Omigdalitis.... perhaps?

omigdalitis, or tonsillitis, is awesome. yep, that's right. for the last week i have been confined to my modest house in Rungue, trapped at first because I was totally and completely incapacitated (unable to talk, eat, move, actually all I could and did do was take 3 ibuprofens every 6 hours or so) and for the second part of the week because after it became more obvious I was actually really sick, my family wouldn't let me outside.  But I really should've known, right?, that I am sick because I don't wear a scarf, cover my neck or mouth with it constantly.  At times, with a fever, I feel inclined to take off my jacket, imagine that?! unheard of... I must always wear a jacket, scarf, slippers.  I don't like feeling fragile (you probably know that about me).  I don't like feeling like i need to be taken care of, even though it's nice at times, like when you're sick for example.  but seriously, tonsillitis is a VIRUS.  there is ACTUALLY nothing that i can do to both prevent it and get over it: it is beyond my control and requires some real prescriptions. that's just it. no matter how much i sleep, rest, no matter how much clothing i wear, no matter how patient, tonsillitis will NOT go away without prescriptions. end of story, i win.
I am totally open with cultural differences but medicine sometimes is a little difficult. I am totally open to alternative medicine, but i have had a bad case of strep before and if strep goes untreated for a long amount of time, you may have to have surgery, or get something worse like rheumatic fever.  so after being on ibuprofen, a shot of penicillin, and an anti-inflammatory that is not even available in the US, I decided i needed to go to the doctor again (also i could not teach the next day for sure, golf ball in throat, and needed another dr's note to excuse my absence) where the new dr (really just an EMT) told me that I needed serious medical attention and perhaps surgery.  I lost it.  Crying like a blubbery mess all over chile.  I told you i needed more than patience, but i decided to be patient instead.  But jesus, surgery in chile is about the LAST thing that I wanted.  i mean would have it if necessary, duh, but really, this is preventable!  2000mg of Amoxicillin later i felt LOADS better... imagine real treatment.  the next day we went to Vina for a real series of blood and swab tests.  at this point, they all came back negative: no strep, no mono (thank god), and no tonsillitis.  i mean i certainly at one point had at least strep, but i was more than willing to have negative test results. anyhoo, all is good now. three days post vina trip to recuperate, meds and rest, i am ready to teach again, but really nervous, i've been out of it for so long it's like the first day again!
additionally, if anyone has any sort of experience or recommendations for Macchu Picchu, I would love to hear them.  I am trying to go in July if permits still exist to enter/hike but I am open to things to do around Cuzco, companies to hike with, alternative hikes, all of the above, places to stay, you get the idea etc.
THANKS!
also, if you feel so inclined to send care pkgs (hint hint) books are a good place to start.  they aren't really wildly available here in english and i get the idea i might plow thro what i got.

ALSO,
I have this really awesome idea: I want to do penpals with my advanced class (ie 6 kids i think) and maybe open it up to anyone else who would be interested and has good enough english to communicate and write letters.  Who would be interested in sending letters and or postcards to some of my advanced students here?? I was thinking about starting this initiative in mid June-July, give them a little bit more time to develop their English skillz. All you would have to do is write a couple of letters/postcards, in simple English, and buy stamps.  we're talking less than 2 bucks. for the year. any takers!?! hollar at me :)

RUNGUE Represent!

RUNGUE! this is where it all goes down y'all!

My house is just to the right of that pole, it has a blue fence.  This is after the rain.

Downtown Puchuncavi!

Another view of the downtown, its crazy busy.  It's small, quaint, nothing going on, but I do really like it and it's beautiful.

This is me in front of my school: Colegio General Velasquez Borquez

This is the elementary part of the school.  The high school is behind this and where my room is.  I just decorated it yesterday and pictures will be coming soon!

Also, here is my address in the event that you'd like to send some something (hint hint): 

Juan Matta

Carretera F30E

El Rungue Puchuncavi

V Region

Casilla 11

CHILE

keep in touch y'all!

some fotos

A couple of weekends ago we (actually our first weekend at our host family's houses) all of the volunteers and I got together in Valparaiso for Saturday night.  Here is a picture of Valpo.  It is a city completely built on hills surrounding a bay.  Across the bay is Vina del Mar, which you could perhaps describe as a more clean and trendy city. 

VALPO!

friends at valpo for the veleros!!

Cachagua with Bennett and Lauren! (this is a 20 minute bus ride from my house!)

Here's a map of the region.  I work in Puchuncavi and live in Rungue, a pueblito a little north of Puchuncavi.  There are other vols in Catapilco, Cachagua, La Calera, Valpo, Limache, Quilpue, Las Ventanas and Quillota