Going Viral

Sometimes living in Samoa is like living inside a large petri dish of disease.

Over the past two years we have experienced a range of viruses and the like, if we were living in Australia DOCs would be becoming suspicious!  

Recently Smiley was stung by a nasty orange wasp, these big fellas agressively defend their nests in October and on our first year here one attacked Bunny, chasing him into the house and stinging him five times.  The welts are nasty and Bunny still has some scars.

The next day Smiley came to show us his red shoulder and I observed some other small red spots on his torso.

His mate at school had just been diagnosed with Chicken Pox although he had been immunised in Australia.  Smiley has also been immunised but these Samoan viruses are strong and Smiley ended up with some red spots sans blisters, fever and pain.  Little did he know he got off lightly.

Bunny happily ended up having three days off with Smiley, with a mere three spots compared to Smiley’s 30 or so.  They spent most of the time practicing for wheels day at school.  

Bunny’s happiness was short lived, when two weeks later both boys began to complain of new ailments.  Bunny also sported some nasty looking red spots.  The doctor diagnosed stomach flu for both boys and an added extra bonus for Bunny - ‘Chicken Pox'.  Bunny has also been immunised, but he got slammed with a skinful of painful blisters, which over four days filled and burst and filled again.

This nasty pox came just as we were preparing for the Judo World Cup in Samoa. On opening night the spots were new, Bunny bravely donned his Judo Gi and some heavy duty concealer, to proudly carry the flag for French Polynesia.

Here are my two lads, Bunny is trying not to itch too much while standing in front of the Head of State and Smiley needed a helping hand to keep from swinging Hong Kong, China from side to side.

The next day the spots continued to pop and refill and Bunny was unable to volunteer handing out water bottles. Athletes can be funny about a kid with festering blisters passing them a bottle of water.

I was also involved in the Judo World cup, after only announcing three incorrect winners last year, they let me have another go at it.  Thankfully this year there were a few less countries involved and the names were all pretty easy to pronounce.  I only announced one incorrect winner this year so I might be allowed back.

We just found out we have another 12 months in Samoa, the boys and I are staying in Australia for the first 6 months, but will be back in Samoa in July, in time for Judo World Cup.  We are hoping a good dose of Australia will clear up the ailments.