La Gripe aka the worst thing ever

I am reporting to you from my bed here in Vicuña Mackenna. A place I have become quite accustomed to. For I am on day 6 of the most terrible sickness ever. Granted I never get sick and quite frankly I am a huge wimp when I am. They´ve got some sort of super flu that my body just isn´t used to, I guess. Or so I thought.....

One huge cultural difference I have noticed regarding illnesses in Argentina may or may not make me sound a little ignorant on the contraction of flu related illnesses. I for one have always believed (and have been told) that with proper body maintenence and steering clear of germies are the first rules of avoiding whatever disease may be currently passing around. That is DEFINATELY not what people believe here.

Yeah, sure. I guess it helps but here the rules are a little different. Keep in mind, I do currently live in Colorado and though I have only lived there for two Winters, you would think I would know a little about taking care of myself in the Winter. Especially since winters here aren´t really winters like we have. It´s more late summer or fall. I go outside in clothing that I feel is warm and everyone looks at me through their scarfs and woolen hats like I am some sort of looney.

"You NEED to cover up you chest!"

Don´t worry. I´m not parading the "ladies" around Vicuña Mackenna. What they want me to do is where a turle neck everyday. I hate turtle necks and I don´t think I´ve worn one since they were part of my uniform at private school. So I simply tell everyone.

"This is nothing. I am not even the slightest bit cold."

Oh, but it doesn´t matter, because it is widely believed here in Argentina that germs penetrate through the skin past the ribcage and straight to you lungs. You d0n´t get sick from germs entering orafices (ie mouth, nose, ears ect). You get sick from magic germs that defy science and jump through bodies.

So I smile politely and tell them I will start wearing more appropriate clothing for the unsurvivable winters of Vicuña Mackenna, while secretly rolling my eyes. Paaaaa-llllleeaaassseee!! Even if I ever got sick, which I won´t (the flu is for kids, old people and wimps), I sure as hell am not going to get it through my ribcage, thank you.

These are the same people, by the way that pass me the mate right after a conversation stopping cough fest. And wouldn´t you know it, after I leave the room to dispose of the resulting grossness of that very same coughfest, there´s the mate.... just waiting for me.
(mate is a very traditional tea that every Argentine partakes in. similar to the English tea time but they use one glass, one straw for everyone in the group.. including the sick ones).

So for three weeks I had the same coughing cold. It was getting a little annoying, but not quite as annoying as the flu that followed it. So the girl that never gets sick started to become a believer in these Argentine tall tales of jumping germs. I even caught myself covering up my chest with my down jacket that I use for skiing on a day that was probably 60ºF. I started wearing socks in the house (something that Gonzalo yells at me every day for). We have heated floors. You know how uncomfortable hot feet are to me.

I started making the changes plus doing all the rules my mother has told me to do all of my life. I still wasn´t getting better. I started cursing La Gripe!
"I hate you La Gripe! What good have you ever done to anyone in your life!"
So for 5 days I stayed in bed nursing the fevers and the body pains and wondering why my always so strong body was failing me now.

Turns out I have Bronchitis. Oh. Well then. Sorry La gripe. Didn´t mean to get all worked up there. Carry on!