Welcome to the club

Yep, it’s official. I joined the “I got bit by a dog” club. It may not sound like the best club ever, but I’d prefer membership in this club to the “I shit my pants” club – which apparently many PCVs join.

So what had happened was (oh Morgan)…I was late to catch the bus to Assela for training and so I was jogging away from my house. Our neighbor’s dog was out with her puppy. She’s never been a particularly friendly dog, but she’s also never done anything more aggressive than bark. That day however, she bristled and looked very on-guard. I kept a wide berth, and she let me pass without incident. However, once my back was turned, she chased me and bit me on my calf. Awesome.

A lot of cursing and a little bit of limping later and I was at the café meeting up with everyone. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but when I called the med office to give them a heads up, I found out that I had to go to Addis for a rabies booster and antibiotics.

Luckily there was a group of girls leaving for Addis that day for dentist appointments so I was able to catch a ride with them. And I have to be honest…getting bit by that dog ended up being a huge blessing in disguise. That night we went out to dinner at Paradise and I got ratatouille and french fries – yum.

The next day for lunch we went to Aba Guben Bakery and had two of the best pizzas I’ve had in Ethiopia…we also had dessert. Me and Deb each got a slice of pie and then split them: strawberry and chocolate coconut. Heaven. I’ll be honest, Addis is not my favourite Ethiopian city, but man, does it have some awesome restaurants. So now I feel really well fed : ) I also got a cinnamon roll with raisins. Again, heaven.

Now I’m back home in Sagure and feeling pretty good. The only downside, I have to go back to Addis on Sunday for another rabies booster. I could have just stayed in Addis these next few days, but tomorrow is our Host-Family Appreciation Celebration and there was no way I was missing that! Or the Fidel yoga that’s going to follow in the afternoon ha ha

Also: initially I had felt like I was partially to blame for the dog biting me…she was just being overprotective of her puppy, but I have since learned that I am the third person she’s bitten. So I guess it wasn’t me ha ha oh well, it’s Ethiopia – nothing surprises me anymore. I’m just glad I don’t have rabies : )

This is just one of many stories I now have that, of course, could only happen to me in Ethiopia. Welcome to Peace Corps.

August 10, 2012