Bed Bugs

25 June 2010 Friday

When I was sick, I think Sunday, throughout the day I started experiencing bug bites. As the day progressed, they had covered my entire body. I remember I had taken a nap for about 5 hours that day. Upon waking and through the next 12 hours the itching began and became increasingly worse. My first thought were mosquitos, but I never saw or heard any. I was told they were bed bugs. So far this has been a one time occurrance with no new bites. I now look like I have had the measles or mumps, whatever the condition is where you have welts all over. I went to the pharmacy to get a cream to relieve the itching which really helped. Not until today have I been ably to make it through the day without any cream. I've been very good not to scratch in the last six days. I literally had bites all over me with concentrations on my lower back, elbows, knees and ankles.

Today I went the the central bus terminal to purchase a ticket to Juiz de Fora. My advisor in Juiz de Fora has made me an appointment with Policia Fedaral to register as a student as part of my visa requirements (I have to fork out US$120 as part of these requirements to the federal police, this sucks). I leave at 6am on the 30th, which means I will have to leave the hostel at 430 to arrive an hour before departure as suggested. I like this hostel much better. I have hardly had to wait for a computer as all four work and no one breathing down my neck waiting for the use.

Upon walking back from the bus terminal the last few blocks from where I got off the bus, someone hollered Eric. As I turned around, there were a group of about 7 people sitting at a sidewalk restaurant eating pizza and drinking beer less than a block from the Hostel. She was a girl from South Africa who I had met upon checking in the night before. They all invited me to sit and drink a beer. As music was the topic from a guy talking about playing the guitar, I proceeded to pull out my harmonica and played 6 songs to all eating and drinking. Some were even singing along to songs I played.

Tonight, the hostel is having a cookout and beer. All you can eat and drink for R$15 about US$7.50. I'm already on my third beer before the food is ready. This is the most I have had at one sitting since... well a long time. Afterwards, I may join an organized "Favela Funk" party. Bus to the favela and then a motorcycle taxi to the street party, departure from the hostel at 11pm. I'm sure an experience to write about in the future. Foods ready, gotta go.