This is getting ridiculous! I must've purchased a different product for each symptom- which is to say, I'm up to five, and considering a couple others. That's not normal, is it? I generally pride myself on not being a hypochondriac, and take meds only when I really need them (i.e. no antibiotics unless I and/or the doc is confident that it's bacterial) but the fact that this has been going on in one form or another for almost a week is undoubtedly a bit disconcerting. Especially the earache and the [definitely connected] swollen, sore throat. After poking around on webMD (again, a first), it might be inflammation of the eustachian tube which is causing all the pressure. One solution to that involves taking some long, pipe-cleaner like device and inserting it into your ear at the proper angle to help manually unblock the tube. While I've seen these stick-like things at the pharmacy, and the pharmacist even recommended it, I feel a little uncertain about sticking a long pipe down my own ear. It's something I'd rather have a professional (doctor, nurse, anyone who's particularly savvy on ear care,etc) perform such a deed if at all possible. When I asked people about what's involved in setting up an appointment to have a doctor look at my ear, they started discussing what was available at the local hospital. Knock on wood, I'm not quite there yet ;-) And paying a private practice out of pocket here is still a drop in the bucket compared to American medical costs. For now I might try asking at the thorn tree forums if anyone has advice about clinics in Irkutsk.
Granted, what much of my online poking about also said is that most of these ailments will clear up on their own if you're willing to wait it out (a few had doomsday taunts about not getting help ASAP, but they were greatly outnumbered by the former). So it's likely I'll just do that. Being sick is neither fun, nor practical, but I'm not sure what else to do, really.
Then there's another thing- apparently you can get antibiotics here without a prescription, so I could theoretically try them just to see if what I've got is, in fact, bacterial, rather than viral, and if it helps. In a weird way, that almost runs against my ethics- putting my immediate comfort ahead of the future of effective medicine for humanity...okay, maybe that's a little strong, but I still feel like our general overuse of antibiotics to treat viral illnesses is ultimately weakening their effectiveness when actually needed (the whole fear of adaptive super-bacteria that we can't control argument, suffice it to say).
Well, I might just have to take a nap for a bit, spittoon by my bed. Cheers!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Up for round II, anybody?
It's nearing both 6AM and broad daylight, and I'm beginning to think my night's sleep is just about through. A new day awaits with further tasks ahead. Albeit, what I really should do is hole up in here all day until my paper (due a couple days ago officially, but I got an extension) is entirely out of my hands. I'll probably spend most of the time doing as much, save a couple hours' talk & run-through at the GBT office this morning, which is an opportunity I can't really afford to pass up--it's why I came here & all.
Yesterday I finally ventured out of the house and worked my way down to the Central Market to pick up some necessities. The top item on the list (without which I couldn't be writing from my own computer at the moment) was a socket adapter, and for whatever reason it was surprisingly difficult for me to explain to the shopkeepers- they all offered to sell me electricity converters when I mentioned I needed 'from American to European' mode (the latter includes Russia, much of Asia and Africa, too, but I opted for simplicity over utmost accuracy). I suppose the converter would've been good if I didn't already have one on my computer. They also tried selling me USB-drive adapters for the computer, which also seemed a bit unnecessary, and a good 20 times my intended price. Finally, just as I was losing hope, ready to collapse from sleep deprivation and no food, I stumbled upon a little hardware kiosk that had just what I needed for 30 rubles (~$1.05-1.10...the dollar's taken some big hits since I was here last in '09).
High with confidence, I went on in search of my second most important purchase- a sim card. In Moscow, no one has ever refused to sell me a sim card without a Russian citizen co-signing & the like. However, several different vendors in Irkutsk turned me down for that very reason, stating it was legally-binding. At least nobody was especially bitchy about it, and each said I might be able to find someone at a street kiosk who'd sell me one without a Russian passport. I recall when I was here in '05, my classmates at the time complained of similar problems acquiring sim cards while in Irkutsk. Being the Luddite that I am, I didn't bother with a phone at all in those days. I guess I just assumed that the laws had changed since then, and since nobody said it was regionally-based, it seems to me to be a case of selective interpretation of the law that happens all so often here. Can't blame individual vendors, though--those who get reviewed regularly and must account for all sales to an HQ (and who don't have significant funds to pay monitors to overlook 'fuzzy numbers') naturally have to follow laws more closely than those who aren't being held accountable. It's far from fair, but just a fact of business & life out here...and to an extent, probably everywhere else, too.
Needless to say, the lovely lasses at the Megafon kiosk were kind enough to sell me a #. And a new phone. I opted for the cheapest device on the shelf, which clearly disappointed them a bit. I think my old jeans, sneakers and nondescript fleece were good indicators of my disinterest in conspicuous consumption, and they didn't go on for too long in attempts to sell me on the benefits of a few more apps.
After picking up the rest (stationery, pears & Kazakh tan -pretty much all I can stomach right now- and cheap shampoo imported from Japan- it seemed half of the health & beauty products available around here are Japanese; same goes for the high-quality/reduced-price, though distinctly illegal cars that roam the streets here. I suppose having the driver's seat next to the sidewalk makes for a good impromptu game of "Chicken," if motorists are ever so inclined), I strolled back home, eager for a nap. Until I forgot the entrance code and spent an hour waiting outside in the street for someone to open the door. Not my most brilliant moment.
It's nearing both 6AM and broad daylight, and I'm beginning to think my night's sleep is just about through. A new day awaits with further tasks ahead. Albeit, what I really should do is hole up in here all day until my paper (due a couple days ago officially, but I got an extension) is entirely out of my hands. I'll probably spend most of the time doing as much, save a couple hours' talk & run-through at the GBT office this morning, which is an opportunity I can't really afford to pass up--it's why I came here & all.
Yesterday I finally ventured out of the house and worked my way down to the Central Market to pick up some necessities. The top item on the list (without which I couldn't be writing from my own computer at the moment) was a socket adapter, and for whatever reason it was surprisingly difficult for me to explain to the shopkeepers- they all offered to sell me electricity converters when I mentioned I needed 'from American to European' mode (the latter includes Russia, much of Asia and Africa, too, but I opted for simplicity over utmost accuracy). I suppose the converter would've been good if I didn't already have one on my computer. They also tried selling me USB-drive adapters for the computer, which also seemed a bit unnecessary, and a good 20 times my intended price. Finally, just as I was losing hope, ready to collapse from sleep deprivation and no food, I stumbled upon a little hardware kiosk that had just what I needed for 30 rubles (~$1.05-1.10...the dollar's taken some big hits since I was here last in '09).
High with confidence, I went on in search of my second most important purchase- a sim card. In Moscow, no one has ever refused to sell me a sim card without a Russian citizen co-signing & the like. However, several different vendors in Irkutsk turned me down for that very reason, stating it was legally-binding. At least nobody was especially bitchy about it, and each said I might be able to find someone at a street kiosk who'd sell me one without a Russian passport. I recall when I was here in '05, my classmates at the time complained of similar problems acquiring sim cards while in Irkutsk. Being the Luddite that I am, I didn't bother with a phone at all in those days. I guess I just assumed that the laws had changed since then, and since nobody said it was regionally-based, it seems to me to be a case of selective interpretation of the law that happens all so often here. Can't blame individual vendors, though--those who get reviewed regularly and must account for all sales to an HQ (and who don't have significant funds to pay monitors to overlook 'fuzzy numbers') naturally have to follow laws more closely than those who aren't being held accountable. It's far from fair, but just a fact of business & life out here...and to an extent, probably everywhere else, too.
Needless to say, the lovely lasses at the Megafon kiosk were kind enough to sell me a #. And a new phone. I opted for the cheapest device on the shelf, which clearly disappointed them a bit. I think my old jeans, sneakers and nondescript fleece were good indicators of my disinterest in conspicuous consumption, and they didn't go on for too long in attempts to sell me on the benefits of a few more apps.
After picking up the rest (stationery, pears & Kazakh tan -pretty much all I can stomach right now- and cheap shampoo imported from Japan- it seemed half of the health & beauty products available around here are Japanese; same goes for the high-quality/reduced-price, though distinctly illegal cars that roam the streets here. I suppose having the driver's seat next to the sidewalk makes for a good impromptu game of "Chicken," if motorists are ever so inclined), I strolled back home, eager for a nap. Until I forgot the entrance code and spent an hour waiting outside in the street for someone to open the door. Not my most brilliant moment.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Entry #1: Travel-sick, etc
Hey Gang,
Well, it's been just over 24 hours in Irkutsk, and I can honestly say I'm definitely feeling better already. By no means 100% (maybe 80 or 85), but considerably less achey, nose has mostly dried up, throat's a lot less sore, and the sweating & violent shivering were not nearly so intense this eve as last.
I'm not completely certain, but am pretty sure that my trip to Irkutsk from Monterey is the furthest I've traveled- by plane or otherwise- in one fall swoop. At least that's what my body's been telling me. I find it rather batty that ticket costs for flying east (through New York & Moscow) is literally half of what they would be to go west (via Beijing & Ulan Bator) even though the distance for the latter's much shorter. Hmm...that's actually something I'd like to look up- comparing the distance between crossing the Atlantic & crossing the Pacific to get here. As a wild ass guess, I'd say I traveled 2/3 of the way around the globe this way, as opposed to 1/3 the other. Granted, there's changes in latitudes to take into consideration, and going polar from NYC to Moscow, but all you need due is look at a map to know that the two routes are not equi-distant.
Well, I'll have to double check at an internet cafe, or somewhere a bit quicker than it is here. Nice to have internet available from the house, though, even if it operates at a snail's pace. With my jetlag, it's a good way to stay occupied and away from shuffling around in the bedroom where everyone else is sleeping. During the summer months, GBT uses this flat as a hostel, but during the year, it's more like a dormitory for students and young professionals here on contracted assignments & the like. Apart from living with 6 other people (though there are 16 beds) in a two bedroom flat, it's a nice little place in a great location. If push came to shove, I could live in an arrangement like this for a few months for work. No privacy, mixed rooms, etc, but it's really not that big a deal. Unless you're an exceptionally vociforous masturbator or snorer, or suffer severely from some gastrointestinal disorder or other, then chances are, your nighttime habits aren't much different than anybody else's, and no one much cares what you do.
There's also a darling little furry, long-eared friend called Krosh who patters about the place at night, testing for anything new, interesting or edible with his whiskers as he goes. I've engaged him a few times and he seems fond enough of me- a good sign that he's been well-loved and cared for his whole life through. Granted, our interactions are quite simple- unlike a cat or dog, with a rabbit there are sizable limitations on the intellectual connections to be formed. Perhaps that's not a bad way to be- the ultimate "Simple Life." A small herbivore whose greatest protection against predators is its superpowerful ability to procreate en mass and keep its genes safe & sound, if not its own fluffy little body. It's probably just as well that rabbits aren't able to contemplate the meaning of their existence to a very high degree: while a pet rabbit will breed rarely if ever in its lifetime, it is also safely guarded away from all its natural pretadors...and yes, I have factored in the stereotypical response of "well, what if your guest chef is specifically trained in traditional French cuisine?" I've got no statistics handy (and don't really plan on looking for these ones any time soon), but I can only assume that such a culinary master would most likely be able to distinguish a beloved pet in a spacious hutch with toys & a name-tag from tonight's main entree. Perhaps they're required to take a weekend workshop at culinary school about the role of animals as pets & food in different cultures across the globe. They've invested far too much in their education to end a career abruptly and insidiously by such a fatal mistake.
52 degrees North. That's where I'm at. And this is almost as far south as it gets in interior Russia (i.e. Sochi & Vladivostok don't count). I've been in a stuporous daze pretty much since I got here, and spent most of yesterday semi-drugged with a wet towel on my forehead, waiting for the sun to set and stop overheating my mattress. Needless to say, that didn't happen till about 11 at night. Granted, it's not Petersburg here or anything, but it's approaching White Nights season even all the way down here. If I weren't so ill, I think I'd enjoy it--all the more time to be active & busy outside. As it is, I just pop another pill and put my sleeping mask back on. Maybe if my strength is up, I'll go out today. But I'll try & get some rest first =)
Well, it's been just over 24 hours in Irkutsk, and I can honestly say I'm definitely feeling better already. By no means 100% (maybe 80 or 85), but considerably less achey, nose has mostly dried up, throat's a lot less sore, and the sweating & violent shivering were not nearly so intense this eve as last.
I'm not completely certain, but am pretty sure that my trip to Irkutsk from Monterey is the furthest I've traveled- by plane or otherwise- in one fall swoop. At least that's what my body's been telling me. I find it rather batty that ticket costs for flying east (through New York & Moscow) is literally half of what they would be to go west (via Beijing & Ulan Bator) even though the distance for the latter's much shorter. Hmm...that's actually something I'd like to look up- comparing the distance between crossing the Atlantic & crossing the Pacific to get here. As a wild ass guess, I'd say I traveled 2/3 of the way around the globe this way, as opposed to 1/3 the other. Granted, there's changes in latitudes to take into consideration, and going polar from NYC to Moscow, but all you need due is look at a map to know that the two routes are not equi-distant.
Well, I'll have to double check at an internet cafe, or somewhere a bit quicker than it is here. Nice to have internet available from the house, though, even if it operates at a snail's pace. With my jetlag, it's a good way to stay occupied and away from shuffling around in the bedroom where everyone else is sleeping. During the summer months, GBT uses this flat as a hostel, but during the year, it's more like a dormitory for students and young professionals here on contracted assignments & the like. Apart from living with 6 other people (though there are 16 beds) in a two bedroom flat, it's a nice little place in a great location. If push came to shove, I could live in an arrangement like this for a few months for work. No privacy, mixed rooms, etc, but it's really not that big a deal. Unless you're an exceptionally vociforous masturbator or snorer, or suffer severely from some gastrointestinal disorder or other, then chances are, your nighttime habits aren't much different than anybody else's, and no one much cares what you do.
There's also a darling little furry, long-eared friend called Krosh who patters about the place at night, testing for anything new, interesting or edible with his whiskers as he goes. I've engaged him a few times and he seems fond enough of me- a good sign that he's been well-loved and cared for his whole life through. Granted, our interactions are quite simple- unlike a cat or dog, with a rabbit there are sizable limitations on the intellectual connections to be formed. Perhaps that's not a bad way to be- the ultimate "Simple Life." A small herbivore whose greatest protection against predators is its superpowerful ability to procreate en mass and keep its genes safe & sound, if not its own fluffy little body. It's probably just as well that rabbits aren't able to contemplate the meaning of their existence to a very high degree: while a pet rabbit will breed rarely if ever in its lifetime, it is also safely guarded away from all its natural pretadors...and yes, I have factored in the stereotypical response of "well, what if your guest chef is specifically trained in traditional French cuisine?" I've got no statistics handy (and don't really plan on looking for these ones any time soon), but I can only assume that such a culinary master would most likely be able to distinguish a beloved pet in a spacious hutch with toys & a name-tag from tonight's main entree. Perhaps they're required to take a weekend workshop at culinary school about the role of animals as pets & food in different cultures across the globe. They've invested far too much in their education to end a career abruptly and insidiously by such a fatal mistake.
52 degrees North. That's where I'm at. And this is almost as far south as it gets in interior Russia (i.e. Sochi & Vladivostok don't count). I've been in a stuporous daze pretty much since I got here, and spent most of yesterday semi-drugged with a wet towel on my forehead, waiting for the sun to set and stop overheating my mattress. Needless to say, that didn't happen till about 11 at night. Granted, it's not Petersburg here or anything, but it's approaching White Nights season even all the way down here. If I weren't so ill, I think I'd enjoy it--all the more time to be active & busy outside. As it is, I just pop another pill and put my sleeping mask back on. Maybe if my strength is up, I'll go out today. But I'll try & get some rest first =)
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