the selected

I spent the morning hungry and wondering whether or not I was going to be 'selected' or an 'alternate' and who else would be 'selected' or 'alternate'. I utilized by time by responding to emails and becoming one with my increasing heart rate.

At 8:43am I was finally notified that I was in the selected group. WOOO!

The pH in the stomach is very acidic and will kill off a lot of the cholera so, 1 minute prior to consuming the cholera (1x10^5 CFUs btw) they had us drink a baking soda mixture (basic) to ensure transmission from stomach to small intestine, where the cholerae will thrive. Yay!? Now, after the 90 minute obligatory waiting period, I am downing as much coffee as I can (acidic). I doubt it will help now, but just in case.

Btw:
CFU = Colony Forming Units

This morning, a little before 9, the 10 of us were gradually ushered into the common room. Slowly, we took account of who was there and who was not. The brothers who were playing water pong all night were not there, most notably. Rumor was that one was a type O, and the other was not. Type O's  (as I am) were considered to be almost 'guaranteed' to get into the study so it was suspected that one of the brothers might have been chosen and the other not and then the other brother may have opted out.

I haven't learned the names of everyone yet. I did quite well playing rummy with MI and JSN. Maybe too well, because after starting to pwn them, they decided to quit to watch a movie instead. I only just met MI today at the challenge. She seems pretty nice and relatively social. JSN I met earlier and, if I remember correctly, is from CT and moved here to VT to live with his mom and not really have a job. I would guess he is in his 20s. I can't quite be sure if the things coming out of his mouth are serious or not.

Among those I noticed were definitely still with us include MTC. The MRI-guy who apparently also has a blog about the cholera challenge! Of everyone, I feel I can probably carry on a fluent science-based conversation with him the most. He's also quite forward, which is advantageous to all of us. I know I am not always confident about asking about particulars (like: when are we getting paid??).

Also, a good idea that I may steal from MTC, is using the Bristol Stool Scale to convey truly intimate details about the horrors I may be about the embark upon. I haven't quite decided yet.

I'll continue to describe the players as time goes on. There are 6 more.

Once we were all in the room, one of the clinicians presented us with out first solution and pointed out that we were all now ready for the "drinking party". All at once we downed our brown bottles full of baking soda solution before being presented with the main course, a 50ml conical containing the cholera. We obediently inverted the tube to mix the solution (~25-30ml) and consumed. The no-turning-back point.

There is a photographer in the group, and it appears MTC has a camera as well (it appears)- if I can convince them to let me take some there will be pictures yet! I've now started reading "Love in the time of Cholera" as well.