The day before crossing the border, we learned that we'd need vaccinations for Influenza H1N1 and Yellow Fever to be allowed into Venezuela. Pauline already had her vaccination for fievre jaune, but was reluctant to get her H1N1, due to its reported side-effects. I had neither. Well, it turns out that each shot would cost about 40 - 50.000 Colombian pesos, or roughly $25.
Though unwilling, we figured there was no way around it. In the morning, we took our friend Julian (or rather, he took us) to the nearest medical center. There he explained our situation to the nurse, who then took our passports. About 20 minutes later, she came back with our passports and proof of vaccination for H1N1. No shot, no charge !
And while I waiting to receive my vaccine for fiebre amarilla, Julian told that it, too, would be free but that I should give the nurse a thank you...a "Colombian thank you."
Anatony of a Colombian thank you :
1. Place the amount of thankfulness in your hand (Julian suggested that I be 10.000 pesos thankful) and fold the bill. Make sure you have the exact bill, you can't ask for change back !
2. Then shake the nurse's hand, while saying "Muchas gracias" and leaving behind your thankfulness.
From there, we continued on to the border where the border guard asked to see our passports, and then he asked us to fill out a form regarding our travel plans. Anticipating the next question, we readied our proofs of vaccination. This is the moment where we would prove that we were mosquito-proof, where we would triumphantly and smugly cross that yellow line, where other, less vaccinated or less thankful, travelers had been turned back.
- Thank you, have a nice trip, the border guard said.
What ?! That's all ? Don't you care if I'm carrying yellow fever ? Well, I just gave him my handshake-less, peso-less American "thank you," and walked into the hot Venezuelan sun.
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