Carrot Tops and Rickshaw Driver Squats

I had two carrots a few days ago. I washed them, peeled them, and placed them in the fridge. I ate one carrot that very day. A few days later (this past Tuesday), I ate the other carrot.

It would seem an innocent thing to do--to wash and eat a carrot. But for some reason, that second carrot was a precocious little veggie, and wrecked havoc on my tummy. I decided to munch on it as I was working on setting up for the tea service at faculty workshop the next day. I did get a strange sensation as I was running up and down stairs in the building, searching for those precious end tables I swore I had seen delivered earlier by the furniture builders.

What began as a gurgle roared 4 times that night. Just when I thought there was no more carrot, it reared its ugly little orange head. It was nasty.

I am feeling better now--having slept and given up on raw veggies in Bangladesh.

I sent Katrina to the store the next day to buy me some food. I did request macaroni and cheese--even though this is probably something someone recovering from food poisoning should not eat--it's all that I could consider stomaching. An hour later she returned with the requested invalid's food, in addition to potato chips, tuna, tonic water, 7 up, lemon scented toilet paper, and--she was very proud of this--a can of processed cheddar cheese. Those of you who know my sister know that she DOES NOT read labels. I must stay healthy in order to prevent her from going to the grocery store anymore.

On another note, Kat and I decided to go walking today. Someone up above learned of our plans and sent the rains of doom (monsoon). So we hopped a CNG (baby taxi) and got some coffee at King's. We waited for the rains to subside, but there was no luck. We were desperate for some exercise, so we started walking to Aarong (the upscale "fair trade" store with fabric, clothing, household decorations, and jewelry) along a very busy street. Even with the rain, the smells of rotting vegetables and urine on the sidewalk was still quite evident. I still have not gotten used to walking past the rickshaw drivers carefully squatting on the sidewalks facing away from the streets, doing their business while everyone drives and walks past.

On a more domestic note, as I write, there is a gecko in the corner of our newly furnished living room calling for his mate. We also have a little baby gecko that lives near our water cooler. I was so glad to reunite with these little creatures that I grew up with in Okinawa, Japan. They eat ants and are cute, so they brighten my day.