Thailand Episode 2

I feel like I'm finally coming out of a long dark tunnel and waking up to the fact that Hey!  Here I am in this foreign country!  Wow!  Good times ahead!

The flaming red rash all over my body has toned down to a reasonable pink on the first areas to be affected, while the last areas to flame up are the last to die down and still look pretty shocking. I thought about posting a close-up photo but Jenny thought that would be a very bad idea.  Then I went to Google Images thinking I could find a very Impersonal Example to show you what things look like now.  Do not try this at home, people.  Never go to Google Images and type in "hives" or "rash."  Just don't.

I am now on Doxycycline and Zyrtec and Tylenol and feeling much, much better.  I don't know if medical people do case reviews but I think this would merit a going-over by the clinic I use, as in, was I prescribed the right thing for the occasion and could the rash have been from the original tick bite rather than the medicine and am I now all covered for whatever nasty things a tick might carry?

I can now walk along with mincing steps, but not far, so today I took what is called a "scooter" or "motorbike" from our house over here to the Bible school, since this is where we eat most of our meals and get internet and Paul teaches.  I am told it is a small and personable means of transportation but to me it felt and looked like a Harley-Davidson headed for Sturgis.  I tried rolling it out the slanted driveway and it got away from me and fell over, and then it was like getting a cow back on its feet.

When I finally got going, I had to stay on the left and navigate about 5 corners over a quarter mile.  But I made it.  I am determined to find a bike around here as in pedals and gently rolling wheels to serve me until I can walk ok again.

Paul has taught his History of Missions class for a few days now and is enjoying it.  Steven and Amy are both taking some classes, plus Steven is taking a Swahili course on the side.  Jenny hangs out and reads a lot.  I was going to take a class but obviously I've gotten a slow start so I decided to focus instead on getting ready for talks I'm scheduled for and reviewing a few books I promised the authors I'd do.

The student body is a lot smaller than last year, only about 13.  Two of the girls are Amish, from Hutchinson, Kansas.  I said, "Oh, I was there once, for my cousin John Earl's wedding.  I remember John Earl had this wild buggy."

And the one girl said, "Oh, I know all about John Earl's buggy."

Wow.  They got married some 30 years ago, and John Earl has had a car for years, which proves it was Quite a Buggy.  Bucket seats that reclined, a polished-wood dashboard with all kinds of gauges and dials, turn signals, and much more.

So far I am having a much easier time with the heat than I did last year.  I am trying to figure out why and here are some options:
1. It's actually a bit cooler.
2. I've been exercising over the last year so have less insulation.
3. Anything feels cool after you have hives.

Today it was 87 degrees and raining.  Hu.mid.i.ty.

Thanks for all the prayers, encouragement, input, and advice over the last few days.