Beware of Dogs

I didn’t realize, prior to my pre-departure orientation, that rabies is fatal.. as in, fatal to everyone who gets it.  No big deal, right, you just get the vaccine?  No, apparently not, because the US right now has a shortage, so they will not give the pre-bite vaccine.  Which means, of course, that should I get bitten, I will have to get the notorious ’shots in the stomach,’ which sound terribly ominous.

But let’s be honest, I’m less worried about rabies than I am about poisonous snakes.  In fact, I’m terrified.  Oh, come on Tuphani, you say, that’s so unlikely.  Perhaps.  But remember that, not only will I be going to a tropical country with yearly monsoon floods (that carry snakes! you hear these stories on the BBC every year), but I will be living in a village surrounded by ‘jungle’ and rice paddy.  And LOTS of water.  Did I mention that I’m not only scared of snakes, but I am absolutely terrified by the possibility of snakes in water?   Now is the time when you shake your head and ask me why I’m such an idiot that I chose to do my research in an area filled with water.. and snakes.