two more days
Today is a very relaxed day on site. We’re under code “yellow” because it snowed last night. The weather today is pretty calm; it’s unusual to have so little wind. But no work can happen until they clear the roads and apparently that takes forever. And since I can’t do my work until the rig moves, it looks like I won’t be working much tomorrow either. So now I have to convince myself to write instruction manuals and clean equipment. The whole site is only just coming to terms with winter now, despite the fact we had almost a week’s warning of last night’s storm. I think it’s warmer today, but maybe that’s just because the sun and snow make me happy. It’s freekin bright out anyway.
While I was working yesterday the chief on site saw my hands. The skin is rather alligator-like and red in places. Similar to last time. He told me to go see the site medic to get some cream for them. Instead, the medic gave me a shot of cortisone (? “corticoide”) because he thought it was an allergic reaction...to the cold or something. At least they’re not inflamed anymore. It will take lots of water though to get them anywhere near normal. I avoid drinking much because it’s so awkward to find a place to pee while you’re at the rig. I’m going to try to find an affordable yet reputable looking spa in Santiago.
Apparently I wasn’t paying much attention to myself during the first round, because it took me a week to notice the bruises on my feet, possibly related to rolling over on my ankle while dancing at a wedding the night before I flew out here. My foot still hurts slightly when I try to point it. I’m not sure if it’s because the muscles went a few days with little use, if something more interesting happened, or if it’s just that everything takes longer to heal up at altitude.
The neat thing about working in a camp like this is that you always learn a little about yourself. Apparently CDs that skip really bother me. And don’t tell me to relax.
But people are similar everywhere...they still make fun of my sound effects and funny faces while I try to express myself. And they still compliment my lovely veins. And everyone talks about what they’ll do when they leave: drinking and dancing.
I’ll be travelling around Chile a little when I leave - interested to be here but missing Vancouver in the summer. Winter isn't really a good time to be travelling around Chile unless you want to head north, which I've already done, or want to go skiing, which I don't.
Hot summer weather seems so bizarre at the moment. Maybe not the sun so much as the grass and trees and watermelon. Unfortunately I’ve lost my camera somewhere on site. So I won’t have any pictures!!
Also, what's the fun of being at altitude if you don't get any crazy dreams?!?
While I was working yesterday the chief on site saw my hands. The skin is rather alligator-like and red in places. Similar to last time. He told me to go see the site medic to get some cream for them. Instead, the medic gave me a shot of cortisone (? “corticoide”) because he thought it was an allergic reaction...to the cold or something. At least they’re not inflamed anymore. It will take lots of water though to get them anywhere near normal. I avoid drinking much because it’s so awkward to find a place to pee while you’re at the rig. I’m going to try to find an affordable yet reputable looking spa in Santiago.
Apparently I wasn’t paying much attention to myself during the first round, because it took me a week to notice the bruises on my feet, possibly related to rolling over on my ankle while dancing at a wedding the night before I flew out here. My foot still hurts slightly when I try to point it. I’m not sure if it’s because the muscles went a few days with little use, if something more interesting happened, or if it’s just that everything takes longer to heal up at altitude.
The neat thing about working in a camp like this is that you always learn a little about yourself. Apparently CDs that skip really bother me. And don’t tell me to relax.
But people are similar everywhere...they still make fun of my sound effects and funny faces while I try to express myself. And they still compliment my lovely veins. And everyone talks about what they’ll do when they leave: drinking and dancing.
I’ll be travelling around Chile a little when I leave - interested to be here but missing Vancouver in the summer. Winter isn't really a good time to be travelling around Chile unless you want to head north, which I've already done, or want to go skiing, which I don't.
Hot summer weather seems so bizarre at the moment. Maybe not the sun so much as the grass and trees and watermelon. Unfortunately I’ve lost my camera somewhere on site. So I won’t have any pictures!!
Also, what's the fun of being at altitude if you don't get any crazy dreams?!?