Colombians refer to this illness as "la gripa" and recommend a variety of methods to combat its effects. Hot water with lemon is the most common, in addition to consuming an abundance of garlic and gargling with saltwater. A coworker, upon hearing my cough, offered to bring me vitamin C tablets.
I am also advised not to walk from the direct heat outside into an air-conditioned building. A taxi driver kindly scolded me after noticing that I walked several blocks in the excessive heat before a thunderstorm. "That's how you get sick," he said. Indeed, as I have learned, la gripa and rain come hand-in-hand.
Entering rainy season means that the streets flood frequently with rushing water. Because of the water's powerful force, cars pull off of the road and pedestrians scatter into nearby shops until the typically quick storms pass. Earlier in the year, a teenage girl died after falling into raging water.
These rainstorms, in spite of their potential danger, are a soothing contrast to the strong, constant sunshine that Barranquilla experiences during most of the year.
Rain or shine, school usually goes on, although arrival and departure times are sometimes delayed in the storms. Especially considering my being sick with la gripa, I'm thankful for a flexible schedule. In the recent weeks, school has been filled with celebrations and assemblies honoring el Día de Amor y Amistad and la Semana de Paz. We are learning adjectives, manners, and body parts.
Only six weeks of class remain before I return home in December. This is a surreal moment as I recognize the time that has past and the time that still exists to make an impact in any way that I can. I will not let la gripa...or the rain...stop me from completing my obligations in Barranquilla.
