A year wiser

This week marked my 23rd year of life. I therefore began to wonder what marks a year? How does one measure such a long time?

Yes, exactly like the fantastic Rent song.

What marked my 23rd year of life?

365 days

12 months

Allergies: 365 pills of Zyrtec (I currently have four left in my 365 pack from Costco). Every single time I spoke to Lorn Foster by phone this year, he began the conversation with mention that I sounded nasally. I said, yes, Doc, I have horrible allergies! Don’t worry.

> 16 plane rides

14 countries (if including transit and pre-watson travel)

1 college graduation

two breakups (one huge)

The past 12 months of my life were a whirlwind that entirely destroyed (read: weakened) my immune system. Thus, when I bought a plane ticket from Japan to the Dominican Republic, I probably should have avoided the 40-hour, two-transfer trip that I chose. The price was impeccable, so I couldn’t say no. Plus, I got to spend a few hours in Moscow! Despite the perks, on the first flight from Tokyo to Moscow, I noticed a horrible metallic taste in my mouth. I thought nothing of it, but the same thought and sensation crossed my mind and tongue for the next two weeks. Last week, when the horrible taste had grown, intensified, and morphed into tingling, burning, numbness, dryness, and still a horrible taste, I realized I had thrush (a buildup of yeast in my mouth)! My dentist back in California couldn’t believe I had thrush. It usually plagues children. Then again, my dentist hasn’t been following the blog, so he probably has no idea where I’ve been and how it’s entirely possible I have thrush despite having now entered my 23rd year of life. I turned 23 on Thursday!

I spent my birthday with my brothers Emilio and Francesco and their friends Fabi and Sharon. Sharon cooked an amazing dinner of roasted zucchini and eggplant, bruschetta, coconut rice, olives, and cheese. There was even a birthday cake with a candle! That was a total surprise. I have no idea how I found these generous, open, loving people, but I am grateful. I also sipped a bit of jaeger, and attempted to keep all extra yeast out of my mouth.

I am no longer surfing.

Instead, I am swimming, but I also have to take a break from that because I have been inflicted with swimmer’s ear! I take some solace in the fact that that means I am a swimmer. Meanwhile, it’s quite painful and brings along a gnarly headache. So I have prescribed myself a few days out of the water. I will emerge stronger and without a headache.

Other than these two afflictions, I am in one piece. Though I am having trouble sleeping for the first time in my long, long life!

Other than physically and psychologically managing my inner world, I am deriving a lot of joy from my interactions with the outer world. I have met some amazing people, and I’d love to tell you about a few of them to give you a taste of what my days are like.

Francesco: my Italian father! It turns out I have a strong connection to a ugly city in Italy named Terni. I’ve never been but both Lorenzo and Francesco seem to derive pleasure from berating the place. Both Lorenzo, my first post-Pomona College friend, that I lived with in Curacao and Francesco are from Terni. Francesco and Lorenzo were utterly shocked when I told them I had another friend from Terni. Francesco is a translator–fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, and German, with some French proficiency as well. He surfs by morning, translates by afternoon and has lived in Cabarete for three years.

Emi: Francesco’s best friend and my Italian brother. Emi surfs by morning and makes soap by afternoon. He hopes to visit the U.S. at the end of this year. He’s heard stories of Santa Cruz and also may want to work on a farm. If anyone has any leads, please let me know. Francesco and Emi have treated me with so much generosity, I feel it is my duty to return the favor. 

 

Tony Montana-juice man: My friendship with Tony started when I routinely bought water from him before heading to the beach. As mentioned, the yeast build up creates an intense dry-mouth sensation; thus, I pound water. From the start, Tony was displeased with my water requests. He’s been making juice for over 7 years at his shop in the main drag of town. This week, I finally started drinking jugo mixto from him, but now I’m hooked on the pineapple which helps fight my mouth ailment.

Wilda: Before I contracted swimmer’s ear, I met Wilda during the swim in the ocean. She was dancing in the waves in all of her clothes. We began to talk, and I discovered, she had just arrived from Haiti 3.5 years ago. She shared some of her many stories with me, about crossing the border, settling in Boca Chica, finding her away to Puerto Plata. We formed a nice friendship, and I hoped to get a meal with her. Unfortunately, the phone number she gave me didn’t work, so I haven’t seen her since. Thus, I didn’t get to take her photo. I haven’t given up hope. This is a small town, so I hope to run into her and hear more of her stories. 

Francisco–Keeko: Francesco’s friend’s son, who is my main friend when I lose Francesco, Emi, and their friends in Italian. Then, I go to keeko, and make jokes with him.

I plan to see Genesis, Valerie, Scarlet (introduced in the last blog post) tomorrow & Monday at the ball-field.