I just don't fucking learn, now do I?

I got bitten by a monkey.

It was the innocent looking one on the left.

See, I had to do a rapid assessment of a high-risk corridor in Northern Ethiopia last week and the husband and I decided to take some time to see Lalibela and Gondar. (You all know Lalibela--it's home to the rock-hewn churches and has been part of the Amazing Race TV show [the season with the professional wrestlers when Joyce and Uchenna won].) At any rate, in Gondar there is a woman who runs a charity which includes:

1. Primary school for 27 children

2. Donkey rescue

3. Cat and dog rescue

4. Veterinary facilities

5. Income generation for people with disabilities

6. Sponsorship for poor children, young adults and the elderly; and

7. Primate rescue.

It's the last one that was a problem. While the donkeys, cats and dogs were relatively docile, the monkeys are mean. I knew this and I went and tried to get my picture with one anyway. The bastard monkey ran up and bit me on the leg. My husband got it on film.

Someday we will look back on this and laugh about the fact that I just don't understand that monkeys are not cute, they are not pets, and they are not friendly. In the meantime we will be calling the center and checking to make sure none of the monkeys exhibit signs of rabies.

No wonder the people who used to own them got rid of them. Damn monkeys.