It started out as a terror filled evening after accidentally drinking a coca-cola light with South America ice in it (yikes!). Everyone warned me to avoid ingesting international water and uncooked produce at all costs...or else. "All it takes was a sip and you could be sick for days!" said my travel vaccinations guy. "I got sick after drinking bottled water in South America!" said our tax guy. Crap, (pun not intended, but now I see it and am keeping it), what a way to start out our adventure!
Shockingly, that frosty cold coke light did no damage. Instead of seeing that as a bullet luckily dodged, I took it as an sign that my body is obviously invincible to the foreign bacteria that I've been warned will wreak havoc on my digestive system. I decided to tempt fate again.
Next, I ate an apple after washing it off in local water... Dun dun DUN! My body was like "Pffft. I love apples, bring it on". I was like "OK body. Game. Freaking. On."
Next, I downed iced coffee with local ice, and more fruit. My body was like "Stop pussy footing around, Dr." I was like "Hell yeah body, let's do this".
I'd still avoided salad, as my free app from the CDC called "Can I Eat This?" gives me a big fat NO recommendation every time I ask it if I can try local produce that's not cooked to hell. Uncooked veggies have a much higher risk of treating me to a visit from Uncle Montezuma (see image below).
CDC says NO!
In two short weeks I've gone from afraid-of-ice to drinking straight out of a storm drain here in Salta, Argentina. Well, not quite a storm drain (I don't think that would be a good look on me), but until something goes wrong I am going to eat and drink without fear.
So here I still am, far, so good! My body's like "Go girl, high five!" and I'm like "Body, you crazy, I can't high five myself".
Dear friends, am I brave? Or stupid? Or both? Please either send me a high five in the comments, or a "what are you thinking!" smack upside the head, or tell us your harrowing story when you ate outside of the safety of the U.S.
Signing off while still Montezuma free.
Love, Dr.
"What are you thinking?!" You're playing with FIRE!!! LOL 🍀
ReplyDeleteHa ha sis, bring it on!
DeleteGet it! Definite bravery! But maybe give it a day in between adventures??
ReplyDeleteThat's actually a really good strategy. Thanks Nick!
DeleteI think it's s good strategy your body needs to adapt and clearly it is. 🖐
ReplyDeleteThat's what Adam keeps saying! So far so good : )
DeleteWow! I am so proud of you guys! First of all, i find all the produce in Argentina safe (well, I didn't get sick from the 4 days while I was there. So maybe I had limited exposure). Secondly, the tango show is very long. There wasn't much plot to it- so that made it felt longer. So don't feel bad about missing that one.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't know if you guys know this or not- but if you offered to pay with USD, most restaurants (and the tango show) will offer a 30% discount!
Hi Wendy and thank you for the note! I did not know about the USD discount, will try that in the future!
DeleteSeriously, HIGH FIVE-Lots of people living in BA and they are surviving; you are adaptable!
ReplyDeleteThank you! My body is more of an adaptable petri dish than a temple, but we are having fun!
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