Disection for Homework

It's quite a full house right now in my host family's house due to semester break. 2 extra kids are in the house so I've been able to get to know these "siblings" a little better the past week and a half. As I was talking to my host brother, who was actually giving me an Ilokano lesson, my youngest host sister came flying into the house with a blue, plastic bag. In a flurry of broken Ilokano, she ran back outside. Then my host brother turns to me and asked, "Would you like to join us on the roof and watch my sister disect a frog?" What the hell, why not.

Now, I was under the impression that the frog was already dead, but I later found out that it was still alive and kickin'! I also assumed that it was a harmless animal, but nope, this particular species is poisonous and excretes the poison through his skin. So we all headed upstairs, my young host sister sporting plastic bags on her hands as the form of protection from the poisonous beast.

With the help of my host brother, she was able to secure the flailing frog onto a piece of particle board as my other two host sisters were squealing and jumping around. All of them jokingly asked me if I had ever had frog and they found it to be quite delicious actually!

I have to admit that I was quite squeemish myself. Not only did they pin the frog to the board while it was alive, my host sister actually disected it while it was alive as well! I felt bad for about two minutes until I realized everyone thought I was somewhat strange for feeling bad for the frog.

As she cut open its belly, the frog puffed out his lungs. Now it looked like there were two bubble gum bubbles on the frog's chest. I was also called over when my sister had found the heart. I was able to see the beating heart as the frog was squirming from the toture it was enduring. I was happy when the other siblings lost interest and I had an excuse to go and read my book. I had forgotten about the experience the next morning until I went to the restroom and found the skinned frog shoved into a glass jar and sitting on the back of the toilet!

Hmmm...what can I say about the last week...

Actually it's been almost two weeks, huh??? I know, I'm getting bad at keeping up with my posts. It's been very hectic around here lately. The week I got back, I had something attack me! Ok, ok, it was only microscopic bugs of some sort, but I had a good hundred or so welts on my back and sides. So, I decided to contact the friendly folks in the Peace Corps Medical Office. They of course told me to see a doctor to examine and diagnose what I had. Well, I spent the whole Saturday trying to find a dermatologist only to miss all of the doctors!!! Oh well, I can wait til Monday, but I had to text my medical people in Manila and let them know. The nurse ended up calling me and then asked me some crazy questions...Have you ever donated blood, Yes; What blood type are you, A+; Can you come to Manila today and donate blood, SURE???

So I was off and running back to Manila less than a week after returning! While I was on my 7 hour bus journey, another volunteer texted me to tell me that PCVs are prohibited from donating blood due to the vaccines and malaria meds we are on. HAHA!!! I could only laugh to myself as I still had 3 hours on the bus until I got to Manila. Well, at least it's a free trip and I'll get to hang out with a couple other volunteers! Plus, I'll get to see a dermatologist in Manila for my bug bites. On Monday, I went to the clinic and found out that I had mites, which my mom informed me is just a generic term for some sort of insect that you can't see. I was given a high powered anti-itch cream as well as some pills to take at night so I could sleep through the night again (I hadn't gotten a full night's sleep about 5 days!). Then the doctor informed me that I needed to wash my floors, bed frame, tables, walls with a bleach/water mixture and soak all of my clothes in boiling water. Thankfully all of this has worked and I'm mite free again!!! YAY!!!

This past week at work, I facilitated a meeting with the staff of RSCC to try and gage what they feel needs improvement at the center. I was very happy with the turnout and the discussion that took place. I got a better idea of where I need to start and some of the big projects that I'd like to help with in the next two years. I'm still working on the brochure for RSCC as well as some foster parent recruiting materials. This has proved to be a much longer project than I had first anticipated, but things are going well!!!