I've got the Yellow Fever

It's time for another Passport stamp!

This summer I'm going to Ecuador for a study abroad program. I'm really excited and can't wait, however, heading on an international trip always means a visit to the Travel Doctor.

Travel Doctor is this fantastic woman I always go to whenever I'm preparing to leave. She has helped me with trips to China, Haiti and now Ecuador.

I made an appointment with Travel Doctor for a Friday I knew I'd be home. We sat down and talked about the trip. I got to color in parts of Ecuador with a highlighter and told her exactly what we'd be doing.

We looked over my records and Travel Doctor let me know that I should get tested for Hep B because I'm half Asian.

Hot Dog. I'd be pretty pissed if I was Hep B + because I paid a lot of money for that vaccine a few years ago. I'm also going to put that test off though because even with awesome health insurance, I can't afford to be diagnosed with Hep B either.

Anyways, I needed to get a few shots for this trip. One being Yellow Fever, a vaccine I've never had before. Travel Doctor tells me the vaccine isn't required to get into Ecuador, but parts of the country have had Yellow Fever outbreaks.

She goes on to share with me that 30-50% of people who get Yellow Fever die an incredibly painful death.

I tell her to shoot me right up.

It was kind of a weird vaccine. She had to mix these two different viles and make one giant shot. Travel Doctor looks at me and suggests I relax my arm.

I do.

Travel Doctor proceeds to stab the back of my arm---a place where no needle should enter. It pinched, but I didn't think it hurt that bad.

Until the next day.

I should actually say later that night.

Good Lord, my arm was in serious pain. I totally couldn't sleep.

It continued to throb for almost 3 days. I was convinced I was having some sort of allergic reaction and was going to die the terrible, horrible death Travel Doctor warned me about.

Then on my way to the airport early morning of day 4, I fell down my apartment stairs.

Needless to say, the arm no longer hurt.

I got the Yellow Fever and this is all I have to show for it: