Friday, September 3, 2010

Somebody Shoot Me! I've been reduced to wearing Crocs and I think I like it....


Let me just say this is my last doom and gloom post (even though it hasn't stopped raining since 10:30 in the morning).

Part of why I've been so cranky is that I was attacked by a rogue band of coffee flies. Apparently, some people have a terrible allergic reaction to them and I was one of the lucky ones.

My feet looked like I had leprosy for almost a week and a bite on my arm turned my left forearm bright red and was hot to the touch (and hard at the bite mark).

Gross I know. That's why I'm sparing you pictures.

I spent the better part of the morning on Tuesday at the doctor's office. However, how they conduct appointments here is entirely different than the States.

Here, they don't really make appointments. Rather, they tell everyone to come at 10 a.m. and they allegedly take you in the order you arrive.

However, the doctor didn't even arrive until almost 10:30. I was about the 4th or 5th patient in line and I swear to God, everyone before me must have had the plague, syphilis, or IBS or something hard to diagnose because they took FOREVER!

Maybe they were all just chatting in there, who knows? It's definitely different than the assembly line mentality in the States. Although, the military's health care I've always thought was great. Much better than civilian.

A $15 doctor's charge and $32 in pills and cream later, I was on my way.

I'm getting better but they still itch like crazy and since it's the rainy season, there are a million more bugs out than normal. Lucky me. This is the worst rainy season they've ever had apparently. Usually, September and October are the worst so I only have more of the same to look forward to.

If there's one lesson to be learned here, it's don't come to Panama from August until December.

On to why I'm wearing Crocs and loving it.

The only pair of sneakers I brought here are suede (which will get ruined in the rain) and my flip-flops get my feet all dirty since it's so muddy here (and I think that's how the bugs were able to feast on the tops of my feet and toes so much).

Plus, it hurt to put too much pressure on the tops of my feet.

I spied Mom's Crocs one night when we were getting ready to go to dinner and waffled. I've always hated Crocs. They're an, no make that THE, abomination in footwear.

I don't care how comfortable people say they are--they're hideous. (They also make a high-heeled version but that's another entry entirely).

Once I slipped them on though, I was hooked. They are perfect for the rain. They dry immediately, they have a decent amount of traction and who cares if they get ruined? Plus, they're loose enough they don't kill my feet.

Yes, they're disgusting and I'm slowly slipping into the senior lifestyle down here, but hey, they're comfy and I'm not looking for a date.

The best thing about them?

They're black padded "pleather" Crocs. lol

6 comments:

  1. I tried googling it and wikipediang it to no avail. But everyone down here calls then coffee bugs or coffee flies. This is a big coffee producing region. The one on my arm could even have been from a spider. The doctor told me it was from mosquitoes, but I don't think so. Apparently, it's a very common thing here and if you're one of the unlucky ones, within a year you become immune to them. Don't ask me how, but everyone says so.,..

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  2. Another laugh! And in the Netherlands, we also have a version of the horse-fly, and it does some nasty things as well. Not quite as bad as what you dealt with, I imagine, and I hope the Crocs will help you avoid any more encounters with those coffee flies.

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  3. Oh for heaven's sake! One of the pitfalls of travel. Who would imagine being allergic to a bug you've never come across? The crocs (although I agree they are an abomination), are the answer for you plight though. Glad your mom had them handy.

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  4. heheh--today is the first day I've been able to wear "normal" shoes again. Feels weird. Sad but true...

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  5. Hmmm. Soooo, now you are making a fashion statement, after all these years bad mouthing Crocks, oh the pietism the unctuosness.
    I dare you to bring them home.

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  6. Don't tempt me my friend! I just might, although Little Dog chewed Mom's Crocs, so she's been eying mine. Everyone wears Crocs down here and I see why, hehehe

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