Luckily for me I woke up Saturday morning with the flu/a terrible cold. I maybe spent 2 hours of that day awake, and can't remember the last time I was that sick (except for when I had that kidney infection last year). It also happened to be the coldest weekend Buenos Aires has seen in a while. Sweet. But I had to go, so I figured I'd make the best of it.
I woke up early on Sunday, so thankful I booked the 12:30 ferry, layered up, and took the Subte to the ferry station. I slept the full hour ride across, and gave myself a little pep talk upon arrival. I said, "self, we're going to enjoy this. Because we're here, and our return ferry isn't until 7pm, so let's buck up and make the best of it."
So I tried. I decided to spend an hour walking around seeing all the sites, then I could spend the rest of the day in a nice cafe trying not to die. But when you feel like the whole world lives in your sinuses, and everything hurts, that's easier done than said. I familiarized myself with my map, and took off toward the water. Nothing worse than a freezing cold windy day by the water when you're sick as shit. I decided some ice cream would help. I would eat ice cream, then I could continue on. So I did. And then I decided that was enough.
I took a few tourist photos, and walked back to the terminal to see about catching an earlier ferry home. I crawled to the ticket desk where I was told I just had to pay the fare difference and I would be on my way on the 4:30 ferry in 15 minutes. Praise everything! Op. Nope. "I'm sorry. Since you purchased this ticket online it's not possible to change it. You would have to buy a new ticket which would be 300 pesos." (I paid 300 pesos for the original tickets.) Because I'm on such a tight budget with my salary, this was a no-can-do situation. So I did what any rational person would do. I sat down on a bench in the middle of the terminal and began to weep. And then I had another talk withmyself. I said, "self. You're being ridiculous. What are you going to do? Sit here and cry for 3 more hours then cry the 3-hour (accidentally booked the long way home) ferry home?" And then I replied, "Fuck it. I'm buying that ticket". So I did. And by 7:30 I was back in my bed asleep.
When Monday rolled around I was still not feeling well, and called into work, opting to go it from home. Pati told me which antibiotics to buy at the farmacy so I could start to feel normal again, no doctor necessary. Then the president of my company called to tell me I needed to bring a doctor's note to the office on Tuesday. The conversation went something like this...
"You need to get a doctor's note."
"But I haven't been to the doctor. And I don't know a doctor. And I'm not going. Listen to my voice. You can tell I'm sick."
"But you need a note on file so you don't have trouble with the state."
"But I'm an illegal. The "state" doesn't even know I'm working."
After a lengthy back and forth I talked him out of the note. And then he continued...
"But Kelly, for your own good, you should find a doctor. If something happens to you while you're here, you'll need to have a doctor."
"Ok, but Mati...(imagine my head filling with thoughts of medical emergencies with no insurance, little money, etc etc) I can't have this conversation right now."
"Kelly, I'm not trying to be dramatic, but for your best interest..."
"(sniffling) Ok, you're right. But I have to go now."
Then I hung up the phone, and sitting in my lovely new apartment alone, I began to weep again. But this time with vigor. And out loud, I said to myself, "What the fuck am I doing here?". And then after a moment, I said, "this is not the time to have this conversation." And with that I watched a pirated episode of Californication, and went back to sleep.
And Tuesday it didn't seem that bad.
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| no, i am not stoned. this is my "i'm sick and trying to make the best of traveling" face |
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| on board the ferry |
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| some random snaps to prove i went |
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| i wanted to crawl in this car and take a nap |
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| such a shame, it was such a nice day...but i just wanted to wrap that dog around my shoulders for warmth and sleep in the grass (if the grass was heated) |
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| if photos could talk this one would say...i am pretty but it is very cold outside |
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