alex chiang: web 6.0

Greetings!

It seems to me that one will never talk about defecation so often or as frankly as when one is traveling in a foreign country that is not the United States.

Much like the Eskimos and snow, Cara and I have many words and descriptions about the color, consistency, and frequency of our bowel movements. I suspect we could provide much material for Ph.D theses in linguistics for years to come.

We’ll think nothing of launching into detailed (much too detailed) descriptions of our poop any time, any place. Thank the gods that the locals don’t understand English, as we’d likely get kicked out of many eateries on the grounds of being unsophisticated savages.

An interesting note: toilet paper is at a premium here. Thus, a roll of TP is as essential as your passport, and you’d no sooner think of leaving the hostel without it than you would neglect to bring a wallet, or pants. Also, as the water is not exactly of the finest quality, we have with us two small bottles of handwash. I dread the day when they are no more.

But enough of that talk. My last two days were spent rather miserably, as I tried to convince my body that the altitude isn’t as bad as it makes me feel. And of course, along with the fever and headaches, was our favorite friend, runny stools.

By the way — I hope that you’re not eating a meal whilst reading this email. Apologies for the belated disclaimer.

Things are on the up and up, though. Tomorrow, we leave for a 4 day trek on a route called the Llanganuco-Santa Cruz trail. It has quite the stellar reputation, and I’m looking forward to it, although my bowels have their doubts.

That’s it for now. I’ve got to run (or alternatively, I’ve got the runs).