stop= HIV

February 22-23, 2002

Woke up, ate breakfast, studied more. The usual. However, today had its own special twist.

We got to go to a bus stop and get our yellow fever shots. We took a minibus from the CTM out to a big bus station somewhere in the mass of Sao Paulo, where I figured we would just transfer to another bus going to a hospital...or at least a clinic. NOPE. WRONG-O. We got "stuck" (in the arm...with a big ol' hypodermic) in a nice, quasi-clean room by a nice looking middle-aged Brazilian woman. She was humming to herself, nonchalant, and then--WHAM-O! Needle in the arm, peanut butter being injected slowly, painfully, creating immunity against the Febre Amarello.

Remind me to get tested for HIV when I get home.

On the way to our dance with death, we sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and "Hakuna Matata" with the Brasileiros. Good to know that Disney is somewhat universal. And also good to know that "No Worries" can be thrown out in the face of getting injected with some foreign substance at a Brazilian Bus Stop.

As to feelings lately, it's like a roller coaster ride down here. Either I'm on top of the world, or lower than low. Oddly enough, the best times are when my companion's silent. Go figure...

(Author's Note: My sarcasm bleeds into all aspects of my life. Even my journal...)

Portuguese is a struggle. I'm trying so hard, my MIND hurts. Not my head, my thinking processes. My favorite thing to do here is sit for five minutes and think about nothing. To contemplate the void. The expect so much, yet require so little. It's like a huge guilt trip to learn Portuguese here. I haven't struggle like this since AP Calculus. I've still got faith, though.

On an up note, I got to play the Organ for Music Conducting Class.

Sweet. Otimo!