Feeling Better

I'm feeling a bit better today. Even though I've mostly been in bed all day, it's been an emotionally draining one all the same. Little did I know when I woke up this morning that the day would follow with three meals being cooked for me, another voodoo hex on my body, and friends and repairmen paying me visits.

I awoke this morning to Co Mai and Mr. Phuong knocking on my window and front door. They wanted to show their piano that's being stored in my living room to their friend. I slept in until 8:15 and would have slept longer had it not been for that disturbance. Co Mai made up for it by cooking breakfast for me, so all was well.

Below, the second hand eliptical I bought yesterday:

Dao called me to tell me he was coming to pick me up so that we could get my bike because it was ready. His friend replaced the tire, the spokes, and did something with the engine for a total price of $4.85. Wow. I love Vietnam. I, also, picked up a new helmet that was about $17. When I came home, Co Mai had put a plate of bananas and apples out for me. I took a pic of the fruit tray, and my new and old helmet in the background.

Then, I retired to my bed for the rest of the morning. Mr. Phuong messaged me at lunch time and told me to go eat so I did. He and Co Mai have really been taking care of me so I'm enjoying being spoiled but definitely not enjoying being sick.

The repairmen came after lunch to put a screen up on my bathroom window that leads to the jungle. This open window allowed a zoo to operate in my bathroom as I had constant visitation from mosquitos, lizards, frogs, spiders, moths, and every other insect in Vietnam. The repairmen were here for a little over an hour, and the total cost of labor and parts was $15. Wonderful! So no more zoo in my house!



Below are some of the reptiles that were unfortunately left behind in my bathroom AFTER the screen went up. Too bad for them. They are now trapped! Maybe they can all just eat each other.

After the repairmen left, Co Mai prepared for me what is called a "steam bath." She put a pile of some type of mint leaves into a pot, boiled them in water, and I put my face over the steam that arose out of this conconction with a big blanket over my body and the pot as to ensure my body's absorption of this traditional medicine. After fifteen minutes of being enveloped in my steam tent, I was instructed to take a shower and drink a hot tea of some sort.

Then, Co Tu, the maid, came to clean my bathroom and mop the floors in my house. I was very thankful to her for that so I gave her a little money.

Ti called me and invited me to lunch with the family, so I sat for the third time of the day at their table, and we all had a family dinner, just like last night. It's a nice time, and we all get to catch up. It was my Thanksgiving dinner as today is Thanksgiving Day back home. This is the first Thanksgiving without the organizer of all our family gatherings, Aunt Trish. I miss her.. a lot.

I then went back to my bed to rest, and Justin messaged me to see what I was doing. Word travels fast as he knew I was sick. He rushed over to my house and surprised me by bringing Lam. I wish I would have gotten a picture of them, but I'll take one next time. I was so tired of being in the house most of the day that we ventured next door to have coffee.

Upon arriving back on the grounds, we stumbled upon Mr. Mark and Ms. Patsy who were chatting with Co Mai and Mr. Phuong. We then all sat down for tea with Mr. Phuong and Co Mai, and they all came back to my house to check out my new helmet and screened in window.

And now I'm in my bed on my laptop writing this blog. I'm tired! I didn't teach at the high school this morning, and I don't think I would have made it had I tried to teach any classes. Next week, I'll go back.

Good night.