Category Archives: Illness

Spoor me

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Liz Barron

“How’s your poop?” was almost always Hanna’s first inquiry of the day when we 15 Community Youth Development Volunteers were training together in Ararat marz last spring. The question always sparked a wide and fairly disgusting range of answers–a running … Continue reading →

Posted in accident, Advice, Armenia, Embarrassment, Illness, Peace Corps, personal failings, Sickness, Toilet talk, travel | 2 Comments

I made them myself

Posted on August 11, 2017 by Liz Barron

I have taken my attempts at host country integration a little further than most Peace Corps Volunteers in their first three months of service, in that I have seen the inside of an Armenian operating theater, and a large number … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Food, Gallbladder, Gallstones, Healthcare, Illness, Peace Corps, Sickness, Social niceties, Things that gladden the heart, Wellness | 7 Comments

Lunch Potato Dinner Potato

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Liz Barron

Bile has always been my favorite body fluid, with its Elizabethan associations of vituperation and coruscation. Imagine my distress then, when I learned that, due to a gallbladder silted with more stones than an Armenian gorge, my own bile was … Continue reading →

Posted in America, Armenia, Cross-cultural understanding, fear, friendship, Healthcare, Illness, laundry, Sickness, Social niceties, Syunik Marz, travel, Women | 4 Comments

A little help from my friends. Part One

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Liz Barron

The spiced chickpeas were in one bowl and the eggplant curry in another. The rice was cooked, although not very well. It was clumpy and sticky despite having been soaked and rinsed. Why did I buy basmati? If I can't … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Armenia, Armenian art, Cooking, Duvet covers, Embarrassment, family, fear, Food, friendship, Great weekends, Illness, Peace Corps, personal failings, Sickness, Things that gladden the heart, travel | 1 Comment