T-minus Six Days

I leave for Guatemala on Sunday and my original plan had been to make a couple extra pre-trip posts here with a little bit more about where I'm going and my, apparently interesting, plans on what I'm bringing (or, rather, what I'm not bringing).

The thing I did not plan on was getting food poisoning barely a week before my departure.

In order to appreciate how comically awful this experience is you need to know a couple things (the rest of this section is probably not for the weak of stomach):

1. I hate throwing up. Like, really, really hate it. This aberrant despising of vomiting is undoubtedly one of the key reasons I never did the binge drinking thing in college or elsewhere. It's also one of the reasons I tend to avoid roller coasters that involve upside down maneuvers. Some people just resign themselves when they realize throwing up is inevitable; I hold out, pretty much at all costs.
2. As such, I've managed to "hold on to my lunch" for years. The last time I dry-heaved was in 1998. The last time I puked was before that. To say I hadn't puked in 15+ years would not be an understatement.
3. This past weekend I made up for those 15 years of being puke-free. In spades.

I'm not even out of the country yet.

Also understand that when you tell people you're going to central america, one of the first things everyone says is, "Don't drink the water. Or the ice." Then they proceed to regale you with their tale of GI adventures from traveling. After several months of preparation for this trip, I have been thoroughly convinced that I will soon be embarking on my own variety of GI adventures. Apparently my foray into Pepto-Bismol's copyright material was scheduled sooner than I anticipated. Here is what I have learned after said foray:

1. Throwing up still sucks, almost as much as I remember.
2. If all I get while traveling is your typical case of diarrhea, that will be F-I-N-E fine by me. Preferred option, really, aside from no GI tango whatsoever.
3. I totally get why folks say, "Yeah, you should let it run its course if you can (and keep hydrated). But bring the immodium (pepto, cipro) anyway."  12 hours was bad enough, by 36 I would definitely want a break, no question.

Anyhow, hopefully I'm in the clear for another 15 years of puke-free bliss.  Or at least another 15 days.

Traveling? Want some advice on health and hygiene from someone you're not related to or have to interact with on a daily basis? Check out this appropriately named book: How to Shit Around the World it's about as funny as you'd expect, and probably even more informative.